AI users are copying Wes Anderson and others most
A Kapwing study examining nearly 5 million Midjourney prompts revealed that users frequently replicate established visual styles from filmmakers rather than developing original content. Wes Anderson topped the list with more than 92,000 references, followed by Tim Burton and cinematographer Roger Deakins. The research analyzed 897 popular keywords to identify which directors and artists artificial intelligence users most often imitate.
The study showed that filmmakers with distinctive visual signatures dominated the results. Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, and Guillermo del Toro appeared among the top references. Beyond cinema, Art Nouveau designer Alphonse Mucha received the most mentions overall, with approximately 230,000. Star Wars emerged as the most referenced franchise.
Researchers suggest the pattern indicates users default to familiar visual shortcuts when generating images. The reliance on existing styles may limit creative exploration and new artistic voices. The findings demonstrate how artificial intelligence tools reproduce established aesthetics rather than facilitating innovative visual approaches.
