Hollywood Director Exposes Why Modern Movie VFX Look Fake
Gore Verbinski, who created the stunning visual effects in Pirates of the Caribbean, reveals the gaming technology that's ruining modern cinema and why older films still look better today.
Gore Verbinski built some of cinema's most memorable visual spectacles in Pirates of the Caribbean. The director who brought Davy Jones to life now says Hollywood has lost its way with special effects.
Speaking candidly about the industry's shift, Verbinski points to a specific culprit: Unreal Engine. The same software powering video games has invaded movie production, creating what he calls a "gaming aesthetic" that's destroying cinematic realism.
The Gaming Engine Taking Over Movies
"I think the simplest answer is you've seen the Unreal gaming engine enter the visual effects landscape. So it used to be a divide, with Unreal Engine being very good at video games," Verbinski explained.
The technology crossed boundaries it shouldn't have. "But then people started thinking maybe movies can also use Unreal for finished visual effects. So you have this sort of gaming aesthetic entering the world of cinema."
Marvel productions frequently use this approach. The result? Films that feel artificial, disconnected from physical reality.
How Pirates Was Actually Made
Verbinski's Pirates films took a different path. Real boats. Actual ocean filming. Practical storms and weather effects added through traditional animation rather than game engines.
"In the first Pirates movie, we were actually going out to sea and getting on a boat," he said. The difference shows. Those sequences still hold up decades later while newer films age poorly.
Pirate caves, British naval fleets, cursed treasure - all built with physical elements first, digital enhancement second. The approach demanded more effort but delivered lasting results.
Why Old Movies Still Win
Stanley Kubrick's films remain visually stunning today. Same with other pre-2010s directors who prioritized practical effects over computer generation.
"I think that's why those Kubrick movies still hold up, because they were shooting miniatures and paintings, and now you've got this different aesthetic. It works with Marvel movies where you kind of know you're in a heightened, unrealistic reality. I think it doesn't work from a strictly photo-real standpoint," Verbinski noted.
The gaming aesthetic works for superhero fantasies. But it fails when films need believable, grounded visuals. Audiences can sense the difference between real and simulated, even if they can't articulate why something feels off.
Christopher Nolan continues using practical effects for this reason. His films maintain visual credibility that pure CGI productions lack.