When you think of 10 movie scenes that left you gasping, your mind probably jumps straight to dazzling computer‑generated spectacles. Yet, every now and then, a director or a daring actor decides to toss the digital safety net and capture something truly raw on film. The result? Moments that feel almost too wild to be real, but were, in fact, pulled off without a single pixel of CGI. Below we dive into ten unforgettable instances where the crew chose reality over pixels, proving that practical bravery can still steal the show.

10 Movie Scenes: Real Stunts Unveiled

10 Tossing the Package: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World marked Edgar Wright’s bold leap from indie UK cinema into the big‑screen comic‑book arena. Though the box‑office response was modest, the film quickly earned a cult following and is now hailed as one of the finest comic adaptations ever crafted. Wright assembled an eclectic mix of A‑list and indie talent—including Anna Kendrick, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Cera as the titular Scott Pilgrim—creating a vibrant, kinetic world.

While the movie brims with eye‑popping visual tricks, Wright was meticulous about grounding certain beats in pure, unfiltered realism. One such moment is the seemingly simple act of Scott flinging an Amazon parcel into a trash bin. Wright demanded that the toss and its payoff be captured in a single, uninterrupted take—no cuts, no post‑production wizardry. Michael Cera, delivering his lines while attempting the throw, had to repeat the maneuver a staggering 33 times before finally landing the package perfectly on camera.

9 A Real “Fire” Fight: Ong‑Bak (2003)

Prachya Pinkaew’s Ong‑Bak follows Ting (Tony Jaa), a Muay Thai prodigy on a quest to reclaim his village’s stolen Buddha statue. The narrative propels him from rural roots to the bustling streets of Bangkok, where he clashes with the ruthless crime lord Komtuan (Suchao Pongwilai) in a desperate bid to save his community from drought.

Beyond the film’s larger‑than‑life fight choreography, the most jaw‑dropping sequence occurs at a gas station: Ting is engulfed in an explosion, his legs ablaze, yet he continues to pummel his foes. Jaa didn’t merely act; he physically fought with his legs on fire, enduring multiple burns and even singeing his eyebrows and eyelashes. The scene required several fiery takes, but the final result showcases an unflinching commitment to practical stunt work.

8 Cross‑Court Hoop Shot: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Zack Snyder’s tenure in the DCEU may have been turbulent, but he gifted audiences with some unforgettable set‑pieces. In Batman v Superman, Lex Luthor—portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg—opens the film with a seemingly innocuous basketball trick that becomes iconic.

Lex attempts a cross‑court shot, then turns to the camera with a menacing grin aimed at Senator Finch (Holly Hunter). Though Eisenberg could sink the basket off‑camera with ease, the on‑set pressure was palpable. He struggled to make the shot, ultimately needing 30 takes to perfect the basket, turning a simple gesture into a memorable, tension‑filled moment.

7 Helicopter Under a Bridge: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

James Cameron’s Terminator 2 is famed for its groundbreaking visual effects, but one of its most daring feats was achieved without digital assistance. In the climactic chase, the T‑1000 commandeers a police helicopter and daringly flies beneath a freeway overpass, showcasing both menace and pinpoint precision.

With no futuristic robot to aid the stunt, Cameron turned to Chuck Tamburro—a Vietnam‑trained pilot and integral crew member—to execute the dangerous maneuver. Even though a pilot was on board, the camera crew balked at filming the stunt, prompting Cameron himself to operate the camera and capture the heart‑stopping sequence, ensuring its place in cinematic history.

6 Impressive Over‑the‑Shoulder Dunk: Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Jean‑Pierre Jeunet’s direction of Alien: Resurrection blended sci‑fi horror with a touch of whimsy, employing animatronics and puppetry to bring the franchise’s grotesque creatures to life. Amidst this alien landscape, a surprisingly ordinary scene stands out: Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) attempts a basketball free‑throw.

Rather than rely on a hidden crew member to drop the ball, Weaver insisted on making the shot herself. After a month of practice with mixed success, she nailed the basket on the very first take once the cameras rolled. The unexpected authenticity caused co‑star Ron Perlman to break character in surprise, prompting the editors to cut away as soon as the ball swished through.

5 Helicopter Meets Car: Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

Bruce Willis returns as John McClane in Live Free or Die Hard, confronting cyber‑terrorist Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) in a race against a nation‑wide digital apocalypse. While much of the film leaned on computer‑generated backdrops, one of its most electrifying moments was achieved entirely in reality.

Director Len Wiseman orchestrated a real police car to launch off a ramp and crash into a hovering helicopter—a stunt that demanded three weeks of meticulous preparation. The helicopter was immobilized by wires (its rotors stationary), and although the wires were later edited out, the raw physicality of the crash became the film’s signature action set‑piece.

4 Perfect Catch: Spider‑Man (2002)

Sam Raimi’s original Spider‑Man introduced Tobey Maguire’s earnest Peter Parker to a generation of superhero fans. Beyond the web‑slinging thrills, the film features a heart‑warming moment where Peter saves Mary Jane’s lunch tray after she slips, catching each item in succession.

The sequence appears almost superhuman: Maguire snatches an apple, a cup of milk, a sandwich, and a salad—all in perfect order. In truth, the tray was dropped off‑camera, and Maguire managed to catch every piece on the first try after 156 takes, delivering a genuinely impossible‑looking catch without CGI assistance.

3 Fistfight in a Helicopter: Crank (2006)

Jason Statham’s Crank thrusts Chev Chelios into a high‑octane race against time after being poisoned. While the film brims with stunt driving and adrenaline‑fueled antics, its climactic showdown takes place inside a helicopter soaring over Los Angeles.

Although a full stunt team was available, Statham chose to perform the physically demanding fight himself. Suspended 2,000 feet above the city, he grappled with his adversary on the edge of the rotor‑less chopper. The final fall was safely rigged, but Statham’s willingness to be in the air added a layer of authenticity to the scene.

2 Inflated Bread: The Force Awakens

In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) prepares a humble meal: a loaf of bread that magically inflates before our eyes. While the franchise is renowned for its cutting‑edge digital wizardry, this particular effect was achieved through painstaking practical work.

