Ben Burtt

Sound

Ben Burtt

Born

1948-07-12 (78)

Place of birth

Jamesville, New York, USA

Known for

Sound

Credits

53 titles

Benjamin "Ben" Burtt, Jr. is a sound designer, film editor, director, screenwriter, and voice actor. He has worked as sound designer on various films, including the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, WALL-E, and Star Trek. He is responsible for creating many of the iconic sound effects heard in the Star Wars film franchise, including the binary speech of R2-D2, the lightsaber hum, the sound of the blaster guns, and the heavy-breathing sound of Darth Vader, which he made by breathing into a scuba regulator. Burtt has a reputation for popularizing a sound effect dubbed the "Wilhelm scream", which was taken from a character named Wilhelm in the 1953 film The Ch…

Known for

WALL·E poster
8.1

After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.

WALL·E

2008

Return of the Jedi poster
7.9

Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.

Return of the Jedi

1983

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace poster
6.6

Anakin Skywalker, a young slave strong with the Force, is discovered on Tatooine. Meanwhile, the evil Sith have returned, enacting their plot for revenge against the Jedi.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

1999

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones poster
6.6

Following an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi investigate a mysterious plot into the heart of the Separatist movement and the beginning of the Clone Wars.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

2002

Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett poster
6.9

A special celebrating the origins and legacy of Star Wars' legendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett.

Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett

2021

LIGHT & MAGIC poster
7.9

When George Lucas set out to make Star Wars, little did he know he would end up revolutionizing an industry. This is the story of a team of creative geniuses who put the magic in the movies we love.

LIGHT & MAGIC

2022

Film credits

2010s · 9 titles

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound poster
6.9

The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

2019

The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz poster
10.0

Actor Martin Sheen narrates this newly produced, feature-length high definition documentary, touching on the film's timelessness and legacy before diving into the story of its development, production and release.

The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

2013

And the Oscar Goes To... poster
6.8

The story of the gold-plated statuette that became the film industry's most coveted prize, AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... traces the history of the Academy itself, which began in 1927 when Louis B. Mayer, then head of MGM, led other prominent members of the industry in forming this professional honorary organization. Two years later the Academy began bestowing awards, which were nicknamed "Oscar," and quickly came to represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement.

And the Oscar Goes To...

2014

I Am Your Father poster
6.5

David Prowse is an eighty years old actor, who has lived behind Darth Vader's mask during three decades. A group of Star Wars fans find out why he has been apparently forgotten by Lucasfilm during thirty years, and decide to give him back the glory he never had. This is their last opportunity.

I Am Your Father

2015

Wings: Grandeur in the Sky poster
7.0

A making-of featurette for the first Academy Award winning film "Wings" (1927), with plenty of rare photographs and the participation of William Wellman, Jr.

Wings: Grandeur in the Sky

2012

Lincoln: An American Journey poster
5.5

Documentary on the making of Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" (2012).

Lincoln: An American Journey

2013

The Force of Sound poster
8.2

Go inside the sound design of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. From the ignition of a lightsaber to the chirp of a porg, Star Wars would not be the same without the brilliant sound design and mixing created by Skywalker Sound.

The Force of Sound

2018

Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of poster
6.7

Documentary about the work of film director Michael Curtiz.

Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of

2012

EditDroid: Rise and Fall poster
NR

Filmmaker George Lucas, spiritual father of the successful Star Wars series decided to invest 40 million dollars to develop a new editing system. From 1983 to 1986 the revolutionary EditDroid system was developed. The EditDroid was the first nonlinear electronic editing system and used several laser disc players loaded with the raw footage of a film. In the spring of 2005 Tom van Klingeren and Bruce Gray (both editors and instructors on filmmaking at the University of Amsterdam) went to Marin county in the United States in search of the lost history of the EditDroid. They visited the editors who had worked on the system in the 1980's and 90's. They made a return journey to the Skywalker Ranch with the now retired coordinator of the EditDroid project. At the ranch they explored the archives of Lucas' production company in search of the last EditDroid.

EditDroid: Rise and Fall

2014

2000s · 21 titles

WALL·E poster
8.1

After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.

WALL·E

2008

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones poster
6.6

Following an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi investigate a mysterious plot into the heart of the Separatist movement and the beginning of the Clone Wars.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

2002

BURN·E poster
7.5

What lengths will a robot undergo to do his job? BURN·E is a dedicated hard working robot who finds himself locked out of his ship. BURN·E quickly learns that completing a simple task can often be a very difficult endeavor.

BURN·E

2008

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy poster
7.6

From the earliest versions of the script to the blockbuster debuts, explore the creation of the Star Wars Trilogy.

