“What if that technology from the ’90s just went in a different direction, and we still used very tactile equipment?” – The Creator production designer James Clyne
The Creator (2023) presents a future where humans and AI ‘simulants’ are at war. Set in 2070, 15 years after a nuclear explosion destroys Los Angeles, the film explores how technology and humanity struggle to coexist. The movie draws inspiration from classic sci-fi like Blade Runner (1982) and Akira (1988) and the anti-war message of Apocalypse Now (1979). The Creator uses vivid world-building to merge cyberpunk and retro-futurist styles with themes of conflict and coexistence.
The story follows Joshua (John David Washington), a soldier with cybernetic prosthetics who must destroy a new AI weapon. In New Asia, where people live peacefully with AI, Joshua discovers that the weapon is a simulant child, who he names Alphie (Madeleine Yuna). Through his growing bond with Alphie, Joshua confronts his own biases, realising that peace between humans and AI is possible.
The Creator combines futuristic landscapes with existing cultures, reflecting fears of both nuclear war and artificial intelligence. In this future vision, technology and humanity find a path to peace.
How to watch
Stream, rent or buy via
Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
Previously on display
27 April 2025
ACMI: Gallery 4
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
197174
Curatorial section
The Future & Other Fictions → Story → S1: Concept Development Narrative → The Creator