Visual effects supervisor Chris Corbould spent three months crafting a genuine inflatable loaf. The process involved deflating the bread under liquid, then slowly inflating it on camera while a vacuum pump extracted the water, creating a real‑time expansion that felt both surreal and tactile.

1 Bowling for Turkeys: Kingpin (1996)

The Farrelly brothers’ Kingpin pairs Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray as aging bowling pros locked in a rivalry that fuels the film’s comedic chaos. Amidst the slapstick, a standout moment sees Murray deliver three consecutive turkey strikes on the lanes.

Initially, the directors assumed Murray couldn’t pull off such a feat and planned to edit the footage to appear flawless. Defying expectations, Murray actually rolled three perfect strikes on camera. The crowd’s reaction escalated with each hit, culminating in Murray collapsing, spinning, and shouting, “I’m the greatest!” as the cameras captured the genuine triumph.

When it comes to blockbuster filmmaking, the phrase “10 CGI characters” instantly conjures images of awe‑inspiring digital marvels that have stretched the limits of visual effects. From towering robots to ethereal deities, each of these ten creations demanded ingenuity, massive compute power, and daring artistic vision. Let’s break down how these characters reshaped the CGI landscape.

10 CGI Characters That Redefined Digital Magic

10 Devastator: The Colossus of Chaos

The creation of Devastator in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen represents one of the most ambitious undertakings in the history of CGI. This massive combiner robot, formed by the union of several construction vehicles, challenged the visual effects team to push the limits of digital technology. Each segment of Devastator was meticulously designed to function both independently and as part of the larger machine, requiring sophisticated animation and coordination.

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), tasked with bringing Devastator to life, utilized advanced simulation software to handle the complex interactions between the different parts. The technical crew had to ensure that each transformation looked seamless and maintained the integrity of the individual vehicles. This was no small feat, considering the enormous size and the detailed mechanics involved in each transformation sequence.

Moreover, the scenes featuring Devastator demanded extensive rendering resources due to their complexity and detail. The character’s massive scale and destructive capabilities meant that every action scene had to be carefully planned and executed to avoid overwhelming the film’s runtime with rendering delays.

The impact of Devastator on the screen was profound, showcasing a blend of artistic vision and cutting‑edge technology that set new standards for future CGI characters. This groundbreaking effort took the capabilities of CGI to new heights and tested the limits of what could be achieved in film.

9 Thanos: The Titan Challenge

The creation of Thanos for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame was a landmark achievement in the field of CGI, combining nuanced performance capture with complex visual effects. The character demanded a portrayal that was both physically imposing and emotionally nuanced, requiring a sophisticated blend of technology and artistry. Thanos’s facial expressions, in particular, needed to convey a depth of emotion to match his profound narrative impact, pushing the boundaries of what CGI could achieve in terms of character depth.

The visual effects team, led by Weta Digital and ILM, employed some of the most advanced motion capture techniques available. Josh Brolin’s performance was captured in meticulous detail, translating every subtle facial movement and emotional nuance onto the CGI model of Thanos. This process involved the use of hundreds of tiny cameras to capture a vast array of expressions and movements, ensuring that the character’s digital portrayal was as lifelike and convincing as possible.

Beyond facial capture, Thanos’s sheer size and his interaction with environments and other characters posed additional challenges. Each scene required intricate choreography between the actor and the visual effects teams to make his movements believable across various battle scenes. The result was a villain who was not just a technological marvel but also a character with a compelling presence, deeply integrated into the storyline. The work on Thanos set new standards for character animation in film, showcasing the potential of CGI to create complex and engaging characters that resonate with audiences on an emotional level.

8 Smaug: Mastering the Dragon’s Complexity

The creation of Smaug in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug presented a colossal challenge that pushed the boundaries of visual effects technology. This dragon, more than just a mythical beast, was a high‑stakes endeavor that involved detailed anatomical construction, right down to the muscles and scales, to ensure his interactions in the film felt authentic and engaging, especially during critical scenes with Bilbo.

The Visual Effects Supervisor, Joe Letteri, highlighted the intricate process of bringing Smaug to life. Each scale on Smaug’s body was carefully designed to reflect his personality and the dynamic movements required in his scenes. The complexity of animating such a creature required not just artistic vision but also advanced technological solutions. Weta Digital, leveraging its proprietary software “Tissue,” meticulously simulated the anatomy of Smaug’s muscles and movements, a process that earned the software a Scientific and Engineering Award.

Additionally, the Mistika DI Colour Grading system played a crucial role in enhancing the visual impact of Smaug by altering and enriching scene colors to match the film’s darker and more intense narrative style. This integration of color work was critical in bringing the fiery dragon to life, making his presence on screen not only visually stunning but also narratively compelling.

The efforts to perfect Smaug’s appearance were a testament to the dedication of the visual effects team, whose work was recognized with Academy Award nominations for Visual Effects, among others. The attention to detail in the animation and simulation of Smaug set a new standard for character creation in cinema, making him one of the most memorable and technically accomplished CGI characters ever created.

7 Davy Jones: The Seamless Fusion of Real and Digital

Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean exemplifies the pinnacle of digital character creation, particularly through the masterful integration of Bill Nighy’s actual eyes into the CGI model. This blend of real human elements with digital artistry served as a groundbreaking achievement in visual effects, providing the character with a lifelike depth that surpassed the common pitfalls of digital creations.

The design of Davy Jones was revolutionary, especially in how it addressed the challenge of the uncanny valley—where digital characters often fall short due to their lifeless eyes. By using Nighy’s real eyes, the character maintained a connection to humanity that purely digital eyes seldom achieve. This decision allowed audiences to see genuine emotion and soul in Davy Jones, enhancing the believability of his character and enabling a deeper emotional engagement with the viewers.

Additionally, the physical attributes of Davy Jones, such as his tentacled face and the textural details of his skin, were rendered with exceptional skill. The shiny, slimy appearance of his tentacles and the nuanced way light interacted with his skin were consistent with his aquatic nature, making him appear both otherworldly and believable. The visual effects team skillfully replicated environmental interactions, such as raindrops hitting his face or wind affecting his tentacles, adding a tangible reality to his presence on screen.

This meticulous attention to detail in Davy Jones’ creation set a new standard for CGI and remains a celebrated achievement in visual effects. The character not only stands as a testament to the capabilities of digital art but also highlights the importance of integrating real human elements to enhance the authenticity of digital characters. The visual effects team’s work was recognized with an Academy Award, underscoring the success and impact of their innovative approach to blending real and digital filmmaking techniques.

