AMC Theatres just became the first major cinema chain to take a stand against artificial intelligence in filmmaking, and the precedent it sets could reshape the industry for years to come.
The chain announced it will not screen Thanksgiving Day, an AI-generated short film that sparked widespread outrage when its theatrical release was announced. In a statement, AMC said they "will not participate" in exhibiting content created primarily through AI technology—a decision that goes far beyond one controversial short.
This isn't just corporate risk aversion. It's a shot across the bow in Hollywood's most existential debate: what role should AI play in the creative process?
The backlash against Thanksgiving Day was swift and fierce. Artists, actors, and film lovers flooded social media with criticism, arguing that AI-generated content threatens the livelihoods of countless creative professionals—from cinematographers to composers to the actors themselves. The concerns aren't abstract. We're watching a technology emerge that could theoretically replace human creativity with algorithmic efficiency.
AMC's decision sends a clear message: there's still value in drawing lines. While studios experiment with AI for visual effects and script polishing, the idea of fully AI-generated films screening alongside works of human artistry feels like a bridge too far—at least for now.
The timing matters, too. As Variety reports, this decision comes amid ongoing labor negotiations where AI protections remain a central concern for industry unions. By refusing to screen AI content, AMC aligns itself with the creative community rather than the tech-forward contingent of studio executives who see AI as a cost-cutting miracle.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: this fight is just beginning. AI technology improves exponentially, not linearly. What looks crude and uncanny today will look seamless in five years. The question isn't whether AI will be used in filmmaking—it already is. The question is whether there's still room for the messy, expensive, gloriously human process of making art.
For now, AMC has chosen humanity over efficiency. Whether other chains follow their lead—and whether studios respect that line—will determine if this is a watershed moment or just a speed bump on the road to automation.
In Hollywood, nobody knows anything—except that this conversation is far from over.
