Why Pirates of the Caribbean’s VFX Still Outshine Modern Films

When it comes to visual effects, few blockbusters have left as lasting an impression as the Pirates of the Caribbean series, especially with the unforgettable Davy Jones brought to life by Bill Nighy. Yet, the bloke behind the camera, Gore Verbinski, has made it clear he’s not too chuffed with the direction modern digital effects have taken.

Verbinski recently pulled back the curtain on how the industry’s changed, singling out the rise of Unreal Engine—a tool originally built for video games—as a turning point. He reckons the moment filmmakers started leaning on this tech for their finished visuals, the look and feel of films began to shift.

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.

He went on to say,

But then people started thinking maybe films can also use Unreal for finished visual effects. So you have this sort of gaming aesthetic entering the world of cinema.

It’s no surprise that comparisons have popped up between the old Pirates flicks and today’s big-budget productions. Verbinski’s approach to his swashbuckling epics was a world away from the digital-first methods now common in Hollywood.

How Verbinski Crafted the Look of Pirates

Back in the day, the Pirates films were shot in real locations, often out at sea, with wild weather and massive storms added in later through animation. From cursed treasure caves to sprawling naval battles, the effects work was no walk in the park. But Verbinski steered clear of Unreal Engine, sticking to more traditional methods.

He’s been open about his preference for practical effects over digital trickery, saying in an interview,

In the first Pirates film, we were actually going out to sea and getting on a boat.

That hands-on approach is a big part of why those older films—and the works of directors like Christopher Nolan—still stand out. While much of the industry has embraced digital tools and virtual sets, some filmmakers are still keen to keep things grounded in reality.

Why Classic Films Still Resonate

Much like Verbinski, many directors from earlier decades relied heavily on practical effects, with CGI used sparingly. While a handful of filmmakers still favour this style, the majority of big studios have shifted towards digital effects for everything from backgrounds to entire characters.

Verbinski believes this is why films from the likes of Stanley Kubrick continue to hold up, even as technology races ahead. He explained,

I think that’s why those Kubrick films still hold up, because they were shooting miniatures and paintings, and now you’ve got this different aesthetic. It works with Marvel films where you kind of know you’re in a heightened, unrealistic reality. I think it doesn’t work from a strictly photo-real standpoint.

It’s hard to argue with him—these days, it seems like every blockbuster is chasing a hyper-real look, but often ends up feeling a bit artificial.

So, should more directors go back to practical effects? Let us know what you reckon in the comments.