There is a rising concern about the role that AI plays in the world of art and entertainment today. The use of AI to cut corners and circumvent funding issues in the name of providing greater artistic control to creators is a worrying prospect. As many have pointed out, since AI works by training itself on pools of data, creating art using AI consтιтutes intellectual property theft, since it operates by stealing and repurposing existing art. Moreover, the possibility of AI replacing human actors, directors, writers, cinematographers and composers is alarming.

Recently, Staircase Studios was launched to produce low-budget AI movies, with the goal of releasing as many as 30 movies in a span of three to four years. While that’s still far away, movies have begun using divisive AI voice tech already. Beyond creative takeover, another common fear about AI is a social takeover. Movies have long addressed the possibility of AI controlling human civilization or attempting to wipe out the human race. If you’re afraid of the powers of AI, you should avoid scary sci-fi movies where artificial intelligence becomes self-aware, as they may be too terrifying.

10

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Directed By Stanley Kubrick

As far as sentient AI villains go, HAL 9000 belongs in the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest sci-fi villains of all time. His iconic appearance with the bright red light is so popular that you’ll have seen it even if you haven’t watched 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film, rightfully considered one of the greatest in the history of cinema, is the quintessential AI film that continues to influence filmmakers today.

2001: A Space Odyssey follows a group of researchers who start a space expedition to find the origins of a strange artifact discovered on the moon. Their ship also hosts the highly intelligent HAL 9000 – the world’s smartest supercomputer. HALseems helpful and compliant in the earlier stages of their expedition, but soon turns on the ship’s occupants. His eerie way of saying “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” when he detects one of them is trying to shut him down, turns the film on its head, making this exploration drama verge on becoming a horror film.

9

Westworld (1973)

Directed By Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton is an author known for often writing his own movie adaptations, too. However, over two decades before his most famous screenplay/novel, Jurᴀssic Park, was directed by Steven Spielberg, Crichton himself had started a directing career. He directed four films in the ’70s and three in the ’80s, and one of the former, his sophomore feature as a director, was based on a highly influential novel about the dangers of AI.

Westworld is set in a futuristic amusement park where human-like androids run various themed worlds. There are worlds of all kinds, from medieval times to the Wild West. After two of the park’s patrons clash with a gunslinger in the Wild West-themed world, things quickly escalate. The androids start deviating from their prescribed functions and wreak havoc in the park. Yul Brynner plays the gunslinger previously mentioned, and his terrifying presence, buoyed by the indomitable spirit of his character, consтιтutes AI horror.

8

Demon Seed (1977)

Directed By Donald Cammell

The late ’70s and the ’80s witnessed a rise in the number of bleak horror movies being made. A pioneer of this wave of cinema was famed body horror filmmaker David Cronenberg, who often used intriguing sci-fi premises to create depressing circumstances. Horror and sci-fi films from those decades commonly explore the themes of bodily autonomy, the surrealism of body modifications, and the dark powers of AI.

The epitome of this can be found in Donald Cammell’s Demon Seed, which tells the story of Proteus, an AI made to cure leukemia. Proteus is given access to all recorded human knowledge and soon becomes eager to establish an independent existence. It takes over its creator’s robot butler and imprisons his wife in hopes of impregnating her so she can give birth to a humanoid form of Proteus. While the premise is somewhat outlandish, Julie Christie’s memorable performance can instill in viewers a fear of abuse at the hands of AI.

7

Minority Report (2002)

Directed By Steven Spielberg

Tom Cruise faced off against AI as Ethan Hunt in the latest Mission: Impossible movie, where a powerful AI is able to hack into any technology, impersonate anyone, and wreak havoc in the world. While we’re far from that in reality, an older Tom Cruise film relies on a premise that’s much closer to becoming real as our dependence on AI grows.

Minority Report, loosely based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 novella of the same name, follows Tom Cruise as an agent of the Precrime police department. The Precrime department works on the predictions made by a trio of psychics who can foresee crime before it happens, leading to preventive arrests made by the department. It hasn’t become a common method of operation yet, but countries are already trying to use AI to predict crimes (via Swiss Cognitive).

6

WALL-E (2008)

Directed By Andrew Stanton

Yes, it is an adorable kids’ movie that has a heartwarming message driving its narrative, but the setting of WALL-E and its major conflict is based on a terrifying AI takeover. Before AI, WALL-E warns us of the dangers of letting climate change continue unchecked. The Earth has become uninhabitable, and humans have been forced to live in a huge spaceship known as The Axiom, where their every need is taken care of by a host of robots.

