Computer-generated imagery (CGI) has the ability to create grand, gorgeous, and epic computer animation on a small budget. However, CGI can also go horribly wrong; here are the worst CGI effects in sci-fi films.
George Lucas is one of the most talented and creative producer/directors in cinema history. His Star Wars films changed the entire landscape of grand storytelling. Lucas was always at the forefront of creating new technology in film and finding different ways to bring his vision to the big screen. But that doesn’t mean that Lucas always got it right. Jar Jar Binks anyone? How about the entire look of Star Wars: Episode II or the addded CGI Jabba the Hutt in the 1997 re-release of A New Hope? They all have to be considered among the worst CGI moments in sci-fi movies.
Some of the films on this list are overall outstanding but with just a few of the worst CGI scenes in science fiction movies. Vote up the biggest CGI offenders.
Most divisive: Howard the Duck
Over 70 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Worst CGI Sci-Fi Movies
- 1Sworn to preserve intergalactic order, the Green Lantern Corps has existed for centuries. Its newest recruit, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), is the first human to join the ranks. The Green Lanterns have little regard for humans, who have thus far been unable to harness the powers of the ring each member wears. But Jordan, a gifted and cocky test pilot, may be the corps' only hope when a new enemy called Parallax threatens the universal balance of power.
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Martin Campbell
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- 2Transported to an alternate universe, four young outsiders gain superhuman powers as they alter their physical form in shocking ways. Reed Richards becomes Mr. Fantastic, able to stretch and twist his body at will, while pal Ben Grimm gains immense strength as the Thing. Johnny Storm becomes the Human Torch, able to control and project fire, while his sister Sue becomes the Invisible Woman. Together, the team must harness their new abilities to prevent Doctor Doom from destroying the Earth.
- Released: 2015
- Directed by: Josh Trank
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- 3Bruce Banner (Eric Bana), a genetics researcher with a tragic past, is on the brink of a groundbreaking discovery. His experiments involve gamma radiation, a force that holds promise and peril in equal measure. After an accident in his laboratory, Bruce's life takes an unprecedented turn. He transforms into the Hulk, a gargantuan green creature fueled by rage (voiced by Lou Ferrigno). The movie charts Bruce's struggle to control his alter ego while pursued relentlessly by General Ross (Sam Elliott), who seeks to exploit the Hulk's powers for military purposes. This 2003 film, directed by Ang Lee, is a gripping exploration of science, power, and human emotion wrapped up in superhero genre conventions.
- Released: 2003
- Directed by: Ang Lee
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- 4On an island research facility, Dr. Susan McAlester (Saffron Burrows) is harvesting the brain tissue of DNA-altered sharks as a possible cure for Alzheimer's disease. When the facility's backers send an executive (Samuel L. Jackson) to investigate the experiments, a routine procedure goes awry and a shark starts attacking the researchers. Now, with sharks outnumbering their human captors, McAlester and her team must figure out a way to stop them from escaping to the ocean and breeding.
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: Renny Harlin
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- 5Seeking solace from his dark past, Logan (Hugh Jackman), better known as Wolverine, seems to have found love and contentment with Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins). Logan's peaceful existence is shattered when Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber), his vicious brother, brutally murders Kayla. Logan's thirst for revenge propels him into the Weapon X program, where he undergoes a painful procedure to bond his bones with adamantium, making him virtually indestructible and more than a match for Victor.
- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Gavin Hood
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- 6In the late 21st-century, a vampiric disease modifies some people, imbuing each of them with superhuman strength, intelligence and speed. Worldwide civil war looms as normal people, feeling threatened by their enhanced brethren, demand the extermination of the group. One such transformed female (Milla Jovovich) finds herself caught in the crossfire when she becomes the protector of a boy who is perceived to be a threat to humanity.
- Released: 2006
- Directed by: Kurt Wimmer
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- 7The eccentric Dr. Lawrence Angelo (Pierce Brosnan) puts mentally disabled landscaper Jobe Smith (Jeff Fahey) on a regimen of experimental pills and computer-simulated training sequences in hopes of augmenting the man's intelligence. In time Jobe becomes noticeably brighter and also begins to fare much better with the opposite sex. But, as he develops psychic powers, he realizes that those around him have taken advantage of his simplicity his whole life, and he plots a bloody revenge.
- Released: 1992
- Directed by: Brett Leonard
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- 8In the quirky 1986 film Howard the Duck, Howard (voiced by Chip Zien), a wise-cracking, cigar-chomping duck from another dimension, inexplicably lands on Earth. He befriends Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson), a struggling musician, and Phil Blumburtt (Tim Robbins), a bumbling scientist. As they navigate their uncanny reality, an evil Dark Overlord (Jeffrey Jones) threatens humanity. The trio must overcome outlandish obstacles to save the world from impending doom. Despite being a commercial failure upon release, this sci-fi comedy has gained cult status over time for its peculiar premise and distinctive characters.
- Released: 1986
- Directed by: Willard Huyck
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- 9In I Am Legend, Robert Neville (Will Smith) finds himself the lone survivor in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a man-made virus. As a military virologist, Neville's immunity becomes both his curse and potential salvation. He navigates through desolate New York City, his only companions being his loyal dog, Sam, and haunting memories of his family. Striving to reverse the effects of the virus with his own blood, he battles with isolation and relentless nocturnal mutants. His hope persists though as he relentlessly broadcasts radio messages, seeking other survivors. Despite its bleak landscape, this sci-fi thriller encapsulates a gripping tale of survival, resilience, and unyielding hope.
