10 Movies that, you won’t believe, were really hard to film

Not all magic movies were made behind the comfort of studios or the hum of air-conditioned sets. While some productions literally wore their madness on their sleeves, others left fans aghast at the sheer intensity of what really went on behind the cameras. From life-threatening weather and literally life-risking stunts to near-meltdowns and mental stress, the path to achieving these films was anything but a stroll.

What's remarkable is that most of these films don't necessarily appear challenging. Some are period dramas, some are fantasy or even musicals, but in back of the camera, it was absolute chaos. In a couple of instances, actors were in fear for their lives, directors jeopardized their careers, and entire staffs threatened to walk off set. And still, despite it all, these films were finished - and many went on to become critical and commercial successes.

Here are 10 movies that, although they appear seamless on screen, were extremely difficult to produce. From haunted sets to physically demanding challenges, these tales will make you love the movies and the filmmakers even more.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

1. The Revenant (2015)

Leonardo DiCaprio described The Revenant as the toughest shoot of his career, and it's no joke. Shot in natural light and subzero temperatures, the cast and crew had to pursue perfect sunlight in remote Canadian and Argentinian backcountry. Actors spent nights sleeping in animal carcasses and braved icy rivers, raw bison liver, and hypothermia dangers. DiCaprio spent nights sleeping in animal carcasses and endured frostbite close calls. Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu resisted green screens, instead opting for realism over ease, which resulted in budget blowouts and crew walkouts.

2. Titanic (1997)

James Cameron's Titanic was beset with seemingly endless obstacles, cost overruns, actor injuries, and even a rumored poisoning on the set. The enormous water tank sequences at Baja Studios were so chilly that Kate Winslet contracted pneumonia, and extras fainted from hypothermia. DiCaprio had issues with the wet clothing, while Cameron, infamous for his perfectionism, drove the crew with 12- to 15-hour days. Conditions got so heated that one upset crew member laced chowder with PCP, sending dozens to the hospital. In spite of the bedlam, Titanic emerged as a historical epic that continues to resonate culturally.

3. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now was a war off-screen rather than on. Filmed in the Philippines, production was beset by typhoons that damaged sets and stopped filming. Overweight and unprepared, Marlon Brando showed up last-minute, causing rewrites. Lead actor Martin Sheen had a heart attack during filming; the studio kept that a secret in order to not cause panic. Coppola spent his own fortune, experienced a nervous breakdown, and at one point admitted he was afraid the film would never be finished. From this debacle came a classic war epic that reflected the madness it sought to depict raw, hallucinatory, and frighteningly real.

4. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

What appeared to be smooth, high-speed action on the screen was a grueling experience off it. Mad Max: Fury Road was shot in the Namib Desert under scorching temperatures, with frequent sandstorms halting shooting. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron allegedly fought on set because of the pressure. Director George Miller wanted practical effects and real stunts, which translated into real explosions, car crashes, and countless rehearsals in brutal landscapes. The grueling shoot left the actors mentally and physically exhausted. But all the agony was worth it; it took home six Oscars and set a new standard for action films.

5. The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick's perfectionism turned The Shining into a psychological test for all concerned. Shelley Duvall, however, was taken to the edge. Kubrick allegedly isolated her and had her scream more than 120 times with a bat, causing her hair to come out in clumps. Jack Nicholson also lost his mind, crossing boundaries between performance and reality. It took three days and 60 doors to get the "Here's Johnny!" scene on camera. Even the legendary carpet pattern had to be modified for continuity purposes. Although the completed film is a classic horror, its production blurred the distinction between devotion and brutality.

6. Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo is the mythical instance of art copying lunacy. The tale of dragging a steamship up a mountain was shot by doing it for real no computer-generated imagery, no gimmicks. Cast and crew members spent months in the Peruvian jungle, fighting disease, injury, and animals. Lead actor Klaus Kinski was so unbearable that locals offered to murder him for Herzog. The aerial disaster close to the location further contributed to the bizarre pandemonium. Herzog chronicled this craziness in Burden of Dreams, which is as interesting an argument as the movie itself, according to many. Fitzcarraldo is a testament to filmmaking mania and sheer ambition.

7. The Northman (2022)

Robert Eggers' The Northman was a raw, intense Viking epic, but making it was all-out war. Aided by the unforgiving environment of Iceland's wilderness, the cast and crew endured incessant wind, rain, and subzero temperatures. Alexander Skarsgård trained hard and pushed himself to the limit, even shooting bare-chested through freezing nights. Eggers demanded lengthy, intricate single takes with exact choreography, so if one actor fell on the muddy ground, the whole scene had to be remade. Weather delays contributed to the chaos, but the end result was a raw, realistic epic. The audience sensed the primal rage onscreen because the cast experienced it offscreen.

8. The Abyss (1989)

James Cameron returns with The Abyss, which almost busted his cast. Shot mostly inside an old nuclear reactor converted into a massive water tank, performers spent hours in the water. Ed Harris came close to drowning and once slapped Cameron after he was left stranded in dangerous circumstances. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio walked off set after a destroyed take while filming the CPR scene. Crew members have been said to experience ear infections and stress as a result of extended immersion. Production nightmares on this film are legendary, making it one of the most challenging sci-fi shoots ever.

9. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

This classic musical conceals one of Hollywood's most hazardous productions. The original Tin Man had to be replaced due to a severe allergic reaction to aluminum makeup. Judy Garland was placed on a rigorous regimen of pills, which started her lifelong health problems. Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch, endured second-degree burns from a failed fire stunt. The flying monkeys' actors got hurt in wire stunts, and the poppy field's snow? That was asbestos. Although the film is magical on screen, producing it was nothing short of witchcraft. Today, it is considered a period nostalgic treasure shot under extremely black conditions.

10. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Stanley Kubrick's last film is the Guinness World Record holder for the longest continuous film shoot: over 15 months. Eyes Wide Shut pushed Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, whose actual marriage started to disintegrate during filming. Kubrick's infinite takes and secretive direction pushed actors into psychological corners. A straightforward doorway scene allegedly took 90 takes. Kubrick rebuilt the streets of New York City in London to film at night, contributing to spiraling costs and delays. The creepy atmosphere of the film echoes the real-life tension on the set, thus a cinematic puzzle conceived out of complete control and emotional burnout.