Up First from NPR Hollywood’s Love Affair with VistaVision
Feb 22, 2026
Mandalit Del Barco, NPR culture correspondent covering film and cinema, narrates VistaVision’s comeback. She traces its 1950s origins, explains the format’s technical quirks, and explores why modern filmmakers are reviving it to lure audiences back to theaters. The story includes vintage camera challenges, effects-era reinvention, and why some directors prefer film’s analog look.
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VistaVision Upscales The Theatrical Image
- VistaVision creates a noticeably bigger, more exhilarating widescreen image than standard 35mm formats.
- Mandalit Delbarco says the full VistaVision experience demands a movie theater to be fully appreciated.
Horizontal Film Reduces Grain And Distortion
- VistaVision fed film horizontally to double the image area and reduce grain and distortion.
- Charlotte Barker explains this produced clearer images without the anamorphic 'mumps' of Cinemascope.
Star Wars Resurrected VistaVision For Effects
- Industrial Light and Magic revived VistaVision for Star Wars visual effects by customizing old cameras.
- John Dykstra says the larger images preserved quality through repeated processing and layering.