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy

2004

From Puppets to Pixels: The Making of Star Wars Episode II poster
6.8

For Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), there were to be many more visual effects than in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). This documentary shows many VFX meetings between George Lucas and ILM. Many of these meetings focus around the creation of a completely digital Yoda, used for the first time in the Star Wars films.

From Puppets to Pixels: The Making of Star Wars Episode II

2002

Within a Minute: The Making of Star Wars Episode III poster
7.2

This documentary offers a glimpse into all the people, departments, and work that went into creating the film, specifically, the fight between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Featured on the 2-Disc DVD for Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

Within a Minute: The Making of Star Wars Episode III

2005

Fog City Mavericks poster
8.5

Fog City Mavericks: The Filmmakers of San Francisco is a compelling exploration of the legendary filmmakers who call the San Francisco Bay Area home including George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Chris Columbus and producer Saul Zaentz. The special weaves interviews, commentaries and unforgettable moments from some of the most visionary movies ever created such as American Graffiti, the Star Wars film series, the Indiana Jones film series, The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, Toy Story, The Incredibles, Lost in Translation, Flags of Our Fathers and many others. It also features interviews with those who have worked with Bay Area mavericks: Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, Anthony Minghella, Milos Forman and Frank Darabont.

Fog City Mavericks

2007

R2-D2: Beneath the Dome poster
6.7

Mockumentary telling the never before told life story of the fictional robot R2-D2 from the Star Wars film series. The movie was made as a fun project by the cast and crew of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Using interviews, fake archive photos, film clips, and behind the scenes footage the "true" story was told of Artoo's life.

R2-D2: Beneath the Dome

2001

When Star Wars Ruled the World poster
8.8

A VH1 television special wherein the cast discuss the making of the films and what made the franchise a phenomenon.

When Star Wars Ruled the World

2004

George Lucas: Creating an Empire poster
5.0

A Biography of George Lucas.

George Lucas: Creating an Empire

2002

RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World” poster
8.0

The astonishing story of the genesis, production, worldwide success, and legacy of King Kong (1933), directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, a landmark of cinema, one of the most influential motion pictures in history.

RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”

2008

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet poster
4.7

Documentary film exploring the making, and legacy of 'Forbidden Planet'

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

2006

WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets poster
7.0

Short vignettes featured as a DVD Extra Short.

WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets

2008

Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema poster
6.5

Current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflect on the importance and influence of the epic classic "Ben-Hur".

Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema

2005

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 poster
6.2

Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking 2001: A Space Odyssey opened the door to all the films and filmmakers who followed it. Through interviews with directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Sydney Pollack - as well as special effects professionals and cultural historians - this documentary examines the legacy of Kubrick's masterpiece and its influence on science fiction films, special effects and world cinema.

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001

2007

State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II' poster
6.0

Documentary breaking down the planning of the film's set pieces particularly the aerial car chase, conveyor-belt fight and climactic Clone War battle.

State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II'

2002

The Sound of 'Indiana Jones' poster
6.0

Ben Burtt reveals which sounds he and his team at Skywalker Sound recorded to incorporate into the Indiana Jones trilogy.

The Sound of 'Indiana Jones'

2003

No artwork available
7.0

Film historians, and survivors from the nearly 30-year struggle to bring sound to motion pictures take the audience from the early failed attempts by scientists and inventors, to the triumph of the talkies.

The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk

2007

Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon poster
7.0

Documentary short film about Robby the Robot; a $125,000 engineering marvel that advanced cinematic robotics and went on to become a film star & pop culture icon in its own right

Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon

2006

Films Are Not Released, They Escape poster
6.0

Ben Burtt and his team explain the process of creating the sound for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) in the all-new documentary "Films Are Not Released, They Escape".

Films Are Not Released, They Escape

2002

Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up poster
8.0

Building Worlds From the Sound Up

Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up

2008

1980s · 5 titles

Return of the Jedi poster
7.9

Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.

Return of the Jedi

1983

SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back poster
8.2

Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!

SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back

1980

From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga poster
7.4

From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga is a 1983 television documentary special that originally aired on PBS. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the original Star Wars trilogy, with particular emphasis on the final film, Return of the Jedi. Narrated by actor Mark Hamill, the documentary was written by Richard Schickel who had written the previous television documentaries The Making of Star Wars (1977) and SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga

1983

The Making of The Empire Strikes Back poster
8.0

Even the most devout Star Wars fan might not know that filmmaker and journalist Michel Parbot was once given unprecedented access to the set, stars, and filmmakers behind The Empire Strikes Back. The resulting work, The Making of The Empire Strikes Back, has apparently never been commercially released. Most of the footage has been lost, but 15 minutes has circulated online in recent years. Now, the 1 hour cut of Michel Parbot’s lost documentary has been found.

