32 Modern Movies That Prove Practical Effects Are Still Thriving in Hollywood

For several decades, digital visual effects have played a significant role in filmmaking, but some viewers believe that Hollywood is excessively dependent on generating virtual worlds with computers. However, let us demonstrate to you that traditional effects are still alive and well by showcasing contemporary masterpieces that continue the tradition of crafting cinematic magic in a more old-school fashion.

The Substance (2024)

In a revealing look at the making of the film “The Substance“, it’s clear that director Coralie Fargeat went to extraordinary efforts to minimize CGI in order to bring her unique vision to life. This dedication paid off, with the film earning five 2025 Academy Award nominations, including Best Makeup. Remarkably, some of the most unsettling and grotesque scenes from this body horror masterpiece were captured on set using remarkably lifelike doubles for various body parts. For instance, when Elisabeth Sparkle (played by Demi Moore) gives birth to her double, Sue (portrayed by Margaret Qualley), the scene was filmed with a startlingly realistic stand-in for the birth process.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

One captivating feature of the “Mission: Impossible” series lies in their thrilling action scenes, which are predominantly real and minimally augmented with digital effects. Among the franchise’s most mind-boggling practical stunts, it is worth noting the one from “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.” In preparation for this scene, Tom Cruise spent weeks mastering a High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) jump from a plane at 25,000 feet above the earth. Remarkably, the only computer-generated imagery used was to simulate the storm swirling around Ethan Hunt as he parachuted down, with the actual stunt being entirely real.

Jurassic Park (1993)

In the groundbreaking first installment of the Jurassic Park movies, both cutting-edge CGI and practical effects were skillfully employed. While the animatronic velociraptors and the intricate water ripple trick used to hint at the T. Rex’s presence are standout examples, as revealed by special effects designer Michael Lantieri in a Great Big Story video, one of the most challenging feats was producing ripples on a cup of water to signify the approaching T. Rex – this was accomplished by plucking a guitar string hidden beneath the cup.

Inception (2010)

As a movie critic, I can confidently say that some of the mind-bending moments in Christopher Nolan’s dream-dive adventure, Inception, would have been mere figments of our imagination without the magic touch of CGI. However, a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the movie’s DVD reveals that the breathtaking fight scene between Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his adversaries in a spinning hotel was not just smoke and mirrors. Instead, the filmmakers rotated a set hallway on an axis to create that dizzying effect, and for shots where gravity took a backseat, they constructed a vertical hallway, suspending the actors on wires.

The Shape Of Water (2017)

In the start of Guillermo del Toro’s Academy Award-winning romantic fantasy film titled The Shape of Water, we find ourselves in a unique setting: a completely submerged structure, where furniture appears to be floating. Interestingly, though the water surrounding it was added digitally, most of the scene was practically created by using puppeteers who controlled the movements of the suspended decorations. (THR)

Spider-Man (2002)

Sam Raimi, known for producing the Evil Dead film series, gained recognition as a pioneer in independent cinema due to his innovative and homemade practical effects used in the original horror masterpiece. This creative approach carried over when he directed one of the top-tier superhero films, Spider-Man. As revealed in a DVD commentary, the pivotal scene where Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) catches Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst) and her lunch tray falling was filmed genuinely after 156 takes, with some assistance from an adhesive that kept the tray securely attached to Maguire’s hand.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

In a galaxy far, far away, BB-8’s design appears to be beyond our Earthly capabilities; however, contrary to this impression, BB-8 was filmed right here on Earth for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This mobile droid was ingeniously built using magnets and gyroscopes, ensuring that its head stayed put as it rolled effortlessly across the sand.

Apollo 13 (1995)

In the iconic space film, Apollo 13, the zero-gravity scenes appear so authentic that one might think the director and team actually ventured into space to capture them. However, as revealed by AV Club, they merely ascended approximately 36,000 feet above earth by constructing the set within a NASA training aircraft known as the KC-135, or the “vomit comet”. This aircraft authentically generates weightlessness through gravity-defying dives.

Oppenheimer (2023)

Christopher Nolan stated that there were no entirely computer-generated shots in his Academy Award-winning film, Oppenheimer, depicting the creation of the atomic bomb. To provide more context, according to Variety, while some visual elements were enhanced with CGI, none of the scenes were entirely created using a computer. This includes the Trinity Test, which was filmed practically using miniatures that the crew detonated themselves.

