As automation, AI, and robots gradually become an increasing part of our everyday reality, it’s worth remembering that this ‘reality’ was first dreamed up by science fiction writers well over a hundred years ago. Initially these ‘robots’ were mere machines created by humans to help with menial tasks. As the imagination of these writers continued to expand, so did the role of these robots in the stories.
It wasn’t long before these robots became a staple of science fiction movies, and their roles began to be examined in greater depth and many questions and issues were raised. They could be built for purposes of good, so surely, they could be built for purposes of evil? What would happen if they malfunctioned? What would happen if they began to feel emotion? And ultimately, in the case of sci-fi horror films, could the tables be turned, and we become their slaves? Many of the movies below deal with these questions, and more, which help make them the best movies about robots.
Updated on August 17th, 2023 by Callum Jones: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
16 I, Robot (2004)
Loosely based on Isaac Asimov's short story collection of the same name, 2004's I, Robot sees Will Smith playing a Chicago detective in the year 2035 named Del Spooner, who is tasked with investigating the murder of a roboticist.
All evidence points to the perpetrator being a human-like robot called Sonny, but in a world where robots are commonplace and all operate under the three rules of robotics, one committing murder is unheard of. Spooner soon discovers the robots pose a larger threat to humanity than he first feared. I, Robot may not possess the same levels of nuance and intelligence as Asimov's works, but it's undoubtedly a thrilling and thought-provoking watch.
15 M3GAN (2022)
Sci-fi horror M3GAN became a popular internet meme when it was released in cinemas in January 2023, largely due to its quirky name and memorable dance sequence. Mercifully, behind all the social media hype, there is a decent film. M3GAN tells the story of roboticist, Gemma (played by Allison Williams), who develops an animatronic doll as a friend/guardian for her young niece, Cady (Violent McGraw).
However, the doll (whose name is M3GAN) soon develops self-awareness and becomes hostile to anyone that isn't Cady. With acclaimed horror filmmaker, James Wan, as producer, M3GAN is a neat spin on the 'scary doll' subgenre that delivers on the scares. However, it also has a sense of humor to it. It's a film that knows it has a silly premise, and so runs with it.
14 Bumblebee (2018)
These warring intergalactic transforming robots were everywhere in the 80s and 90s. Based on an '80s cartoon show, the Transformers series became so popular that an animated feature-length movie was released in 1986, which went on to achieve cult status.
The franchise received a huge resurgence in popularity when renowned director Michael Bay helmed the blockbuster live-action reboot Transformers in 2007 starring Shia LaBeouf. The movie went on to gross over $700 million, prompting Bay to direct four sequels. But it was the spin-off/reboot, Bumblebee, that finally hit the mark, managing to appease critics, long-term fans, and casual viewers alike.
13 AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Hollywood royalty Steven Spielberg took on his first robot-oriented project when he wrote and directed 2001's AI: Artificial Intelligence. Based on the short story, Supertoys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss, the film follows David (played by Haley Joel Osment), a highly-advanced childlike android with the unique ability to love who longs to become "real".
AI also stars Frances O'Connor, Jude Law, William Hurt, and Brendan Gleeson, and received a generally mixed response from critics when it was first released. Opinion of the film has changed over time though, with many now seeing it for the intelligent and beautiful story it is.
12 RoboCop (1987)
Set in a crime-ridden Detroit in the near future, Robocop is about a new brutal cyborg ‘RoboCop’ created to rid the city of crime. RoboCop is fantastically fun and an over-the-top sci-fi action flick, but looks a little deeper, and there’s a little more than meets the eye to this brutal dystopian crime thriller.
Aside from managing to successfully blend multiple genres and tropes including elements of horror, action and comedy, and much more, there’s also the biting satire running throughout. It’s humorous but thought-provoking critiques of reality television and corporate America ring truer now than ever.
11 Short Circuit (1986)
Short Circuit is a staple of classic '80s comedy and still stands up surprisingly well today, despite the troubling casting of a white man in the role of an Indian scientist. The plot follows the exploits of ‘Johnny 5’, a military robot experiment.
However, after Johnny 5 was struck by lightning, he developed hyper-intelligence and a human-like curiosity about his surroundings. A fun family adventure that still packs quite the emotional punch. It received a sequel, though none matched the success of the original.
10 Big Hero 6 (2014)
The animated superhero film Big Hero 6 is an underrated masterpiece. Set in the fictional futuristic city of San Fransokyo (a mixture of San Francisco and Tokyo), the story follows teenage robotics prodigy, Hiro, who, after losing his brother in a fire, bonds with a large inflatable robot named Baymax.
In an attempt to find out who was behind his brother's death, he puts together a superhero team consisting of an updated Baymax and some of his friends the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. Big Hero 6 is a fun, action-packed film with a big heart that celebrates innovation. It's beautifully animated and expertly written, and more than deserves the Oscar for Best Animated Feature that it won. Furthermore, it has led to two spin-off TV series.
