Netflix paid $587M in cash for Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking startup InterPositive

Netflix revealed in a new regulatory filing that it paid $587 million in cash for InterPositive, an AI filmmaking startup co-founded by actor and director Ben Affleck. The disclosure fills in the financial terms that were not shared when Netflix announced the acquisition in March.

The number also lands close to a later report suggesting the deal could be worth up to $600 million. For readers tracking media-tech M&A, the key takeaway is simple: Netflix put a large cash value on AI tools aimed at film production workflows.

According to Affleck, the company’s AI tools are meant to help filmmakers improve footage in post-production. The examples cited include addressing real-world production challenges such as missing shots, background replacements, and incorrect lighting.

That framing matters because the acquisition is being positioned around production support rather than replacing the creative process. Affleck previously said he wanted to “protect the power of human creativity.”

When Netflix announced the acquisition, it said the entire InterPositive team would join the company. Affleck was also set to join as a senior advisor.

For Netflix, bringing the team inside the company suggests the technology may be integrated directly into its production and post-production operations. The deal gives Netflix both the tools and the people behind them.

Netflix said in its most recent earnings report that around 300 of its titles have already used generative AI. The InterPositive acquisition adds a concrete example of how the company is investing in AI for media and entertainment.

The broader takeaway: AI is becoming part of the production toolkit at major studios and streamers, especially for post-production fixes and workflow improvements. The practical question now is how these tools are used while maintaining creative oversight.