Star Wars blasts other contenders to top visual effects list
Star Wars, the 1977 science fiction classic directed by George Lucas, has been named the most influential visual-effects movie of all time by the California-based Visual Effects Society.
The trade organization says the film was chosen by its 1,500 members, topping its list of "The 50 Most Influential Visual Effects Films of All Time."
The film, starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, beat out the Ridley Scott-directed Blade Runner (1982).Tied for third place was Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Andy and Larry Wachowski'sThe Matrix (1999).
"These films have had a significant, lasting impact on the practice and appreciation of visual effects as an integral, artistic element of cinematic expression and the storytelling process," VES executive director Eric Roth said.
The VES represents artists, producers, technology developers, educators and studio executives involved in special effects.
Star Wars went on to spawn five sequels as well as a television series, comic books, action figures, video games and trading cards.
Forbes Magazine estimates the franchise has raked in $20 billion US so far, making it the most successful film franchise ever.
Topping VES's list of the 50most influential visual-effects films of all time are:
- Star Wars (1977).
- Blade Runner (1982).
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and The Matrix (1999).
- Jurassic Park (1993).
- Tron (1982).
- King Kong (1933).
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
- Alien (1979).
- The Abyss (1989).
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980).