9 Forbidden Planet (1956)
Loosely inspired by William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Forbidden Planet stars Leslie Nielsen, long before he had reinvented himself as the fart machine wielding, puntastic funny man he later became.
Influential beyond comprehension, Forbidden Planet serves as a fine precursor of contemporary science fiction cinema and is one of the finest of its era. It is also notable for being among the very first movies to feature a robot that exhibits a unique personality and is a character in its own right and plays an integral role in the plot.
8 Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021)
From the oldest entry on the list to the newest, Ron’s Gone Wrong was a surprise hit that captivated the nation when it hit the market last year. Chock-a-block full of laugh-out-loud moments, it follows Barney, a socially awkward young teen as he develops a friendship with his defective robot Ron.
Full of social commentary and sharp satire, this beautifully animated comedy also manages to tug on our collective heartstrings, just as much as any Pixar movie, leaving us all rooting for Barney and Ron.
7 Her (2013)
Spike Jonze's 2013 sci-fi romance Her sees Joaquin Phoenix playing a lonely, soon-to-be divorced man living in the near future. To combat his loneliness, he purchases an artificially intelligent operating system with a female voice, called Samantha (voiced by Scarlet Johansson).
Sharing similar themes with certain episodes of Black Mirror, the film is a great exploration of loneliness, our need for companionship, and our desire to feel wanted. Despite its futuristic setting, Her feels very grounded and real, and it's scary to think that the reality depicted here could be just a few short years away. The film garnered universal acclaim when it was first released, particularly for Phoenix's performance, and was nominated for five Academy Awards.
6 Westworld (1973)
Long before it was adapted into a successful HBO Original television series, there was the 1973 hit movie Westworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton and starring Yul Brynner. The film draws straight from our deepest, darkest imaginations.
Westworld follows a bunch of guests on their dream holiday at a fully immersive Western-themed amusement park. However, their trip turns into a nightmare as one of the cowboy robots goes rogue and wreaks havoc. This film would later inspire the successful HBO series of the same name.
5 Ex Machina (2014)
Few films involving robots will have you on the edge of your seat quite as much as Ex Machina. Directed by Alex Garland in an impressive directorial debut, the film tells the story of a young programmer, Caleb (played by Domhnall Gleeson), who is selected to travel to the home of Nathan (Oscar Isaac), a CEO who has built a humanoid robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander) that he needs Caleb's help to test the android's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior.
The film is stylish and brutal and features a brilliantly chilling performance by Vikander, who is precise with every little movement she makes. Despite taking inspiration from other robot-oriented films that came before it, Ex Machina feels original in both style and substance. At the 88th annual Academy Awards Ceremony, Ex Machina was nominated for two awards, winning Best Visual Effects.
4 Wall-E (2008)
After Toy Story, Wall-E is the only other feature-length Pixar movie that has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.’
Wall-E manages to achieve what many would have considered unachievable, in that, based almost entirely on a single non-verbal character, it manages to tackle a whole host of important issues including religion, technology, environment, and pollution whilst remaining completely enticing to children of all ages throughout — a true masterpiece.
3 Blade Runner (1982)
Featuring one of the most immersive and well-developed dystopian landscapes ever committed to film, and thanks to some stellar performances from Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner is considered one of the finest and most influential sci-fi movies of all.
Unlike a lot of other movies that feature robots, the ‘replicant’ robots are the backbone of the original Blade Runner. The film deals with a lot of thought-provoking ideas surrounding the notions of artificial intelligence.
2 Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
As we near the top of this list, we’re encountering movies that are not just among the best films about robots, but that are some of the best movies ever made. Period. It’s safe to say that Terminator 2: Judgement Day sits proudly in that category. The first was revolutionary but was among James Cameron’s first directing experiences and had budget constraints. Following its success, the now more experienced Cameron was given more creative freedom and a greater budget.
The result? One of the most visually impressive, action-packed, thought-provoking sci-fi movies ever made. Drawing inspiration from horror and action movies, this genre-bending masterpiece cemented Cameron as one of the industry’s most exciting directors and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the biggest action star in the biz.
1 The Iron Giant (1999)
Based on the iconic novel The Iron Man by Ted Hughes, which was written as a means of comforting his children after his wife, Sylvia Plath, died by suicide, specifically through the metaphor of the title character being able to re-assemble himself after being damaged, it was obvious from the start that there was potential for something special.
Thanks to the brilliant and sensitive direction from Brad Bird and its unique animation style which combined a traditional hand-drawn style with CGI, it reached and exceeded all expectations and was showered with praise across the board. One of the most emotionally involved movies ever about a robot, The Iron Giant also benefited from a great voice cast, including Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, and Harry Connick Jr. It's a must-see for pretty much anyone who has a heart.