5 CGI-Free Movie Scenes That Still Look Unreal

With the CGI-dominated era, cinematography has undergone drastic changes.

From small stunts to massive on-screen explosions, it's easy to assume that some breathtaking movie scenes rely heavily on computer-generated imagery to create stunning visuals.

However, there are instances where filmmakers achieved remarkable visual effects without using CGI.

Here are five unforgettable movie scenes that had nothing to do with CGI, but still made you believe they were unreal.

1. Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan 's most famous scene from his mind-bending thriller Inception features a gravity-defying hallway fight that is both visually stunning and physically intense.

Few people know, however, that the scene was achieved not with the help of CGI, but rather with the help of a practical revolving set.

The result is one of cinematography's most iconic scenes and a surreal experience for both actors and viewers, as Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character battles opponents in an ever-changing environment.

2. Death Proof (2007)

When it comes to creating a masterpiece, Quentin Tarantino can be a very picky man.

In order to make the stunt scenes in a stalker-thriller action movie even more authentic, he gave one of the main leading roles to the real-life stunt performer of Uma Thurman, Zoë Bell.

Every single scene where you see this woman flying over the car and riding right on the hood of it — is nothing but the merit of Zoë Bell.

There is no way the movie would have been as deadly as it is if someone else had taken Bell's place.

3. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

We all know that Tom Cruise is one of the most fearless actors Hollywood has to offer. For his movies, especially for the Mission Impossible franchise, he has gone to great lengths more than once.

Cruise climbed the world's tallest building for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, jumped from one building to another, and even set a world record for holding his breath for six minutes for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.

There's nothing this man can't do, and he's taking his stunts to a whole new level in the upcoming installment, riding a motorcycle up a ramp and off a cliff, jumping off said motorcycle, and then parachuting to the ground.

4. 1917 (2019)

In addition to invisible CGI, practical elements played an important role in achieving the single-shot style of Sam Mendes' iconic war film.

To enhance the authenticity of their performances, the actors were trained to handle rifles with blank ammunition.

Also, physical sets, demonstrating the filmmakers' intention to move away from complete reliance on green screen technology, were used to create a realistic atmosphere.

One of the most impressive scenes is at the end of the film where George MacKay 's character runs through flares.

This scene was done with zero computer assistance and involved six cranes and individual tracks for each flare.

5. Oppenheimer ( 2023)

From gravity-defying scenes to an entire airplane exploding and now atomic bomb explosions, you can literally see Christopher Nolan's expertise grow over the years.

In his upcoming film, Oppenheimer, Nolan himself acknowledged the immense challenge of recreating the Trinity Test, a pivotal moment in history, without relying on computer graphics.

The recreation of the impact of an atomic bomb without the use of CGI is undoubtedly a daunting undertaking, and we are eager to see the crew's efforts on the big screen.