Ben Affleck’s new Netflix film, Animals, has become an unlikely test case for the actor-director’s long-running campaign to promote what he calls “ethically” used artificial intelligence in Hollywood. Released this weekend, the movie does not appear to be winning over viewers.
“I don’t believe that there will ever be ‘Just type it in and make a movie that people want to see.’ The whole effort behind it was to do something ethical, to do something that did not displace people, but that allowed people in this economy and this world to benefit from this technology.”
Ben Affleck at a recent Bloomberg event
Affleck stars as and directs Animals, which follows Mark Kimball, a mayoral candidate trailing in the polls. When his son is taken hostage, Mark and his wife Abigail—played by Scandal‘s Kerry Washington—attempt to raise the ransom without sinking his chances in a close election.
The film has drawn sharper reviews than Affleck’s earlier thrillers, from Gone Baby Gone to Academy Award winner Argo. Critics have cited paper-thin personalities and clunky dialogue in the political caper. Online viewers have also latched onto what some describe as abnormal-looking shot composition.
The film currently sits below water on both critic and audience Rotten Tomatoes scores.
Affleck has been coy about exactly what AI was used for during Animals‘ production. What he does promote is a desire to see the technology used responsibly—without breaching creative rights or intellectual property, and without threatening livelihoods in Hollywood. After being spooked by the tech years ago, he frames this as a way to keep humans at the table.
Despite all the rattling, human entertainers have yet to be displaced by AI. Higher-ups may want to reduce headcounts and devalue labor, but audiences are overwhelmingly lining up for art with that human touch. AI is excellent at reminding people of its existence—but less effective at motivating a ticket sale.
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