Hey there, movie buffs and tech enthusiasts! If you think the only thing cooler than a superhero’s powers is their flashy costume, think again. We’ve compiled a list of the most jaw-dropping prosthetic transformations in Hollywood’s biggest movies. From scarred wizards to robotic warriors, these prosthetics go beyond just enhancing an actor’s appearance; they completely transform them into unrecognizable characters.
Ryan Reynolds / Deadpool
So, we all know Ryan Reynolds is a total heartthrob, right? But in Deadpool, he went from hot to… not so much. Thanks to some gnarly special effects makeup, Reynolds transformed into the scarred vigilante.
To make it look even more realistic, the makeup team had to pile on layer after layer of prosthetics – NINE silicon pieces just on his noggin alone. That’s dedication, folks! And to think, all we need is a good hair day to feel like a superhero.
Johnny Depp / Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp had a lot of input into his Mad Hatter makeup in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. He researched and found out about Hatter’s Disease, which was caused by toxic chemicals used in hat-making.
So, they made his skin super pale and added orange accents. Depp wanted to look like a madman who had been exposed to noxious fumes, and they nailed it.
Angelina Jolie / Salt
In the movie Salt, Angelina Jolie goes undercover as a man to throw off the bad guys. Let’s just say it was a pretty convincing disguise. Apparently, Jolie’s son Maddox even came to the set and didn’t recognize her until she said: “Mad.”
Can you imagine being such a good actor that your kid can’t spot you? But not everyone was a fan of her manly makeover — Brad Pitt allegedly refused to kiss her while she was all done up. Hey, we get it, Brad. Sometimes it’s hard to smooch someone wearing a fake mustache.
Richard Brake / Game of Thrones
Creating a character for a movie or TV show isn’t always a quick and easy process. Just ask the Night King from Game of Thrones. His look took weeks to design! According to Barrie Gower, the prosthetic designer, “It’s such a complex department, and the builds that go into these things are quite time-consuming.”
For example, they had to make a cast of the Night King’s head and face molds, which took a whopping six weeks. That’s not even counting the hours Richard Brake spent sitting in the makeup chair to bring the character to life. Talk about commitment!
Naomi Grossman / American Horror Story
Naomi Grossman’s transformation into Pepper on American Horror Story was seriously impressive. And even though it took some time to complete, Grossman loved every minute of the process. She recognized the serious talent and artistry that went into creating such an intricate look.
Hey, who wouldn’t feel lucky to be a part of such a cool show? The transformation process was like a work of art, and Grossman was lucky enough to be the canvas. All we can say is bravo, Naomi!
Roddy McDowall / Planet of the Apes
Transforming the cast for Planet of the Apes was a monumental task requiring much prosthetic work. John Chambers was the top dog for makeup artistry for the movie, and he wanted all the actors to know what they were getting into before signing on.
Apparently, many actors passed on the opportunity once they heard how much time was needed for makeup. But luckily, Chambers and producer Arthur Jacobs agreed that the actors needed to be somewhat visible under all that hair and makeup, so viewers could still relate to the characters.
Johnny Depp / Black Mass
In the movie Black Mass, Johnny Depp transformed into James “Whitey” Bulger, an Irish-American crime boss. The makeup team went all out to make Depp look like the real deal, even using bald caps with glued-on hair.
They didn’t want to mess with Depp’s luscious locks. Who would? And to really make those baby blues pop, they added some blue contacts. Talk about a full-on transformation!
Jack Nicholson / Batman
So, in 1989, Jack Nicholson took on the iconic role of the Joker in Batman, and the makeup team had to work hard to get his look just right. Lead makeup artist Nick Dudman took loads of pictures of Jack’s expressions to nail the prosthetics.
But the real challenge was finding a white that didn’t make him look like a ghost, especially against the dark set. No wonder they say it takes a village to make a movie!
Steve Carell / Foxcatcher
In 2014, Steve Carell went from a funny man to a serious character as James du Pont in Foxcatcher. How did he do it? With the help of a giant prosthetic nose, they strapped that thing on and spray-painted his face to make him look sickly.
They also added some wrinkles, age spots, and other gnarly skin effects to complete the transformation. But, the best part? The makeup blended so well with Carell’s face that you couldn’t even tell it was prosthetics! Plus, he rocked some fake teeth to ensure he nailed the look.
Richard Armitage / The Hobbit
Did you know Richard Armitage had to sit in the makeup chair for three hours to become Thorin in The Hobbit? The makeup team went all out to make sure the end result was insanely detailed, even completely changing the structure of his entire head!
Each prosthetic used cost around $2,000, which is crazy expensive. They had to handle them extremely carefully since they were so delicate and could only be used once. We can’t even imagine how much this movie’s makeup budget must have been!
Mila Kunis / Oz the Great and Powerful
Did you see Mila Kunis in Oz the Great and Powerful? She was absolutely unrecognizable as the wicked version of Theodora! Apparently, the movie needed an entire army of makeup and hair artists to pull off the transformation, making it one of the biggest American makeup shoots in years.
