This study focuses on the audience’s emotional perception of AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) films. The dual attributes of film as an art and a medium play an important role in human perception and cognition of reality, and generative AI is gradually penetrating into all aspects of film production, bringing about new breakthroughs in image production, special effects generation, and so on. This study selects representative AIGC short films as the research object, aiming to explore the audience’s understanding of the AI elements in AIGC films, the degree of awareness and acceptance of AIGC films by audiences from different backgrounds, as well as the factors affecting the differences in audience perceptions by means of a quantitative research method. This study is of great significance in understanding how viewers perceive AIGC films, especially their reaction to the AI elements in the films, and helps to promote the development of the film and television industry in the new era of digital civilization.