In Alex Garland’s Civil War, Framestore delivers a staggering volume of invisible VFX work that transforms modern-day Atlanta into a photorealistic, war-ravaged Washington, D.C. The film’s grounded, documentary-style aesthetic demanded seamless integration of CG elements with practical footage—resulting in one of the most ambitious digital environment builds in recent memory.

The VFX team, led by Production VFX Supervisor David Simpson, constructed over 3,700 digital buildings, 13 miles of cityscape, and 887 miles of road. They also modeled more than 64,000 street lamps, 1,160 traffic lights, and over half a million pieces of office furniture to populate interiors and exteriors with believable detail.‍

To recreate iconic landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the White House, Framestore combined partial sets with extensive CG augmentation. The destruction of the Lincoln Memorial, for example, was entirely digital—crafted to match the film’s grounded tone without veering into spectacle.

The team’s work earned a Visual Effects Society Award nomination for Outstanding Created Environment in a Photorealistic Feature.

Civil War exemplifies how large-scale VFX can serve narrative and atmosphere without drawing attention to themselves. Framestore’s work is a masterclass in invisible effects—supporting the film’s realism while enabling sequences that would be impossible to achieve practically.

Watch the full VFX Breakdown: 

‍

‍

‍

Create from anywhere, work with anyone >>

Click here to learn more about Suite