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“It takes a great artist to make something great.” The blunt line landed on Oct. 21, 2025, and immediately pulled Hollywood into a fresh AI fight. The remark, said without naming context on a Netflix earnings call and in the shareholder letter, framed generative video as a UGC threat while praising human storytellers. Critics and talent groups seized on the sentence as proof of industry disconnect; investors, meanwhile, reacted to the broader earnings news. Who wins this argument over AI tools and jobs in 2025 – creators or tech?
What the 2025 quote changes for creators and studio deals
• Ted Sarandos delivered the quote on Oct. 21, 2025; framed AI as a UGC threat.
• Netflix doubled down in its shareholder letter, calling GenAI “empowering” for creators.
• Market reaction: Netflix stock fell 7% in after-hours trading on earnings headlines.
Why this quoted line sparked stormy reactions this week and what it signals
The quoted sentence appeared during Netflix’s Q3 conversation with analysts and matched language in the company’s shareholder letter about GenAI. Talent-especially filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro-saw the line as tone-deaf, arguing AI threatens artisanship; Netflix executives used it to reassure investors that AI will be applied selectively. If you work in film or TV, this short line matters because it signals whose interests the company publicly prioritized this week.
AI Poses Threat To Some Content, Ted Sarandos Says, But Taylor Swift Is "More Popular Than Ever … It Takes A Great Artist To Make Something Great" https://t.co/do1Ul6BtHQ
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) October 21, 2025
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How split reactions lay out the 2025 stakes for artists, unions, and Wall Street
Opposing camps reacted fast: creators and WME-aligned partners warned of bridge-burning; investors and tech analysts celebrated Netflix’s AI optimism as growth leverage. The debate mixes economics and identity-who controls creative labor and who captures cost savings. If you follow union negotiations, this is the flashpoint that could harden positions going into bargaining. Which side gains leverage depends on the next public moves by streamers and OpenAI-style platforms.
Ted Sarandos Says AI Poses “Threat” to User-Generated Content, Not Professional Filmmaking — “It Takes a Great Artist to Make Something Great”
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says artificial intelligence won’t replace human creativity in professional film and television, even as new… pic.twitter.com/Qdp6wpaW27
— CineSummary (@cinesummary) October 22, 2025
The numbers that show why this quote became a headline
| KPI | Value + Unit | Change/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Stock dip | 7% after-hours | Sharp sell-off after Q3 reaction |
| Q3 revenue | $11.51B | In line with guidance |
| AI focus in letter | Mentioned across letter | Emphasized production and tools |
Who Spoke These Words – and Why The Speaker Matters
“It takes a great artist to make something great,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix co‑CEO, during the company’s Oct. 21, 2025 earnings discussion and shareholder letter commentary. Sarandos’ dual role as the face of Netflix’s creative strategy and a Wall Street communicator makes his phrasing consequential: it attempts to reassure creatives while signaling to investors that Netflix will pursue AI tools. That balancing act explains why both filmmakers and markets seized the line.
What Lasts From This Quote Into 2025 – And Who Loses If Nothing Changes?
The sentence crystallizes a split strategy: push AI to boost scale, but insist on human authorship at the top. Expect sharper contract language from guilds, clearer studio AI rules, and more public tests of limits in the next months. If companies keep signaling investor-first AI moves, will creators double down on bargaining or walk away? What would you do if your job was at stake in 2025?
Sources
- https://deadline.com/2025/10/ai-sora-2-threat-ted-sarandos-taylor-swift-artist-1236593553/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/netflix-ai-guillermo-del-toro-frankenstein-1236407707/
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Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.