February 4, 2026, 12:59 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Despite loud criticism, artificial intelligence continues to spread, including in the creative industry. Now, prominent filmmakers are also taking it up. The well-known director Darren Aronofsky has produced a new docuseries, “On This Day 1776,” which was almost entirely created with AI. The reactions speak volumes.
What “On This Day 1776” is About
“On This Day 1776” is a new series format consisting of several short videos. They will be released on the YouTube channel of the renowned Time Magazine and focus on the American Revolutionary War.
In the first published episode, “January 1: The Flag,” George Washington is seen raising a flag in defiance of King George III. The video is only three and a half minutes long:
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Harsh Criticism for AI Format
The series was largely created with the help of artificial intelligence, including Google’s DeepMind. It was particularly used for images and sound effects. Although all the speakers are real people, this doesn’t seem to appease many. Critical comments are piling up under the video and on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Comments include phrases like “worthless trash” or “this looks awful.” Many users are apparently so upset that they have even set up temporary accounts just to express their criticism. One comment takes a film-analytical approach:
“[…] Count how long each shot lasts—you’ll be lucky if it’s seven seconds. No one wants to see a film full of jump cuts. No one wants a series of medium close-ups where a barely moving, slick-looking person with a blank stare speaks directly into the camera. It’s crazy that Darren Aronofsky and Time would look at this crap and say: Yes, let’s release it. […]”
Even Professionals Are Appalled
There are a few conciliatory voices: “People are trashing this, but if he had pulled it off and fooled everyone, you’d be talking differently now. This may not be a good film, but showing history in visual form without a huge production is interesting.”
However, these are clearly in the minority. Furthermore, there is a rare consensus on this matter: It’s well-known that fans often express themselves bluntly, such as through recurring review-bombing. This time, they also receive support from professional circles. The renowned “Guardian” describes “On This Day 1776” as “horrific” and “embarrassing.”
The U.S. trade magazine “The Hollywood Reporter” writes that “high-end AI garbage is still AI garbage.” Series creator Steven S. DeKnight (“Spartacus: House of Ashur,” “Marvel’s Daredevil”) posted on X that he won’t watch anything from Aronofsky in the future. He calls the series a “complete betrayal of cinema.”