10 Worst CGI In Superhero Movies

CGI can make or break a movie, and superhero movies in particular rely on these effects. VFX artists put their sweat and tears into bringing comic book heroes and villains to life, and they don't always get the recognition they deserve.

However, when these artists don't have the right technology or are under tight deadlines, the resulting CGI can be so awful that people on the internet never leave it. While not everything in a movie can be 100% perfect, there are some superhero movies that have scenes or characters that could have taken more time in post-production.

10. Axel's floating head (Thor: Love and Thunder)

Director Taika Waititi's second film 'Thor' was released in 2011. After its release in 2022, it became a punching bag for frustrated fans. One of the things that really annoys them is how little Axel appears as a floating head when he magically talks to Thor.

Axl appears to be cut and pasted on screen, and the Marvel Studios version of Disney+ somehow made things worse when I tried to fix the effect. This is just one of the many problems with the MCU, as the studio certainly shines with VFX artists and perhaps CGI in general.

9. Blade duel with Deacon Frost (1998's Blade).

The cult reaches a climax when everyone's favorite daily attendee is executed along with the evil demon Frost. But since the latter gains the power of La Magra, he has a rare healing factor that allows him to quickly repair his leg. After Blade splits Deacon's body, the evil vampire uses the power of his blood to glue them back together.

Frost might be scarier if the blood effects didn't look like something out of an old Nintendo 64 game. This CGI movie was made in the 90s, which is forgiven when these effects were still in their infancy. But looking at Blade now, the filmmakers should have done more to describe Frost's powers.

8. Spawn is an incredibly flowing red cap.

CGI has often been used to create the capes worn by various heroes and villains in comic book movies, and since Spawn's cape was an integral part of the character, it makes sense that the 1997 movie's creators wanted to show its true visual potential . Spawn's suit is believed to be a living "anatomy" similar to the Venom symbiote, its distinctive head bearing no resemblance to real material or magical materials.

This animation lacks some confidence in Cap's look and movement, and the chains attached to his clothes don't look any better. The scarf isn't particularly convincing when swung around several real people. That live head would be better kept in the digital inferno with CGI while the movie was being made.

7. T'Challa's fight with Killmonger (Black Panther).

Black Panther is arguably one of the greatest superhero movies of all time, with the climactic battle between T'Challa and Killmonger putting a slight dent in the film's impressive legacy. Some of the fights are clearly completely computer generated, and the way T-Challa swings around the beam brings back another unreal shot from the 2000 X-Men movie.

Likewise, the flawed results become more apparent when the bodies of the two fighters are removed from their suits. For a blockbuster released in 2018, more time had to be given to develop the visual effects for such an important scene.

6. All About Incubus (Suicide Squad)

This giant, glowing demon is the result of a man's presence in Brother Encharts devouring innocent bystanders. But it's gross because it doesn't even look like a real creature. Her glossy skin only accentuates her unfinished, unintimidating design.

And when he launched his Suicide Squad run, he looked far less realistic than his non-digital counterparts. The sitter shown here is such a monstrous antagonist that most viewers will likely forget that this VFX mess even existed in the movie.

5. Steppenwolf's Porcupine Armor (Justice League)

When director Joss Whedon took over the production of Justice League , he oversaw an overhaul of the film's visual effects, including a complete restoration of the villain Steppenwolf. Not only does this design seem silly and inconsequential, but the movie's rushed production makes Steppenwolf seem like a believable alien conqueror.

The armor doesn't even match the designs of the Parademons or Cyborg, full of homeworld technology that makes it stick out like a sore thumb. This Steppenwolf looks impressive compared to the real, menacing version of Zack Snyder's Justice League , leaving audiences grateful to see the new God as originally intended.

4. When Catwoman Moves (Catwoman)

Catwoman has been panned over the years for poor acting, ridiculous stories, and a lack of connection to her comic book source material. But one of the most amazing things about this movie is how amazing the cat jumps and climbs. The digital image of Halle Berry is clearly fake as it lacks realism in how she moves and jumps through the air. Even though this movie was directed by a former visual effects supervisor, audiences can't tell what the supposedly iconic character is from his terrible work.

3. CG Green Lantern Costume (2011 Green Lantern)

Hal Jordan's Green Lantern suit is supposed to be powered by the Power Ring in this terrifying comic book movie. This idea is great in theory, but it fails in execution. Ryan Reynolds' bright green suit doesn't match his actual body, and it looks even worse with the mask on his face.

This is also an example of the unrealistic CGI used in a hit. But years after the lawsuit, Reynolds continues to joke around. He even gave Deadpool a bit about it.

2. Wolverine's False Claw (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

There were many things wrong with the X-Men prequel, and one of the biggest problems was Wolverine's computer-generated claws. When actor Hugh Jackman got false nails in the first three films of the X-Men franchise, the creators of the original film decided to digitize it and gave it completely unrealistic vibes, and not in a good way.

Much like the star's Green Lantern suit, Wolverine's claws don't blend well with his actual body, and these glowing blades were reportedly attached to his arms in post-production.

1. The Mouth of Superman (Justice League)

What is Superman's mouth in that movie that not everyone on the internet is talking about? For Henry Cavill to get the beard he needs on the mission. For Impossible - Fallout, the filmmakers behind the Justice League movie decided to digitally erase his face. But what the audience saw was a fuzzy plastic mouth that spoiled the film for the audience when it appeared in the opening scene.

What makes this CGI villain even more repulsive is how pointless he is. If Cavill had to have a beard for another movie, couldn't he just shave it off for a fake movie? The party's $20 mustache could have been better than the last movie's disappointing $25 million audience member.