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Production design in movies is a wide field. One of the most important aspects of it is set design, which is crucial in how immersive and visually impressive a film can be. If you find yourself enveloped by the world of a movie, the production designer likely did a good job.
A movie with an uninspired set design is easy to forget. But when there’s one that looks absolutely stunning, such as theStar Warsfilms andWes Anderson’sThe Grand Budapest Hotel, it’s a guarantee that it’s going to reside in audiences' minds for a long time.
Updated on April 3rd, 2023, by Diego Pineda Pacheco:
Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odysseyis praised for having some of the best-designed, most eye-popping sets in the entire sci-fi genre. With the film turning 55 years old today, it’s as good a time as any to look at some of the finest production design in cinema’s history.
13’Synecdoche, New York' (2008)
Amongall the movies written byCharlie Kaufman,Synecdoche, New York(his directing debut) is undoubtedly one of the best. It tells the moving story of a theater director who sets out to create a life-size replica of New York City for his newest play.
As you might guess from the synopsis, set design plays a crucial part in the film’s narrative, andMark Friedbergwas up to the task. He makesSynecdochelook grand, ambitious, and delightfully surreal.
12’Stalker' (1979)
Stalker, directed byAndrei Tarkovsky, follows three men as they cross a desolate wasteland called The Zone in search of a room that grants the user’s innermost desire.
Among other things, the film is famous for leading to the premature death of Tarkovsky and other cast members and crew since they filmed in close proximity to a dangerous chemical plant that gave them diseases later in life. In a bittersweet turn of events, though, the decision paid off for the film’s look: The Zone is one of the most mystifyingly gorgeous locations in all of film history, perfect forStalker’s tone and atmosphere. The production designers behind its bleak appearance wereAleksandr Boymand Tarkovsky himself.
Watch on HBO Max
11’Blade Runner 2049' (2017)
It would have been a daunting task for any filmmaker to make a legacy sequel to the cult classicBlade Runner, but if there was anyone up to the challenge, that had to be the renownedDenis Villeneuve.
In collaboration with production designerDennis Gassner, Villeneuve managed to create a futuristic L.A. as grim, gritty, and atmospheric asRidley Scott’s original, while adding their own magical touch as well. This impressive result definitely contributed in makingBlade Runner 2049one ofthe most nostalgic movie comebacksin recent memory.
Watch on Hulu
10’Metropolis' (1927)
If you’ve ever wondered about the origin of the basic sci-fi movie look,Metropolismight be your answer.Fritz Lang’s epic silent masterpiece is a social allegory about the son of a futuristic city’s mastermind and how he falls in love with a working-class woman.
The production design in charge ofErich Kettelhutpretty much defined the genre’s aesthetic from very early on. Influences from movements like Art Deco and Gothicism can be seen all across the impressive city designed by Kettelhut.
Watch on The Criterion Channel
9’Blade Runner' (1982)
Ridley Scott’s legendary sci-fi filmBlade Runner, about a cop who has to find and eliminate four androids that stole a ship, is one of the most visually staggering films you’ll ever see.
Lawrence G. Paullwas Oscar-nominated for his work on the movie, which remains absorbing and surprising after decades. The noir-ish style of the futuristic Los Angeles is evident, and it helps makeBlade Runneran enrapturing detective story set in a grim but fascinating world.
8’The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy
TheLord of the Ringstrilogy offers production design so consistent that it’s hard to think of it as three separate jobs.Grant Majorwas in charge in these epic films about a team setting out to destroy a powerful artifact and defeat a dark overlord.
All three installments are amongthe best action movies despite their extreme runtime, and a big part of that is thanks to Major. The sets are unique and memorable, the props are all impressive to look at, the CGI remains amazing even after all these years, and the overall aesthetic is just perfect.
7’Alien' (1979)
Anyone who has seen it will agree that Ridley Scott’sAlienis one ofthe best horror movies of the ’70s, with one of the most enveloping production designs of the decade.
The vast majority of the film takes place within the U.S.C.S.S. Nostromo, a massive cargo ship with an ensemble of memorable characters who must struggle to survive a mysterious threat. Production designerMichael Seymourdid an incredible job making the Nostromo feel eerie and lived-in, making the experience of watchingAlienall the scarier.
Watch on Starz
6’Star Wars' Original Trilogy
Some may call it cheating to group three films in a single entry, but it’s hard to separate the incredibly consistent production design of theStar Warsoriginal trilogy.
Later entries may have lost some of the visual charm, but the originals are some of the coolest-looking sci-fi movies ever.John BarryandNorman Reynoldsdefined these films' visual appearance, and both did a marvelous job using creative set design, impressive VFX, and convincing miniatures.
Watch on Disney+
5’The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920)
German filmmakerRobert Wiene’s best film and perhaps the best-known picture made in the German Expressionistic movement,The Cabinet of Dr. Caligarishows its titular character, a hypnotist, using a somnambulist to commit crimes.
Although it isn’t terrifying by modern standards, the movie’s visual aesthetic makes it very eerie. Twisted shapes and macabre uses of light and shadow populate every scene, and the production design byWalter Reimann,Walter Röhrig, andHermann Warmbecame one of the most influential in movie history.
Watch on Tubi
4’The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Wes Anderson is known for the quirky and unique visual flair of all his movies, butThe Grand Budapest Hotel, about the adventures of the concierge of a famous hotel and his trusty lobby boy, is maybe the best-looking of them all.
Production designerAdam Stockhausen, who earned an Oscar for his efforts on this movie, gave it a delightful pastel look—Butthough it’s a comedy, the movie’s also sad, so there’s a contrast with drabber colors in certain scenes. All in all, it’s one of Anderson’s most unique-looking works.
