Top 10 CGI Fails in Superhero Movies

Technology has come a long way, especially in the movie industry, and now filmmakers are using CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) to add visual spice to their movies.

But with new technology, there are always blunders, and some CGI applications have ranged from incomprehensible to just plain bizarre.

Superhero movies are famous for using these visual effects, and there have been some bloopers. Here are some examples of CGI gone wrong in superhero movies.

10. Spawn, 1997

Photo credit: Cinema Blend

Most superhero movies have implored the help of CGI in creating the capes they wear. For fans of Spawn, the cape is an integral part of his character, so the filmmakers wanted to show off its capabilities.

The cape is supposed to be a living “necroplasm” akin to the Venom symbiote, but the looks didn’t do a good job representing the thoughts.

The way this animated cloak looks and moves has no atom of realism. The cape is especially unconvincing when it’s waving around a crowd of people.

They tried too hard on the special effects of his hellish costume that didn’t match the capabilities of CGI at the time. While the practical costume effects were sometimes outstanding, Spawn’s CGI cape and brutal enemies didn’t do the movie much good.

9. Blade II, 2002

Photo credit: New Line Cinema

Marvel’s 2002 Blade II makes this list with some weird examples, though fans then wouldn’t care. Watching it now, with the substantial advancements in the movie industry, it falls below par.

In Blade II, the climax, as expected, is when Blade duels the evil Deacon Frost to death. Since the latter had gained the powers of La Magra, he possesses a healing effect that he can use to regenerate limbs instantly.

So even after Blade slices Deacon’s torso in half, the vampire uses his blood powers to glue himself back together. The effects here could have been better, and the filmmakers should have considered a better approach to representing the villain’s powers.

8. The Suicide Squad, 2021 (Incubus)

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

The enchantress (an ancient witch), having escaped the control of her captor Amanda Waller, freed her brother “Incubus,” who was a fully animated character for most of the movie.

The result of the enchantress’ brother possessing a man and absorbing innocent bystanders is a glowing, weird-looking man. His glowing skin only showed an unfinished design.

With such a poor design, much wasn’t expected, and he didn’t disappoint, as was seen when he hurled his tendrils at The Suicide Squad, which looked like the most he could do, and fans may forget he was present in the movie.

7. Green Lantern, 2011 (The CGI Green Lantern suit)

Photo credit: Cinema Blend

One of the weirdest choices made in 2011’s Green Lantern was to use an entirely computer-generated costume. This didn’t turn out well, as the outfit looked like bizarre, artificial skin.

The idea is great in theory, but its execution flopped. Ryan Reynolds’s bright-green suit doesn’t blend well with his body, and it looks worse with the mask.

Over the years, the suit has become a frequent punch line, with Reynolds continuing to joke about it. He even squeezed in a jab about it in Deadpool.

6. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 2009 (Wolverine’s fake-looking claws)

Photo credit: Fox

One of the most significant faults of this movie was Wolverine’s computer-generated claws. In his first three films in the X-Men franchise, Hugh Jackman was given prosthetic claws, but the filmmakers decided it was time for a change.

The new idea was to go digital and give him completely unreal razors. Like Green Lantern’s suit, Wolverine’s claws don’t blend well with his actual body, and it was obvious that it felt like the shiny blades were affixed onto his hands in post-production.

5. Zack Snyder’s Justice League, 2021 (Superman’s mouth)

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

For a movie produced in 2017, nobody would blame you if you expected more. For Henry Cavill to keep his mustache for “Mission Impossible: Fallout,” the filmmakers decided to take off the mustache digitally, which was not a great idea.

It practically ruined the movie for most people anticipating it because it looked like he had a plastic mouth on him. There is always the argument about why he didn’t shave it off and had a fake one for the last movie, which would be alright.

4. Catwoman, 2004

Photo credit: The Arcade

Catwoman has yet to hit its potential when considering its following in the comic book industry. Over the years, viewers have slammed the movie with bad acting and ridiculous stories which do not have roots in comic books.

One of this movie’s most outrageous aspects is how the producer showed the character jumping and climbing around.

The digital figure standing in for Halle Berry had no atom of realism as it moved and jumped through the air. They went on to incorporate computer-generated cats into the film.

The movies also featured several poorly-done green screen backdrops. These backdrops made Catwoman lack proper execution, which would have made it better, as fans kept hoping they would get it right.

3. Hulk, 2003

Photo credit: Universal

The 2003’s Hulk adaptation, directed by Ang Lee, was one of those hit-or-miss blockbusters. There were complaints about using CGI in the film, which t utilized for both the transformed version of the Hulk and the final battle with the villain.

The special effects in Hulk didn’t live up to expectations compared to the more advanced CGI character versions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

2. Fantastic Four, 2005 (Reed Richards’ Stretching Ability)

Photo credit: Fox

Marvel’s Fantastic Four has had two different adaptations. Somehow, they struggled using CGI to bring Reed Richards’ stretching ability into live-action.

The rest of The Fantastic Four have their abilities well represented when compared with his elongated arms, which are anything but fantastic.

1. Black Panther, 2018 (T’Challa’s climactic battle with Killmonger)

Photo credit: Marvel Studios

Black Panther may arguably be one of the greatest superhero movies ever. In the movie, the epic battle between T’Challa and Killmonger somewhat stains the film’s illustrious legacy.

It is evident that one portion of the fight ultimately uses CGI, and the way T’Challa spins doesn’t help the case. Fans believe that movie producers should have prioritized such a part and have top-notch execution.

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