OpenAI released Sora 2 on September 30, 2025.
It can generate videos up to 20 seconds long, at 1080p resolution, with sound.
Some are calling it the "GPT-3.5 moment for video" since it feels like Sora 2 will make AI video generation enter mainstream culture.
Here's everything you need to know about how it works and how to try it yourself without needing a $200/month ChatGPT subscription or invite code.
What is Sora 2?
Sora 2 is a text-to-video generator. We've seen it before, but Sora 2 is much better at audio generation, character consistency and real-world physics than most other models.
For audio, you can have dialogue with perfect lip-sync. Sound effects. Ambient noise. All generated with the video instead of being added later.
You can type "cozy kitchen: red kettle boils with steam, golden retriever puppy grabs bread from counter" and you get the kettle whistling, the puppy panting, the bread crinkling. Everything is synchronized.
The physics work. Basketballs bounce. Water flows correctly. A figure skater with a cat on their head shows the cat wobbling to keep balance. The model remembers characters across camera angles. You can build multi-shot sequences that hold together.
An example from the Sora 2 release article
Cameos are what people keep coming back to. You can record a video of yourself talking once, then put yourself into any scene you want. Other people can use your face in their videos if you want as well. It's super fun.
How does Sora 2 differ from Sora 1, Veo 3, and other AI video models?
From Sora 1: The original Sora has inconsistent physics, no audio and characters often morphed between shots. It didn't feel nearly as polished and almost like a research preview of what could be possible one day.
Sora 2 feels like a big step up. The addition of audio, better physics, multi-shot consistency and Cameos make this model feel way more usable for the general public instead of just enthusiasts.
Against Google Veo 3: Veo 3 generates with up to 720p resolution versus Sora's 1080p. Users say Sora's physics and object consistency are better but Veo 3 still has better lighting and cinematic effects if that's the look you want.
Against Runway Gen-4: Runway gives you precise control. Six-axis camera movement. Pan, tilt, zoom, roll—all adjustable from -10 to +10. Motion brush for selective animation. In-painting for cleanup. Character reference images.
Sora 2 wins on realism, prompt adherence, generation speed and has the ability to generate synced audio.
The best way to figure out what's best is to try each model yourself. For as low as $10/month, you can test Sora 2 Pro and all these other models on one online app with Krea.
How can I use it?
Access: Right now, the Sora app on web and iOS is invite-only through OpenAI and only available to the United States and Canada.
But Krea offers Sora 2 Pro access without the invite requirement or the $200/month price tag. Plans start at just $10/month and the web app is available on all platforms globally.
What prompts should I try?
Sora has great prompt adherence and even simple prompts yield great results. Unlike other video generators, this really feels built for a wider audience, so you don't need to go crazy on the prompts. That being said, you can still get some amazing results with expert level prompting, so here's some examples to try:
Amidst this dreamlike scenery, a white-haired girl walks, pauses, and gently interacts with her surroundings. The screen cuts frequently, with both objects and the camera in constant motion.
Multi-shot composition:
1. Close-up of the girl's feet as she steps near the water, ripples spreading with light.
2. Side-tracking shot as she walks among glowing flowers, particles and butterflies drifting around her.
3. She stops, reaching out to touch a flower. Petals fall and scatter onto the water.
4. Close-up of her face, a blink, hair swaying gently in the breeze, background light pulsing.
5. Overhead view of the glowing forest and river as she continues walking.
6. She turns back, butterflies sweep across the frame, camera slowly circling.
7. Wide shot, the entire forest bathed in luminous glow.
Climax: The girl stops, and countless butterflies rise all at once, taking flight into the night sky. The camera follows their ascent, the sky filling with glowing wings, petals, and light particles. The scene is flooded with fantastical radiance before gently fading to black.
## Subject / Scene Settings
- Subject type: vehicle
- Key features: futuristic hoverbike cockpit glimpses; minimal translucent HUD; rain droplets streaking; neon light trails; vibration; Scale: human-scale; Motion: blistering forward with agile banking
- Lighting: night neon rim + volumetric haze; specular reflections | Color mood: electric cyan/magenta, high contrast
- Visual taste: filmic cyberpunk; crisp; minimal grain
- Background / Location: dense rain-slick megacity alleys → tunnels → skyway → rooftop edge; signage generic/brandless
- Camera overview: first-person mount with slight head-bob; horizon leveling but responsive roll; lens ≈14 mm wide; Focus: hyperfocal; controlled motion blur
## Audio (BGM & SFX)
- BGM: fast drum & bass with gritty synth bass (170 BPM, seamless loop, 0.2s fade-in/out)
- SFX: continuous wind rush; doppler whoosh accents
- Cues: [2.3s] whoosh accent + engine pitch rise (duck BGM by ~3 dB); [8.6s] final boost with bass hit and wind swell
## Dialogues / Subtitles / VO (time-coded, optional)
- [0–2s] "Hold tight—this ride is full throttle."
- [6–8s] "Threading neon alleys at breakneck speed."
## Structure (every 2s; total 10s, max 10s)
### 0–2s
- Launch into rain-slick neon alley; throttle opens; spray flicks off the visor/HUD
- Aggressive forward push; headlight blade in fog; reflections smear into speed lines
### 2–4s
- Squeeze past crates and lanterns; S‑turn under hanging cables; near-miss clearances millimeters wide
- Snap-pan L→R; responsive roll into corner; parallax signage streaks; brief rail-spark
### 4–6s
- Dive into low tunnel; graze wall; thread a narrow gap; puddle splash ripples outward
- Low lean angle; dynamic roll; headlight flare pulses; motion-blur trails tighten
### 6–8s
- Burst onto elevated skyway; overtake traffic streaks; skim beneath a heavy cargo drone
- Dramatic push-in; micro camera‑shake on pass; auto‑exposure adapts from dark to bright
### 8–10s
- Final sprint
The background has looping waves, puffing smoke, and rhythmic jazz music.
The film has soft grain, flicker, and projector hum, capturing the playful charm of early animation.
How to write prompts:
- Layer your description: setting, camera, lighting, physics, audio
- Use film terms: "35mm film", "shallow depth of field", "tracking shot"
- Specify equipment: "shot on RED camera," "Steadicam," "aerial view"
- Give timestamps for dialogue
Conclusion
As access expands, Sora 2 will likely become standard. It excels at rapid ideation and polished short-form content that would cost too much to shoot practically. It feels different from previous models based on how accessible it is to everyone who wants to make cool videos without having to spend hours learning how to prompt engineer.
For social media creators and marketing agencies, the $200/month makes sense. For filmmakers needing longer sequences or budget-conscious creators, look at Veo 3, Runway, or Pika. If you want access to all those models with more controllability and easy to use tools wrapped around them, try Krea.