20 fascinating facts about Lord of The Rings movies you probably didn't know

Modified Jan 27, 2025 10:21 ET

The Lord of the Rings (Image via New Line Cinema and WingNut Films)

7) Massive miniatures called "bigatures"

The sets for Minas Tirith, Helm’s Deep, and other key locations were created as enormous, highly detailed miniatures called "bigatures." These massive models were built to include intricate textures and fine details that could be convincingly captured on film. The bigatures allowed the filmmakers to shoot realistic wide shots of cities and castles, enhancing the epic scale of Middle-earth. These structures gave the trilogy its iconic visual authenticity and ensured the environments felt real and tangible, something that CGI alone could not achieve at the time.