Ranking 20 years of WoW: the best & worst CGI cinematics

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Kicking off this series with the big Blizzcon CGI cinematics that sell an expansion. I had thought of including all CGI cinematics for completionist's sake (ie, the MoP joke cinematic with the orc and human in the bar, the Gamescom Legion teaser with Gul'dan finding Illidan's prison crystal, the Saurfang cinematics, and the second Shadowlands/Dragonflight/TWW cinematics), but those are not the primary cinematic that Blizzard uses to promote an expansion and the votes would be disproportionately weighted towards expansions with only one cinematic, so I have left them out.

TWW is not out yet so it will probably not feature in the rest of this ranking series (even if this poll series was delayed, impressions of it would be inflated due to recency bias), but the announcement cinematic has been out for several months so people have had time to stew on it, so it has been included.

Q: Which cinematic did you think was the best? Which cinematic did you think was the worst?


My personal opinion is that The Dark Portal and Xaxas are the best cinematics. Yes, I can hear you crying "blashemy!". I actually enjoy Arthas My Son and Times Change more, but they only have an effect on me now because I am already invested in the lore and the characters. They are fanservice movies. They are not particularly aimed at selling the expansion to someone who has been out of the loop for years, only has a passing familiarity with the franchise, or doesn't know what an MMO is.

In that regard, I feel like The Dark Portal and Xaxas are the best. The Dark Portal (along with Seasons of War) shows off the races and classes you can play. Seasons of War shows off more, but The Dark Portal captured my imagination with its depiction of the paladin, introduced with his stoicism, solemnity, regality, and strength. "I want to be like him". That is a cinematic that sells the game to me.

Xaxas on the other hand introduces a powerful, threatening villain and immedietely establishes why we have to fight him. We see this huge evil dragon devestate a large swathe of the world. A monster you want to rise up to slay and avenge the world. Arthas doesn't do anything as impactful in his expansion cinematic and requires more context to feel motivated to fight him.

I would like to give an honorable mention to the Dragonflight cinematic. The stoic stoneman is a very heroic man you want to be like. Not literally as in a stoneman race but as in his virtue and stoicism.

The final thing I would have to say is that the first six cinematics had memorable music, particularly The Dark Portal, Xaxas, and Times Change. Sadly the music becomes less memorable after WoD. I cannot recall any cinematic music after BFA's.

My vote for worst cinematic probably goes to Shadowlands. Actually I would place SL, DF, and TWW at the bottom of the list, but Shadowlands edges out as the worst I think. Not just because of the egregious outcome powerlevel wise and how dissatisfying it is to see Suevanas trounce the Lich King, but also because it just doesn't sell what the expansion is about. The imagery of the sky shattering and the two towers facing each other is great, but the cinematic doesn't really show off what the Shadowlands is about. You don't see the new zones, or the forces you will be fighting, or a new class or a new race to play as, etc. At least the Dragonflight cinematic conveys the idea of a new Titan themed zone and it being about dragons. At least the TWW cinematic kinda gets your curiosity piqued in this whole emphasis on story thing. If I was a new player and saw the Shadowlands cinematic, I still wouldn't really know what I'm buying. But on the other hand, at least you are seeing cool looking characters do cool things, and ofcourse the cool sky shattering and the two towers, so I guess it does kinda promise a cool adventure. TWW's cinematic on the other hand is just two guys standing around and talking. Not really selling a high fantasy adventure is it, but then you have the mystery of the visions and the giant sword, so it feels like it's selling more of a slower paced singleplayer RPG experience? IDK how to feel about it.

[username993720]

I think the War Within was the weakest. It just doesn't have any epicness to it. Nothing can beat the vanilla cinematic. It just draws you in to the franchise.

[Shadowferal]

Toss-up between Vanilla, which depicted class and race in the first half, then cutting to the pvp in the latter half basically introducing the game; but WotLK had a nice dash of subtlety that belied an epic...near grandeur underscored by the double faced entendre narration.

