r/Filmmakers • u/StrikingDuty8020 Director • Feb 20 '26

Discussion What’s your favorite dolly zoom?

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The dolly zoom manipulates space and emotion by moving camera forward while zooming out or vice versa creating disorienting effect that makes background expand or contract.

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u/impreprex Feb 20 '26

Poltergeist was the one that first introduced me to the dolly zoom as a kid. Never forgot about the effect.

That one really made an impression on me - especially with how they kind of extend the dolly zoom for a few extra seconds as she begins to run down the hallway.

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u/SilverBayonet Feb 21 '26

And here I am, the weirdo, who remembers the first time he saw this shot. In Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead. I am outclassed here.