Wikipedia

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is a 2026 American documentary film directed by Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell.

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Produced by
StarringDaniel Roher
Cinematography
  • Jenni Morello
  • Lowell A. Meyer
Edited by
  • Davis Coombe
  • Daysha Broadway
Music by
Production
companies
  • Playgrounds
  • Cottage M
  • Fishbowl Films
Distributed byFocus Features (United States)
Universal Pictures (International)
Release dates
  • January 27, 2026 (2026-01-27) (Sundance)
  • March 27, 2026 (2026-03-27)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1 million[2][3]

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2026, which was followed by a theatrical release in the United States on March 27, 2026, by Focus Features.

Premise

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Told through the perspective of filmmaker Daniel Roher as he prepares to become a father, the film investigates the existential threats and potential promises of artificial intelligence. Roher conducts interviews with leading experts in the field to understand the world his child will inherit, balancing anxiety with "apocaloptimism".[4]

Interviewees

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Production

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The documentary is co-directed by Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell.[5] The film is produced by Shane Boris, Diane Becker, and filmmaking duo Daniel Kwan and Jonathan Wang.[6] In October 2024, Focus Features acquired worldwide rights to the film, with its parent Universal Pictures handling international distribution.[7][8]

Release

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The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist was selected for the "Premieres" section at the Sundance Film Festival, where it made its debut on January 27, 2026.[9]

It was released in U.S. theaters by Focus Features on March 27, 2026.[4]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 55 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "A comprehensive survey of a brave new world, The AI Doc is a balanced inquiry into a transformative technology that weighs the risks with a touching amount of humanity."[10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[11]

References

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  1. ↑ "AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTIMIST [PG]". British Columbia Film Classification Office (Consumer Protection BC). February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Al Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist (2025) – Box Office and Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Focus Features Announces The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist Arriving in Theaters March 27, 2026". Focus Features. December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ Mullen, Pat (December 10, 2025). "Sundance Announces Documentaries for 2026 Festival". POV Magazine. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  6. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (December 10, 2025). "'The AI Doc' From 'Navalny' Director Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell Lands 2026 Release". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (December 10, 2025). "Focus Features schedules release of Sundance AI documentary". Screen Daily. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Untitled AI Documentary; Motion picture". US Copyright Office. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  9. ↑ "2026 Sundance Film Festival Program: The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  10. ↑ "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist". Metacritic. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
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