How much does a 1-minute AI short film cost?
By Alverson Layne, Founder
Founder of FXI Studio, building the AI film studio.
Published September 28, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026
The short answer
A 1-minute AI short film is about 10 video takes of 6 seconds. In FXI Studio each take runs roughly 10 to 50 credits, so one pass costs about 100 to 500 credits: $2.50 to $12.50 at the $15 plan's rate. Budget about double for retakes.
TL;DR
The cost of an AI film is set by how many takes you render, not by crew or locations. Plan the shots and approve stills first, so most takes land on the first or second try, and a minute of film stays in the single-digit to low double-digit dollars.
Example film
A 17-second, three-take example: about a third of a minute of film.
Where the credits go
Almost all of the cost is video. A take is one rendered clip, and it runs roughly 10 to 50 credits depending on the model you choose and how long the clip is. Faster economy models sit at the low end; premium models and longer clips sit at the high end.
Storyboard stills cost far less: 65 credits covers about 16 images, so boarding ten shots is a small fraction of the video spend. Music and voice add a little on top.
Why retakes matter more than the model
Retakes are the real budget line. A shot that misses (the wrong action, a face that drifts) is rendered again. Planning the scene list and approving a still key frame before rendering motion is how you keep most shots to one or two takes.
That is why the table shows both a single pass and a pass with one retake per shot. Most films land between the two.
Can you make one on the free tier?
New accounts start with 65 free credits and no credit card, about 16 images or 2 short video clips, plus 22 more credits each week until the free balance is back at 65.
A full minute is about 10 takes, so it does not fit in the free credits. The free tier is for planning a film, boarding it and rendering a couple of scenes to judge the quality. Stitching the final cut in Director is part of the paid plans, and the free tier is for personal use only.
How many minutes a month each plan covers
At one pass per shot, The Creator (600 credits) covers about 1 to 6 minutes of film a month, The Visionary (2,500) about 5 to 25, and The Studio (9,700) about 19 to 97. Unused subscription credits roll over, up to two months of the plan's allowance.
| Plan | Monthly price | Monthly credits | Cost of one pass (10 takes) | With one retake per shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Creator | $15 | 600 | $2.50 to $12.50 | $5.00 to $25.00 |
| The Visionary | $35 | 2,500 | $1.40 to $7.00 | $2.80 to $14.00 |
| The Studio | $135 | 9,700 | $1.39 to $6.96 | $2.78 to $13.92 |
Estimate, not a quote. It assumes 10 video takes of about 6 seconds at 10 to 50 credits each, valued at each plan's monthly price divided by its monthly credits. Storyboard stills, music and voice add a little on top. Annual billing lowers the effective price further.
How we tested this
Every number on this page is derived from published FXI Studio pricing: the per-take range of 10 to 50 credits and each plan's monthly price and credits. The effective price per credit is the monthly price divided by the monthly credits. The 10-take count assumes the Director default of about 6 seconds per scene.
Step by step
How to estimate the cost of your own AI short film
- 1Count the shots
Divide the running time by the shot length. One minute at about 6 seconds a shot is 10 takes.
- 2Pick a per-take cost
Use 10 credits for an economy model and short clips, up to 50 for premium models and longer clips.
- 3Add retakes
Multiply by 1.5 to 2 for the shots you will render again.
- 4Convert to dollars
Multiply the credits by your plan's monthly price divided by its monthly credits.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 1-minute AI video cost?
About 100 to 500 credits in FXI Studio for one pass of 10 takes, which is $2.50 to $12.50 at the $15 plan's rate. Budget about double if you expect to retake every shot once.
Why is there a range instead of one price?
Each video take costs roughly 10 to 50 credits depending on the model and the clip length, and the number of retakes depends on how well the shots are planned.
Can I make a 1-minute film for free?
Not in full. New accounts start with 65 free credits and no credit card, about 16 images or 2 short video clips, plus 22 more credits each week until the free balance is back at 65. That covers planning, storyboards and a couple of scenes, not all 10 takes of a minute.
Do failed renders cost credits?
If a take fails because of a problem on our side, its credits are returned automatically.
Do unused credits roll over?
Yes. Unused subscription credits roll over, up to two months of your plan's allowance, so a film can be spread across more than one month.
Start free
Plan and board your film before you spend on video. 65 free credits, no card required.
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Hands-on tutorials
- TutorialAI Video Model Benchmark 2026: Speed, Cost and Success Rate (Real Production Data)
- TutorialHow to build a storyboard and shot list with AI in under a minute
- TutorialHow to make a cat-and-mouse comedy short with AI
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