Ben Affleck Reveals Use of AI in Upcoming Netflix Thriller Animals

Ben Affleck used artificial intelligence for multiple aspects of his upcoming Netflix thriller Animals, but he is withholding specific details to preserve the cinematic illusion.

Protecting the Cinematic Illusion

Affleck defended his use of AI tools on the production while explaining his reluctance to itemize their exact applications. He compared revealing the technology’s footprint to exposing the mechanics of a magic trick before the performance begins.

I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie. Given that our profession aims to build a believable world, I feel somewhat reluctant to highlight their specifics or discuss them at all, isn’t that right?

Ben Affleck

Despite keeping the specifics under wraps, Affleck characterized the implementation as an ethical application of the technology within a fundamentally human story. He noted that filmmakers often react with fear to abstract concepts of AI propaganda until they experience practical control over the tools. Once creators understand the software as another form of computing, the panic subsides. He dismissed the premise that AI will ever evolve to generate complete, commercially viable films purely from user prompts.

Clearing Up Viral Plot Rumors

During the same appearance, Affleck addressed a viral internet rumor regarding studio notes and plotting requirements at Netflix. The misunderstanding originated from an appearance by Affleck and Matt Damon on The Joe Rogan Experience to discuss their work with the streamer. Damon had previously described standard action movie structures—noting that studios traditionally expect major set pieces across three acts, with the largest explosion-heavy sequence saved for the finale. Damon remarked that streaming platforms sometimes prefer establishing a high-impact scene within the first five minutes to retain viewer attention while multitasking on phones, along with occasional plot reiterations in the dialogue. A truncated quote subsequently circulated online with the framing that Netflix forces filmmakers to explain the plot in the opening minutes.

After someone extracted a pull quote that spread through a single repost, the headline became, ‘Matt Damon says Netflix makes you tell the plot in the first five minutes.’ When you consider the reality of the situation, I am starring in this film and I am behind the camera. Even if that were true, do you think I would go on Joe Rogan and be like, ‘They made me put all this obvious shit in my movie’? Like, it doesn’t even make sense.

Ben Affleck

Affleck added that he has never encountered a note as brazenly idiotic as the rumored requirement, though he acknowledged that poorly conceived executive notes have a long history in the film and television industry that predates streaming platforms.