Howard Berger was the mastermind behind Kunis’ transformation, covering her face in prosthetics so that the only part visible was her upper lip. And if that wasn’t enough, they painted her entire body! It’s no wonder they needed an entire team for this one.
Eddie Murphy / Coming to America
Hey, did you catch Eddie Murphy turning into Saul? It’s crazy! Rich Baker, a makeup artist, gave him an entirely different appearance by prosthetically covering every square inch of his skin.
While Murphy portrayed several parts in the film, this one was the most intricate. He couldn’t stop laughing when he saw the cosmetics test run since he thought he looked really comical. He seems to have completely changed!
Charlize Theron / Monster
Whoa, did you see Charlize Theron in the movie Monster? Talk about a transformation! She went from having perfect skin to looking like she’s been sunbathing for decades. But here’s the catch — it was all thanks to some special makeup.
Apparently, Theron had to gain weight for the role, so her face would look more realistic. Then the makeup team came in and completely revamped her face. They gave her some wild eyebrows, discolored veins, freckles, capillaries — you name it! You gotta give it to them, they did a pretty convincing job.
Eddie Redmayne / The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne’s transformation in The Theory of Everything was pretty awesome, right? He played a young Stephen Hawking, and as the movie progressed, his character had to show the physical effects of ALS.
Jan Swell was the lead makeup artist for the movie, and she had her work cut out for her. She studied pictures of Hawking from different times in his life to create accurate makeup changes. To achieve this, she used different mouths and earpieces to show the various stages of Hawking’s life. Talk about some great prosthetic skills!
Nicole Kidman / The Destroyer
Nicole Kidman in The Destroyer was amazing, but it wasn’t only because of her acting skills that this role stood out. It’s also the total transformation! They made her look like a middle-aged woman who’s been through some serious stuff — sun damage, sleep deprivation, stress; you name it.
The makeup team did an amazing job of bringing her character to life. Of course, it helps that Kidman is a great actor too, but the makeup really sealed the deal.
Ralph Fiennes / Harry Potter
Hey Potterheads! After waiting for three whole films, we finally got to see the big reveal of how Voldemort would look in the Harry Potter movies. Boy, did the makeup team go all out! They had to make his skin look like it was almost see-through, and they even edited his nose out digitally.
Instead of regular nostrils, they gave him slits to make him look more snake-like. They used eyebrow blockers, fake teeth, fake nails, and vein tattoos to bring the Dark Lord to life.
Jim Carrey / How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Oh boy, Jim Carrey really committed to becoming the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. They gave him a whole new face using prosthetics, which took a lot of work! Richard Baker, the head makeup artist, spilled the beans on the process.
First, they had to clean Jim’s face so the prosthetics would stick. Then, they applied the prosthetics and a green base layer. Next came the yellow and purple shades to give the Grinch some depth. Finally, they added some hairpieces to really make him look furry and festive. Talk about dedication to a role!
Emma Thompson / Nanny McPhee
Would it surprise you to hear that Nanny McPhee‘s lead actress was the gorgeous Emma Thompson? We won’t be shocked if you don’t believe it when you first see her. The makeup artist Mark Coulier went to town on the prosthetics to give her the appearance of a complete hag with a mole, a snaggle-tooth, and a unibrow.
With such realistic makeup, Thompson must have been ecstatic to see her story come to life. That she can still shine through all that makeup on her face is a testament to how excellent she is as an actress.
Jennifer Lawrence / X-Men
Can you believe Jennifer Lawrence had to sit in a makeup chair for seven hours just to become Mystique in the X-Men movies? Not only that, but her entire body had to be painted blue, which took six people to do! Talk about dedication to a role.
J-Law did admit she was a bit worried about the paint going into her nose and eyes – we mean, who wouldn’t be? But hey, the end result was totally worth it!
Ian McKellen / Lord of the Rings
Ian McKellen may have been born with a pretty impressive schnoz, but to become the iconic wizard Gandalf, the makeup team had to take it to the next level. They gave him a prosthetic nose so big; you could park a bicycle on it! Not to mention the long hair and beard — he looked like he had just stepped out of a Lord of the Rings-themed hair salon.
McKellen did have some input, though — he asked for a smaller nose when the sculptors made new ones out of silicon. Good call, Ian — we don’t want your nose sliding off during a pivotal scene!
Brendon Gleeson / Harry Potter
Let’s discuss Harry Potter’s Mad-Eye Moody. Let’s just say it wasn’t an easy job for Brendan Gleeson to perform. His face had to have many silicon components, including an animatronic eye, placed on it by the makeup crew throughout two and a half hours as he sat in a chair.
Since Gleeson had a contract with set working hours, makeup artist Nick Dudman had to devise techniques to speed up the procedure. But in the end, everything came together, and we were left with a beautiful persona.
Jared Leto / Suicide Squad
Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad was no walk in the park for the makeup crew. Three hours of makeup every day just to get that crazy clown look! But you gotta hand it to Leto; it helped him get in the zone and stay there.
They even had a whole department dedicated just to his face! It’s a good thing Leto had the patience because compared to Heath Ledger’s one-hour makeup and Joaquin Phoenix’s 15 minutes, he had it rough!
