diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4016e0db..d1e513c5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,30 +92,18 @@ a new version of it.
 This is not desirable when you have complicated hierarchies of views, especially
 when some of those views may be materialized and take a long time to recreate.
 
-You can use `replace_view` to generate a CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW SQL statement.
-
-See Postgres documentation on how this works:
-http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/sql-createview.html
-
-To start replacing a view run the generator like for a regular change:
+You can use `replace_view` to generate a CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW SQL statement instead by adding the `--replace_view` option to the generate command:
 
 ```sh
-$ rails generate scenic:view search_results
+$ rails generate scenic:view search_results --replace_view
       create  db/views/search_results_v02.sql
       create  db/migrate/[TIMESTAMP]_update_search_results_to_version_2.rb
 ```
 
-Now, edit the migration. It should look something like:
-
-```ruby
-class UpdateSearchResultsToVersion2 < ActiveRecord::Migration
-  def change
-    update_view :search_results, version: 2, revert_to_version: 1
-  end
-end
-```
+See Postgres documentation on how this works:
+http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/sql-createview.html
 
-Update it to use replace view:
+The migration will look something like this:
 
 ```ruby
 class UpdateSearchResultsToVersion2 < ActiveRecord::Migration
@@ -125,7 +113,7 @@ class UpdateSearchResultsToVersion2 < ActiveRecord::Migration
 end
 ```
 
-Now you can run the migration like normal.
+You can run the migration and the view will be replaced instead.
 
 ## Can I use this view to back a model?
 
diff --git a/lib/generators/scenic/materializable.rb b/lib/generators/scenic/materializable.rb
index a3135e87..6491265b 100644
--- a/lib/generators/scenic/materializable.rb
+++ b/lib/generators/scenic/materializable.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ module Materializable
           required: false,
           desc: "Adds WITH NO DATA when materialized view creates/updates",
           default: false
+        class_option :replace_view,
+          type: :boolean,
+          required: false,
+          desc: "Uses replace_view instead of update_view",
+          default: false
       end
 
       private
@@ -23,6 +28,10 @@ def materialized?
         options[:materialized]
       end
 
+      def replace_view?
+        options[:replace_view]
+      end
+
       def no_data?
         options[:no_data]
       end
diff --git a/lib/generators/scenic/view/templates/db/migrate/update_view.erb b/lib/generators/scenic/view/templates/db/migrate/update_view.erb
index 7282edd5..3024f8eb 100644
--- a/lib/generators/scenic/view/templates/db/migrate/update_view.erb
+++ b/lib/generators/scenic/view/templates/db/migrate/update_view.erb
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 class <%= migration_class_name %> < <%= activerecord_migration_class %>
   def change
+  <% method_name = replace_view? ? 'replace_view' : 'update_view' %>
   <%- if materialized? -%>
-    update_view <%= formatted_plural_name %>,
+    <%= method_name %> <%= formatted_plural_name %>,
       version: <%= version %>,
       revert_to_version: <%= previous_version %>,
       materialized: <%= no_data? ? "{ no_data: true }" : true %>
   <%- else -%>
-    update_view <%= formatted_plural_name %>, version: <%= version %>, revert_to_version: <%= previous_version %>
+    <%= method_name %> <%= formatted_plural_name %>, version: <%= version %>, revert_to_version: <%= previous_version %>
   <%- end -%>
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/generators/scenic/view/view_generator_spec.rb b/spec/generators/scenic/view/view_generator_spec.rb
index cf4acd22..d93d9aa8 100644
--- a/spec/generators/scenic/view/view_generator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/generators/scenic/view/view_generator_spec.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,18 @@
     end
   end
 
+  it "uses 'replace_view' instead of 'update_view' if replace flag is set" do
+    with_view_definition("aired_episodes", 1, "hello") do
+      allow(Dir).to receive(:entries).and_return(["aired_episodes_v01.sql"])
+
+      run_generator ["aired_episode", "--replace_view"]
+      migration = migration_file(
+        "db/migrate/update_aired_episodes_to_version_2.rb",
+      )
+      expect(migration).to contain "replace_view"
+    end
+  end
+
   context "for views created in a schema other than 'public'" do
     it "creates a view definition" do
       view_definition = file("db/views/non_public_searches_v01.sql")