From stop-motion to motion-capture, from the Schüfftan process to traveling mattes, from rear-projection to 3D, we’re looking for the best, most groundbreaking digital and optical effects in cinema. Subtle or bombastic, world-building or shot-finishing, this is a celebration of all the ones and zeros and matte painters and mirror-manipulators and compositing queens and editorial kings in VFX. We don’t know how you’re gonna choose your favorite visual effects from the history of cinema, but, in honor of the many thousands of superstars behind the scenes, please put on your “digital-fur-technology” coat and narrow down a top ten.
Most mentioned
![Elle Driver](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/8/8/8/1/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7ec60ad744)
Elle Driver 96 films
![Benjamin Luke Mitchell](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/3/6/2/6/0/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1041585446634094592_xNgJOdzX-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c89bf86e06)
Benjamin Luke Mitchell 100 films
![Travis D. Johnson](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a13028f7bde7fd7fbb0e73b5785fa4ac?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Travis D. Johnson 10 films
![Zayne](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/2/8/8/4/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5b741fc4e3)
Zayne 10 films
![DonJohn80](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/0/1/5/3/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=9325768ba2)
DonJohn80 10 films
![CMTowns](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/0/9/3/8/8/3/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1133509697309466624_AdGikTKC-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=dc5401fc22)
CMTowns 10 films
![JTFX](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/8/4/8/0/4/5/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=33337c5da1)
JTFX 10 films
![Sam Holdren](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/8/1/8/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=bfed307023)
Sam Holdren 10 films
![Joe](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/8/8/6/7/9/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=bc05d1b3ca)
Joe 10 films
![funnybair](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ac0869835ba630761a0ab926693fc609?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
funnybair 10 films
![Zolidus](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/9/8/9/4/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_695443885074616320_3Iv90OjX-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=244f0b5b7a)
Zolidus 10 films
![Brian Bell](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/6/0/4/1/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0e0cba657b)
Brian Bell 10 films
![Rob Andrews](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/6/4/0/8/1/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1292511088454574081_E9CqB_G2-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7ae92d2ee3)
Rob Andrews 10 films
![miserypop](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/5/7/7/8/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7200018bb0)
miserypop 10 films
![Ben](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/0/5/4/6/4/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=8062878237)
Ben 10 films
![Niall Hassett](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/2/1/3/9/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=b320e4a5a3)
Niall Hassett 10 films
![Mathias Mørch](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/14cb18389f50aa681f721baa36c8f30c?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Mathias Mørch 10 films
![Angelo Cordeiro](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/8/2/6/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=27fb3292e7)
Angelo Cordeiro 10 films
![Richard Garrett](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/4/7/9/6/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=278d506789)
Richard Garrett 10 films
![Heisenbergbad](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/2/0/8/6/8/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=39e445abcc)
Heisenbergbad 10 films
![Matthew Zavala](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/4/5/0/5/8/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5770dbd92e)
Matthew Zavala 17 films
![🥀 Meadow 🦇](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/7/3/5/3/1/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6dcc247d5a)
🥀 Meadow 🦇 10 films
![Adam William](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/8/8/8/4/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3893e83635)
Adam William 10 films
![VestigialLimb](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/8/9/3/1/6/6/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=f3cefc80c7)
VestigialLimb 8 films
![Milo Miles](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/6/0/4/2/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=cca92367e1)
Milo Miles 68 films
![Mao](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/8/2/2/0/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=d4ba5add33)
Mao 10 films
![Sindre Haram](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/2/0/7/9/8/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_953405166061019137_d105qO59-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=f14d4f4233)
Sindre Haram 10 films
![flashtheready](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/7/2/9/0/8/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=50de5aace3)
flashtheready 10 films
![elvisisking](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/742c1b1fe32a7337b69b014804d5e323?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
elvisisking 15 films
![Godard_Knocks](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/42f916793e1b3c7f812afb5190df7594?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Godard_Knocks 10 films
![Joseph Reid](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/1/1/5/3/1/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_817501075532107776_B2jIzXNS-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=31c9f57ff6)
Joseph Reid 10 films
![Jake Price](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/8/1/8/0/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c9d16774fd)
Jake Price 10 films
![Forrest With2Rs](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d34f58987a539bd594091ba43719c347?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Forrest With2Rs 10 films
![Eduardo Ramírez](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/2/2/1/6/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=039a3d7163)
Eduardo Ramírez 33 films
![mistersplice](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/6/6/0/6/2/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1120542571225333766_y8pzLIi9-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3c387e1602)
mistersplice 10 films
![Jaimin Patel](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10a53a0f3fb24af346b647a0d7fb4b25?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Jaimin Patel 10 films
![Stephen Hanson](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/7/6/1/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=d6816605de)
Stephen Hanson 10 films
![Clearin](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/9/0/6/9/1/6/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=74aea452af)
Clearin 10 films
![Matthias_S](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/9/4/8/3/5/7/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=2673365db6)
Matthias_S 10 films
![Kyle](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/4/1/5/4/7/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=54c961ebc9)
Kyle 10 films
![Jonathan Fallert](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/0/1/5/6/8/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1597284770970468353_AmrYm_An-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1369d0d42b)
Jonathan Fallert 16 films
![Paul Dilger](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/3/5/9/7/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=4d71131f3c)
Paul Dilger 10 films
![Chris Hanley](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/2/0/1/9/8/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=4575ed2402)
Chris Hanley 10 films
