Movies Featuring Controversial AI Voice Technology

The integration of artificial intelligence in filmmaking has sparked considerable debate within the film community. Notably, films like the 2024 releases The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez have faced criticism for their use of AI to modify the voices of on-screen actors. As these films vie for the prestigious Best Picture award at the 2025 Oscars, concerns surrounding their cinematic authenticity and the legitimacy of granting accolades for AI-generated content have come into sharp focus.

Despite mounting public resistance to AI’s role in post-production, the technology’s incorporation in the film industry continues to expand. Each year, as AI technology evolves, it becomes increasingly prevalent in film creation, suggesting its continued presence in cinema is inevitable. The controversies stirred by Oscar-nominated films like The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez illustrate the ongoing friction between traditional filmmaking practices and modern innovations.

9 In Event Of Moon Disaster (2019)

This Film Used AI To Make A Fake Speech By Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon in In Event of Moon Disaster

Produced by the MIT Center for Advanced Virtuality, the 2019 short film In Event of Moon Disaster serves an educational purpose, illustrating the capabilities of AI technology. The narrative imagines a scenario where U. S.President Richard Nixon addresses the nation following a failed Apollo 11 mission, where astronauts fail to return safely to Earth.

While Lewis D. Wheeler portrayed Nixon, filmmakers utilized Canny AI’s deepfake technology to recreate the former president’s likeness and collaborated with Ukrainian startup Respeecher to generate Nixon’s voice using AI. This innovative approach not only foreshadowed AI’s transformative impact on Hollywood but also earned the film a News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Media in 2021. Following this project, Respeecher gained notoriety for their work replicating the young voice of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian.

8 Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)

This Documentary Used AI To Recreate The Late Bourdain’s Voice

The 2021 documentary Roadrunner delves into the life of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who passed away in 2018. It stirred ethical discussions regarding the use of AI to resurrect the voices of the deceased. Filmmaker Morgan Neville claimed that Bourdain’s estate approved the use of AI for voice recreation; however, Bourdain’s ex-wife, Ottavia Bourdain, publicly disputed this assertion, emphasizing that she did not consent to the project.

7 Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

AI Was Nearly Used To Recreate Val Kilmer’s Voice For The Film

In the highly anticipated sequel to the 1986 classic, Top Gun: Maverick, Val Kilmer returned as Tom “Iceman”Kazansky, despite significant challenges resulting from his throat cancer treatment, which affected his voice. In preparation, Kilmer collaborated with the AI firm Sonantic to develop a digital representation of his voice from archived recordings.

Although Sonantic’s technology made it possible for Kilmer’s character to be voiced in the film, director Joseph Kosinski noted that Kilmer’s actual voice was used in the final cut with some digital enhancements primarily for clarity. This developed use of AI was less contentious, perhaps due to Kilmer’s direct involvement in the project.

6 Alien: Romulus (2024)

This Alien Reboot (Sort Of) Brought An Iconic Character Back To Life

Continuing the tradition of innovation, Alien: Romulus introduced an android character, Rook, resembling Ian Holm’s iconic Ash from the original Alien. Created with a blend of animatronic technology and AI, Rook’s character is designed using Holm’s likeness with permission from his estate, although AI was also employed to modify the actor Daniel Betts’ voice to sound more like Holm.

Director Fede Álvarez defended the decision, stating, “We’re not bringing someone back to life and saying, ‘Ian would have done it that way.’ We had an actor who was on the set, who worked on the dialogue…”

5 Here (2024)

Robert Zemeckis Used AI To Recreate A Young Tom Hanks

In his 2024 film Here, director Robert Zemeckis showcased his continued innovation by employing AI deepfake technology to de-age Tom Hanks and Robin Wright as they navigate their characters’ aging over decades in a single setting. By utilizing AI, the filmmakers not only enhanced the visual aspect of aging but also sought to make Hanks’ younger voice sound more authentic through Respeecher’s technology.

4 Better Man (2024)

AI Was Used To Help A CGI Monkey Sing

In a unique twist, the biopic Better Man features singer Robbie Williams as a CGI monkey, with Williams providing his vocal performances while actor Jonno Davies delivered the character’s speech through motion capture. The filmmakers reportedly collaborated with Respeecher to create an AI-generated voice that reflects Williams, though the details of its implementation remain somewhat ambiguous. It’s speculated that AI may have been used to either de-age his voice or modify it during musical sequences.

3 Endurance (2024)

AI Helped Revive The Lost Crew Of The Endurance

The documentary Endurance chronicles the survival story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship sank in 1914. To enhance the narrative, the filmmakers utilized AI technology to recreate the voices of Shackleton and his crew based on wax cylinder recordings. This immersive technique allowed the historical figures to narrate their own words from the past, enhancing the documentary’s emotional resonance.

2 Emilia Perez (2024)

This Musical Gained Even More Controversy For Its Use Of AI

Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard, has attracted debate primarily due to its reported usage of AI during post-production. Re-recording mixer Cyril Holtz claimed to have partnered with Respeecher to modulate the vocal range of Karla Sofía Gascón, the film’s lead actress. Holtz argued that the technology was necessary to help Gascón achieve certain vocal notes, particularly after her transition.

In a mix of Gascón’s voice with that of French singer Camille, AI was deployed in a response to Gascón’s challenges in the studio. Despite the controversy, Gascón’s talent was still recognized with an Academy Award nomination for her role.

1 The Brutalist (2024)

This Oscar-Contender Used AI To Polish Its Dialogue

Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist has been at the forefront of discussions following its warm reception and multiple award nominations, including those at the Academy Awards. The film faced scrutiny after revelations that artificial intelligence was employed to enhance the dialogue delivery of several actors, most notably Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, who portrayed characters speaking with a Hungarian accent.

Despite their preparation with dialect coaches, Corbet sought to perfect their performances for authenticity. In his defense, Corbet emphasized that AI was utilized strictly for refining dialogue and not to replace the authentic delivery of the actors. This highlights the fine line filmmakers must navigate between authenticity and innovation in modern storytelling.

“Adrien and Felicity’s performances are completely their own… Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy…”

Sources: ZDNet, The New Yorker, Deadline, X, Fortune, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian

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