Mad Max Fury Road (2015)

In George Miller’s gripping post-apocalyptic film, “Mad Max: Fury Road”, Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) played a crucial role in enhancing some visual aspects and digitally removing specific props from the scene. But as the behind-the-scenes footage on the Blu-ray edition reveals, almost all of the jaw-dropping stunts featured in this action movie triumph were carried out live and on location, including the pole-vaulting feats. An interesting tidbit: the Doof Warrior’s guitar was a real functioning flamethrower!

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

The movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” directed by Michel Gondry, defies traditional categorization due to its intricate fantasy sequences, many of which were executed in a realistic manner. For example, as explained in an article from Focus Features’ official site, the scene where Joel (played by Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) seem to alter their size while strolling around a set is achieved through the use of a distortion chamber. This device employs forced perspective to create the optical illusion that two people on opposite sides of a room appear dramatically different in size.

Interstellar (2014)

As a movie critic, I’d rephrase it like this: In the stunningly realistic space saga, Interstellar by Christopher Nolan, there’s one scene that left me stunned – it’s the one where Matthew McConaughey’s character, Cooper, navigates a mind-bending tesseract. This isn’t your typical CGI spectacle; instead, it was primarily filmed using practical effects. According to IndieWire, this sequence was created by projecting animated images onto fine fabric drapes that enclosed a fully constructed, life-size set within which McConaughey was suspended.

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert crafted extraordinary realms (or, more precisely, multiple realms) for their critically acclaimed, cherished A24 film “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” blending unique CGI and physical effects with the aid of a five-member VFX team. They detail in a Wired video that the initial interdimensional leap by character Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) was accomplished practically, using slow motion to capture the actor being pulled to another area within the office building.

Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)

Peter Jackson’s team had a chance to employ digital tricks to make Elijah Wood’s Frodo and other hobbit characters seem diminutive compared to Gandalf (Ian McKellen) in the Lord of the Rings films. However, they opted for a traditional method: forced perspective by strategically positioning actors at varying distances from the camera to create an illusion of size difference. (Wired reports this as their chosen approach.)

Grindhouse (2007)

Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino teamed up for a double feature that paid tribute to exploitative B-grade flicks of the ’60 and ’70s but only one of them really stayed true to the era’s filmmaking principles. Rodriguez’s Planet Terror relies heavily on CGI to create its grotesque world while Tarantino’s Death Proof (according to Hagerty) is lauded for adding little to no digital enhancement to its crazy stunts, especially when Zoe Bell hangs on the hood of a car while being chased by Kurt Russell’s Stuntman Mike.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

In Christopher Nolan’s live-action Batman films, particularly “The Dark Knight Rises,” it’s evident that he strives to record an impressive number of jaw-dropping scenes on film. As Business Insider explains, for instance, the opening scene where Bane (Tom Hardy) seizes a CIA plane was executed in reality, having secured permission to detach a portion of the plane mid-air and drop it from a helicopter over Scottish terrain.

1917 (2019)

It’s possible that one might think Sam Mendes used extensive CGI in his film 1917 to make it look like it was shot in a single take, concealing any seams. However, while there were indeed some award-winning digital effects employed in certain critical scenes, such as the plane crash sequence, most of the explosions you see in the climactic scene where Schofield (George MacKay) runs through a field littered with bombs are genuine, as reported by The New York Times.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Apart from its awe-inspiring stunts, like the famous canal sequence, one of the most noteworthy practical effects in Terminator 2: Judgment Day is found in the director’s cut. Here, Sarah (played by Linda Hamilton) and John Connor (Edward Furlong) remove the T-800’s (Arnold Schwarzenegger) chip from his head, all while facing a mirror. As explained by Insider, this scene was filmed in front of a window rather than a mirror to prevent the camera from appearing in its reflection. Instead, the set was replicated on the other side of the window, and Hamilton’s twin sister, Leslie, mirrored her actions for the shot.

