Tom Cruise on AI in movies: ‘There is nothing like human’

Tom Cruise delivered a passionate, six-minute defense of human-made filmmaking during a BAFTA “Life in Pictures” conversation in London on Monday night, acknowledging AI’s growing presence in the industry while expressing confidence that audiences will continue to crave authentic, human-crafted storytelling. 

Asked by moderator Edith Bowman about AI’s impact on filmmaking, Cruise began, “Here’s the thing: There is nothing like human,” explaining that part of his commitment to preserving the theatrical experience comes from its power to bring people together.

Cruise pointed to this year’s record-breaking summer box office, which pulled in $4.76 billion between May 1 and Labor Day, as evidence that audiences remain drawn to human craftsmanship on screen. 

“People want that experience. They’re going to movie theaters,” he said, adding, “I always believe in humanity.” 

While he stopped short of directly criticising AI’s downsides, he acknowledged its inevitability in the industry. 

“You know, it is coming and it’s going to happen. But people want to see real things.” 

He closed with a call for creatives to keep working despite the shifting landscape, telling the BAFTA audience, “What you put attention on, you give life,” and expressing a desire to protect the craftspeople who dedicate their careers to filmmaking. 

Cruise’s comments drew applause from the room.

The conversation also touched on Cruise’s upcoming film Digger, directed by The Revenant‘s Alejandro G. Iñárritu, in which he plays a wealthy oil tycoon under heavy prosthetics that initially took six hours to apply. 

“I’ve never read a movie like this,” Cruise said. “It’s the most original film and one of the most moving films I’ve ever seen.” 

Digger opens in theaters October 2 via Warner Bros. Cruise has previously weighed in on AI’s role in the industry during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA negotiations, when he pushed for stronger protections around the technology’s use.