- Released: 2007
- Directed by: Francis Lawrence
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- 10In the film Fantastic Four, four gifted scientists - Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), Johnny Storm (Chris Evans), and Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) - embark on a daring space mission. An unexpected cosmic event infuses them with unique superhuman abilities. Richards becomes elastic Mr. Fantastic, Sue morphs into the invisible woman, Johnny turns into the fiery Human Torch, and Grimm transforms into the indestructible Thing. Together, they must harness their new powers to thwart the plans of their nemesis, Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon). This action-packed superhero movie intertwines science fiction with adventure in a riveting exploration of friendship and courage under pressure.
- Released: 2005
- Directed by: Tim Story
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- 11
Justice League
Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal GadotFueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists newfound ally Diana Prince to face an even greater threat. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to recruit a team to stand against this newly awakened enemy. Despite the formation of an unprecedented league of heroes -- Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash -- it may be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.- Released: 2017
- Directed by: Zack Snyder
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- 12Freedom fighters Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) continue to lead the revolt against the Machine Army, unleashing their arsenal of extraordinary skills and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation. In their quest to save the human race from extinction, they gain greater insight into the construct of The Matrix and Neo's pivotal role in the fate of mankind.
- Released: 2003
- Directed by: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
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- 13In Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, faces a web of challenges. His love for Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) is tested as new villains emerge. The Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), an escaped convict with the power to shape-shift into sand, and Venom (Topher Grace), a sinister alien symbiote that amplifies its host's darkest traits, are the formidable foes. As Peter grapples with his personal demons, he must also confront these threats to protect New York City. This action-packed superhero drama, directed by Sam Raimi, showcases a complex narrative of redemption and responsibility while maintaining its comic book roots.
- Released: 2007
- Directed by: Sam Raimi
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- 14Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is a young apprentice Jedi knight under the tutelage of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) ; Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), who will later father Luke Skywalker and become known as Darth Vader, is just a 9-year-old boy. When the Trade Federation cuts off all routes to the planet Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are assigned to settle the matter.
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: George Lucas
- 15In a future where time is money and the wealthy can live forever, Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) is a poor man who rarely has more than a day's worth of life on his time clock. When he saves Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) from time thieves, Will receives the gift of a century. However, such a large transaction attracts the attention of the authorities, and when Will is falsely accused of murder, he must go on the run, taking the daughter (Amanda Seyfried) of an incredibly wealthy man with him.
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Andrew Niccol
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- 16Jarrod (Eric Balfour) and Elaine (Scottie Thompson) take a trip to Southern California to visit his friend, Terry (Donald Faison), for a fun getaway, but it turns into a weekend of terror. During the night a cluster of strange, mesmerizing lights signals the arrival of an alien invasion. As thousands of terrified people are pulled into the maws of giant alien ships, Jarrod and his companions must use every skill they have to survive global genocide.
- Released: 2010
- Directed by: Colin Strause, Greg Strause
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- 17Bearing a mysterious metal shackle on his wrist, an amnesiac gunslinger (Daniel Craig) wanders into a frontier town called Absolution. He quickly finds that strangers are unwelcome, and no one does anything without the approval of tyrannical Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). But when Absolution faces a threat from beyond Earth, the stranger finds that he is its only hope of salvation. He unites townspeople, outlaws and Apache warriors against the alien forces in an epic battle for survival.
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Jon Favreau
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- 18Sam (Garrett Hedlund), the son of famous video-game developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), has been haunted for a long time by his father's mysterious disappearance. A strange signal draws Sam to Flynn's Arcade, and he is pulled into the same cyberworld in which his father, its creator, has been trapped for 20 years. With fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), Kevin and Sam seek to escape from a universe that, while magnificent, is far more advanced and dangerous than Kevin had ever imagined.
- Released: 2010
- Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
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- 19Exploding from the pages of Marvel Comics comes the thrilling follow-up to the blockbuster "Blade." Half Man ... half vampire, and consumed by a desire to avenge the curse of his birth and save the human race from a blood-drenched Armageddon. In this newest action-packed adventure, Blade (Wesley Snipes) is forced to team up with the very vampires he hates in order to overcome a new type of monster which threatens to eradicate both races.
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
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- 20Set ten years after the events of "The Phantom Menace," the Republic continues to be mired in strife and chaos. A separatist movement encompassing hundreds of planets and powerful corporate alliances poses new threats to the galaxy that even the Jedi cannot stem. These moves, long planned by an as yet unrevealed and powerful force, lead to the beginning of the Clone Wars -- and the beginning of the end of the Republic.
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: George Lucas
- 21In the thrilling sequel to Jurassic Park, Jurassic World is a science fiction adventure that reintroduces audiences to the dinosaur-themed amusement park. This time around, the park's operations manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) teams up with Navy veteran and dinosaur trainer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt). The duo face off against genetically-engineered dinosaurs running amok in the state-of-the-art theme park. A particularly fearsome hybrid dino, Indominus rex, proves their biggest challenge. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, this film combines elements of action, suspense and jaw-dropping visual effects to create a captivating cinematic experience without sacrificing the original's essence.
- Released: 2015
- Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
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- 22After finally achieving the high score on Starfighter, his favorite arcade game, everyday teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) meets the game's designer, Centauri (Robert Preston) -- who reveals that he created Starfighter as a training ground for developing and recruiting actual pilots to help fight a war in space. Whisked away from the banality of his trailer park life to a distant alien planet, Alex struggles to use his video game-playing skills to pilot a real ship, with real lives at stake.
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Nick Castle
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- 23The Imperial Forces -- under orders from cruel Darth Vader (David Prowse) -- hold Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) hostage, in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), captain of the Millennium Falcon, work together with the companionable droid duo R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy.
- Released: 1977
- Directed by: George Lucas
