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Incredible Behind-The-Scenes Photos That Show The Difference Special Effects Make

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Technology is really amazing.

When I was a kid, we were still using puppets and men in suits to make movie monsters. Now, they're all made on the computer.

In fact, a surprising amount of what you see on a movie screen is added in after filming wraps.

And photos from the set show just how different things look in real life:

Life of Pi

Life of Pi
Not as cuddly in person.20th Century Fox
Life of Pi
No surprise here, cats hate bath time. 20th Century Fox
Life of Pi
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

Alice In Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland
Walt Disney Studios
Alice in Wonderland
Walt Disney Studios
Alice in Wonderland
Walt Disney Studios
Alice in Wonderland
Walt Disney Studios
Alice in Wonderland
Walt Disney Studios
Alice in Wonderland
Walt Disney Studios

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Pirates of the Caribbean
"Uh, Bill, I think there's something on your face."Walt Disney Pictures

Cinderella

Cinderella
Walt Disney Pictures

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
20th Century Fox
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
20th Century Fox
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
20th Century Fox
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
20th Century Fox

For a closer look at how the cast transformed for the movie, check out this behind-the-scenes video.

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street
Who feels like a quick trip to Venice?Paramount Pictures

For this shot, the lion was real but his human co-stars were added in later.

The Wolf of Wall Street
Paramount Pictures
The Wolf of Wall Street
Paramount Pictures

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman
Warner Bros.
Wonder Woman
Warner Bros.
Wonder Woman
Warner Bros.

District 9

District 9
TriStar Pictures

Ender's Game

Ender's Game
Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate Films
Ender's Game
Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate Films
Ender's Game
Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate Films

Game of Thrones

Of course, this HBO fantasy show isn't a movie, but it relies on special effects as much as any blockbuster.

Including when its actors transform into their characters.

I wonder why they didn't use a real dragon for this shot.HBO
HBO
HBO

Beauty and the Beast

Not beastly, but very silly.Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures

If you really want to appreciate Emma Watson's performance, you can watch them tape this scene before the beast's costume is added on.

The Hobbit

Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
The Hobbit
Warner Bros.
The Hobbit
Warner Bros.

Oz the Great and Powerful

Walt Disney Pictures

The Harry Potter series

Quidditch is obviously tricky to film...

Harry Potter
Warner Bros.
Harry Potter
Warner Bros.

And so are floating books.

Harry Potter
Warner Bros.
Harry Potter
Warner Bros.

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book
No tigers were harmed in the making of this movie.Walt Disney Pictures
The Jungle Book
Walt Disney Pictures

The Great Gatsby

Warner Bros.
"Traffic is pretty light today, old sport."Warner Bros.

Avatar

Avatar
20th Century Fox
Avatar
20th Century Fox

The Matrix

The Matrix
Warner Bros.

Everest

Everest
Don't look down...Universal Pictures

Inception

Inception
A mountain lair...Warner Bros.
Inception
With convenient street-level parking.Warner Bros.

The movie's gravity-defying scenes were pulled off using giant, rotating sets.

Inception
Warner Bros.
Inception
Warner Bros.
Inception
Warner Bros.

You can see the set in motion in this video.

Okja

Okja
Netflix
Okja
Netflix

Man of Steel

Man of Steel
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an actor on a fishing line.Warner Bros.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy
Walt Disney Pictures
Guardians of the Galaxy
Walt Disney Pictures
Guardians of the Galaxy
Walt Disney Pictures

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight: Eclipse
Summit
Twilight: Eclipse
Summit

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump
Paramount Pictures

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings
Warner Bros.
Lord of the Rings
Warner Bros.
Lord of the Rings
Warner Bros
Lord of the Rings
Warner Bros.

300: Rise of an Empire

300: Rise of an Empire
Warner Bros.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Paramount Pictures

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2
Paramount Pictures
Iron Man 2
Paramount Pictures

Gravity

Gravity
So they didn't film in in outer space? Disappointing.Warner Bros.

Captain America

Captain America
Paramount Pictures

Notice: Chris Evans is shrunk down to play his scrawny character before he transforms into Captain America.

Captain America
Paramount Pictures

The Avengers

The Avengers
Walt Disney Studios
The Avengers
Walt Disney Studios
The Avengers
Walt Disney Studios
The Avengers
Walt Disney Studios
The Avengers
Walt Disney Studios
The Avengers
Walt Disney Studios
The Avengers
Walt Disney Studios

If these pictures surprised you, maybe you missed these 10 Tiny Details From Ferris Bueller's Day Off too.

And if you're craving more before and after photos, find out what these 21 Child Stars From the '80s Look Like Today.