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Netflix CEO Counters Cameron's AI Cost-Cutting Vision: 'Make Movies 10% Better'

(Friday April 18, 2025 @05:20PM (msmash) from the tussle-continues dept.)


Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos pushed back on director James Cameron's recent assertion that AI [1]could slash film production costs by half , arguing instead for quality improvements over cost reduction during Netflix's first-quarter earnings call Thursday. "I read the article too about what Jim Cameron said about making movies 50% cheaper," Sarandos said. "I remain convinced that there's an even bigger opportunity to make movies 10% better."

Sarandos pointed to Netflix's current AI implementations in set references, pre-visualization, VFX sequence preparation, and shot planning. He said AI-powered tools have democratized high-end visual effects that were once exclusive to big-budget productions. The executive cited 2019's "The Irishman" as a benchmark, noting its "very cutting-edge, very expensive de-aging technology that still had massive limitations." In contrast, he referenced cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto's directorial debut "Pedro Paramo," which employed AI-powered de-aging at "a fraction" of The Irishman's cost. "The entire budget of the film was about what the VFX cost on The Irishman," Sarandos explained. "Same creator using new tools, better tools, to do what was impossible five years ago."



[1] https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/25/04/11/154250/james-cameron-ai-could-help-cut-vfx-costs-in-half-saving-blockbuster-cinema



Give me attention! (Score:3)

by locater16 ( 2326718 )

I propose we use AI to put 20% more Nic Cage in all movies.

Re: Give me attention! (Score:2)

by devslash0 ( 4203435 )

If I could, I'd like to see Nick Cage's face on Rose in Titanic. "Draw me like one of your French girls."

Re: (Score:2)

by El_Muerte_TDS ( 592157 )

Nic Cage does _not_ approve Al

Netflix movies 10% better now (Score:2)

by r1348 ( 2567295 )

So they're aiming for a 10% Rotten Tomatoes rating, apparently.

What needs improving? (Score:4, Insightful)

by JaredOfEuropa ( 526365 )

I think the single most important thing to improve in movies and entertainment in general, is the writing. Did the good writers all drop out a few Writers' Guild strikes ago, never to return? The current crop is so bad that I think an AI might actually do a better job.

Re: (Score:3)

by alvinrod ( 889928 )

I don't think they have, so it's smarter to aim for the 50% cost reduction. Slop vendors never profit from trying to make better slop. The money is in making the slop for less while keeping the quality the same, or at least insofar as anyone can tell.

Re: What needs improving? (Score:1)

by devslash0 ( 4203435 )

It's the young, useless generation. They are just reheating the same cold pancakes over and over again because they spend too much time caring about how they look on socials and trying not to offend anyone instead of honing their creativity.

So fun fact about Netflix films (Score:2)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

They're that bad on purpose. There's a method to the madness.

First you've got the general dumbing down of dialogue to make it so they can dub it into Chinese more effectively. Also you've got to take a lot of themes out of anything you write again for the Chinese market.

But even in addition to that you've got an entirely new problem with writing. People work. Non-stop now. 50 60 70 hour work weeks aren't uncommon with people under 50.

So Netflix founded people were watching Netflix while working.

The problem is not cost (Score:2)

by MpVpRb ( 1423381 )

The problem is executives who hate creativity and continue to insist on sequels, remakes, reboots, franchises and other assorted retelling of old stories

Netflix "qualtiy"... (Score:2)

by FritzTheCat1030 ( 758024 )

Netflix makes some of the absolute worst movies out there. 95% of Netflix original movies are completely unwatchable. They've adhered to the quantity over quality strategy for years. Making their movies 10% better is like throwing a thimble of water on a forest fire.

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