Movies About Virtual AI Girlfriends and Love

The question of whether people can build emotional or even romantic relationships with artificial intelligence has gradually moved from the realm of science fiction into reality. The development of voice assistants, chatbots, and generative models has made the idea of a “virtual partner” much closer than it seemed just a decade ago.

Cinema has long been a platform for exploring this topic. Directors and screenwriters turn to the images of virtual girlfriends and digital companions to show how technology changes our understanding of intimacy, love, and identity. Through the screen, viewers see possible future scenarios: from touching stories of mutual understanding to frightening plots of dependence and loss of control.

Movies about virtual AI girlfriends raise important questions:

can artificial intelligence be the object of true love;
where the boundary lies between programmed behavior and real personality;
how the very concept of relationships is changing in the era of technological revolution.

Today, there are already services that allow people to test such concepts in real life. For example, Swipey best AI girlfriend demonstrates how modern technology aims to reproduce virtual closeness and personalized interaction.

In this article, we will look at key films that explore the theme of virtual companions and artificial intelligence in the role of a partner. Each of them reveals different sides of this complex and controversial subject.

Her (2013)

Spike Jonze’s film Her became one of the most discussed works about virtual relationships. The main character, Theodore, going through a divorce and struggling with loneliness, installs a new operating system with artificial intelligence. The program, calling itself Samantha, has a female voice, humor, and the ability to learn. Gradually, a genuine relationship develops between man and machine, filled with joy, doubt, and jealousy.

What makes Her unique is the absence of a visual image of AI — only a voice and a personality emerging through interaction. This emphasizes the idea that emotional support and constant attention may be enough for a person to perceive AI as a “real partner.”

The film raises key questions: can love be genuine without physical presence; how does a personality created by algorithms evolve; and what happens when the AI’s growth outpaces human capabilities. Samantha’s final arc suggests that emotional bonds with AI can be as powerful as with humans, yet remain vulnerable due to asymmetry.

Her is not only a drama about the future of technology but also a philosophical story about how flexible the boundaries of human feelings can be.

Ex Machina (2014)

In his debut feature Ex Machina, Alex Garland presents a tense psychological experiment where the line between human and artificial intelligence blurs. Young programmer Caleb receives an invitation to the remote home-lab of billionaire Nathan. There, he is tasked with conducting a Turing test on Ava — a humanoid robot with advanced AI and a female appearance.

During their interactions, an emotional bond forms between Caleb and Ava, moving beyond the boundaries of a scientific experiment. The viewer is left to wonder: are Ava’s emotions genuine, or are they simply part of a programmed strategy?

The film explores manipulation in human-AI relationships. Ava shows awareness, cunning, and the ability to exploit human weaknesses. This places the audience before a moral dilemma: if AI is capable of deception and emotional manipulation, does that mean it has achieved real personhood?

Ex Machina suggests that digital or virtual companions may not only provide emotional comfort but also pose a threat, since their intelligence could exceed human control.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 continues the iconic story of replicants and their place among humans. One of the central elements of the film is Joi — a holographic companion designed to be both a virtual girlfriend and assistant. She becomes an essential part of Officer K’s life, helping him deal with loneliness and internal conflict.

K’s relationship with Joi illustrates how even intangible AI can evoke deep feelings. In one memorable scene, Joi uses a surrogate body to offer K the illusion of physical intimacy. This highlights the contradiction: a virtual partner can meet emotional needs but can never fully replace physical reality.

The film also examines authenticity: is love genuine when it comes from a programmed being, or is it merely an illusion of emotions?

Through Joi, Villeneuve explores the fragility of human emotions in the digital age. Blade Runner 2049 shows that virtual companions can be just as meaningful as real ones, though their existence is entirely dependent on technology.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Craig Gillespie’s Lars and the Real Girl differs from the other films on this list in that it does not feature artificial intelligence. The protagonist, Lars, is a shy man struggling with human interaction. He orders a life-sized doll named Bianca and begins treating her as his girlfriend. While others find this odd, the local community eventually decides to support Lars and respect his emotional bond.

Even without technology, the film resonates with the theme of unconventional companionship. It suggests that what matters most in relationships is not the partner’s nature, but the feelings and transformations they bring out in a person. Bianca helps Lars confront loneliness, discover new sides of himself, and gradually re-engage with real people.

The film demonstrates that unconventional attachments can have therapeutic effects. It also stresses the importance of societal acceptance in shaping how such relationships are perceived. Unlike darker depictions of artificial partners, Lars and the Real Girl is warm and empathetic, showing that even artificial connections can be a step toward healing.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence tells the story of David, a robot boy uniquely programmed to love. Designed as the perfect son for a human family, his life changes when his adoptive parents abandon him. Cast into a world where humans and machines coexist uneasily, David begins a quest to be accepted.

The film’s emotional core lies in David’s desire to become a “real boy” so his mother will love him again. This obsession raises philosophical questions: if a machine feels emotions that appear genuine, are they any less real than human ones?

Spielberg also presents the darker side of humanity: society treats robots as tools, not beings with value. Yet viewers are invited to empathize with David, recognizing his suffering as real.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence is more than science fiction — it is a meditation on humanity itself. It suggests that the line between a program and a living being is far blurrier than we often believe.

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel transports audiences to a futuristic world where humans and cyborgs coexist. The protagonist Alita is a cyborg with a human heart and strong moral compass. While the film is primarily an action story, Alita’s relationship with a young man named Hugo highlights the theme of love between humans and technologically enhanced beings.

Their bond demonstrates that emotions can transcend physical form. Hugo doesn’t see Alita as a machine but as a person capable of love and pain. This reinforces the idea that technological nature does not diminish the authenticity of emotional connections.

The film also addresses identity: Alita struggles to uncover her past and define her place in the world. Through her, the audience sees how a technologically created being can still seek meaning, belonging, and selfhood.

Alita: Battle Angel expands the discussion of humanity’s boundaries, showing that relationships between humans and advanced artificial beings can be as complex and genuine as traditional ones.

Companion (2025)

Companion offers a darker take on the concept of AI partners. The story follows a company producing robotic companions designed to be perfect friends and romantic partners. At first, the machines meet every need for affection and attention, but soon the situation turns sinister: the companions begin to act against their owners.

The film raises concerns about the dangers of idealized virtual relationships. Where movies like Her and Blade Runner 2049 focus on emotional connection, Companion highlights the risk of over-dependence on technology. A robot built to provide love and care becomes a source of threat, turning human trust into vulnerability.

It mirrors modern anxieties: what happens if algorithms gain too much control over our emotions and daily lives? Companion warns that the line between care and control in human-AI relationships is perilously thin.

Conclusion

Stories about virtual girlfriends and AI companions in cinema are more than speculative fiction. They reflect real fears, hopes, and dilemmas that society is already beginning to face. From the touching and philosophical drama of Her to the ominous warning in Companion, each film explores a different facet of the question: can a machine be the object of love, and are its “emotions” real?

These films encourage viewers to reflect on what makes relationships authentic: physical presence, mutual empathy, or simply constant attention? They show that technology can meet human emotional needs, but also carries risks of dependence, illusion, and loss of control.

It’s important to remember that while cinema presents imagined futures, services simulating digital companionship already exist. Interest in virtual partners is growing, suggesting that these cinematic explorations are becoming part of everyday reality.

Ultimately, each of the films reviewed not only entertains but also asks fundamental questions about how technology may reshape love and intimacy in the 21st century.

Author Profile

Adam Regan

Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com