CGI That Made Us Cringe
While computer-generated imagery (CGI) has revolutionized filmmaking, not every attempt at digital magic ends in success. In fact, some CGI moments have become legendary for all the wrong reasons. From uncanny valley disasters to cartoonish monsters, here are 25 of the worst CGI moments to ever hit the big screen.
Cats (2019)
Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Cats became infamous for its horrifying human-cat hybrids. The CGI fur looked unfinished, the proportions were bizarre, and in some early screenings, Judi Dench’s human hand—complete with wedding ring—was visible. Meow, indeed.
CATS Official Trailer (2019) Taylor Swift, Idris Elba Movie HD, ONE Media
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s debut as the Scorpion King should’ve been epic, but instead we got a PS2-level CGI creature that resembled a melting action figure. It’s a moment so bad it’s still memed two decades later.
The Mummy Returns (10/11) Movie CLIP - The Scorpion King Returns (2001) HD, Movieclips
Green Lantern (2011)
Ryan Reynolds’ suit was entirely CGI, and that decision didn’t pay off. The glowing green outfit looked artificial and detached from reality, and the poorly rendered constructs didn’t help matters. Reynolds now openly mocks the film.
Green Lantern - The Faster You Burn Scene (10/10) | Movieclips, Movieclips
Justice League (2017)
When Warner Bros had to digitally remove Henry Cavill’s mustache for reshoots, the result was a disturbingly smooth upper lip that distracted from nearly every scene he was in. Superman’s uncanny mouth quickly became iconic—for all the wrong reasons.
Flash vs Superman - Race Scene - Justice League (2017) Movie CLIP HD, TopMovieClips
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)
Renesmee, the half-vampire baby, looked more like a porcelain doll than a real child. The CGI baby was so unsettling, it actually made audiences laugh during serious scenes. A robotic doll was even worse, but thankfully scrapped.
Twilight’s Ugly Baby Problem, Chicago Bacon
I Am Legend (2007)
The infected creatures were supposed to be terrifying, but they looked like rubbery cartoons. The poor rendering and unnatural movements took viewers out of the post-apocalyptic world Will Smith was trying to anchor.
I Am Legend (2/10) Movie CLIP - Infected Encounter (2007) HD, Movieclips
Hulk (2003)
Ang Lee’s Hulk was ambitious, but the CGI fell short. Eric Bana’s green alter ego looked like a plastic toy, and the awkward compositing made action scenes feel like cutscenes from a dated video game.
Hulk (2003) - He's Got My Missile Scene (9/10) | Movieclips, Movieclips
The Polar Express (2004)
An early venture into motion capture, The Polar Express tried to bring realism to animation—but landed squarely in the uncanny valley. Dead-eyed children and stiff movements made this holiday classic unintentionally creepy.
The Polar Express (2004) - All Aboard Scene (1/5) | Movieclips, Movieclips
Van Helsing (2004)
From CGI werewolves to a laughably bad Mr Hyde, Van Helsing was stuffed with digital creatures that never quite blended with the live action. The bat-like vampire brides were especially absurd.
Air Force One Down (2013)
A low-budget action flick, this film features a laughable CGI plane crash that looks like it was animated on PowerPoint. The explosion effects are shockingly amateurish—even by made-for-TV standards.
Spawn (1997)
Spawn’s cape should have been a showstopper. Instead, it looked like a flowing bedsheet rendered in MS Paint. The devil character, Malebolgia, was equally unimpressive with jagged, clunky animation.
Spawn (1997) - Spawn Crashes the Party Scene | Movieclips, Movieclips
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
An early experiment in virtual reality storytelling, this film’s CGI sequences look like something from a 90s screensaver. While ambitious, the visuals have aged terribly, even by early 90s standards.
The Lawnmower Man (1992) Trailer, Movie Trailer Locker
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)
That infamous fridge scene wasn’t the only issue—CGI prairie dogs, flying saucers, and Shia LaBeouf swinging with monkeys turned this sequel into an accidental farce. It felt more cartoon than classic.
Indiana Jones 4 (8/10) Movie CLIP - Mutt and the Monkeys (2008) HD, Movieclips
The Langoliers (1995)
Stephen King’s miniseries adaptation features some of the worst CGI creatures in TV history. The Langoliers—floating meatball monsters with sharp teeth—looked like they were rendered on Windows 95.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Wolverine’s claws are iconic—but in this film, they looked like cartoon additions pasted over Hugh Jackman’s hands. It was a huge step back from the practical effects used in earlier X-Men films.
Wolverine New Claws Scene | X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) Movie CLIP 4K, BestMovieClips
Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
The shark in the fourth Jaws installment was laughably bad. The stiff, robotic fish often looked like it was being dragged through the water on a rope. The slow-motion leap at the end? Pure comedy gold.
Jaws: The Revenge (7/8) Movie CLIP - The Beast Comes Back (1987) HD, Movieclips
Anaconda (1997)
While Anaconda is a fun B-movie, the CGI snake is a wiggly disaster. Its texture is all wrong, its movements unrealistic, and it’s far less scary than the real snakes you might find in a zoo.
Anaconda (8/8) Movie CLIP - Swallowed Whole (1997) HD, Movieclips
Escape From LA (1996)
One surfing scene featuring Snake Plissken riding a digital wave has become legendary for its jankiness. The CGI water is terrible, and the transitions between real and fake footage are painfully obvious.
Escape From L.A. (1996) - Why We Love It (HD), ScreamFactoryTV
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Neo’s fight against dozens of Agent Smiths should’ve been a jaw-dropper—but the overuse of CGI turned it into a rubbery video game. The characters move like crash-test dummies, killing the tension.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) Neo vs Smith Fight Scene (1/2) HD, That One Guy
Clash Of The Titans (2010)
While the original Clash of the Titans had charming stop-motion, the remake tried and failed to modernize with flat, uninspired CGI. The Kraken, in particular, felt like a generic monster rather than a mythic beast.
Perseus Faces The Kraken Scene | CLASH OF THE TITANS (2010) Movie CLIP HD, JoBlo Movie Clips
Jack The Giant Slayer (2013)
This fairy tale adaptation featured giants that looked awkward and out of place. The textures were off, the lighting didn’t match, and they moved like broken puppets. It killed any sense of wonder.
JACK THE GIANT SLAYER All Movie Clips (2013), Entertainment Access
The 5th Wave (2016)
A disaster movie without convincing disasters. From falling planes to alien attacks, the CGI looked more like a Syfy Channel original than a major theatrical release. The film never fully sold its own world.
THE 5TH WAVE: Coming To Theatres 2016 - Trailer #1, Sony Pictures Canada
Sharknado (2013)
Okay, yes, this was meant to be campy. But the CGI sharks flying through tornadoes are so hilariously awful that they’ve become iconic. Sometimes bad CGI is the point—and Sharknado ran with it.
Sharknado (2013) Trailer #1, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
The Happening (2008)
While technically not heavy on CGI, the few effects (like bodies dropping unnaturally) are laughably fake. Combined with the stiff performances, it’s one of those films that’s hard to take seriously.
The Happening (2008) Trailer HD | Mark Wahlberg | Zooey Deschanel, Film Trailer Channel
Birdemic: Shock And Terror (2010)
No list would be complete without Birdemic. The flapping birds, explosion effects, and green-screen work are legendary for their sheer ineptitude. It’s bad in a way that circles back to brilliant.
Birdemic Look Back | Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010), 316 Reviews
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