Every once in a while visual effects studios out-do themselves and “wow” audiences with breathtaking VFX and stunning immersive environments. Whether you are in the film and entertainment industry or just a VFX enthusiast, it is important to recognize the work of others and be inspired by what has been accomplished, and these 10 reels and breakdowns are very inspiring.

Brainstorm 2015 Demo Reel from Brainstorm Digital on Vimeo.

Brainstorm Digital is a smaller studio that accomplishes amazing work for various films and TV shows. It is notable to see the work of this small team and their passion for perfecting their craft in compositing impressive scene extensions and creating immersive environments that look photorealistic.

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA: Scanline VFX Shot Breakdowns Reel from ScanlineVFX on Vimeo.

ScanlineVFX flexed their muscles with the effects on this movie. Most of the water in the movie was completely computer generated with stunning fluid simulations that look photorealistic. 

However, as impressive as the water and atmosphere effects were, the giant star of the movie was the enormous whale, and ScanlineVFX accomplished this literally enormous task in a beautiful way. 

The whale looked and felt so real that you could truly sense the weight of this daunting creature lurking in the deep.

The Mill 2015 VFX Reel from The Mill on Vimeo.

Best known for their commercials, The Mill is a symbol of quality and attention to detail no matter how big or small the project. Most commercials last for 30 seconds to 2 minutes and are constantly vying for our attention. 

The VFX industry has infiltrated all areas of our entertainment in order to meet the demands of audiences’ ever-growing expectations, and the Mill delivers with quality effects in short segments that look amazing.

Digital Domain is a world-renowned studio that has worked amazing blockbuster movies, but equally impressive is their work on various TV shows and short films. Black Sails is no exception. 

This breakdown showcases their ability to seamlessly integrate virtual environments with live action plates and add a plethora of water, wind, fog, and rain to create a breathtaking final result.

For over 40 years ILM has taken us to worlds unseen and never-before imagined with their effects that are constantly changing and evolving. Not only does this VFX giant produce some of the most amazing technology behind the effects, but they manage to create some of the most iconic imagery of all time that will be remembered and appreciated by generations to come.

IRON MAN 3: Scanline VFX Shot Breakdowns Reel from ScanlineVFX on Vimeo.

The destruction of the Tony Stark mansion is arguably the most exciting scene of the movie, and it does not disappoint. The impressive CGI elements that went into creating the house are full of incredible detail, then the work ScanlineVFX did to destroy the house is just awesome. 

Many difficult elements to accomplish in the computer such as fire, water, smoke, and rigid body simulations are all combined to make this an effects spectacle worth watching.

R&H 2016 Reel from RhythmAndHuesStudios on Vimeo.

Rhythm and Hues has won numerous academy awards for their incredible effects and amazing work on blockbuster movies. 

The studio is a symbol of triumph in the VFX industry, having faced multiple problems as a studio including bankruptcy in 2013, they have made a comeback in the entertainment world and now continue to produce some of the most epic visual effects ever to be displayed on the big screen.

ILM wowed audiences with their dazzling display of practical and visual effects in Star Trek: Into Darkness. This reel showcases an enormous presentation of photorealistic landscapes, seamless human and CGI integration, and epic explosions.

MPC FX Reel from MPC on Vimeo.

Like other studios on this list, MPC has had their hand in some of the most gloriously epic VFX moments. Their impressive creature and monster work has made a vast impact on the quality of monster movies, and they continue to create 3D environments that are composited so precisely with foreground plates, making it increasingly more difficult to know what is real and what is computer generated.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was full of insane visuals that looked both futuristic and realistic at the same time. Making a Star Wars movie that would be a comeback for the franchise produced Everest-high expectations as to what the film should look like. 

ILM met and exceeded those expectations by filling the movie with practical effects and digital effects that were integrated together in a beautiful explosive mess of galactic perfection.

This list presents a small sample of what has been accomplished in the VFX industry. The bar for visual goodness and stunning imagery is consistently being set, destroyed, and raised again. What will you create?

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