CGI is now the foundation of contemporary movie-making. Used at its best, it builds entire worlds, creatures, and scenes we never dreamed of. But even the most ambitious movies aren’t safe from a digital misstep. Occasionally, all it takes is one jarring visual effect to yank viewers out of the story altogether. These 15 moments are notorious not because of the films themselves, but because the CGI just didn’t quite stick the landing.
1. The Mummy Returns (2001) – The Notorious Arrival of the Scorpion King
Dwayne Johnson’s cinematic debut as the Scorpion King would have been legendary. Instead, fans were greeted with a rubbery, strange CGI character that seemed more at home in a video game boss than as a force to be reckoned with as an ancient warrior. The stiff animation and blank face made a big battle a slapstick joke.
2. Justice League (2017) – Superman’s Digital Smile
After reshoots clashed with another production, Henry Cavill’s mustache needed to be digitally erased—and the result became meme-worthy in an instant. The twisted upper lip and wax-like face in the opening scene of the movie were impossible to overlook, setting the tone for the rest of the film awkwardly.
3. Die Another Day (2002) – Bond Surfs a Tsunami
Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond has evaded death in many a fashion, but surfing a CGI tsunami would be perhaps the most embarrassing. The green screen effects and cartoon wave resembled an old video game cutscene more than a blockbuster.
4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) – The Troll and Quirrell’s Head
The wonder of the initial Harry Potter movie was real, but some effects didn’t stand the test. The troll in the bathroom appeared strangely rubbery, and Voldemort’s face on the back of Quirrell’s head was more strange than believable, for all the wrong reasons.
5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) – The Floating Claws
Wolverine’s claws were never more atrocious-looking than they were here. The CGI knives seemed to float strangely above Hugh Jackman’s hands, thoroughly deflating the grit and heft that the character’s claws typically provided.
6. Air Force One (1997) – A Presidential Plane Crash
Towards the climax of the movie, the plane carrying the title character crashes into the ocean in what ought to be a tense moment. That was not the case, however, as the shoddy effects and sub-pixel explosions made the audience feel like they were experiencing a hurried video game promotion and not a blockbuster finale.
7. It (2017) – Pennywise’s Digital Bite
Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise performance was chilling—until CGI interfered. When he bit off Georgie’s arm, he used a digital face and teeth that appeared cartoonish, diminishing what could’ve been a chilling scene.
8. Spawn (1997) – The Cape That Did Too Much
Spawn’s dynamic red cape is a character-defining feature, but in the 1997 movie, it was an instant distraction. Instead of enhancing the action, the over-the-top, whirling animation dominated the screen and broke the illusion.
9. Ghost Rider (2007) – Flaming Skull Falls Flat
Making Nicolas Cage a flame-headed, vengeful ghost is a visual effects fantasy. But the effect wasn’t quite there—the skull and fire tended to look more like a stylized cartoon than a real supernatural transformation.
10. The Thing (2011) – Swapping Practical for Plastic
This prequel had massive boots to fill, especially with fans of the original from John Carpenter. Instead of gruesome, flesh-crawling effects, it went full-out on CGI monsters that did not appear real. The result felt oddly dated and less terrifying than its several-decades-older counterpart.
11. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) – A Visual Soup
The Quantum Realm was supposed to be a trippy, alien visual ride. Instead, folks were left with fuzzy backgrounds and a digitally awkward MODOK, whose appearance became internet grist as soon as it appeared. The inability to find a visual identity diluted the movie’s punch.
12. Barbie (2023) – The Car Chase Misfire
Barbie offered a beautiful combination of functional sets and dreamlike imagery—except for one scene. The car chase, loaded with CG, stood out for all the wrong reasons, with staccato motion and two-dimensional lighting that made it look more like a toy commercial than an action scene.
13. Alien: Romulus (2025) – Ash’s Digital Return
Alien: Resurrection was disappointing in its creature design, but failed miserably in its computer version of the android Ash. The effect was so distracting that even the director, Fede Álvarez, conceded that it didn’t work. Fortunately, the homeowner promptly cleaned it up in no time.
CGI can be a powerful storytelling tool—but when it falls short, it pulls viewers out of the world entirely.