“I didn’t realize how bad the CGI was”: Taylor Lautner’s One of the Worst Movies That Made Him Famous Before Twilight Really Aged Like Milk

Taylor Lautner is known to many fans as the wolf boy Jacob Black from the Twilight Saga. It was a breakout role for Lautner into more mature films in Hollywood, despite the franchise garnering more critics than fans in later years. However, before his time as a werewolf, Lautner was Sharkboy in the superhero movie, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D.

Lautner was the first to be cast in the role in Robert Rodriguez’s children’s movie. The film received negative reviews upon release, with criticism targeted at the 3-D effects. However, many loved the film as kids and it went on to gain a cult following. But looking back, fans could see why critics weren’t happy with the film.

Taylor Lautner’s One Kids Film Aged Badly Just Like His Twilight Films

Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson became instant sensations among teens when Twilight was released in 2008. The rivalry between their characters for Bella Swan’s love divided fans, with strong support for both the actors. Lautner initially carried a deep resentment for the overwhelming attention the movie brought him, but he later revealed that he wouldn’t change anything about the films (via THR).

Twilight hasn’t aged well, as newer fans find the franchise cringeworthy. Many scenes in the films stand out for all the wrong reasons. Fans often wonder how they missed the poor script and acting. However, it’s not the only film of Lautner’s that fans now view through a different lens.

Taylor Lautner’s The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl used anaglyph 3D technology to bring the superhero characters to the screen. Critics were not impressed with the 3-D effects of the film. However, kids found the effects to be entertaining and the film received a cult classic status among children’s films.

One fan posted a clip from the movie on X and shared how they never noticed the bad CGI. Many fans agreed, sharing that they too were impressed with the films when they were kids, but couldn’t stand the CGI now. One fan recalled how they considered the film to be the peak in CGI technology. Some of the fan reactions read:

when I was little I didn’t realize how bad the cgi was pic.twitter.com/3hAqz7jGxi

— sea✰ (@destroynectar) September 17, 2024

everything looked good as a kid😂

— Corn Deleted Tweets (@DeletedCornTwt) September 17, 2024

Damn this was so peak too

— Aura ✨ (@auraonx) September 17, 2024

Nah I really thought this movie was revolutionary. This and Spy Kids 3D… man I thought we had reached peak technology

— Dawson (@DawsonAro62) September 17, 2024

I thought this movie was fire back in the day, now im seeing clips I realize how bad cgi is hahshaha

— Ande ($MTWO – Critical Mineral Delivery) (@IRresistblyAnde) September 17, 2024

The film underperformed at the box office as it earned only $72 million against a $50 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Interestingly, many of the concepts in the film were conceived by director Robert Rodriguez’s children. Racer Max Rodriguez was credited for the story of the film.

Why Taylor Lautner Didn’t Return to The Role In We Can Be Heroes?

Robert Rodriguez‘s 2020 kids superhero film We Can Be Heroes was set in the same universe as Sharkboy and Lavagirl. While Taylor Dooley returned to her role as Lavagirl, Taylor Lautner was notably absent in the film. Sharkboy and Lavagirl’s daughter was one of the young superheroes in the film. JJ Dashnaw replaced Lautner in the role of Sharkboy.

Lautner explained his reason not to return to the film when he appeared to promote his film Home Team with ScreenRant. The Abduction actor shared that Sharkboy will still have a very special place in his heart. However, when the 2020 film was in production he was preparing for his role as Sean in Home Team. He also shared that he had to focus on his friends, family, and fiancée. Lautner shared with ScreenRant:

You know, it just was during a point in my life where I took a step back, and I kind of, don’t wanna tie this back to the movie, but kind of like Sean in [Home Team], I took a step back to focus on things that were important in my life, and that was my family and my friends and my fiancée. But yeah, the timing just wasn’t right for me, but I mean, Sharkboy will forever have a very special place in my heart.

A sequel to We Can Be Heroes was earlier in development and fans hoped to see Lautner back in this movie. However, the lack of updates about the movie since 2021 could mean that the sequel was possibly canceled.

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl is now available to watch on PlutoTV, while the Twilight Saga is now available for rent on AppleTV.