6 Gollum: Pioneering Emotion in Digital Characters

Gollum, the conflicted creature from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, marked a significant milestone in the evolution of CGI. His character was one of the first fully realized digital beings to display a depth of emotions that resonated with audiences worldwide. The creation of Gollum was not merely a technical achievement; it was a dramatic endeavor that bridged the gap between digital art and compelling storytelling.

The character was brought to life through a combination of performance capture and detailed CGI, with actor Andy Serkis providing both the voice and the physical movements. This method allowed the animators to capture the subtleties of Serkis’s performance, translating them into Gollum’s expressions and actions with unprecedented fidelity. The result was a character who could convey a wide range of emotions, from despair to malice, making him both terrifying and pitiable.

The technical team faced the challenge of making Gollum’s skin textures and movements believable, especially during his interactions with live‑action characters. The animators meticulously crafted his wiry muscles and the reflective sheen of his eyes, which were crucial for bringing the character’s complex psyche to life. These elements were essential for audiences to fully engage with Gollum’s journey and to believe in his existence within the story’s fantasy world.

Gollum’s groundbreaking representation set new standards for character animation, influencing future projects in the film industry and beyond. His blend of human‑like expressiveness and technical sophistication remains a benchmark in cinematic history, demonstrating the potential of CGI to create emotionally complex characters. This achievement not only pushed the boundaries of visual effects but also enriched the narrative depth of the entire trilogy.

5 Smart Hulk: Blending Brains and Brawn

The introduction of Smart Hulk in Avengers: Endgame was not only a visual effects milestone but also a narrative twist that delighted fans. This incarnation of Hulk combined Bruce Banner’s intellect with the Hulk’s physical prowess, a fusion made possible by groundbreaking advancements in CGI and performance capture technology. ILM spearheaded these efforts, creating a character that perfectly balanced human emotion and superhero strength.

ILM’s challenge was to authentically translate Mark Ruffalo’s nuanced performance into the CGI model of Smart Hulk. This required a sophisticated update to their facial performance‑capture system, which was crucial in capturing the subtleties of Ruffalo’s expressions. By utilizing Disney Research’s Medusa system, they achieved unprecedented fidelity in replicating facial movements, ensuring that Ruffalo’s performance was not lost in the translation from human to CGI character.

The visual effects team meticulously re‑sculpted Hulk’s body to reflect this new hybrid identity, ensuring he retained his formidable presence while also displaying a more refined intellect. This was particularly evident in scenes where Smart Hulk had to engage in complex conversations rather than resort to brute force. Such scenes demanded a delicate balance, showcasing his intellectual side without diminishing his physicality.

Moreover, ILM’s revamped animation software allowed more precise control over the CGI model, enabling the artists to subtly adjust Ruffalo’s performance. This was critical in scenes where Smart Hulk’s emotional depth had to be conveyed without crossing into the uncanny valley. The culmination of these efforts was brilliantly displayed when Smart Hulk donned the Infinity Gauntlet, delivering a performance that was both emotionally resonant and physically intense.

The creation of Smart Hulk set a new standard for digital characters in cinema, demonstrating the potential of advanced CGI to blend human emotion with superhero spectacle. This technological triumph not only enhanced the storytelling of Avengers: Endgame but also pushed the boundaries of what is possible in visual effects.

4 King Kong: Symphony of the Silver Screen

Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake of King Kong not only resurrected a cinematic legend but also exemplified the marriage of advanced visual effects and poignant musical scoring, setting a benchmark for how technology and artistry can coalesce to reimagine a classic. The ambitious project was infused with groundbreaking effects and a rapid, last‑minute musical composition that profoundly influenced its narrative depth and emotional impact.

James Newton Howard, tasked with the colossal challenge of composing the score in just four weeks, captured the essence of Kong’s epic tale through a dynamic orchestral score. His compositions had to synchronize with the visual grandeur crafted by Weta Digital, where the detailed recreation of 1930s Manhattan and the perilous jungles of Skull Island came to life. The urgency of Howard’s task mirrored the intense production environment, with his music scores being sent overnight to Jackson in New Zealand, reflecting a tightly coordinated effort across continents.

The film’s production design, led by Grant Major, was equally formidable. Major and his team meticulously recreated the architectural and atmospheric elements of Depression‑era New York City, complementing the narrative’s scale with realistic yet artistically enhanced environments. This blend of practical and digital craftsmanship was crucial in maintaining the film’s historical authenticity while allowing for the fantastical elements of Kong’s story to unfold convincingly.

King Kong showcased not only technological prowess but also a deep reverence for filmmaking. The integration of high‑caliber visual effects, rapid yet rich musical composition, and detailed production design culminated in a modern retelling of a beloved film classic. The project was a testament to the capabilities of contemporary cinema to weave complex visual tales enhanced by compelling music, earning it a distinguished place in the annals of film history and a triumphant reception that underscored its artistic and technological achievements.

3 T‑1000: The Pinnacle of Liquid‑Metal Effects

The creation of the T‑1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day represented a quantum leap in visual effects technology, primarily driven by the innovative team at ILM. This antagonist, with its groundbreaking liquid‑metal form, set a new standard for CGI in cinema, showcasing a flexibility and realism previously unattainable.

The concept for the T‑1000 was borne of director James Cameron’s ambition to advance beyond the already impressive T‑800 model. Inspired by the CGI achievements in The Abyss, Cameron envisioned a villain made entirely of a mercury‑like substance, capable of seamless transformations and possessing an almost ghostly presence. This vision required the creation of a character that could believably morph into different shapes and impersonate other characters, pushing the boundaries of digital technology of the time.

ILM utilized sophisticated computer‑generated imagery to craft the T‑1000’s fluid movements and reflective surface. The visual effects team developed new rendering techniques that allowed them to simulate the reflective and refractive properties of mercury, a task that involved complex mathematical models and considerable computational power. The effects were not just technical achievements but also integral to the narrative, enhancing the T‑1000’s menacing and nearly invincible persona.

