The Hollywood's writers and actors on strike will soon start affecting tv shows and even movies. With no signs of an end date any time soon, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) are concurrently striking for the first time in over 60 years. The writer’s strike began at the start of May, with the actors guild joining just last week.

Both unions share the same reasons for striking. This includes getting paid a living wage to meet basic needs, receiving higher residuals (financial compensation paid out to actors whenever TV shows or movies they’ve appeared in are replayed on streaming and syndication), and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be regulated to protect talent and writers’ jobs from being completely taken over. Some big-time actors have joined the picket lines, including Rachel McAdams, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Rosario Dawson, Hilary Duff, and more.

Films have been an inspiration in our lives, with some of the most impactful ones being the most visually stunning to watch. For a few hours, you are transported to a completely different world through the use of set design, camerawork, color palettes, and costumes. Storytelling is what can make or break an aesthetically pleasing film, but with all of these factors working in perfect harmony, we can see the directors’ visions come to life. See below our top five picks of the most visually stunning films to watch.

• 5. Edward Scissorhands

  Leave it to director Tim Burton to make his characters and set design so fantastical in both his animated works and live-action films. He keeps things both eerie and bright, perfectly melding the two opposite aesthetics, in 1990’s Edward Scissorhands. We are particularly drawn to the intricately-trimmed hedges and ice sculptures of dinosaurs, woodland creatures, humans, and anatomy. Stream it on Max, Prime Video, or Hulu.

• 4. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

  In the first Spider-Man animated film, the colors and animation were so mesmerizing. Comic book dots pastel aesthetics with bursts of colors made this Spider-Man film unlike any other. You get transported to this vibrant world that comic books create, but with animation. With how beautiful the first film was, it was crazy seeing the 2023 sequel having its animation taken to an even higher level. The animated Spider-Man movies are probably the most beautiful animated films as of late. It is currently only available for rent on streamers.

• 3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

  Take yourself on a fantastical trip to Middle-Earth, where the lands of fairies and hobbits exist. It is crazy to think that some of the castles and set design were models like the city of Minas Tirith were scaled to look like a real-life thing! Some of the miniatures like that one were very large and extremely detailed, becoming known as “bigatures.” Stream the entire trilogy on Max. The first film is also on Hulu and Prime Video.

• 2. Blade Runner 2049

  Blade Runner 2049 gives us everything our eyes desire: a screen filled with different shades of orange, neon colors, minimalist architecture, and a hazy landscape. The sequel blows the 1982 film out of the water, as technology has obviously advanced and the quintessential cyberpunk style cemented. Stream it on Hulu.

• 1. Grand Budapest Hotel

  It comes as no surprise that a Wes Anderson film takes the top spot because, well, he’s got that aesthetically pleasing color palette to his films. Not only that but with Grand Budapest Hotel, the set design and costuming make the film that much more charming — how delightful does Mendl’s bakery look? Stream it on Hulu.

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