It (2017)

In the 2017 version of Stephen King’s “It”, director Andy Muschietti first intended to employ CGI to give Pennywise a lazy eye to intensify the creepiness. However, in an exclusive chat with Entertainment Tonight, he found out that Bill Skarsgård, the actor portraying Pennywise, could independently move his eye, making digital effects unnecessary – a detail that left “It: Chapter Two” co-star Bill Hader startled to discover on set, as he shared on “Conan”.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

In contrast to the majority of magical scenes in the Harry Potter movies being crafted with digital wizardry, one standout moment from the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, was captured live-action. According to ScreenRant, for the scene where Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) unintentionally casts a spell causing his Aunt Marge to inflate like a balloon, actress Pam Ferris donned a unique costume and facial prosthetics that could truly expand.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

It wasn’t surprising at all that Spider-Man 2 won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, given how lifelike Doctor Octopus’ mechanical arms appeared on screen. In fact, computer-generated imagery (CGI) was primarily used for scenes involving Doc Ock’s menacing arms, but a great deal of attention was paid to puppeteering these props. Alfred Molina, the actor portraying Doc Ock, even played an active role in this process.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton emphasized their desire to incorporate as many real-world effects as feasible in the eagerly anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice, titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Entertainment Weekly reports that, similar to the 1988 original, sandworms were crafted using stop-motion animation for a scene where Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) and her daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), stumble upon one of Saturn’s moons.

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

For Joel Coen’s first solo directorial project, “The Tragedy of Macbeth“, the filmmaker aimed to give Shakespeare’s impactful play a unique stage-like feel in the adaptation. To establish this ambiance, as shown in a YouTube featurette by Apple TV+, full-sized sets were constructed on a soundstage at Warner lot and enclosed by matte paintings to complete the backdrops.

Midsommar (2019)

The key factor behind the intense horror portrayed in Ari Aster’s second terrifying A24 film, Midsommar, lies in the employment of practical effects, as demonstrated by the scene where an elderly villager meets a grisly fate after surviving a cliff jump, his face being crushed fatally. As reported by Vulture, this gruesome sequence was captured using practical means, featuring a replica head fitted with air cylinders that could crumple and rebound upon activation of a button, enabling numerous takes using the same prop.

Skyfall (2012)

The James Bond movies starring Daniel Craig, particularly their action scenes like the one in Skyfall’s opening, stand out due to their striking realism. An article from SlashFilm highlights the difficulties faced by director Sam Mendes and his team while filming the train fight scene on a moving train.

Independence Day (1996)

The special visual effects in the iconic alien invasion film, “Independence Day,” rightfully won an Oscar. This wasn’t only due to its advanced CGI but also because of its traditional techniques. For example, an article from the Director’s Guild of America website reveals that famous landmarks like The White House and the Empire State Building were destroyed using miniature models in real life.

Tenet (2020)

Christopher Nolan consistently pushes boundaries in crafting the most authentic and thrilling action scenes imaginable; for instance, he actually procured a full-scale Boeing 747 solely for its destruction – as detailed by ScreenRant, this is how he captured the plane crash scene from the movie ‘Tenet’.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

It’s been enough time since the 1986 original that Tom Cruise and the team could have filmed aerial action sequences for Top Gun: Maverick using sound stages and green screens. However, as IGN reports, they chose to undergo extensive training for several months to fly military-grade jets outfitted with cameras, capturing the most authentic shots in real flight conditions instead.

First Man (2018)

As reported by Digital Trends, director Damien Chazelle aimed to capture Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk without relying on green screens. Instead, they selected an Atlanta quarry as the shooting location, and later made minor adjustments in post-production. The main digital enhancements were removing unwanted reflections from the actors’ astronaut helmet visors.

Barbie (2023)

Before Margot Robbie’s character in Barbie experiences a crisis of existence, her feet are shown in an extraordinary arch, defying gravity. Director Greta Gerwig revealed to The Project that this shot was not digitally enhanced but rather achieved by securing Robbie’s toes to the ground with double-sided tape.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Emily Blunt enchanted audiences with her captivating performance as the beloved title character in “Mary Poppins Returns,” but the film’s magic didn’t stop there. For example, a behind-the-scenes video posted by Rotten Tomatoes on YouTube shows that the scene where Mary and the children stepped into a magical world through their bathtub was created using a hidden slide beneath the tub, which was skillfully disguised with a generous amount of soap bubbles.

The French Dispatch (2021)

In their own unique style, Wes Anderson films such as “The French Dispatch” seem to hail from an imaginative realm that only the filmmaker could conceive. But how does this vivid, dreamlike aesthetic materialize on screen? A video by Piercefilm Productions unveils that some of the production’s most striking visuals are crafted using a mix of miniatures and painted backdrops.

2025-02-08 17:39