10 Cool Facts From 2013’s Most Popular Movies

Seeing a great movie in the theater and being engrossed in its world is awesome enough on its own, but it can be just as good to find out exactly what goes on behind the scenes.

The purpose of this is not to break down the walls and ruin the illusion, but to know that actors are human and it’s nice to be reminded that reality can be just as entertaining as a movie.

1. DiCaprio really cut his hand in “Django”

In Tarantino’s “Django” Leonardo DiCaprio actually cut his hand when his character smashed a drinking glass on a bar counter. Being quick on his feet, DiCaprio stayed in character by wrapping his hand and finished the scene before going to the emergency room.

 

2. Ejiofer learned how to play the violin for “12 Years a Slave”

Lead actor, Chiwetel Ejiofer in “12 Years a Slave” was hesitant to accept the role as Solomon Northup.

When he did accept it, he prepared by doing his homework on the culture of Southern plantation life for slaves and learned how to play the violin.

 

3. Cumberbatch studied reptiles at the London Zoo

To prepare for his role as Smaug in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Benedict Cumberbatch went to the London Zoo to study the reptiles, the Komodo Dragons in particular.

 

4. Clafin is the clumsiest person out there

Sam Clafin, actor who played Finnick in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” was unanimously declared by his co-stars as the clumsiest cast member on set.

He jokes that they could release a gag reel of his finest moments of falling and tripping during almost every other take. His in coordination on set eventually led to him breaking his finger.

 

5. Sandra Bullock showed off some real skills on “Gravity”

Possible spoilers for this fact if you haven’t seen the latest space-thriller, “Gravity.”

During shooting for an underwater scene, director Alfonso Cuarón held his breath whenever Sandra Bullock went under to make sure he wasn’t pushing her past her capabilities. It turned out Bullock has some impressive lung capacity and Cuarón couldn’t keep up with her.

 

6. Tom Hanks and Walt Disney were really cousins

In “Saving Mr. Banks,” Tom Hanks portrays Walt Disney who happens to be his distant cousin. As if Tom Hanks couldn’t get any cooler!

 

7. Moretz interviewed homeless people for her role

To prepare young actress Chloe Grace Moretz for her lead role in “Carrie,” director Kimberly Pierce sent Chloe to visit local homeless shelters to interview people who have lived through tough times.

 

8. DiCaprio and Maguire are best friends in real life since forever

Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire have been best friends since they were children. “The Great Gatsby” and “Don Plum” (2001) are the only movies they been together. This fact makes Carraway and Gatsby’s chemistry on screen all the more believable.

 

9. Portman climbed on boxes to kiss Hemsworth

In “Thor: The Dark World,” Portman had to stand on boxes or ramps for the kissing scenes so that the two actors could reach each other because Natalie Portman is so short and Chris Hemsworth is so tall.

 

10. The phone number is real in “Despicable Me 2”

In “Despicable Me 2,” Lucy gives Gru her number (626-584-5723), which is an actual number you can call and listen to a hilarious recording of Kristen Wiig in character as Lucy.