40 Jaw-Dropping Behind-the-Scenes VFX Shots That Will Change How You See Movies
Ever watched a movie and thought, “How in the world did they do that?” Well, the answer usually isn’t magic—unless you count CGI as modern-day wizardry. Behind every dragon, crumbling city, or outer space dogfight is a team of digital artists working serious overtime to bring imagination to life. And when you see the raw, behind-the-scenes visuals? Let’s just say it’ll totally change how you watch your favorite films.
At Grumpy Sharks, we love lifting the curtain on movie magic, and we’ve rounded up 40 insane VFX shots that show the before-and-after in jaw-dropping detail. These behind-the-scenes looks are so mind-blowing, you’ll never trust a movie scene again—and we mean that in the best way possible.
#1 Behind the scenes of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)
Source: Marvel Fans and More
#2 The making of the Hulk For ‘Thor. Ragnarok’ with VFX
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#3 Doctor Dolittle And His Extraordinary Team Of Vfx Wizards
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#4 Behind the scene of “A Monster Call”
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#5 Hulk and Thanos without VFX
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One of the biggest shocks in behind-the-scenes VFX images is just how much of a scene is not real. That epic battle? Filmed on a soundstage with tennis balls on sticks and a sea of green.
In fact, according to a report from VFX Voice, some blockbuster films now rely on digital environments for over 80% of their visuals. Even basic rooms or cityscapes are often computer-generated—because it’s faster, cheaper, and way easier to control lighting and weather.
#6 The magic of VFX
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#7 The Truth Behind the Epic Mountains in Conan the Destroyer (1984)
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#8 The Walk (2015)
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#9 Pictures From The Movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle
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#10 Behind the scene of “Final Destination”
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Seeing actors interact with unfinished CGI elements is hilarious and impressive. Whether it’s Benedict Cumberbatch contorting like a spider in a mocap suit or Jason Momoa “swimming” on a giant blue rig for Aquaman, you can’t help but respect the craft.
As Game of Thrones VFX supervisor Joe Bauer once said, “They’re performing Shakespeare surrounded by foam props and green walls. It’s astonishing how real they can make it feel.”
#11 How Superman flew
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#12 Before And After Vfx From Pirates Of The Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
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#13 Behind the scenes of “Fast Five” (2011)
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#14 Behind the scene of “The Jungle Book”
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#15 Behind the scenes of “Alice in Wonderland”
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There’s something so satisfying about seeing a barren studio turn into a magical world. A flat room becomes the throne room of Wakanda. A patch of dirt becomes a roaring battlefield.
These comparisons are a visual reminder that what we see in the final cut is often worlds away from what was actually filmed. The transformation is so wild, it almost feels like cheating—but in a good way.
#16 Behind the scene of “WandaVision”
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#17 The dog in “Solo” was played by real dogs.
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#18 Behidn the scenes of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (2014)
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#19 Behind the scenes of “Final Destination”
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#20 Behind the scenes of THE IMPOSSIBLE
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It’s not just explosions and sci-fi scenes getting the VFX treatment. Even low-key moments like someone walking through a city or sitting in a car are often enhanced—or entirely created—using digital effects.
A scene that looks like it was filmed in New York might actually be a backlot in Atlanta with some clever CGI on the skyline. Yep, the deception runs deep.
#21 Behind the scenes of “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
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#22 Behind the scenes of “Divergent”
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#23 Behind the scene of “Skyfall”
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#24 Behind the scenes of “Eternals”
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#25 Behind the scenes of “Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them”
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From digital tigers in Life of Pi to Thanos’ terrifyingly detailed face, CGI characters have become as iconic as their real-life counterparts. But sometimes it gets weirder. Remember when Justice League had to digitally remove Henry Cavill’s mustache?
That infamous moment became meme-worthy, proving that even the smallest VFX jobs can go viral. As funny as it was, it also highlighted how crucial—and challenging—those “invisible” effects can be.
#26 Behind the scenes of “The Hobbit”
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#27 Behind the scenes of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
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#28 The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
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#29 Run, Avengers, run
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#30 Behind the scene of “The Little Mermaid”
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#31 Behind the scenes of Fast X (2023)
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#32 Behind the scenes of “Avatar: The Way of Water”
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#33 Behind the scenes of “Harry Potter”
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#34 Behind the scenes of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”
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#35 Guardian of the Galaxy vol 2
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Behind every great visual moment is a team of VFX artists pulling all-nighters to meet impossible deadlines. The global VFX industry was worth over $26 billion in 2023 (Statista), and it keeps growing as demand rises. But it’s also a tough gig—one that involves creativity, precision, and insane pressure. Shoutout to the magicians behind the screens making our movie nights unforgettable.
#36 Lashana Lynch was actually held up high above Olsen to bring the fight to life
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#37 Behind the scenes of “Aladdin”
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#38 Behind the scenes of “The Matrix”
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#39 The unnecessary VFX in “Spider-Man”
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#40 Behind the scenes of “Captain Marvel”
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Now that you’ve seen these jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes visuals, we guarantee you’ll never look at movies the same way. From superhero landings to fantasy kingdoms and interstellar battles, you’ll have a new appreciation for the tech and talent that makes it all happen.
So grab your popcorn and get ready to peek behind the green curtain—because we’re about to reveal 40 before-and-after VFX shots that will blow your movie-loving mind.
