The AI dunk trend took a turn this week. Instead of solo highlight dunks, TikTok is full of poster dunks: one player flying straight over a defender's head and slamming it home while the defender ends up on the floor. Most of the viral versions remake famous NBA moments with celebrities and movie characters swapped in. The funnier version is the one where you are the dunker and the person on the poster is your friend. This guide explains where the trend comes from, what happens in each second, and how to make a 5-second version from 2 photos with the AI Poster Dunk template on Viberot.

A man with a platinum bob in a brown suit flies over his friend under an outdoor hoop and slams a basketball through the net
Posterized: over the top and through the net

What a poster dunk is#

A poster dunk is a dunk over a defender that is so complete it looks like it belongs on a bedroom-wall poster: the dunker's body passes over the defender's head or shoulder, the ball goes down through the rim, and the defender is left looking up, or lying on the court. Getting "posterized" is the worst thing that can happen to a defender, which is exactly why it is so fun to do to a friend.

Where the AI dunk trend comes from#

Two things collided in late October 2026. A broadcast clip of a famous pro dunking over a seven-footer resurfaced and racked up millions of views, and a CapCut one-photo template turned it into a format: you swap in a face for the dunker and keep the original defender. Around the same time, a street-ball "my prime" 1v1 clip of someone flying over a friend's head went viral and got remade with AI.

The templates only swap one person. The joke people actually want is to put both faces in: theirs on the dunker and their friend's on the defender. That is what this template does.

The video, second by second#

Here is what the 5-second version looks like:

  1. 0–1s: The drive, at full speed. A tracking shot follows you sprinting and dribbling hard toward the basket.
  2. 1–1.3s: Take-off. Cut to the hoop: you gather the ball overhead and explode off the ground while your friend reaches up to block.
  3. 1.3–3.7s: Over the top, in slow motion. The moment you leave the ground everything slows down: you rise chest-to-chest with your friend and climb over their head and shoulder, ball held high above the rim.
  4. 3.7–4.1s: The slam. Back to full speed, the ball goes through the net and the rim shakes.
  5. 4.1–5s: Posterized. Your friend is knocked backward, staring up at the rim in disbelief.

It plays out on an outdoor public court at golden hour, with no crowd, no jerseys and no logos. Each of you keeps your own face, hair and clothes from your photo. The video has no sound, so you can add a hype track when you post.

Step by step: how to make an AI poster dunk video#

  1. Open the template. Go to the AI Poster Dunk page and sign in.
  2. Upload your photo. You are the dunker. A clear, front-facing photo works best; full-body is ideal.
  3. Upload your friend's photo. They are the defender who gets dunked on. Both photos are required.
  4. Pick the aspect ratio. 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, or 16:9 for YouTube.
  5. Pick a quality. Standard 480p or 720p is plenty for social. Higher tiers render more detail and cost more.
  6. Generate. No prompt to write: the court, the drive and the dunk are already set. Rendering usually takes a few minutes.
  7. Download, add a sound and tag your friend.

Picking photos that work#

Works well Causes trouble
One person in each photo Group photos where the face is tiny
Face clearly visible, looking at the camera Sunglasses, caps pulled low, faces turned away
Full-body or half-body shots Very dark, blurry or heavily filtered photos
Two people who look different from each other Two near-identical selfies of the same person
  • Your own clothes come along. Nobody gets a jersey. A suit, a hoodie or a work uniform all make the dunk funnier.
  • Celebrity photos are rejected. Photos that look like public figures, NBA players or other famous athletes are blocked before any credits are charged, so use your own friends.

Ideas for your post#

  • The trash-talk caption. "He said I couldn't jump." Tag the friend.
  • The rematch. Make a second one with the slots swapped so your friend gets revenge.
  • The office league. Dunk on your manager (with their permission) for the team chat.
  • The group chat ranking. Post a poster of everyone you know and let the comments vote.

How it differs from CapCut dunk templates#

The popular CapCut dunk templates take one photo and paste your face onto the dunker in a real broadcast clip, so the defender is always the same pro player. This template takes two photos and generates the whole play, so both people are real people you know, wearing their own clothes, on a neutral court with no league footage or logos. If you only want yourself in a solo highlight, the AI Tomahawk Dunk template does a slow-motion one-handed dunk from one photo.

How much it costs#

A 5-second poster dunk costs 41 credits at Standard 480p or 84 credits at 720p. Credit packs are one-time payments with no subscription, starting at $9.90 for 600 credits, and failed videos are refunded automatically. See pricing for every pack.

Frequently asked questions#

Do I need two photos?#

Yes. Both are required: the first is you, the dunker, and the second is the friend who gets dunked on.

Can I use a photo of an NBA player?#

No. Photos of public figures, athletes and celebrities are rejected by moderation. Use photos of yourself and friends who agreed to it.

Does the video include music?#

No. It comes out silent. The example on the video page plays the trend's usual song as a preview only. Add the trending sound from the TikTok, Instagram or YouTube Shorts library when you post, so it plays under the platform's licence.

Will we be wearing basketball uniforms?#

No. Each person keeps the clothes from their own photo. If a photo only shows the upper body, matching trousers and sneakers are added.

Can I use my dog?#

Not on this template yet. For a solo pet dunk, try the AI Tomahawk Dunk.

Is this an official product?#

No. Viberot is an independent tool, not affiliated with any basketball league, team or player, or with the creators of the original clips.