22 Greatest Special Effects Makeup Transformations That Took The Movie To Another Level

While makeup is often used in film to beautify the appearance of actors and actresses, it is also used to transform them into fantasy characters. Even with computer-generated imagery (CGI), special effects makeup is still critical in helping live actors and actresses look authentic in the CGI world surrounding them; imagine Frodo with perfectly rounded ears and normal, hairless feet, and you understand how important the special effects makeup artist’s tiniest jobs can sometimes be. Not only must the artist be well-versed in conventional makeup, he or she must also be knowledgeable when it comes to the use of prosthetics, often made of latex, silicone, rubber, fake blood, and other materials.

As the audience, we tend to overlook the important job of the special effects makeup artist. Today, we pay homage to these unsung heroes by checking out the most incredible makeup transformations ever seen in movies and television. Use the photo slider to compare the before and afters.

Seriously, what sorcery is this?

Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence, X-Men Days of Future Past

Ian Gavan / Getty Images / Marvel Entertainment

Jim Carrey as The Grinch in How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic / Via Everett (Grinch)

John Travolta as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (1997)

John Travolta

John Travolta, Hairspray

Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images / New Line Cinema

Johnny Depp, Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp, Edward Scissorhands

Kevin Mazur / WireImage / Via 20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Everett (Scissorhands)

Michael Keaton, Beetlejuice (1988)

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton, Beetlejuice

Time & Life Pictures / Getty / Via Everett (Beetlejuice)

Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf in The Hours (2002)

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman, The Hours

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images / Miramax Films

Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter series (2001-11)

Ralph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes, As Lord Voldemort In Harry Potter

Michael Kovac / Getty Images / Warner Bros.

Ray Park as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Ray Park

Ray Park, Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Dimitrios Kambouris / WireImage / Via Everett (Star Wars)

Ron Perlman as Hellboy in Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

Ron Perlman

Ron Perlman, Hellboy II The Golden Army

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images / Universal Pictures

Doug Jones as Abe Sapien in Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

Doug-Jones

Doug Jones, Hellboy II The Golden Army

Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images / Via Columbia / Everett (Hellboy II)

Danny DeVito as The Penguin in Batman Returns (1992)

Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito, Batman Returns

Vince Bucci / Getty / Via Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection (Batman)

Doug Jones as Pale Man in Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Doug Jones

Doug Jones, Pan's Labyrinth

Brad Barket / Getty Images / Warner Bros. Pictures

Dustin Hoffman, Hook (1991)

Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman, Hook

Time & Life Pictures / Via TriStar Pictures / Everett (Hook)

Eddie Murphy, Norbit (2007)

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy, Norbit

Christopher Polk / Getty Images / DreamWorks Pictures

Emma Thompson, Nanny McPhee (2005)

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson, Nanny McPhee

Kevin Winter / Getty Images / Universal Pictures

Eric Stoltz as Roy L. ‘Rocky’ Dennis in Mask (1985)

Eric Stoltz

Eric Stoltz, Mask

Ron Galella / WireImage / Via Universal / Everett (Mask)

Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2012)

Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Evan Agostini / Getty Images / DC Comics

Hugh Grant, Cloud Atlas (2012)

Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant, Cloud Atlas

Ben Pruchnie / Getty Images / Warner Bros. Pictures

Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle in The Fly (1986)

Jeff Goldblum

Jeff Goldblum, The Fly

20th Century Fox / 20th Century Fox

Eric Bana as Nero in Star Trek (2009)

Eric Bana

Eric Bana, Star Trek

theplace.ru / en.memory-alpha.org

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines

Vince Bucci / Getty Images / Warner Bros. Pictures

Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003)

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron, Monster

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images / Columbia Pictures

Have you ever paid attention to the special effects makeup when you watched these movies? The transformations are just incredible. Share these with others below.