Top 10 Unrecognizable Movie Makeup Transformations

Audiences may instantly recognize Eric Stoltz from his comedic role in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” But he isn’t as easy to identify in the drama “Mask.” In the film, Stoltz plays Rocky, a young man afflicted with a rare bone disorder that causes his skull to form differently than the average person. To achieve this look, the actor put on three pieces of foam latex, dentures and some makeup. The resulting character looked absolutely nothing like Stoltz while maintaining all the actor’s charm. Although Stoltz didn’t win an Academy Award for his performance, his transformation earned “Mask” an Oscar for Best Makeup.

In the 2011 “Captain America” film, Hugo Weaving took on the role of Hydra commander Johann Schmidt. Schmidt’s experiments with a super soldier formula gave him enhanced strength but left his face as literally nothing more than a red skull. When Schmidt revealed his damaged face onscreen, it seemed like we were looking at a different actor entirely. In reality, Weaving had undergone an incredible transformation. Although features like his missing nose relied on CGI, most of his face was altered with practical effects. The blend of special effects and prosthetics looks seamless and completely unlike Hugo Weaving. Hail the makeup department for their fabulous work.

Freddy Krueger is arguably the most iconic horror villain of all time. But the man behind the clawed glove is a lot less noticeable. Actor Robert Englund played Freddy, a vicious murderer who gained the power to invade people’s dreams after being burned alive. To create the look of a burn victim, Englund wore a combination of makeup and prosthetics. His intensive makeup process haunted us on eight separate occasions before he retired from the role. But despite Englund’s legendary run, we bet people could walk by him on the street without realizing that he was the face behind so many nightmares.

The makeup process for this family film turned Jim Carrey into a Grinch in more ways than one. Carrey had to put in large yellow contacts, wear a suit made of yak hairs, and endure long makeup sessions to become the creature that stole Christmas. The process was so rigorous that the actor threatened to quit after his first transformation. But after the producer brought in a CIA specialist to help Carrey endure the process, the film was back on track. It’s honestly hard to argue with the results. Not only did Carrey became utterly unrecognizable, but the makeup design earned an Academy Award.

Sloth stole our hearts in “The Goonies.” His friendliness and energy made the gentle giant seem like he was being played by a kid. But it was actually former NFL Raider John Matuzak that nailed the role. Matuzak took anywhere from three to five hours to transform into Sloth. The process completely concealed his face and added a mechanical eye that could be operated remotely. When it all came together, the only trace of the football player underneath was the Raiders shirt that Sloth wore. Matuszak’s makeover brought us an iconic 80s character that taught us not to judge by appearances on or off camera.

Helena Bonham Carter has assumed a wide range of characters and looks throughout her career. But she made her most drastic transformation for Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Apes.” In the film, an astronaut arrives on a planet populated by intelligent simians like Bonham Carter’s Ari. Makeup designer Rick Baker transformed the stunning actress into the walking and talking chimpanzee with facial prosthetics. The face was real enough to convey emotions and made her kiss with Mark Wahlberg feel disturbing. Bonham Carter’s makeup didn’t save the movie from being a critical disappointment, but it served as a shining example of what’s possible for special effects.

This Academy Award winning transformation is also the most disgusting on our list. In “The Fly,” the suave Jeff Goldblum plays a scientist who invents a teleportation device. When he accidentally teleports with a fly, his DNA is combined with the insect’s. As the fly DNA starts to take over, Goldblum’s makeup becomes more complex with the help of latex and prosthetics. Seeing the different stages of the transformation made it look more realistic, especially when the human parts start falling off. By the end of the film, it’s easy to forget that the horrifying creature onscreen once looked like the handsome Jeff Goldblum.

When it was first announced that Heath Ledger was going to play the Joker, fans were less than convinced that he could pull it off. But all doubts were erased as soon as they saw his face. Ledger worked closely with his makeup artist to ensure that the clown’s visage looked twisted and wild. In addition, he received silicone scars that the Joker would love to tell you about. Ledger’s performance was so convincing that his co-star Michael Caine forgot his lines when he first saw him as the Joker on set. Ledger’s appearance defied all expectations and gave us a version of the villain that we’ll never forget.

Guillermo del Toro’s “Hellboy” films excelled at practical makeup design. Doug Jones’ transformation into the amphibious Abe Sapien was impressive, but this entry is all about the titular character. Hellboy is a towering red demon complete with horns, an oversized fist, and tail. Actor Ron Perlman’s likeness nearly vanishes underneath the foam, skull cap, hair, and prosthetics that form Hellboy’s most prominent features. The transformation into the demon was lengthy, but Perlman embraced it for two movies and to fulfill a Make-A-Wish request. His dedication to the process was admirable and ensured that Hellboy looked and felt like a real hero.



Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.



Idris Elba as Krall

“Star Trek Beyond” (2016)



Rebecca Romijn as Mystique

“X-Men” franchise (2000-)





Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos

“Monster” (2003)

We could’ve made an entire list about Doug Jones and his amazing transformations. But today we’re highlighting his role as the Pale Man. In “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the Pale Man is an unsettling being with a disturbing appetite for children. Since the creature’s eyes were separate from its body, Jones’ face had to be completely concealed. The actor sat in the makeup chair for up to six hours to assume the Pale Man’s featureless face and its saggy skin. Those practical effects were supplemented with CGI for his legs and unforgettable eyes. All the effects culminated in a transformation that still leaves us awestruck and a little terrified.