Jodie Foster wonders if Brad Pitt's 'F1' was made by AI, says "I don't say this disparagingly"
Washington DC, July 5
Actor Jodie Foster has sparked discussion around the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking after suggesting that Brad Pitt's 2025 film 'F1' appeared to be "made by AI," according to People.
Foster reflected on the evolving relationship between cinema and technology, including the growing role of artificial intelligence.
"I don't say this disparagingly. How could I? This movie went on to make millions of dollars," Foster said during the discussion.
"But I look at a movie like F1, and I'm like, F1 was made by AI," she added. "Wasn't it? I mean, the structure was exactly the structure that you would learn in school. The actors say the lines exactly the way it would be written if a computer was writing exactly what would be the right thing for that time," as per the outlet.
She further elaborated that modern filmmaking techniques and structured storytelling sometimes resemble algorithmic output.
"And they were able to dominate the technology to make something big and beautiful and potentially where a lot of the information comes from other places," Foster said, according to People.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, F1 stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a fictional Formula 1 driver whose career was derailed by a life-threatening crash three decades earlier, and follows his return to racing.
The film, which also features Damson Idris, Javier Bardem and Kerry Condon, was released in 2025 and later debuted on Apple TV in December 2025.
In October 2025, Kosinski told People that discussions about a possible sequel were underway following the film's success.
"Based on the reception of the film, I would love to see what adventures Sonny Hayes is going on to next, and I think the audience would too," he said. "So we're actually gonna start talking about that very soon, start kind of coming up with, 'What could that next chapter of his story be?,'" according to People.
The film went on to win Best Sound at the 2026 Academy Awards and reportedly earned USD 144 million in its opening weekend, marking the biggest debut of Brad Pitt's career.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I think Jodie was just being honest and not mean. As an Indian viewer, I find most F1 racing documentaries more exciting than these scripted dramas. Brad Pitt is a legend, but the movie felt like it followed a template designed by market research. The $144 million opening proves that formula works commercially though! Still, I'd rather watch Lagaan or any Mani Ratnam film that takes creative risks over this predictable stuff. 😕
Foster is entitled to her opinion, but calling a movie 'made by AI' undermines the actual human effort of hundreds of technicians, cinematographers, and sound designers. As a filmmaker myself, I know how much work goes into creating even a 'formulaic' blockbuster. The sound design that won the Oscar wasn't generated by any algorithm. That said, Hollywood IS becoming too risk-averse – they rely too much on tested formulas. Maybe Indian cinema teaches us something about balancing commerce with art?
Funny coming from Jodie Foster who made some completely forgettable movies herself! But she has a point - modern Hollywood is obsessed with data-driven storytelling. F1 had over 900 visual effects shots and used real F1 cars, yet felt emotionally cold. Compare that to 'Taare Zameen Par' or '3 Idiots' where the story flows naturally. We need more original scripts, less focus groups. AI can help in VFX but shouldn't write the soul of a film. Just my two rupees! 😄
I disagree with Jodie here. F1 was a visual spectacle that perfectly used AI tools for pre-visualization and VFX - that's the future of cinema. Every industry evolves. Indian filmmakers are also using AI now for storyboarding and effects in movies like Kalki 2898 AD. The key is using AI as a tool, not a cr
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