The execution of the T‑1000 character was a meticulous process involving extensive collaboration between visual effects artists, animators, and Cameron himself. The success of these efforts is evident in the film’s enduring impact and its significant influence on the future of visual effects in filmmaking. The T‑1000 remains a testament to the creative and technical expertise of ILM and a landmark achievement in the history of cinema.

2 Avatar’s Pandora

The visual effects of Avatar stand as a monumental achievement in film, with its vibrant portrayal of Pandora and the Na’vi setting new benchmarks in digital filmmaking. Under James Cameron’s direction, Avatar harnessed cutting‑edge technology to craft an immersive alien world that was not only a visual marvel but also an emotional journey for audiences.

Central to the storytelling of Avatar was the innovative use of performance capture technology, which intricately captured the emotional essence and physical movements of the actors. This allowed for the creation of the Na’vi characters in a way that conveyed profound human emotions within an alien appearance. The actors, adorned in specially designed motion capture suits, were able to bring a nuanced human touch to their CGI counterparts, bridging our world with the fantastical realities of Pandora.

The film also pioneered efforts in virtual photography, a method that enabled Cameron to interact with, direct, and adjust scenes within the CGI environment in real time. This technology ensured a seamless blend of live‑action and computer‑generated elements, grounding the mythical aspects of Pandora—such as its floating mountains and luminescent plants—in a tangible reality that viewers could connect with.

Moreover, the meticulous crafting of Pandora’s ecosystem by the visual design team led by Dylan Cole involved a detailed depiction of alien flora and fauna inspired by Earth’s diverse landscapes. This attention to detail in creating a believable alien ecosystem was pivotal in enhancing the immersive experience of the film.

Avatar not only demonstrated the extensive capabilities of current visual effects technology but also influenced the future direction of cinematic storytelling, illustrating how digital effects can be integral to narrative depth and audience engagement.

1 Dr. Manhattan: The Fusion of Actor and CGI

Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen exemplifies a pinnacle in digital character creation, where human performance seamlessly merges with advanced CGI to craft a photo‑realistic superhero. This complex character required innovative visual effects to convincingly depict his god‑like abilities and luminescent appearance. Billy Crudup’s nuanced performance was captured in detail through sophisticated motion‑capture technology, which meticulously recorded his movements and facial expressions.

The visual effects team, led by Pete Travers and VFX supervisor John “DJ” DesJardin, faced the challenge of portraying Dr. Manhattan’s ability to change size, duplicate himself, and manipulate matter. Opting for a completely computer‑generated character allowed for unprecedented control over his appearance and movements. The physique of fitness model Greg Plitt was digitized to create Manhattan’s perfectly sculpted form, integrating it with Crudup’s facial scans to achieve a convincing human‑CGI hybrid.

Innovative lighting techniques were also employed to replicate Dr. Manhattan’s iconic blue glow. Crudup wore a suit embedded with thousands of LEDs, providing a dynamic light source that interacted realistically with the environment. This not only enhanced the visual realism but also added depth to the scenes, influencing the set’s lighting and reflections.

The final portrayal of Dr. Manhattan set a new standard for CGI characters in film, demonstrating how digital effects can transcend visual spectacle to become integral to storytelling and character development. This synthesis of actor and CGI has paved the way for future innovations in film, making Dr. Manhattan a benchmark in visual effects technology.

10 practical movie monsters have traveled a wild road from hands‑on puppetry to pixel‑perfect digital beasts. Special effects have never been static; they constantly evolve, pushing filmmakers to chase ever‑greater realism. Early crews relied on tangible tricks—suits, puppets, miniatures—that gave creatures a physical presence on set. Those practical tools made monsters feel weighty, but the rise of computer‑generated imagery opened a whole new toolbox, letting legends leap from the screen in ways once impossible. Yet the shift hasn’t always been smooth; some CGI revamps sparkle, while others stumble under the glare of modern lenses.

Why 10 Practical Movie Monsters Matter

10 King Kong

It’s a funny thought: the colossal ape that towers over skyscrapers started life as a tiny model. In the 1933 original, Kong’s massive brawls were achieved through stop‑motion, moving miniature figures frame‑by‑frame to simulate his thunderous fights. The ’60s and ’70s saw a blend of animatronics and actors donning gorilla suits, giving him a more tactile feel. The millennium, however, turned the tables.

The 2000s breathed fresh life into Kong, most famously with the 2005 remake. Here, motion‑capture technology recorded an actor’s movements, translating them into a fully digital ape. While this sacrificed some of the creature’s old‑school tangibility, it granted Kong unprecedented facial nuance and emotional depth, letting audiences connect with him on a whole new level.

9 Godzilla

Godzilla’s reign began as a towering saurian powered by nuclear fury, a force capable of flattening entire metropolises with his iconic atomic breath. The original filmmakers, lacking stop‑motion budgets, opted for a man‑in‑suit approach, striding through miniature cityscapes. This suit‑based kaiju technique defined the franchise for decades.

When the 2000 reboot arrived, the beast was rendered on computers. Early on, CGI was limited to a handful of shots, but soon the rubber suit was fully retired. Yet the spirit of the original lived on—Godzilla’s proportions and gait still echoed the classic human‑scaled movements.

Later entries, such as Shin Godzilla, even blended motion capture with digital rendering, preserving the lumbering menace while upgrading texture detail. The result: a monster that feels both familiar and spectacularly modern.

8 Xenomorphs

Space horror’s crown jewel, the Xenomorph, first slithered onto screens through intricately crafted puppets and suits that hid their seams in shadowy lighting. Their acidic blood and relentless hunting made them terrifying, and the early practical effects capitalized on close‑ups and darkness to mask any imperfections.

As the series progressed, entire swarms of these alien predators shifted to CGI. The digital transition was uneven—bright lighting and flashy set pieces often exposed the lack of physical texture, diluting the original’s tangible dread.

7 The Thing

John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece introduced an Arctic‑bound entity that could perfectly imitate its victims. Most of the film relied on ordinary actors, reserving grotesque reveals for meticulously built animatronic puppets that pulsed with realistic terror.

The 2011 prequel abandoned much of that subtlety, opting for a fully digital monster that erupted in bright, heavily lit scenes. The CGI version struggled to convey the same visceral horror, often appearing weightless and unconvincing against the practical effects of its predecessor.