[epigramx]

I'm not big with art detailing but I've noticed one overarching concept in WoW's cinematics. It was absolutely dominating at quality when it started; it depends on the era that is; for 2004 and up to ~2012 there's just no other company doing so high quality fantasy art (even if the oldest stuff look weaker in 2024 (it's about the comparison into the Era of release that matters the most)).

Unfortunately for Blizzard 2024 is already an Era that some other big studios start seeing games almost like blockbuster movies; they throw a lot of money on the best artists in the world; something that Blizzard did as a specially (taking the best artists (in comparison their Programmers seemed crap)) now it's expected to be the default by studios who throw billions on gaming franchises.

- - - Updated - - -

I think the War Within was the weakest. It just doesn't have any epicness to it. Nothing can beat the vanilla cinematic. It just draws you in to the franchise.

Ah the one where for some mysterious reason Anduin in Ragnar Lothbrok from Vikings.

[Villager720]

I've sort of got a 3 way tie, but if I must pick one, it'd be:
Battle for Azeroth's eeks out my top tier, I think simply because it is just sheer spectacle and "whoa" moments nonstop.
For nostalgia and mood, obviously Wrath's.
And for straight up, fist-pumping, mad dash, wild action - Warlords of Draenor.

(Ironically, ended up not being a fan of any of those expansions.)

[Stormwindpeep]

Lick King for me

[username993720]

Ah the one where for some mysterious reason Anduin in Ragnar Lothbrok from Vikings.

I don't care about his looks, or even his nature. The cinematic was bland as hell.

[Mendzia]

WotLK >>> WoD > Cata > Vanilla > rest in random order >>> Dragonflight

[LordVargK]

Best: WotLK
Worst: Shadowlands. By far.

Close seconds: MoP, vanilla and WoD.

[Khaza-R]

WotLK/WoD > Catalclysm > MoP > Vanilla > BfA > TBC > Legion >>> DF/TWW >>>>>>>>>> Shadowlands

[Golden Yak]

I think Wrath is the one I consider the best overall, though I have very high opinions of Catacylsm and Shadowlands as well. Whatever you thought of the content of Shadowlands expansion, the cinematic was one of the most shocking and unforeseen.

[Nymrohd]

I'd vote for WoD as the best. I also really loved BfA.

[fazaim]

I think Wrath is the one I consider the best overall, though I have very high opinions of Catacylsm and Shadowlands as well. Whatever you thought of the content of Shadowlands expansion, the cinematic was one of the most shocking and unforeseen.

Sure, Shadowlands cin was shocking but in a shitty way. Just disrespectful to what was the most iconic thing in the WoW universe.

[khazmodan]

Even though its not on the list, I have to give it to "Old Soldier" for the best cinematic in the history of WoW.

As for the worst; I would say just about anything with Anduin "cringe" Wrynn, seeing him on the verge of crying too many times and given so many garbage lines of dialogue makes me want to just forget he exists.

[Ereb]

Everybody saying wotlk is at least 30+ years old lmao

[Jetstream]

The Pandaria one has always made me happy.

[Zardas]

The WOTLK and Cata cinematics you linked are the one from their classic version, not the original ones.

Everybody saying wotlk is at least 30+ years old lmao

Nope : I'm under 30 and wotlk is the best one.

[Ereb]

Nope : I'm under 30 and wotlk is the best one.

I don't believe you DM me your driver's license, social security card and your three biggest fears

[Zardas]

I don't believe you DM me your driver's license,

Unfortunately been revoqued since this incident with the mammoth.

social security card

I was too hungry so I ate it.

and your three biggest fears

Can't really go into details, but two of them involve gnomes.

[Polybius]

SL had a decent cinematic quality-wise. As for its lore aspect I'll never understand why people expected Nerz'hul levels of necromantic powers.

Dragonflight is the lowest for me only because it didn't excite. Still a lovely cinematic. I can't decide on best...