The Complete Visual Archive of Cinema’s Greatest Special Effects Secrets, Issues 1–172
· Film and visual effects
When I was just a boy, enthralled by the special effects of Star Wars, I found a magazine that showed how movie magic was made. It was called Cinefex: The Journal of Cinematic Illusions.
I sat on the floor in the aisle of the bookstore and flipped through every beautifully illustrated page. By the time I reached the end, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was 9 years old, and I continued to read the magazine through age 50 when the publication was finally retired, a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic…
Reading Cinefex ignited a passion that shaped my approach to setting and achieving goals. Those pages, revealing the secrets behind cinema’s greatest illusions, catalyzed my early career work in the motion picture industry. Even now, holding an issue stirs profound emotions — each page brings back that childhood wonder of discovering how incredible visual effects were created, a feeling that still moves me deeply after all these years.
With deep respect for something that has brought great joy to my life, here, for the record, is the cover of every issue, from 1 to 172.
Cinefex, you were more than a magazine — you were the spark that ignited dreams. Thank you for everything.
(1) MARCH 1980. Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Alien | (2) AUGUST 1980. The Empire Strikes Back, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Greg Jein | (3) DECEMBER 1980. The Empire Strikes Back, Phase IV, Walter Murch
(4) APRIL 1981. Outland, Altered State | (5) JULY 1981. Clash of the Titans, Ray Harryhausen, Caveman | (6) OCTOBER 1981. Dragonslayer, Raiders of the Lost Ark, CGI
(7) JANUARY 1982. Willis O’Brien | (8) APRIL 1982. Tron, Silent Running | (9) JULY 1982. Blade Runner
(10) OCTOBER 1982. Poltergeist, Firefox | (11) JANUARY 1983. E.T., Robert Swarthe | (12) APRIL 1983. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Stop Motion Animation, Dream Quest
(13) JULY 1983. Return of the Jedi | (14) OCTOBER 1983. The Right Stuff, Brainstorm, Twilight Zone: The Movie | (15) JANUARY 1984. Never Say Never Again, The Day After, Ralph Hammeras
(16) APRIL 1984. Rick Baker | (17) JUNE 1984. Ghostbusters, The Last Starfighter | (18) AUGUST 1984. Indiana Jones II, Star Trek III
(19) NOVEMBER 1984. Gremlins, Buckaroo Banzai, Dreamscape | (20) JANUARY 1985. 2010 | (21) APRIL 1985. The Terminator, Dune
(22) JUNE 1985. Return to Oz, Baby | (23) AUGUST 1985. Explorers, Lifeforce, My Science Project | (24) NOVEMBER 1985. Cocoon, The Goonies, Back to the Future
(25) FEBRUARY 1986. Enemy Mine, German Special Effects, Fright Night | (26) MAY 1986. Poltergeist II, Young Sherlock Holmes | (27) JULY 1986. Aliens
(28) NOVEMBER 1986. The Fly, Big Trouble in Little China, Short Circuit | (29) FEBRUARY 1987. Star Trek IV, King Kong Lives, Top Gun | (30) MAY 1987. Little Shop of Horrors, The Gate, The Golden Child
(31) AUGUST 1987. Spaceballs, The Witches of Eastwick, Masters of the Universe | (32) NOVEMBER 1987. RoboCop, Innerspace | (33) FEBRUARY 1988. Dick Smith, 007 x 4, The Predator
(34) MAY 1988. Beetlejuice, Batteries Not Included | (35) AUGUST 1988. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Willow | (36) NOVEMBER 1988. Dead Ringers, Alien Nation, Die Hard, The Blob
(37) FEBRUARY 1989. Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Fly II, Oxford Scientific Films | (38) MAY 1989. The Adventures of Terry Gilliam | (39) AUGUST 1989. The Abyss
(40) NOVEMBER 1989. Ghostbusters II, Indiana Jones III | (41) FEBRUARY 1990. Batman, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | (42) MAY 1990. Tremors, The Hunt for Red October, Star Trek V