6 Dracula

Vampire lore’s most iconic figure, Dracula, has traditionally been rendered with simple tricks—fake fangs, bat silhouettes on strings, and modest makeup—to convey his supernatural allure and strength.

Modern adaptations, like Dracula Untold, leaned heavily on CGI to depict bat swarms and grandiose battle scenes. While visually impressive, the over‑reliance on digital effects sometimes eclipsed the character’s subtle, gothic terror.

5 The Mummy

The cursed Egyptian priest, wrapped in ancient bandages, originally shuffled across the screen in practical suits, embodying an undead menace that could barely be stopped. The physicality of these bandaged actors gave the Mummy an unsettling presence.

Remakes in 1999 and 2017 swapped the classic wrappings for CGI‑enhanced flesh, enabling grotesque transformations, scarab swarms, and towering sandstorms. While the digital spectacle added adventure flair, it often lacked the gritty realism of the original practical effects.

4 The Wolfman

The 1941 classic introduced a cursed man who transformed into a feral beast, achieved with masks, gloves, and prosthetic hair. The practical approach gave the Wolfman a raw, animalistic edge.

Later portrayals in franchises like Harry Potter and Twilight prioritized the wolf form, relying on CGI that varied in quality—bright scenes exposing the digital flaws. The 2010 remake, however, revived the classic mask technique, delivering a standout blend of tradition and technology.

3 The Terminator

Terminator’s cybernetic assassins masquerade as humans, concealing metal skeletons beneath flesh. Early films used real actors, supplementing injuries with prosthetics, animatronics, and stop‑motion for more severe damage.

As the series progressed, CGI began to complement practical work, but the core physicality remained. However, entries like Terminator Genisys and Dark Fate leaned almost entirely on digital rendering, showcasing liquid‑metal bodies and nanotech effects.

These fully CGI renditions often appeared weightless, failing to mesh seamlessly with the live‑action elements—a stark contrast to the gritty, tactile feel of the original practical effects.

2 The Kraken

The legendary sea monster, a massive squid capable of dragging ships into abyssal depths, first appeared through stop‑motion tentacles and wirework in early cinema, letting filmmakers suggest its enormity without fully revealing it.

When CGI arrived, the Kraken was finally shown in full, but results varied. Movies like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest kept the creature shrouded, preserving mystery, while others, such as the Clash of the Titans remake, exposed it in bright underwater scenes, making the digital monster feel less convincing.

1 Dinosaurs

Prehistoric giants have long fascinated audiences, their sheer size and power making them iconic monsters. Early depictions relied on stop‑motion, animatronics, and full‑size costumes to bring these colossal beasts to life.

Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park revolutionized the genre, blending practical animatronics for close‑ups with groundbreaking CGI for sweeping shots. The result was lifelike skin, fluid musculature, and a sense of real presence that set a new benchmark. Subsequent films that mixed both techniques continued to deliver dinosaurs that felt both tangible and spectacular.

In the years that followed, pure CGI dinosaurs dominated screens, yet the most memorable moments still often involved a clever mix of practical and digital work, reminding us that a touch of reality can make the impossible feel possible.

When you think of computer‑generated magic, the mind instantly jumps to epic dinosaurs, glittering space battles, or flawless superhero feats. Yet, every once in a while a digital blunder sneaks onto the screen and reminds us that even the most polished studios can stumble. In this roundup we count down the 10 startling CGI moments that made viewers pause, cringe, or burst out laughing – and yes, the phrase 10 startling CGI is right here, front and center.

Why 10 Startling CGI Moments Matter

From blockbuster franchises to beloved TV dramas, the occasional visual slip‑up becomes a cultural talking point, spawning memes, debates, and endless replay value. Below, each entry is presented with the same level of detail as the original source, only re‑phrased for a fresh spin.

10 Keeping a Beloved Character on Screen

After Paul Walker’s tragic passing during the production of Furious 7, the crew faced a heart‑wrenching decision: abandon the character of Brian O’Connor or somehow keep him alive on screen. Director James Wan chose the latter, commissioning a top‑tier visual effects house to blend 350 CGI shots of Walker with distant footage of his brother, creating a seamless tribute. For most of the film, fans barely noticed the digital wizardry, allowing the story to flow uninterrupted.

However, a few scenes betray the illusion, especially when viewed a second time. One memorable moment shows the entire crew lined up overlooking Los Angeles; Brian’s face turns, and the CGI texture becomes obvious. The most striking instance occurs near the finale, when Brian steps beside Dom before they speed off, his figure taking on an eerie, almost luminescent glow inside the car, making the digital work unmistakably visible.

9 Cartoonish Horror

The long‑running CW series Supernatural wrapped up an impressive 15‑season run in November 2020, amassing a staggering 327 episodes. Throughout its tenure, brothers Sam and Dean battled a parade of monsters, demons, and specters, delivering countless nail‑biting moments. In season 7, the show introduced the Leviathan, a creature designed to deliver pure terror.

Unfortunately, the CGI intended to bring this beast to life fell flat. Instead of a fearsome monster, the creature’s razor‑sharp teeth and bifurcated tongue appeared cartoonish and exaggerated, provoking giggles rather than gasps. The dissonance between the intended horror and the goofy visual left viewers shaking their heads in disbelief.

8 007 Surfing a Tidal Wave

Marking the 40th anniversary of the iconic spy franchise, Die Another Day became the highest‑grossing Bond film of its era, despite mixed critical reception. While some fans already considered it a weaker entry, the movie introduced an over‑the‑top sequence that showcased Pierce Brosnan’s Bond attempting a surf‑style ride on a massive wave.

The set‑piece unfolds on a glacier that’s about to collapse. As the ice shatters, Bond tears a section off his futuristic rocket car and uses it as a makeshift surfboard, employing the vehicle’s parachute to stay upright amid crashing ice chunks. The CGI attempting to render this improbable stunt looks decidedly cheap, turning what could have been a thrilling moment into a laughably bad visual.

7 Terrible Horror Movie Reveal

The 2013 horror film Mama opens with a chilling premise: a father attempts to murder his two young daughters in the woods, only to be stopped by a shadowy entity that kills him before he can harm his kids. After the children are rescued five years later, the story builds tension through numerous jump‑scares, especially those involving the youngest, Lily.

