The Hollywood Tech Issue
The Rise Of Virtual Production — Hollywood’s Most Confusing Miracle
By Dais Johnston
The Volume and virtual production have created a completely new VFX workflow, seemingly overnight.
March 2026
From AR walls to live actors, AI to IMAX, Inverse offers an acronym-free guide to Hollywood Tech today.
So much of the history of film and television is a story about technology. In the 20th century, film and TV redefined the way humanity interacted with the world and with itself. But what do those technological advances look like in the 21st century? How has emerging technology changed Hollywood? How has it changed the stories we tell ourselves?
Looking through the dual lenses of science fiction and filmmaking fact, Inverse tackles the state of Hollywood tech in 2026; from innovative techniques that are redefining storytelling, to analog methods that are making a comeback, to how the rich history of innovation changed our favorite stories. Just in time for SXSW 2026, we’re reporting on and taking a deep dive into the past and present of Hollywood tech, with a very specific eye on the future.
The Rise Of Virtual Production — Hollywood’s Most Confusing Miracle
The Volume and virtual production have created a completely new VFX workflow, seemingly overnight.
The 25 Movies We Can’t Wait To See At SXSW
From chilling horror to speculative sci-fi, keep these films on your radar.
The 25 Movies We Can’t Wait To See At SXSW
From chilling horror to speculative sci-fi, keep these films on your radar.
At SXSW, Death Is Never The End
The best and worst genre films at this year’s SXSW have a fascinating relationship with mortality and identity.
At SXSW, The Aliens Are Already Here
3 indie sci-fi films at this year’s SXSW festival reveal a fascinating trend.
'O'Dessa' Puts A Punk-Rock Spin On The Apocalypse — And Almost Succeeds
Rock hard.
Matthew McConaughey's Big Comeback Is The Twistiest, Weirdest Thriller Of 2025
It's a Western crime thriller... musical?
'Together' Is A Terrific Body-Horror Rom-Com That Shouldn’t Work
Until death do us part.
'The Surfer' Rides The Wave Of a Deranged Nicolas Cage Performance
The sun-soaked exploitation film takes us on a trip through the pitfalls of toxic masculinity.
Cosmic Horror Gets a Creepy Lo-Fi Spin With 'Ash'
There’s something here.