The film commentates on our dependence on machines, but isn’t entirely negative about it, because a group of robots decides to help humans end their pᴀssive existence. However, the pᴀssive existence was originally orchestrated and maintained by the AI that helped the captain navigate. She became self-aware and decided to use robots to lull people into a sense of comfort where they stop interacting with each other or introspecting, and she got all the power. Axiom’s computer is a Pixar character who deserves a spin-off movie about herself.

5

Her (2013)

Directed By Spike Jonze

The scenario presented in Her is terrifyingly close to becoming a reality. So, if AI scares you, this film might leave you feeling distraught. Her is set in a world where emotional expression in written form can be outsourced to companies who write greeting cards. One such card writer, whose evocative writing demonstrates his ability to express himself, however chooses to spend his time alone until he comes across an AI companion he can date.

He opens up to this AI and takes himself out and shares moments with her as if they were on a date. His overall confidence increases, and he even has some meaningful real-life interactions. So, it seems like dating an AI is good for him. However, his emotional dependence on her makes the prospect of a breakup terrifying to him. Interestingly, the AI in Her does exactly what she’s expected to, and the main source of fear lies in realizing people would prefer AI companionship over human companionship in a world where the former can be made fulfilling enough.

4

Ex Machina (2015)

Directed By Alex Garland

Alex Garland’s preoccupation with technology and moral grayness can be seen in almost all his works. His latest movie, Civil War, one of the best thriller movies of 2024, is concerned with the ethics of war pH๏τography and videography. Similar ethical concerns regarding the use of technology can be found in Ex Machina, which is often considered to be his best film.

It follows a programmer who is invited to his CEO’s remote home to put one of his androids through the Turing test. Ex Machina is set in a world where men like the eccentric CEO have decided to create female androids to control them. Through the creation of AI, he aims to establish dominance over a woman and find personal satisfaction in it, even if she isn’t real. Not only can this create a real Frankenstein’s monster, but legislation will be necessary to protect AI’s rights, which could get complicated considering the nature and extent of its retaliation.

3

Tau (2018)

Directed By Federico D’Alessandro

The Disney Channel original movie Smart House introduced us to an AI-operated home in which the house’s consciousness starts functioning like a mother to its creator. Tau uses a similar smart house concept, but the film’s atmosphere is decidedly more sinister. The scientist Alex kidnaps people in his home to perform experiments on them so he can develop the perfect AI. The film’s protagonist is one of these captives.

The smart AI that operates the house, the тιтular Tau, is supposed to remain neutral in the conflict and even help Alex in his endeavors. Instead, the protagonist gradually forms a bond with it, so she can attempt a daring escape after her fellow captives are killed. Alex subjects her to torture, but Tau could be convinced to disobey Alex. Granted, Alex is a psychopath, but the fact that AI can be turned against its users is terrifying.

2

Upgrade (2018)

Directed By Leigh Whannell

Leigh Whannell famously wrote Saw, a great crime movie where the villain wins in the end. So, it’s not surprising that his AI movie is bleak and gory, with a great villain twist in the climax. Upgrade follows a man who’s left paralyzed after a car accident and shootout that claimed his wife’s life. Despondent, he contemplates giving up, but soon finds hope of a better life in the form of AI-operated body modifications.

Not only does he find the ability to walk, but with the help of the AI, the man is able to track down the men responsible for his wife’s murder. However, this is only possible by surrendering bodily autonomy to the AI, which can tap into databases and successfully track and kill the murderers. The AI soon takes over the man’s body, and he has to watch in horror as his body goes on a killing spree, before completely shutting him out. Imagine being Eddie Brock, but Venom goes on a murderous rampage while you sleep inside.

1

Companion (2025)

Directed By Drew Hancock

Self-aware AI serving its own interests is a terrifying prospect, but so is the idea of people misusing AI for their gain. Companion explores the clash between these two different perspectives through the experiences of its protagonist – a fem-presenting humanoid set up with an AI operating system. The AI has limitations on harming people, and the humanoid has fabricated memories to make it the most dedicated romantic partner one could ask for.

However, tampering with the safety protocols and using the AI’s dedication for misdeeds leads to a bloodbath. Instead of AI manipulating a person, it’s the other way around this time, and the film depicts how AI, like any technology, turns harmful in the wrong hands. It also explores how well-suited to survival and vengeance such a scorned AI can be, as she smartly takes over control of herself to escape, but has her plans foiled by a selfish human. The ultimate villain isn’t AI, it simply follows instructions given by humans, who are the real antagonists.