In a stunning debut that underscores the explosive demand for AI-driven creativity tools, OpenAI’s new video generation app, Sora, has rocketed to the top spot in Apple’s U.S. App Store, surpassing heavyweights like ChatGPT and Google Gemini just days after launch.
Released on September 30, 2025, exclusively for iOS devices in the U.S. and Canada, Sora leverages OpenAI’s advanced Sora 2 model to transform text prompts, images, and even user selfies into short, dynamic video clips complete with synchronized audio and customizable styles such as cinematic, animated, or surreal. Users can insert themselves or friends into fantastical scenarios, add speech and sound effects, and share or remix content in a social feed reminiscent of TikTok, positioning the app as a blend of creative tool and social network.
Despite being invite-only—requiring users to secure a code via OpenAI’s website or Discord communities—Sora achieved remarkable early traction. On its first day, the app garnered 56,000 downloads in the U.S. and Canada, tying with xAI’s Grok for the strongest Day 1 performance among recent AI launches. By the end of Day 2 (October 1), cumulative installs reached 164,000, propelling Sora to No. 3 overall in the U.S. App Store. On October 3, it claimed the No. 1 free app slot, a milestone confirmed by app analytics firm Appfigures.
The momentum didn’t slow: By October 9, Sora had surpassed 1 million downloads worldwide in under five days—a faster clip than OpenAI’s flagship ChatGPT, which now boasts 800 million weekly active users. “Team [is] working hard to keep up with surging growth,” shared Bill Peebles, OpenAI’s head of Sora, in a post on X.
For context, Sora’s Day 1 downloads trailed ChatGPT (81,000) and Google Gemini (80,000) but outpaced Anthropic’s Claude (21,000) and Microsoft’s Copilot (7,000). OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the app’s restrictive access during a DevDay briefing, urging patience as the company refines safeguards: “Please give us some grace… the rate of change will be high.” Initially free with generous limits (subject to compute availability), Sora offers premium access via ChatGPT Pro subscriptions for higher-quality outputs.
Yet, the app’s viral rise hasn’t been without friction. Hollywood’s Motion Picture Association (MPA) slammed OpenAI on October 7 for enabling copyright-infringing videos, citing user-generated clips featuring characters from “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Rick and Morty,” and “South Park.” MPA CEO Charles Rivkin demanded “immediate and decisive action,” arguing that “well-established copyright law safeguards the rights of creators.” In response, Altman announced plans for enhanced controls allowing rights holders to block specific character generations.
Internal OpenAI voices have also raised eyebrows about the pivot to consumer social features, with some staff preferring a focus on “harder problems for humanity’s benefit” over viral video tools that risk deepfakes—like one circulating of Altman himself inquiring about “piggies enjoying their slop.”
OpenAI plans a swift global expansion beyond North America, with web access at sora.com already live for invitees. As competitors like Meta and Google eye similar AI video plays, Sora’s ascent signals a new battleground in generative media, where creativity meets controversy at breakneck speed.