The 25 best 3D movies with hidden depths

20. The Mask (1961) 

The film: This '60s chiller tells the sinister tale of a young archaeologist gripped by the idea that he has been cursed by a strange mask that transmits murderous urges. As he's such a nice guy, he mails said mask to an esteemed psychologist, who soon realises his correspondent was quite right to be terrified. 

3D enhancement: Sensibly, the film only employs its 3D effects when the influence of the mask is at work. As a result, the hallucinatory sequences are all the more eerie by contrast.

Most eye-popping scene: The dream sequences become steadily more gruesome as the film progresses, and the climactic vision is a real shocker. 

Watch The Mask now on Amazon Prime Video 

19. Coraline (2009) 

The film: Henry Selick's unsettling story of a young girl who uncovers a parallel version of her boring home life is everything a good fairy story should be--fantastical, involving and more than a little bit terrifying.

3D enhancement: The stop-motion animation already looks enchanting, but layering 3D over the top makes it even easier to see the world through Coraline's eyes. And even more frightening when things start to become sinister.

Most eye-popping scene: Coraline takes flight aboard a flying tractor in a scene that perfectly illustrates the allure of the Other world. 

Watch Coraline now on Amazon Prime Video 

18. The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D (2006) 

The film: Henry Selick and Tim Burton combine their gothic talents for this deliciously dark fairytale, as Pumpkin King Jack Skellington sets out to take Christmas for himself. Full of toe-tapping musical numbers and gorgeous claymation sets, it's a bona fide festive treat.

3D enhancement: The conversion job is nigh-on faultless, with that troublesome cardboard cut-out effect nowhere to be seen. Instead, musical routines like "What's This?" and "This Is Halloween" are more spellbinding than ever. 

Most eye-popping scene: "What's This?" probably takes the prize, as the hustle and bustle of Christmas Town is given a welcome lick of paint from the 3D brush. 

Watch The Nightmare Before Christmas now on Amazon Prime Video 

17. House of Wax (1953) 

The film: Andre de Toth created this gimmick-laden horror flick in an attempt to woo television owners back to the cinema, creating a pleasingly grisly tale in the process. The first 3D colour feature from a major American studio, it stars Vincent Price as the curator of a waxwork museum with an unusual approach to sculpting his figures.

3D enhancement: The director restricts himself to using the 3D at the movie's jumpiest moments, adding a few additional scares to its vaudevillian sense of fun.

Most eye-popping scene: Understandably, the 3D scene involving a performance by a troupe of can-can girls was among the film's most popular moments. 

Watch House of Wax now on Amazon Prime Video 

16. The Adventures of Tintin (2011) 

The film: Spielberg brings the world-famous tales by Belgian artist Herge to dazzling life, with Jamie Bell on hand to voice intrepid reporter Tintin who can't keep his nose out of trouble. Before long he's chasing superbly-rendered pirates across the seas. It's the perfect marriage of the filmmaker's childlike sense of wonder and the versatility of the CGI realm. 

3D enhancement: Both motion-capture and 3D factor into the visual design, bringing an enormous sense of the fantastical to the storytelling. You will feel like you're along for the ride with Tintin and his canine pal, Snowy. 

Most eye-popping scene: Watching the prow of a pirate ship cut through the water... and then through the screen.  

Watch The Adventures of Tintin now on Amazon Prime Video 

Gem Seddon

Gem Seddon is GamesRadar+'s west coast Entertainment News Reporter, working to keep all of you updated on all of the latest and greatest movies and shows on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Outside of entertainment journalism, Gem can frequently be found writing about the alternative health and wellness industry, and obsessing over all things Aliens and Terminator on Twitter.