Most Influential Sci-Fi Movie Ever Stuns VFX Artists 97 Years Later

The most influential sci-fi movie ever made, Metropolis, has stunned a group of VFX artists with its unique practical effects 97 years later, showing why the film still holds up in the present day. The 1927 German silent film showcases a worker’s rebellion against the rich and powerful in a dystopian, futuristic city. Even in the present day, it is regarded as one of the best science fiction movies ever made for acting as a key influence on the genre for almost a century after its release.

Now, Corridor Crew has reaction to the VFX used in Metropolis, stunned by how the practical effects bringing the film to life still hold up 97 years later.

Starting at 9:46, the group talks about how the movie used meticulous drawings to make its impressive effects, while mirrors were also used to make convincing shots and scene transitions. Check out what they had to say about the movie below:

What you’re looking at here is that they’re building a miniature of the set off to one side, and they’re filming the real set on the other side, and in between the two is a mirror at a 45-degree angle. And they’ve lined up their reflection of the miniatures to line up with the real set, and then they scraped off the backing on half the mirror. So you’re seeing through part of it, and seeing the reflection on the other part of it. They used to mirror to do live compositing of two images.

They don’t have the tools at this era to do hold-out mats on the film and only expose part of it and do the rest. You can do that, but it’s very janky, you’d have to do it very manually. Instead, they have two sets, both full size, and they just have a pane of glass. But this time, they’ve configured the frame that holds the mirror to be able to slide it in and out, and they actually scratched off different pieces of that mirror to make certain parts of the glass transparent, and other parts reflective.

It’s weird to think that this was made without reference. There’s not another movie that did this first. Like, think about how much our sense of sci-fi and art design in sci-fi has been derived from just this film. It’s so weird to think that 100 years later, the sci-fi art design of
Metropolis
was so on-point that we’re still vibing on it now.

Why Metropolis Is Such An Influential Sci-Fi Movie

As the visual effects of the German sci-fi movie show, Metropolis has influenced a multitude of movies that have come out after it. The set design of the futuristic city meshes with that of the Blade Runner movies and Robocop franchise, while the story about underdogs rising up with the help of a powerful leader is reminiscent of Star Wars and Dune. The effects that still hold up almost a century later only add to its influence, as it has stood the test of time to become one of the most memorable movies in its genre.

While there was an attempt at remaking the movie as a TV show by Mr. Robot director Sam Esmail, plans were canceled in 2023 due to the Hollywood strikes. However, even without a newer remake, the movie has been able to prove itself as a key component of film history, and something that cannot be remade with such impressive quality. This is especially true given the lengths director Fritz Lang and his crew went to for the sake of making the movie feel real. Without such design, the film may not have been as revered as it still is.

Given how well the movie has held up to this day, it’s safe to call Metropolis the best sci-fi film of all time. Without its futuristic world and incredibly detailed set design, there may not be many of the sci-fi movies, shows, and books that populate global culture today. They would not have the same feel as they do now, and may even have been unrecognizable. How well the movie holds up is a testament to its historical importance for the genre.

Source: Corridor Crew/YouTube

The Complete Metropolis

What is the point of the Blu-ray treatment if it’s not used for the greatest of movies? One such movie is Metropolis, considered the first epic science fiction film. While any treatment of the 1927 classic can be considered a special edition, this installment is the epitome of the utility and value of Blu-ray conversions.

Studio

Kino Lorber Studios

Run Time

2 hrs 28 mins

Director

Fritz Lang