The titular “Mama” is a ghostly figure that stalks the girls, remaining mostly unseen for most of the runtime. When the climactic reveal finally occurs, the moment’s impact is completely undercut by shoddy CGI. The creature’s digital rendering looks unconvincing, instantly dissolving the carefully cultivated dread and leaving audiences more bewildered than frightened.

6 The Hulkbuster

Marvel’s cinematic universe dominates the global box office, yet even its massive budgets can’t shield it from occasional visual missteps. From the floating goose in Captain Marvel to the bizarre Norwegian‑styled alley in Thor: Ragnarok, the franchise has its share of oddities.

One of the most memorable blunders surfaces in Avengers: Infinity War. During the epic Wakandan battle, Bruce Banner dons the massive Hulkbuster armor, which looks spectacular—until the suit opens. At that moment, Banner’s head appears disproportionately tiny, seemingly hovering above the massive chassis rather than being securely encased, creating an unintentionally humorous visual glitch amidst the high‑stakes combat.

5 Is That a Real Bear?

Television productions typically operate with tighter budgets than blockbuster films, which often leads to noticeable compromises in visual fidelity. This is why, for example, the helicopters in Grey’s Anatomy sometimes appear blurry, and fire effects can look unconvincingly fake.

In the spin‑off series Station 19, the firefighting crew frequently confronts dangerous blazes, but the show also throws in animal threats. While a CGI tiger makes a brief appearance, it’s the bear that truly steals the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Fans were left bewildered by the bear’s uncanny digital rendering: its translucency, odd elongated torso, and overall plastic feel made it look more like a cheap video‑game model than a realistic animal. The scene quickly became a meme‑fueling nightmare, cementing its place among the most cringeworthy TV CGI moments.

4 The Problem With Ageing

The recent reboot of Stephen King’s IT aimed to terrify a new generation, but certain visual choices left hardcore horror aficionados unimpressed. While the film tried to modernize Pennywise, the high‑pitched voice and trite taunts didn’t help its case.

A major hiccup emerged from Finn Wolfhard’s real‑life growth spurt between the two movies. To maintain continuity, the studio resorted to de‑aging his character, Richie Tozier, in the sequel. The resulting digital facelift produced an unnaturally smooth complexion, overly airbrushed cheeks, and glasses that seemed glued on, creating a disconcerting visual that distracted from the horror.

3 Oh Deer

The Walking Dead has long been celebrated for its gritty post‑apocalyptic storytelling, despite never being known for cutting‑edge CGI. Nevertheless, the show’s massive fanbase often overlooks its budget constraints, accepting the occasional cheesy effect.

In one particularly infamous episode, protagonist Rick Grimes needs a diversion to escape a horde of walkers. He decides to shoot a deer, but the on‑screen animal looks like something out of a surreal nightmare: a faintly translucent body with an oddly stretched midsection, making it appear more like a glitch than a living creature. The bizarre rendering sparked a flood of memes and heated Twitter debates, cementing its status as a standout CGI flop.

2 Technology Gone Wrong

Few movies have been universally panned like Tom Hooper’s Cats, which, despite a star‑studded cast, earned the dubious honor of being labeled the worst film ever made. Critics lambasted every facet, but the visual effects drew the sharpest ire.

The production’s reliance on “digital fur” technology resulted in feline characters that looked more like costumed humans with an overabundance of CGI patches. The creatures’ human‑like feet, ears that vanished or flickered, and occasional cat‑people moments where the ears were inexplicably missing made the viewing experience painfully uncanny. The mishandled digital fur became the film’s most talked‑about flaw.

1 Chucky Baby

During the COVID‑19 lockdowns, many TV shows struggled to include infant characters without risking real‑life health concerns. One solution? A fully CGI baby that turned out to be more unsettling than endearing.

Fans of the legal drama Bull eagerly anticipated season 5, only to be startled by the opening scene featuring Jason Bull’s daughter, Astrid. The digitally rendered infant bore an eerie resemblance to a murderous doll, prompting a wave of memes labeling the baby as a “zombie” or “cat‑like” creature. The unsettling visual quickly went viral, underscoring how even well‑intentioned CGI can miss the mark.

In the end, the series failed to learn from previous CGI missteps, leaving viewers with a cringe‑inducing baby that haunted the season’s first episode.

Modern cinema lovers know that blockbuster movies love to dazzle us with exploding skyscrapers, soaring superheroes and futuristic car chases. Yet, behind many of those eye‑popping moments lies a hidden truth: most are conjured with Computer Generated Imagery, or CGI.

Enter the world of practical wizardry, where real stunts, actual props and daring crews bring the impossible to life. These ten unforgettable scenes were pulled off without a single pixel of digital help, proving that when filmmakers go old‑school, the result can be downright jaw‑dropping.

10 Unbelievable Movie Magic Without CGI

10 The Man with the Golden Gun

The James Bond franchise has long championed real‑world tricks whenever possible. While there have been a few slip‑ups—think Pierce Brosnan’s infamous CGI wave—Bond’s team has also delivered some truly astonishing feats. In the 1974 installment starring Roger Moore, the film showcases a mind‑boggling car stunt that still raises eyebrows today.

Bond’s Aston Martinian is sent careening up one side of a broken bridge, spun 360 degrees in mid‑air, and dropped onto the opposite side. The stunt required a precise corkscrew maneuver that had only existed in computer simulations—never before attempted for real.

Using meticulous math, the crew calculated that the car had to hit exactly 77 kph (48 mph). Stunt driver Loren Willert executed the spin and earned a $30,000 bonus on the spot. Journalists from across the globe were flown in to witness the spectacle, and even a 2008 episode of Top Gear tried—and failed—to duplicate the feat, underscoring its legendary status.

9 The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan is a staunch advocate of practical effects, and his 2008 masterpiece The Dark Knight set the tone for a new era of realistic action. While the film boasts countless jaw‑dropping moments, the most iconic is arguably the truck‑flip sequence.

In the scene, the Joker’s massive freight truck barrels toward Batman. Instead of relying on CGI, Nolan’s crew rigged a massive piston in downtown Chicago that literally launched the truck upside down, using steel cables to pull the massive vehicle into the air.

