Glass is used widely to complete architectural masterpieces, decorate interior spaces and add light within a house or office building. But filmmakers have also cleverly used glass to create some memorable scenes. Take a look below at some of the top picks for Hollywood's most iconic glass structures.

Ex Machina (2014)

Main character Nathan Bateman's fabulous house features glass in several unique applications. For instance, different glass structures act as a barrier, clearly dividing portions of the property and keeping them just out of reach.

External glass, such as the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, also keep the world just out of reach for the home's inhabitants—while also teasing how close freedom appears to those who are limited by their location and circumstance.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

This reboot franchise depicts a world overrun by hyper-intelligent apes and monkeys—and it all starts with a view from an attic window. Caesar, one of the main protagonists of the first film in the series, learns of the world through a circular window with a unique, curved diamond in the center.

Throughout the film, Caesar draws this window's one-of-a-kind shape to feel at home and bring him a sense of peace while he's in captivity.

The Harry Potter Film Franchise (2001–2011)

This film series features several distinct glass structures that play key roles throughout the storyline. For example, glass makes an early appearance in the first film, the Philosopher's Stone. When Harry visits the snake exhibit at the zoo, the glass in front of a Burmese python magically disappears, dropping his horrid cousin inside—then it suddenly reappears, trapping the childhood antagonist inside the exhibit.

Later in the first film, Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised, an ancient mirror that portrays the observer's true desires of the heart. It's later revealed to house the philosopher's stone—a mystical object that creates an elixir that grants immortality.

Much later in the franchise, in the fifth film specifically, during a raging battle scene in the Ministry of Magic, Harry and Dumbledore find themselves in a torrential storm of broken window glass that then turns to sand.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

While nothing can compare to the majesty of dinosaurs existing in our modern era, the second film in the original Jurassic Park franchise has some intense scenes—including ones that center around glass. 

Specifically, Ian Malcolm and his daughter reside in a fancy camper. Later in the film, the vehicle's rear glass window acts as an unstable barrier that protects Malcolm and Sarah Harding from plunging to their deaths off a cliff. This scene could be a nod to the original Jurassic Park film, where two young children, trapped in a Jeep, have a thin piece of glass protecting them from the deathly jaws of a T-Rex.

Die Hard (1988)

While the debate about whether Die Hard is a Christmas film or not still rages on, one thing remains certain. This epic film features one of the most harrowing action scenes from the late 1980s. Villain Hans Gruber commands his henchpeople to shoot the glass installations within the building. To safely elude his foes, John McClane dashes barefoot across the broken glass, resulting in some gruesome injuries.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Another film from the late 1980s, this iconic film features another glass-based architectural wonder. This movie features Ben Rose House in the car-through-the-window scene. This glass garage houses a classic vehicle—which later ends up crashing through the glass.

Whether you want to recreate these famous glass structures for your own space or you simply need other glass services, turn to the team at   South Melbourne Glass. We'll recommend the services and products you need to achieve your goals for your home, office or other property.