Netflix used generative AI to create a special effects scene in the Argentine post-apocalyptic series The Eternaut. The AI-generated sequence shows a building collapse in Buenos Aires and was produced 10 times faster than traditional CGI, Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed during an investor call on July 16.
The AI effect helped the show’s production team save time and reduce costs, making complex visuals affordable for a smaller-budget show like The Eternaut. The creators fed prompts into the unnamed generative AI, which produced the video effect integrated directly into the filmed footage.
The show premiered on Netflix US on April 30, 2025. It’s an adaptation of a classic 1950s Argentine sci-fi about society unraveling after a catastrophic event. 
Sarandos emphasized how generative AI lets productions do effects traditionally out of reach financially.
“The generative AI used in The Eternaut helped its production team to complete a sequence showing the collapse of a building in Buenos Aires 10 times faster than if they had used traditional special effects tools,” according to Sarandos, per BBC.
If you want to check it out, the show is available on Netflix. Fans of post-apocalyptic and sci-fi may find it worth a watch.