(43) AUGUST 1990. Total Recall, Back to the Future II, Back to the Future III | (44) NOVEMBER 1990. Dick Tracy, Ghost, Always | (45) FEBRUARY 1991. RoboCop II, Flight of the Intruder, Die Hard II
(46) MAY 1991. Rick Baker, The Godfather | (47) AUGUST 1991. Terminator II | (48) NOVEMBER 1991. The Rocketeer, Backdraft, Cast a Deadly Spell
(49) FEBRUARY 1992. Naked Lunch, Hook, Star Trek VI | (50) MAY 1992. Alien III, The Lawnmower Man | (51) AUGUST 1992. Batman Returns
(52) NOVEMBER 1992. Honey, I Blew up the Kid, Death Becomes Her | (53) FEBRUARY 1993. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Steven Spielberg | (54) MAY 1993. Toys, Cliffhanger
(55) AUGUST 1993. Jurassic Park | (56) NOVEMBER 1993. The Nightmare Before Christmas, Last Action Hero, RoboCop III | (57) MARCH 1994. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, Demolition Man
(58) JUNE 1994. The Flintstones, The Hudsucker Proxy | (59) SEPTEMBER 1994. True Lies | (60) DECEMBER 1994. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, The Mask, Forrest Gump
(61) MARCH 1995. Interview With the Vampire, Star Trek Generations, Stargate | (62) JUNE 1995. Congo, Judge Dredd, Dick Smith | (63) SEPTEMBER 1995. Apollo 13, Batman Forever
(64) DECEMBER 1995. Jumanji, Toy Story, Waterworld, Broken Arrow, Casino | (65) MARCH 1996. 20 Years of ILM, George Lucas, Star Wars, Dennis Muren | (66) JUNE 1996. Dragonheart, Twister, James and the Giant Peach, Aftershocks, Flipper
(67) SEPTEMBER 1996. Independence Day, Mission: Impossible, Multiplicity, The Nutty Professor, Escape from L.A. | (68) DECEMBER 1996, Mars Attacks!, T2: Battle Across Time, Daylight, The Ghost and the Darkness, The City of Lost Children | (69) MARCH 1997. The Relic, Dante’s Peak, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Wars SE, Turbulence
(70) JUNE 1997. Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Men in Black, The Fifth Element, Con Air, Anaconda (71) SEPTEMBER 1997. Spawn, Batman & Robin, Volcano, Contact, Speed 2 | (72) DECEMBER 1997. Titanic
(73) APRIL 1998. Starship Troopers, Alien Resurrection, Flubber, Mouse Hunt, An American Werewolf in Paris | (74) JULY 1998. Godzilla, The X-Files Movie, Deep Impact, Lost in Space, Deep Rising | (75) OCTOBER 1998. Small Soldiers, Armageddon, Blade, Dr. Dolittle, The Truman Show
(76) JANUARY 1999. Mighty Joe Young, What Dreams May Come, Pleasantville, Antz, A Bug’s Life | (77) APRIL 1999. My Favorite Martian, Star Trek: Insurrection, The Mummy, Babe, Wing Commander | (78) JULY 1999. Star Wars Episode I
(79) OCTOBER 1999. The Matrix, Wild Wild West, The Haunting, Deep Blue Sea | (80) JANUARY 2000. 20th Anniversary Issue, Sleepy Hollow, A Look Back, Stuart Little, Fight Club | (81) APRIL 2000. Mission to Mars, End of Days, Galaxy Quest, Bicentennial Man, Pitch Black
(82) JULY 2000. Chicken Run, Dinosaur, The Perfect Storm, Gladiator, U-571 | (83) OCTOBER 2000. Hollow Man, X-Men, The Cell, The Patriot, What Lies Beneath (84) JANUARY 2001. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Red Planet, Vertical Limit, Bedazzled, 101 Dalmations
(85) APRIL 2001. 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Mummy Returns, The 6th Day, Monkeybone | (86) JULY 2001. Pearl Harbor, Evolution, Moulin Rouge, Final Fantasy, Driven | (87) OCTOBER 2001. A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Planet of the Apes, Jurassic Park III, Tomb Raider
(88) JANUARY 2002. Harry Potter, Monsters Inc., The Fast and the Furious, Shrek | (89) APRIL 2002. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Time Machine, Black Hawk Down | (90) JULY 2002. Star Wars II, Spider-Man
(91) OCTOBER 2002. Minority Report, Men in Black II, Reign of Fire | (92) JANUARY 2003. The Two Towers, Spy Kids I and II, XXX | (93) APRIL 2003. Harry Potter II, Adaptation, Daredevil, Star Trek Nemesis
