10 Incredible Sets You Didn't Know Were Built From Scratch

By Connor Briggs-Morris /

9. The Sky Tower (Oblivion)

One look at the clean, crisp design of the futuristic Sky Tower and it€™s only logical to assume that it would have to be fake. But when the man in charge is a former architect, it makes it a little more understandable how a set like this was made. The modern dwelling was both a living quarters and military outpost for Tom Cruise. Suspended 3000 feet above the ground in the film, the real accomplishment isn€™t even the set but the way they constructed its immediate surroundings. The actual house set was surrounded by a massive screen on all four sides. Projected on it were images they had filmed in Hawaii, comprised of the natural wonders of a volcano, a blue sky, and a striking night. These surrounding landscapes both lit the house and made it all feel completely real. Oblivion may have been pretty derivative story-wise but it€™s hard not to praise elements such as this one. The creativity of the Sky Tower€™s construction and its stunning aesthetic make you wonder how this film wasn€™t more successful.