What Audiences Really Think About AI in Filmmaking: 2026 Data Analysis
Audiences increasingly value experiential cinema even as AI tools proliferate | Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash. Courtesy of studio.aifilms.ai
A February 2025 YouGov poll delivered findings that initially seem contradictory: 86% of consumers demand disclosure when AI appears in media production, yet 61% consider AI use during filmmaking acceptable or have no strong opinion. The tension between these numbers reveals something more nuanced than simple acceptance or rejection. Audiences distinguish sharply between AI as creative tool and AI as human replacement.
This distinction matters as 2026 begins. Gen Z cinema attendance surged 25% in 2025 according to Cinema United's annual report, with that demographic averaging 6.1 theater visits per year. The youngest generation, often assumed most comfortable with AI, drives a theatrical comeback precisely because they value experiential, human created content screened on premium formats. Meanwhile 53% of consumers use AI daily according to Dentsu Creative's 2026 Trends Report, even as 50% seek less screen time overall.