(94) JULY 2003. The Hulk, X-Men United, The Core | (95) OCTOBER 2003. The Matrix Reloaded, Terminator III, Spy Kids 3D, Seabiscuit | (96) JANUARY 2004. The Return of the King, Peter Jackson, Master and Commander, Peter Pan
(97) APRIL 2004. Hellboy, The Matrix Revolutions, The Passion of the Christ, Matte World Digital, Phil Tippett | (98) JULY 2004. The Day After Tomorrow, Sky Captain, Troy, Van Helsing | (99) OCTOBER 2004. I, Robot, Alien Vs. Predator, Harry Potter III, Spider-Man 2
(100) JANUARY 2005. The Polar Express, State of the Art, Lemony Snicket | (101) APRIL 2005. The Aviator, State of the Business, Son of the Mask | (102) JULY 2005. Star Wars III, George Lucas, Sin City, Constantine, Hitchhiker’s Guide
(103) OCTOBER 2005. War of the Worlds, Batman Begins, Stealth, Fantastic Four, The Island | (104) JANUARY 2006. King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Corpse Bride, The Exorcism of Emily Rose | (105) APRIL 2006. Harry Potter IV, Forum on Effects in TV, The Shaggy Dog, Casanova, Zathura
(106) JULY 2006. Superman Returns, X-Men: The Last Stand, Poseidon, V for Vendetta, The Da Vinci Code | (107) OCTOBER 2006. Pirates of the Caribbean II, The Fountain, Flags of our Fathers, World Trade Center, Lady in the Water (108) JANUARY 2007. Charlotte’s Web, Casino Royale, Eragon, Night at the Museum, Flyboys
(109) APRIL 2007. Ghost Rider, 300, Pan’s Labyrinth, Zodiac, Apocalypto | (110) JULY 2007. Spider-Man III, Pirates of the Caribbean III, Children of Men, The Last Mimzy, Next | (111) OCTOBER 2007. Transformers, Harry Potter V, Stardust, Sunshine, Resident Evil III
(112) JANUARY 2008. The Golden Compass, I Am Legend, Beowulf, Enchanted, The Mist | (113) APRIL 2008. 10,000 B.C., The Spiderwick Chronicles, Cloverfield, Charlie Wilson’s War, Sweeney Todd | (114) JULY 2008. Iron Man, The Chronicles of Narnia II, Speed Racer, Get Smart, The Incredible Hulk
(115) OCTOBER 2008. The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones IV, Hellboy II, Hancock | (116) JANUARY 2009. Benjamin Button, Quantum of Solace, The Day the Earth Stood Still, City of Ember, Stuart Freeborn (117) APRIL 2009. Watchmen, Coraline, The Spirit, Changeling, Inkheart
(118) JULY 2009. Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Angels & Demons (119) OCTOBER 2009. Transformers II, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Harry Potter VI, District 9, G-Force (120)
(121) APRIL 2010. The Wolfman, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The Lightning Thief | (122) JULY 2010. Iron Man II, Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Splice | (123) OCTOBER 2010. Inception, Prince of Persia, The A-Team, The Last Airbender
(124) JANUARY 2011. TRON: Legacy, Harry Potter VII: Part 1, The Chronicles of Narnia III, Hereafter | (125) APRIL 2011. Battle: Los Angeles, Rango, Black Swan, Sucker Punch | (126) JUNE 2011. X-Men: First Class, Thor, Source Code, Priest
(127) OCTOBER 2011. Captain America, Cowboys & Aliens, Anonymous, Harry Potter VII: Part 2 | (128) JANUARY 2012. Real Steel, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Hugo, The Tree of Life | (129) APRIL 2012. John Carter, Mission: Impossible IV, Red Tails, The Adventures of Tintin
(130) JULY 2012. Prometheus, The Avengers, Battleship, Snow White and the Huntsman | (131) OCTOBER 2012. The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider-Man, Total Recall, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter | (132) JANUARY 2013. The Hobbit, Cloud Atlas, Life of Pi, Beasts of the Southern Wildild
(133) APRIL 2013. Skyfall, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Jack the Giant Slayer, Les Misérables | (134) JULY 2013. Iron Man III, Star Trek Into Darkness, Oblivion, White House Down, HENRi | (135) OCTOBER 2013. Elysium, World War Z, Pacific Rim, Man of Steel
