Netflix Boss Says AI Will Make Their Movies and Shows Better, Not Just Cheaper

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos says artificial intelligence is going to help make movies and TV shows not just cheaper, but better too. Speaking to financial analysts after Netflix shared its second-quarter financial results, Sarandos explained that AI tools are starting to help filmmakers in creative ways. According to him, AI isn’t just about saving money—it’s about improving what people see on screen.

“We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,” Sarandos said.

He explained that AI is giving creators new tools that help during the actual production process. These tools are already being used for things like pre-visualization, shot planning, and visual effects. In his words, “This is real people doing real work with better tools.”

Sarandos gave an example from an upcoming Argentine sci-fi show called El Eternauta (The Eternaut). The show is about people trying to survive after a sudden deadly snowfall. It used virtual production and AI-powered visual effects to bring some of the big moments to life.

One scene showed a building collapsing in Buenos Aires, and Netflix worked with Argentinian artists to create it using AI.

“Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed,” Sarandos said. He explained that the building collapse scene was done ten times faster than it could have been using traditional methods. Because of this, they were able to include more special effects in a show that was made on a smaller budget, with a local Argentine cast and crew.

He added that both the creators and audiences were happy with the final result. “The creators were thrilled with the result. We were thrilled with the result, and more importantly the audience was thrilled with the result. So I think these tools are helping creators expand the possibilities of storytelling on screen, and that is endlessly exciting,” Sarandos told analysts.

However, while Sarandos focused mostly on the benefits of AI, the growing use of artificial intelligence in Hollywood also comes with concerns. Some people in the industry worry that studios will use AI to cut jobs or replace human artists.

There’s also fear that relying too much on AI could lead to movies and shows feeling less personal or original. Others argue that using AI too much might take away the human touch that makes filmmaking special.

But Sarandos seems confident that AI will act more like a helping hand than a replacement. His message was clear: for Netflix, AI is a tool to speed up the work and help creators do more, not a way to get rid of them.

In the end, AI might make it easier and faster to create big visual effects, but whether it can truly make stories better will depend on how studios choose to use it. For now, Netflix seems ready to embrace it.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!