Movies & TV Facts for Kids
Behind-the-scenes facts from film and TV
The wand movements in the Harry Potter films were choreographed to look like a real gestural language. Each character has a distinct style — Hermione's movements are precise and academic, while Harry's are more instinctive and bold.
Before color film existed, movie studios employed teams of mostly women to paint color onto each individual film frame by hand. A single minute of film could have 1,440 separate frames to color.
Pixar created 27 different versions of Joy's character design before settling on the final look in 'Inside Out' (2015). The production team also consulted with psychologists to make the film's depiction of emotions scientifically accurate.
The original King Kong in the 1933 classic was not a giant creature at all — it was an 18-inch puppet covered in rabbit fur. The filmmakers used a technique called stop-motion, moving the puppet slightly for each individual photo.
Before making 'Moana' (2016), the Disney team traveled to Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti to research Polynesian culture, music, and navigation techniques. They formed a special group called the Oceanic Story Trust to make sure the film was respectful and accurate.
Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' (1960) was the first Hollywood film to show a toilet being flushed on screen. Audiences were so shocked that many theater owners refused to show the film.
In 'Finding Nemo,' after Nemo's mother is eaten, his father Marlin should biologically have changed into a female to mate again — because clownfish can actually change sex. The filmmakers knew this but kept Marlin as male for the story.
In the original 'Wizard of Oz' book by L. Frank Baum, Dorothy's magic shoes were silver, not ruby red. They were changed to red for the 1939 film because the filmmakers wanted to show off their new Technicolor technology.
During the filming of 'Avengers: Infinity War' and 'Endgame,' many actors were not given the full script. Some only received scenes involving their own character so that plot secrets could not be leaked.
'The Sound of Music' (1965) was not shown in Austria — where it is set — for 30 years after its release. Many Austrians felt the film was too sentimental and did not accurately represent their history.