Entertainment
Guadagnino's 'Artificial' earns strong reviews after Amazon MGM dropped it
Variety reports the AI-themed film holds a 96% Fresh rating after Neon acquired global rights when Amazon MGM dropped it.
The short version
- Luca Guadagnino's AI-themed film 'Artificial' had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival and a U.K. premiere in London.[Variety]
- Amazon MGM dropped the film from its summer slate in June, saying it would be better served by a different studio.[Variety]
- Neon acquired global rights shortly after the Amazon rift, while global press noted the exit came three months after Amazon's $50 billion OpenAI investment.[Variety]
- Reviews are strong, with a 96% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating, but explanations for the exit remain contested.[Variety]
Key facts
- 'Artificial' had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival and a U.K. premiere at the London Film Festival.[Variety]
- Amazon MGM dropped the film from its summer slate in June, saying it would be better served by a different studio.[Variety]
- Neon acquired global distribution rights shortly after the Amazon decision.[Variety]
- Global press noted the decision came three months after Amazon signed a partnership with OpenAI that included a $50 billion investment.[Variety]
- The film holds a 96% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating, the highest of Guadagnino's career across 11 feature films.[Variety]
- One review described Andrew Garfield's performance in the film as a masterclass in diabolical villainy.[Variety]
What remains uncertain
- A rival-studio executive's view that studios are conflicted by their own AI investments is one person's opinion, not an established finding.[Variety]
- New York magazine reported in July, citing people close to the project, that the film lacked theater-worthy criteria; Variety says early audience response does not match that account.[Variety]
- The reporting does not describe a release date or Neon's distribution plans, so commercial performance is unknown.[Variety]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.