3. Innovation
Besides being risky enough in terms of adapting the most popular fantasy novel of all-time on an unprecedented scale that would backfire horribly if it was unsuccessful financially, The Lord of the Rings managed to be one of the most daring blockbusters ever made, introducing a host of technological innovations. MASSIVE, a groundbreaking computer system that could simulate entire battles was used to create battles with hundreds of thousands of combatants, something that had never been possible in movies before. Equally groundbreaking uses of motion capture technology, along with the incredible performances of Andy Serkis, was used to create an utterly convincing CGI Gollum. The special effects crew worked tirelessly on The Lord of the Rings, often working overnight to meet deadlines and finishing some of the work mere weeks before release. Their hard work resulted in some of the most incredible and innovative special effects in movie history and opened new possibilities for big-screen spectacle.