Nicholas Hoult / X-Men: First Class
Hey, did you know that the special effects makeup for Beast in X-Men: First Class was made by Studio ADI? According to makeup artist Alec Gillis, they aimed for a lion-like appearance, which differed significantly from Kelsey Grammer’s portrayal of the character in the original trilogy.
To make it more lifelike, they chose fur rather than hair. He also had feline textures applied, which made him appear feral. Warm tones were applied in post-production to make the skin appear less monochrome. Overall, the makeup was fairly intricate, but the character came to life afterward.
Ian Scott / Game of Thrones
Anthrax’s guitarist, Ian Scott, appeared in Game of Thrones as a White Walker. Talk about a dream come true!
Scott was totally fascinated by horror and fantasy movie makeup since he was a wee lad, so he was stoked to undergo his transformation. The makeup artists on the show are seriously talented, so it’s no surprise that Scott loved the process.
Ron Perlman / Hellboy
Ron Perlman went through an insane transformation to play Hellboy. He picked Jake Garber, a master of art direction, animatronics, and puppetry, to handle the intense makeup work. The prosthetics covered Perlman’s entire face, except for his eyelids, and it took four hours to apply!
They even painted his body red and used tons of shading to make it look legit. We don’t know about you, but we don’t think we could handle sitting in a makeup chair for that long!
John Hurt / Elephant Man
Back in the ’80s, John Hurt took on a daunting role in the movie Elephant Man. He had to wear so many layers of prosthetics that it made his head spin. Literally. He said, “I think they finally managed to make me hate acting.”
The movie tells the story of John Merrick, who was born with serious deformities in the 1800s. Unfortunately, people weren’t very accepting back then, so he was treated like a sideshow attraction for most of his life.
Karen Gillan / Guardians of the Galaxy
Karen Gillan’s transformation as Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy was so intense that even her closest friends wouldn’t recognize her! Makeup artist David White compared it to a five-piece puzzle.
When Gillan was auditioning for the role, she was told she’d have to shave her head, and thinking she wasn’t going to get the part, she agreed. But after a few screen tests, reality set in, and she found out she was really going to have to part ways with her locks.
Johnny Depp / Edward Scissorhands
It only took one hour and 45 minutes to get Johnny Depp’s Edward Scissorhands look for the movie! Yup, that’s right! Makeup artist Ve Neill and her team added some scars and simple makeup to his face, and voila — he was transformed into the iconic character!
But let’s not forget about the intricate costume with those scissor hands — that probably took a little more time to put on!
Brad Pitt / The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt had to go through more makeup looks than a Kardashian does in a month! The flick saw him aging backward, so the makeup team had to put in a lot of work to make him look older, then younger, then older again — you get the drill.
But hey, all those minimal pieces paid off as they helped tell the character’s story, and Brad Pitt looked dashing no matter his stage.
Val Kilmer / Citizen Twain
In Citizen Twain, Val Kilmer transformed to play Mark Twain. The legendary mustache of Mark Twain required layers of prosthetics and silicone accessories, which the makeup artist applied over the course of two hours.
Kilmer snapped pictures at each step of the makeup application because the transformation so took him aback. Kilmer gave Twain a new look and life with the aid of cosmetics artists.
Ian Holm / The Lord of the Rings
You remember Bilbo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, right? Well, Ian Holm had to go through quite the transformation to become him. He had so many layers of prosthetics and makeup on that he probably couldn’t recognize himself in the mirror.
Bilbo was depicted at different stages of his life, so multiple makeup looks were needed. The WETA Workshop in New Zealand created the prosthetics for the movies, and it took about four hours for each character to get fully made up. That’s dedication!
Danny DeVito / Batman Returns
Oh boy, the transformation of Danny DeVito into the Penguin for Batman Returns was no easy feat! First up, they had to stick on his beak-like nose, which acted as the anchor for the rest of his makeup. Then they added two sets of fake teeth, giving DeVito quite the chompers.
But that wasn’t all – to create a gross, bile-like fluid for the character, they mixed red and green food coloring with mouthwash. DeVito would take a mouthful of the concoction and let it ooze out throughout the scene.
Tim Curry / It
Let’s discuss Tim Curry’s performance as Pennywise in It. He had to undergo a ridiculous makeup metamorphosis to get into character. For ideas on how to create the classic clown, makeup artist Bart J. Mixon completed his research and studied a ton of clown appearances.
Curry didn’t want to wear too many prostheses, so some accommodations had to be made. Ultimately, the makeup was “light” with a few “battery-acid” accents to make it truly stand out.
Marlon Brando / The Godfather
When Marlon Brando landed the role of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, he had to convince the studio that he was the right man for the job. And how did he do that? By getting creative with some everyday items!
He slicked back his hair with shoe polish and stuffed his cheeks with Kleenex to give his mouth a bulldog-like appearance. The directors were so impressed with his resourcefulness that they knew he was the perfect fit for the part. Who knew that shoe polish and tissues could make all the difference?