![Mark](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/4/1/3/7/4/3/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=295a40437c)
Mark 10 films
![dono5876](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/135bf04ead7a701e1c7bfa6707c4e15a?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
dono5876 10 films
![Alan M](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5386e91cb5f71e41751983c5be1db74f?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Alan M 12 films
![gartenlaub](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/0/5/8/0/2/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=806bf0b4a0)
gartenlaub 10 films
![Samy](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5fede60f112e1456b9789e47f144097a?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Samy 10 films
![Morgan](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/6/1/7/4/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0c2bb22b7d)
Morgan 10 films
![Connor Walls](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/5/7/1/2/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1bdf942910)
Connor Walls 66 films
![Wallace007](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/4/5/5/1/6/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=9fc5ebe826)
Wallace007 10 films
![P Bauer](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/7/7/6/1/2/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_813907999056076800_SsIEdlS8-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5e73620674)
P Bauer 10 films
![Jonny](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/7/0/4/7/7/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0a20a3732a)
Jonny 10 films
![Will Mancini](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/0/0/2/4/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1030588613564592128_QdQH_T5m-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=72b8708a3e)
Will Mancini 10 films
![S_Low](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/8/2/0/6/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_612342552579166208_2GStpvjD-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c45f33e3ea)
S_Low 10 films
![Jake Kramer](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/9/9/7/5/6/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=71d9feeb79)
Jake Kramer 10 films
![patty hearst](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/0/4/4/6/7/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=edfea332d8)
patty hearst 3 films
![Tucker](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/7/2/7/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=2328d41473)
Tucker 10 films
![Ethan Anderson](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/8/3/8/8/4/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=2bc224a03b)
Ethan Anderson 10 films
![kjkirk](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/8/7/1/4/8/9/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1227459171664134144_ZXTsNbnT-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c7df894762)
kjkirk 10 films
![Patrick Taylor](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d31f5849d1e8881b501a62cc3b1d7bfb?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Patrick Taylor 1 film
![SeitanicSamurai](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/7/4/2/3/0/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=2479200cfd)
SeitanicSamurai 10 films
![Elle](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/8/3/6/5/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=2045e4e996)
Elle 10 films
![dadgumblah](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/8/5/1/3/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=70cc2f1b53)
dadgumblah 10 films
![Valdac](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/1/8/8/1/2/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_637684705706422272__cZrRDf1-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7b20ec41dc)
Valdac 10 films
![Jeff Estrada](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/0/9/3/9/3/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=65b27653da)
Jeff Estrada 18 films
![Tiago Sousa](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/5/6/5/4/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0d8534e887)
Tiago Sousa 10 films
![Kermit Jagger](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/6/6/6/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=431d4c1b04)
Kermit Jagger 10 films
![zombiekiller](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/6/3/8/6/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=fc79dcc77d)
zombiekiller 6 films
![vhagar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c945ceb1c7e6ef645f71927d2cc80992?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
vhagar 11 films
![V. Vargas](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/3/8/0/8/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=4c4bc57056)
V. Vargas 10 films
![James Muspratt](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f2c30545010f5f53cd6974e7608099fb?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
James Muspratt 4 films
![Greg Brown](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/9/9/4/7/2/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_515355900932943872_b4C4nxm4-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=440be41560)
Greg Brown 10 films
![Adrien Antoine](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/5/1/9/0/7/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1cfee4ccf9)
Adrien Antoine 8 films
![Patrick Russell](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/6/3/2/6/7/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=a9b5ce756e)
Patrick Russell 10 films
![TéléDex-BaBrBo](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/0/0/0/8/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1d23180e0a)
TéléDex-BaBrBo 10 films
![Jayson](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/0/1/8/1/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=8bb5a45f59)
Jayson 12 films
![Rod T](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/3/6/1/2/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=09d9e9e7f9)
Rod T 19 films
![extinctionani](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/8/7/9/4/4/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=89162a7c8c)
extinctionani 34 films
![EmilyAvocado](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/6/5/3/7/2/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=ba5b66e577)
EmilyAvocado 14 films
![Rachel Mac](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/9/8/8/2/3/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_991846898486018049_kSAAXUsO-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=d277161171)
Rachel Mac 13 films
![John Quinn](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/9/2/9/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=20587c67e4)
John Quinn 10 films
![Kyle Bailey](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/4/1/6/9/5/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_529136873403580416_U_KoiguH-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6dc1e87fd3)
Kyle Bailey 10 films
![Zuglu](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/3/2/4/4/5/3/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=5b8472375e)
Zuglu 10 films
![Euan](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/8/8/2/2/4/2/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1203431998154530821__1TyI4kj-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=62a553b2e9)
Euan 8 films
![Scott Gentry](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/7/8/5/2/3/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1438052674470092800_XJt0J_7X-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0d2350b6f7)
Scott Gentry 53 films
![UweBollThe2nd](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/124b6a46bde3e00a831d7cf125cd1bb7?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
UweBollThe2nd 2 films
![Robert Shupe](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/3/2/2/0/1/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=275611fa0f)
Robert Shupe 10 films
![Paul Robinson](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/4/0/9/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=db18eb9f94)
Paul Robinson 10 films
![JamesDaggs](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/0/0/2/4/8/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7110c7e761)
JamesDaggs 10 films