In the digital age of filmmaking, where CGI (computer-generated imagery) dominates blockbusters and superhero films, there is a noticeable shift occurring in Hollywood and beyond: the resurgence of practical effects. While CGI remains an essential tool in modern cinema, practical effects—those created physically on set using makeup, animatronics, miniatures, pyrotechnics, and more—are reclaiming their place in both major studio productions and independent films. This comeback is not a mere trend, but rather a response to evolving audience expectations, filmmaker preferences, and a desire to recapture a sense of authenticity and tangible wonder that digital effects sometimes lack.
A Reaction to CGI Fatigue
One of the most significant reasons for the resurgence of practical effects is a growing fatigue among audiences with over-reliance on CGI. While visual effects technology has evolved dramatically over the past three decades, it can often lead to artificial-looking environments or action sequences that feel weightless or disconnected from reality. This is especially true when CGI is used to create entire worlds or characters from scratch, which can overwhelm the viewer with excessive digital artifice.
Films like Transformers, Green Lantern, or even some recent entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have faced criticism for feeling more like animated features than live-action films. Audiences, having become increasingly media-savvy, can often distinguish between what is real and what is computer-generated. This has led to a greater appreciation for movies that incorporate practical effects, which inherently bring physicality, texture, and believability to the screen.
Immersion and Realism
Practical effects offer a visceral experience that enhances storytelling. When actors are placed in real environments with tangible elements, their performances often improve, reacting more naturally to their surroundings. This immersion extends to the audience as well. Seeing a physically-built monster, a spaceship model, or a real explosion carries weight and presence that is difficult to replicate digitally.
A prime example is Christopher Nolan’s approach to filmmaking. Known for his dedication to in-camera effects, Nolan used actual IMAX cameras, practical stunts, and miniatures in films like Inception, Interstellar, and Tenet. In Dunkirk, real ships and aircraft were used extensively, contributing to the film’s intense realism and emotional impact. Similarly, George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road stunned audiences with its use of real vehicles, stunts, and pyrotechnics, creating a visual spectacle that felt both exhilarating and grounded.
A Nostalgic and Artistic Return
The revival of practical effects also stems from a deep-rooted nostalgia. Filmmakers who grew up in the era of practical-heavy classics—such as Star Wars, The Thing, Jurassic Park, and Aliens—are now in positions of creative control. Directors like J.J. Abrams and Guillermo del Toro have expressed a deep love for physical effects, often incorporating them as homage to their cinematic inspirations.
In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Abrams made a conscious decision to use as many practical effects as possible, from creature puppetry to physical sets, to capture the tactile feel of the original trilogy. Audiences and critics praised this return to form, contrasting it with the often criticized CGI-heavy prequels. Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, which featured a practical creature suit enhanced with minimal CGI, is another example of artistry meeting practicality.
Practical effects also allow for a unique creative expression that digital tools sometimes restrict. A creature designed by hand and operated through animatronics or puppetry brings with it the imperfections, quirks, and textures of the real world. These “flaws” often contribute to the charm and emotional resonance of a film.
Blending the Best of Both Worlds
The modern cinematic landscape increasingly favors a hybrid approach, combining practical effects with digital enhancements. Rather than relying solely on CGI, filmmakers are using visual effects to augment practical elements—removing wires, enhancing explosions, or subtly animating animatronics. This blend leverages the strengths of both mediums.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which used massive sets, practical makeup, and miniatures enhanced with digital effects, was a pioneer in this approach. More recently, the Mission: Impossible series has earned acclaim for Tom Cruise’s commitment to real stunts, supported by digital effects for safety or scope.
This synergy allows filmmakers to create believable worlds that resonate emotionally and visually without the “uncanny valley” feeling often associated with full-CGI creations.
Economic and Training Considerations
While CGI can be cost-effective for certain scenes, practical effects can be more budget-friendly in specific scenarios, especially for independent or low-budget films. Practical effects reduce post-production time and can be more predictable in terms of visual output. Moreover, the comeback has spurred renewed interest in old-school craftsmanship, giving rise to a new generation of special effects artists, prop builders, and makeup designers.
Workshops like Weta Workshop and Legacy Effects are experiencing increased demand, and schools are incorporating practical FX training alongside digital VFX courses. This not only diversifies the industry skill set but also preserves cinematic traditions that were at risk of being lost.
The comeback of practical effects in movies is not merely a reaction to technological excess, but a reassertion of cinema’s tactile and emotional power. Practical effects ground films in reality, enhance performance and storytelling, and reconnect audiences with the artistry of filmmaking. As technology advances, the most successful films will likely be those that skillfully blend the physical with the digital, crafting experiences that are not only visually spectacular but emotionally authentic. In the end, the return of practical effects is a celebration of the magic that happens when imagination meets real-world ingenuity.