(136) JANUARY 2014. Gravity, Thor: The Dark World, Rush, Carrie (137) APRIL 2014. Hobbit II, Game of Thrones, RoboCop, Walter Mitty (138) JULY 2014. O’Brien vs Dawley, Captain America II, Amazing Spider-Man II, Maleficent, Godzilla
(139) OCTOBER 2014. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Guardians of the Galaxy, Edge of Tomorrow, X-Men: Days of Future Past | (140) JANUARY 2015. Interstellar, Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Zero Theorem, Q&A: ADI | (141) APRIL 2015. Chappie, Hobbit III, Jupiter Ascending, Unbroken
(142) JULY 2015. Jurassic World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Mad Max: Fury Road, San Andreas | (143) OCTOBER 2015. Ant-Man, Terminator Salvation, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation | (144) DECEMBER 2015. The Martian, In the Heart of the Sea, Crimson Peak, Everest
(145) FEBRUARY 2016. Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Revenant, Spectre, The Finest Hours, Ex Machina | (146) APRIL 2016. Batman v Superman, Deadpool, Hail, Caesar!, The 5th Wave, Gods of Egypt | (147) JUNE 2016. The Jungle Book, Captain America: Civil War, X-Men: Apocalypse, Alice Through the Looking Glass
(148) AUGUST 2016. Star Trek Beyond, Warcraft, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Legend of Tarzan (149) OCTOBER 2016. The BFG, Suicide Squad, Miss Peregrine, Approaching the Unknown, Ben-Hur | (150) DECEMBER 2016. Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts, Arrival, Allied
(151) FEBRUARY 2017. Rogue One, Passengers, A Monster Calls, Westworld, Virtual Reality | (152) APRIL 2017. Kong: Skull Island, Logan, A Cure for Wellness, The Great Wall | (153) JUNE 2017. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Alien: Covenant, The Fate of the Furious, Life, Ghost in the Shell
(154) JULY 2017. Spider-Man: Homecoming, War for the Planet of the Apes, Valerian, The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean 5 | (155) OCTOBER 2017. Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk, The Dark Tower, Kingsman II, Blade Runner Portfolio | (156) DECEMBER 2017. Thor: Ragnarok, The Shape of Water, Only the Brave, It, Wonder Woman
(157) FEBRUARY 2018. Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Game of Thrones (Season 7), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Downsizing | (158) APRIL 2018. Special All Marvel Issue, Black Panther, MCU: The Big Bang, Q&A: Victoria Alonso, Marvel Art Department | (159) JUNE 2018. Avengers: Infinity War, Ready Player One, Annihilation, Pacific Rim Uprising
(160) AUGUST 2018. Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Deadpool II | (161) OCTOBER 2018. First Man, Venom, Alpha, A.X.L., The Meg | (162) DECEMBER 2018. Aquaman, Welcome to Marwen, Fantastic Beasts II, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Q&A: Robert Zemeckis
(163) FEBRUARY 2019. Alita: Battle Angel, Bumblebee, Mary Poppins Returns, Mortal Engines (164) APRIL 2019. Captain Marvel, Hellboy, Dumbo, Digital Animals | (165) JUNE 2019. Avengers: Endgame, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, Good Omens |
(166) AUGUST 2019. The Lion King, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Game of Thrones (Season 8), Men in Black: International | (167) OCTOBER 2019. Gemini Man, Ad Astra, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Hobbs & Shaw | (168) DECEMBER 2019. Terminator: Dark Fate, Midway, Ford v Ferrari, The Irishman
(169) DECEMBER 2019. Terminator: Dark Fate, Midway, Ford v Ferrari, The Irishman | (170) APRIL 2020. Mulan, 1917, The New Mutants, Watchmen, Underwater
(171) JUNE 2020. Devs, Star Trek: Picard, Tales from the Loop, The Boys, Altered Carbon, Westworld | (172) FEBRUARY 2021. The Mandalorian, The Stand, Star Trek: Discovery, Mank, Raised by Wolves
