Movies

5 Most Unconvincing CGI Movie Characters That Haunt Our Screens

5 Most Unconvincing CGI Movie Characters That Haunt Our Screens
Image credit: Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures

We can forgive all the movies shot before the 21st century, but everything that came after…

The history of CGI dates back to the 1950s, and the first movie to use this revolutionary technology was Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo in 1958.

However, not all CGI characters end up being breathtaking or even close to realistic, and the fact that these five most disturbing CGI characters in movie history were created in the 21st century is unforgivable.

5. Baby Renesmee From The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 (2012)

The Twilight franchise is known for its supernatural characters, but one particular CGI creation stands out for all the wrong reasons. In the final installment, the half-human, half-vampire Renesmee, the baby of Edward and Bella, is brought to life with the help of CGI.

However, the result of creating a baby that grows up every second led to a disturbing and unnaturally mature portrayal that left even die-hard fans speechless.

4. All Characters From Cats (2019)

Despite its stellar cast, the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats was criticized for its uncanny valley CGI portrayal of humanoid cats. The characters' odd proportions, unnatural movements, and disturbing fur textures contributed to a sense of unease and confusion among viewers, cementing the film as one of the worst ever made in Hollywood.

3. Ghost Rider From The Ghost Rider Franchise (2007/2011)

While some viewers praised the film for bringing the flaming skull of Johnny Blaze to life, others found aspects of the character's appearance and CGI effects disturbing and unconvincing.

Even a 3D X-ray of Nicholas Cage's skull couldn't save the movie from being widely criticized for its childish visual effects, as such odds are unacceptable, especially in superhero movies.

2. Sonic From Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

The original design of Sonic, the beloved video game character, in the 2020 film adaptation sparked outrage among fans for its disturbing appearance, especially Sonic's humanoid teeth. The studio took the unique step of redesigning the character following the release of the trailer and fan criticism, which ended up leading to a successful box office hit.

But you know, such mistakes can never be forgotten.

1. The Scorpion King From The Mummy Returns (2001)

The casting of the popular adventure franchise has been spot-on from the very beginning, with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in the lead roles, and Dwayne Johnson joining the cast for the second film.

In The Mummy Returns, however, Rock's CGI design for his Scorpion King character fell short, making it difficult to recognize the actor in the role and tarnishing the legacy of a memorable movie monster.