Charles Wheatstone invents the stereoscope
Charles Wheatstone invents a device that allows stereoscopic viewing from two flat images. He presents it to the Royal Society of London in 1838.
First public screening of stereoscopic 3D
Edward S. Porter and William E. Waddell present anaglyph 3D test shorts to an audience at New York City’s Astor Theatre.
First public 3D movie
Cinematographer Robert F. Elder showcases The Power of Love (film now lost), the first 3D movie screened for a commercial audience, in Los Angeles.
First 3D colour movie
Arch Oboler’s Bwana Devil releases in downtown Los Angeles. The reception was that the movie “stank” but people flocked to see it anyway. The techniques used set the standard for the 1950’s 3D boom period. Formats such as Cinerama, CinemaScope, Technicolor, and VistaVision were all pushed.
House of Wax premiers
This was the first of four 3D movies to star the determinedly one-dimensional Vincent Price, the Olivier of the form. This was also the first 3D colour film from a major American studio (Columbia Pictures).
Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M For Murder premiers
Initially, people were uninterested in the 3D here, and they were forced to show the 2D version (which received positive reviews). Decades later the 3D version would be re-released again and then perform very well.
The Soviet Union enters the 3D market
Robinson Crusoe, a 3D adventure film released and was the first glasses-free stereoscopic feature film. The public was generally unimpressed by its poor quality, and the popularity of 3D movies declined.
NASA scientist invents illusion transmitter
Valerie Thomas is regarded by some as the woman who invented 3D movies. She invented the illusion transmitter which was the first mechanism that allowed images to be viewed in 3D using concave mirrors and rays of light. She received a patent in 1980. This technology is being used today in active shutter glasses.
Friday the 13th Part III attempts to revive 3D
A 3D revival attempt by Steve Miner, received negative reviews from critics, despite doing well at the US box office, as people were excited to see the 3D format again.
Jaws 3D also tries to revive the format
Further taking advantage of the revived interest in the early ’80s. The audience could wear disposable polarised cardboard glasses to watch the film. The film grossed significantly less than its predecessors.
Breakthrough with James Cameron’s Ghosts of the Abyss
The film premiered in IMAX 3D and was nominated for a BFCA award for Best Documentary. It will go on to lay the foundation James Cameron needs to make ‘Avatar’.
First 3D film created entirely with motion-capture animation
Polar Express releases and shows how great animated films can be in 3D format. Studios began to see the lucrative potential in 3D and how far the format had come. New competing technologies rose alongside IMAX 3D. These included Real D 3D, Dolby 3D, and MasterImage 3D.
First live-action movie converted to 3D
Superman Returns was simultaneously released to IMAX 3D and conventional theatres. 20 minutes of the film was converted to 3D, and viewers were prompted when to put on and remove their glasses.
Avatar releases
The highest-grossing film of all time releases (currently more than $2.9 billion in sales worldwide). James Cameron’s Avatar paved the way for 3D CGI films and started a huge wave of new global 3D technology including 3D TVs, projectors, and video games.
James Cameron finally releases his long-awaited sequel
Avatar: The Way of Water was released 13 years after the original. Receiving a great response from critics and box office sales. It has currently grossed over $2 billion in sales worldwide. How long until it overtakes its predecessor? Has it started another huge 3D resurgence?