6. Star Wars (1977)
2001's pioneering use of motion control photography left the door open for future filmmakers to utilize this new technique to depict realistic space travel and one ambitious filmmaker took up the gauntlet and ran with it: George Lucas. In 1975, Lucas had founded the special effects company Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) in the wake of 20th Century Fox dissolving its visual effects department. With a team of skilled artists and artisan behind him, Lucas decided to build upon the foundation that 2001 had laid down to bring the world a vastly different science fiction vision to the big screen, 1977's Star Wars. The artistic intent behind the two features could not be more different; Kubrick wanted to create a space epic that trafficked in art-house visuals and sensibilities whereas Lucas wanted to create a sweeping space opera that would entertain the masses. The motion capture photography in 2001 worked perfectly to capture how realistic space travel would unfold but limited Lucas' ability to depict the complex space battles he envisioned for Star Wars. The pioneers at ILM innovated a digitally controlled camera called Dykstraflex to perform the complicated camera movements Lucas' vision demanded. Audiences fell in love with Lucas' sci-fi epic and awe-inspiring star battles it depicted, making a cultural phenomenon. For decades, the Star Wars series of films have been showcases for the latest advances in Special Effects technology. Until he parted ways with the series when he sold the franchise to Disney, George Lucas made sure to capitalize on the latest FX innovations to update his trilogy so new viewers could find the saga of the Skywalker family more accessible. The prequel trilogy released from the late 90s through the 2000s showcased the latest in computer-generated images, with much of the locations created entirely through digital effects work.