The stunt was fraught with danger—the street beneath housed real bank vaults—yet the driver emerged unharmed and audiences were treated to a thrilling, fully practical set‑piece that still feels fresh today.

8 Fitzcarraldo

Werner Herzog may be a name most cinephiles encounter in film school, but his 1982 epic Fitzcarraldo remains a benchmark for audacious filmmaking. Inspired by the true story of a 19th‑century rubber baron who hauled a steamship over a Peruvian hill, Herzog refused to let modern tricks replace the raw spectacle.

The crew trekked deep into the Amazon rainforest, physically dragging a 320‑ton steamship up a steep incline. The endeavor cost lives—several crew members suffered injuries—and the wrecked hull still lies in the jungle to this day.

After the film’s release, Herzog quipped that “every man should pull a boat over a mountain at some point in his life.” While the sentiment is tongue‑in‑cheek, the resulting footage is undeniably magnificent.

7 Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan didn’t stop at terrestrial tricks; his 2017 war drama Dunkirk took the practical approach to the skies. While many viewers assumed the aerial dogfights were CGI, Nolan proved otherwise.

The director borrowed authentic Spitfires from the Imperial War Museum and recruited Royal Air Force pilots to fly them over the English Channel. Each aircraft logged up to twelve sorties a day, recreating genuine WWII combat formations.

Adding to the realism, Nolan chose to shoot the film on the very beaches where the historic evacuation unfolded, blending location authenticity with real‑world flight footage for an immersive experience.

6 Mad Max: Fury Road

Australian director George Miller’s career is a rollercoaster—starting with the gritty 1970s Mad Max series, then pivoting to family‑friendly hits like Babe and Happy Feet. In 2015, he returned to the desert with Mad Max: Fury Road, a high‑octane spectacle that leaned heavily on practical stunts.

One of the film’s most electrifying moments features a convoy of desert‑bashing vehicles, with stuntmen literally hanging from poles bolted to moving cars and swinging onto the lead oil‑truck. The sequence demanded eight weeks of preparation and over 150 stunt performers.

The decision to film these daring feats without any CGI or green‑screen assistance contributed significantly to the movie’s critical and commercial triumph, earning it multiple Oscars.

5 Apocalypse Now

Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam‑war epic Apocalypse Now is notorious for its chaotic production—typhoons, a heart attack on Martin Sheen, and a budget that ballooned into the tens of millions. Yet the film’s most unforgettable moments were achieved without any digital wizardry.

Coppola essentially hired a private army, leveraging his connection with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to secure authentic military hardware. The result: real helicopters, fighter jets, soldiers, and naval vessels all staged in the Philippines to stand in for Vietnam.

When Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) lands on the beach, the camera captures a massive, fully functional battle: helicopters whirring overhead, jets screaming, troops charging, and ships blazing. None of these elements were added in post‑production; they were all physically present.

4 Live and Let Die

James Bond’s penchant for practical stunts appears twice on this list, and Live and Let Die (1973) delivers a stunt that inadvertently set a Guinness World Record. The scene features Bond’s speedboat being pursued through a Louisiana canal, only to encounter a low‑lying gravel road.

In a daring move, stunt driver Jerry Comeaux steered the boat onto the road’s bank, launching it high into the air, over the road, and safely back into the canal on the opposite side. The jump spanned a mere 50 feet, leaving virtually no margin for error.

After the successful take, it was discovered that the stunt had broken the record for the longest speedboat jump—110 feet—making it both an iconic cinematic moment and a bona‑fide world‑record achievement.

3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Fans of the wizarding world will instantly recall the scene in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban where Aunt Marge inflates like a balloon after a magical mishap. While the premise sounds fantastical, the effect was achieved through practical means.

Pam Ferris, the actress portraying Aunt Marge, donned a 23‑kilogram (51‑pound) inflatable rubber suit. The costume could be inflated layer by layer, even over her face, and required hidden wires and a wardrobe of 38 differently sized tweed suits.

The result was a truly astonishing visual: Ferris swelled to four‑and‑a‑half feet wide, unable to eat or walk while wearing the suit, delivering a genuinely tangible inflation effect that still amazes viewers.

2 Raiders of the Lost Ark

Steven Spielberg’s 1981 adventure classic Raiders of the Lost Ark gave birth to the modern blockbuster, and its opening boulder chase remains one of cinema’s most instantly recognizable moments.

The crew fabricated a 168‑kilogram, 3.6‑meter (300‑pound) fiberglass boulder and set up a 36.5‑meter (40‑yard) track. Harrison Ford himself sprinted down the course ten times, dodging the rolling stone, because Spielberg felt a stunt double wouldn’t convey the needed authenticity.

This insistence on real‑world physics over camera tricks or green screens underscores the power of practical effects and serves as a timeless lesson for contemporary filmmakers.

1 Tenet

Christopher Nolan’s 2020 time‑bending thriller Tenet pushed practical effects to a new extreme, especially with its spectacular Oslo airport plane crash. While most disaster sequences rely heavily on CGI, Nolan opted for a fully real approach.

The production purchased a retired Boeing 747, deliberately crashed it into a purpose‑built building, and captured every flame and collapse on camera. Visual‑effects supervisor Andrew Jackson confirmed that all the fire, debris, and structural failure were genuine.

Remarkably, Nolan’s team discovered that staging the crash physically was actually more cost‑effective than generating it digitally, proving once again that real‑world stunts can be both spectacular and economical.

Over the years, Hollywood’s reliance on CGI has grown along with its ability to successfully execute a good CGI scene—to the point where it has become a staple of most movies less concerned with plot and more driven by action sequences and pecs of steel. Therefore, filmmakers could be forgiven for testing various recipes to success.

Unfortunately, however, they have missed many opportunities to present us with masterful scenes simply because the CGI department took a shortcut. Here are ten climactic scenes in films ruined by questionable CGI.

Related: 10 Startling Cgi Moments In TV And Movie Scenes

10 I Am Legend—Darkseeker Attack

Everyone loves a good dystopian end-of-the-world survival film, and I Am Legend is no exception, having garnered fans from across the globe, with many vying for a sequel. Apart from the fact that the dog dies (cardinal mistake unless you build a movie around taking bloody revenge) and an ending that split audiences to such an extent that an alternate ending exists, I Am Legend nailed it.