The Making of The Empire Strikes Back

1980

Star Wars: Music by John Williams poster
7.3

BBC documentary. Witness John Williams composing the legendary score for The Empire Strikes Back and conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.

Star Wars: Music by John Williams

1980

Series credits

Behind the camera

Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep poster
6.2

C-3PO and R2-D2 are on their way to Biitu to meet their new master, Mungo Baobab, when their ship is attacked and they are taken prisoner. Biitu has been taken over by the giant mechanical Great Heep who works with the Empire, enslaving the natives by using droid enforcers and draining R2 units to keep up his strength. Meanwhile Mungo has been imprisoned to be handed over to his arch enemy Admiral Screed.

Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep

1986

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen poster
6.0

Working with the French Secret Service, Indy joins the legendary Lafayette Escadrille flying unit and embarks on dangerous airborne reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. A run-in with German Ace Manfred von Richthofen leads to a death-defying dogfight that leaves Indy grounded and hot-in-pursuit of German aircraft designer Anthony Fokker. Undercover in hostile enemy territory, Indy discovers that the Germans possess a remarkable secret weapon that could change the course of the war and he resolves to bring news of it back to the Allies...if he doesn't destroy it first.

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen

1995

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen poster
6.0

Working with the French Secret Service, Indy joins the legendary Lafayette Escadrille flying unit and embarks on dangerous airborne reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. A run-in with German Ace Manfred von Richthofen leads to a death-defying dogfight that leaves Indy grounded and hot-in-pursuit of German aircraft designer Anthony Fokker. Undercover in hostile enemy territory, Indy discovers that the Germans possess a remarkable secret weapon that could change the course of the war and he resolves to bring news of it back to the Allies...if he doesn't destroy it first.

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen

1995

Blue Planet poster
6.1

From the unique vantage point of 200 miles above Earth's surface, we see how natural forces - volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes - affect our world, and how a powerful new force - humankind - has begun to alter the face of the planet. From Amazon rain forests to Serengeti grasslands, Blue Planet inspires a new appreciation of life on Earth, our only home.

Blue Planet

1990

Destiny in Space poster
7.1

Travel alongside the astronauts as they deploy and repair the Hubble Space Telescope, soar above Venus and Mars, and find proof of new planets and the possibility of other life forming around distant stars.

Destiny in Space

1994

The American Gangster poster
10.0

They fixed the World Series. They built Las Vegas. They terrorized America with their vicious murders and fearless robberies. They are men named Bugsy Siegel, Al Capone, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Lucky Luciano. And, for the first time, THE AMERICAN GANGSTER tells the true story behind their ruthless rise to wealth and power. Filled with vintage film and actual photographs, THE AMERICAN GANGSTER is a gripping look at the birth of organized crime. From prohibition to prostitution, from gangland massacres to gambling empires, their most infamous deeds are chronicled in shocking detail. Even more explosive than the movies they inspired, such as Scarface and The Godfather, are the true histories of the brilliant, brutal gangsters who turned the American Dream into an ongoing nightmare.

The American Gangster

1992

Special Effects: Anything Can Happen poster
10.0

An IMAX production that explores the ground-breaking special effects portrayed in Hollywood films from the very originals to the breathtaking special effects in movies today. Takes the audience on a "behind the scenes" look into what goes on during the production of a movie and how the special effects are created.

Special Effects: Anything Can Happen

1996

Manassas: End of Innocence poster
8.0

As the first major land battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Manassas, fought on July 21, 1861, shocked a nation expecting a short and easy conflict. Thirteen months later, Northern and Southern armies clashed again in the Second Battle of Manassas, a far larger battle that signaled the ascendancy of Confederate military prowess under the leadership of Robert E. Lee. With its narrative sweep and stunning imagery, Manassas: End of Innocence offers audiences a glimpse into the lives of soldiers and civilians enmeshed in the turmoil of war. Shot on location in Manassas National Battlefield Park and within the surrounding community, the film showcases such landmark features of the battlefield landscape as the Stone House and the Stone Bridge over Bull Run and recreates key scenes from both battles.

Manassas: End of Innocence

2002

The True Story of Glory Continues poster
6.8

Morgan Freeman narrates this documentary that explores the 54th Massachusetts regiment that is the basis of the motion picture, "Glory".

The True Story of Glory Continues

1991

Behind the Scenes with King Kong in Special Effects poster
NR

Making of documentary for the King Kong segment of the in the 1996 IMAX movie 'Special Effects: Anything Can Happen', featuring stop-motion animation created by the late great David Allen.

Behind the Scenes with King Kong in Special Effects

1996