If 2023 was the year of AI images, then 2024–2025 is without a doubt the year of AI video. What once felt impossible—typing a sentence and watching it turn into a movie-quality video—is now a reality. And the competition is fierce: big tech labs, startups, and open-source communities are all racing to make the most powerful (and easiest to use) video models out there.
After testing, watching demos, and following the latest drops, here are the five best AI video generation models you should know about in 2025.
1. Google DeepMind Veo 3
This one is making serious waves. Veo 3 doesn’t just generate stunning visuals—it also syncs audio to your video. Dialogue, sound effects, even background ambiance—it all comes together like a mini film studio in your laptop.
I’ve seen demos where a simple prompt like “a cowboy walking across a desert at sunset” turns into a cinematic shot, complete with wind, footsteps, and the creak of leather. It feels less like AI, more like Hollywood.
Perfect for: filmmakers, advertisers, or anyone chasing realism.
2. OpenAI Sora
Sora is probably the most hyped model in this space—and for good reason. It’s the one that feels like you’re directing a short film just by describing it. Want a surreal animation of a fox walking through a neon-lit forest? Done. Need a 60-second explainer video with crisp storytelling? Also done.
Sora is fantastic at narrative-driven content. It doesn’t always nail real-world physics (sometimes gravity gets… creative), but when it works, it’s jaw-dropping.
Perfect for: storytellers, educators, and creators who want their videos to have personality.
3. Runway Gen-3
Runway has been in the game longer than most, and Gen-3 proves it. This model focuses on control and precision. Instead of just typing prompts, you can guide the motion, camera angles, and timing almost like you’re editing a real video timeline.
It shines when you want stylized or cinematic sequences rather than pure realism. Think music videos, fashion reels, or short experimental films.
Perfect for: creative professionals and anyone who loves having hands-on control.
4. Hailuo AI (by MiniMax)
While the big names are chasing Hollywood, Hailuo is quietly becoming a favorite for everyday creators. Why? It’s fast, affordable, and nails character consistency—meaning if you want the same person to appear across multiple clips, it can actually pull that off.
Add to that lip-syncing and smooth animations, and you’ve got a model built for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and social media marketing.
Perfect for: influencers, small businesses, and marketers.
5. HunyuanVideo (Tencent, Open-Source)
This one is for the tinkerers. Unlike most of the “black box” commercial models, HunyuanVideo is open-source—and incredibly powerful. With billions of parameters under the hood, it rivals (and sometimes beats) the quality of the top closed models.
The best part? Because it’s open, developers and indie creators can build on top of it, tweak it, and push the boundaries in ways that corporate labs might not.
Perfect for: researchers, developers, and creators who want freedom and flexibility.
The Bottom Line
2025 is shaping up to be a turning point. Just like Photoshop changed design forever, these AI video models are about to change filmmaking, marketing, and content creation at every level.
Want Hollywood-level realism? Try Veo 3.
Want storytelling magic? Go with Sora.
Want control? Runway Gen-3 is your friend.
Want speed + affordability? Hailuo has you covered.
Want open-source freedom? HunyuanVideo is the one.
No matter which one you choose, one thing’s clear: we’re not just watching the future of video—we’re generating it.