The plot, the acting, and the world-building. One small tiny problem—the darkseekers. Why director Francis Lawrence felt it necessary to add CGI to these humanoids in order to alter them so that they more closely resemble video game characters from the ’90s is beyond reason. If only we could get these creatures that were once considered to be human to more closely resemble… well, humans. Perhaps makeup and wardrobe can answer that.^[1]

9 IT: Chapter Two—Paul Bunyan Statue

In this remake of Stephen King’s smash hit IT, there is a justifiable over-reliance on CGI. The story is of such a nature that only CGI could really make it pop, and no amount of Skarsgard stares could replace a good old computer-generated monster face. In the scene where Pennywise gleefully sits atop a Paul Bunyan statue, then brings it to life in a jump scare howl straight from the annals of horrordom, one could argue that the scene had its intended effect. The directors, however, saw fit for the animated statue to chase Richie through the park. A difficult scene to pull off, and although not entirely bad, it leaves a lingering comical feel that would be better suited for a comedy or satire produced by the Wayans brothers.^[2]

8 Matrix Reloaded—Park Fight

In what was once considered the second film of a trilogy, Neo had bested agent Smith one on one on numerous occasions before. So the agent of the Matrix does whatever he can to get the upper hand, throwing everything at him, including the kitchen sink.

In an exciting scene that showcases Neo’s ability to kick ass, but also the lengths to which agent Smith is willing to go to best him, Neo punches and kicks his way through more and more bodies until the majority of the figures appear to be crash test dummies from an early ’90s car safety video. In what was still a marvelous scene, the momentary lapse in CGI prowess doesn’t do it any favors and somewhat ruins its rewatchability now that the bar for CGI has been raised significantly.^[3]

7 Air Force One—Plane Crash

No list involving some form of badly done CGI would be complete without having the plane crash from Air Force One as an honorable guest. It was, far and away, one of the most anti-climactic moments in film history. When the plane crash lands in the ocean, it then inexplicably defies any and all rules of force, momentum, and gravity by spinning and flipping over like a crash scene from the original space invaders arcade game.

An overall good film with good suspense and a tight enough plot. Not even the black box could provide enough information to explain how that scene could crash and burn magnificently.^[4]

6 Deep Blue Sea—Russell’s Death

In what essentially feels like something never destined to be a big Hollywood blockbuster (yet ended being just that), Samuel L Jackson meets one of his more surprising and unexpected ends. We know now that, unless the starring role is played by Russel Crowe, should a character go off on a tangent about surviving and fighting, they are likely to kick the bucket. But not often so spectacularly as in Deep Blue Sea.

After Russell “Mr. Everest” boosts morale and invigorates everyone’s will to live, one of the sharks takes matters into its own teeth and breaches the surface before ripping a poorly CGI’d Jackson limb from limb. It could have been better. But in their defense, they weren’t shooting for the Oscar.^[5]

5 Black Panther—T’Challa vs. Killmonger Final Fight

Marvel’s sixth highest-grossing film—raking in more than $1.3 billion—sees T’Challa face off against Eric “Killmonger” Stevens for the right to be called the one and only true king of Wakanda. The MCU films are known for their inventive and effective use of CGI, having brought to life some of film’s largest characters by way of computer animation.

The film Black Panther is no exception to the rule. However, the final battle between the foes feels less like the climax of a billion dollar grossing cinematic experience and more like a trip down a 3D rendered wormhole more suitable for a film created a few decades ago. An unfortunate ending to an otherwise MARVELous film. Luckily, it did not appear to have detracted from the success of the release.^[6]

4 Star Wars IV: Special Edition—Jabba the Hutt

Star Wars fans are known to be loyal and, as one can expect, quite critical of change that does not fit the narrative, the world, or the tone of the universe George Lucas has crafted. Therefore, it would be no surprise that the forced moments of CGI in this adaptation of Episode IV were not well received and left many fans scratching their heads.

Jabba the Hutt was done particularly poorly, and considering the scenes that were altered, one is left with a strange wonder as to why they did not go with realistic prosthetics. In a time when CGI was still a fetus in the filming world, this attempt adds nothing to the experience. Instead, it robs the viewer of potentially entertaining sequences.^[7]

3 Blade II—Sword Fight

Blade is the first real R-rated (tax-evading) superhero in my book… and a bloody cool one at that. In his second outing, Blade, the vampire slayer, has sliced and diced his way through the vampire underworld so effectively that they lined up a few ninja assassins to meet him head-on in what could turn out to be a sword-clashing epic scene. The scene is lit with a wall of spotlights for maximum effect and is well choreographed, with the actual human fighting as entertaining and captivating as need be.

Naturally, being a superhero movie of sorts, things had to ascend into the impossible, and that is where the scene loses balance. The movements are sloppy and clearly distinguishable from the real movements of the warm bodies. The marriage of back-and-forth CGI with the realistic fighting does nothing but throw you off guard long enough that the potentially lethal sequence leaves you wondering whether they should have kept to the basics and sliced some off the top.^[8]

2 Justice League—Final Fight

The film was criticized by fans and critics alike and had people clamoring for the Snyder cut, which provided the viewer with more substance and fewer hooky effects. In an era of the superhero, with Marvel setting the golden standard for hero films with their Avengers franchise, one could be forgiven for thinking the DC universe might also have a few tricks up their tight body-fitted sleeve.

Instead, we are treated with a final battle that doesn’t look at all real. It rather serves as a stark reminder that we are looking at actors standing in front of green screens, hoping that their outstanding acting synchronizes well with what is happening to them in the film.^[9]

1 The Mummy Returns—Scorpion King

Considering Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a realistic-looking CGI character created by the WWE in the early nineties, one can not help but wonder what went wrong with the final climatic scene of The Mummy Returns. The overall film holds up well against its entertaining and successful predecessor, and casting the Rock as the scorpion king could have been a masterstroke. However, the letdown of seeing how a poorly rendered face of Johnson looks on a body generated by the Half Life game engine is the real letdown.

In a move that is as bewildering as the scene was impassable, how the film received the green light and slipped through the final stages of production goes beyond logic, and no amount of timeline pressure should be able to justify it. One has to assume they blew the budget or their time elsewhere, yet I cannot help but wonder what the results would have been had they nailed the scorpion king.^[10]