🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Chris Wedge
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Romance, Sci-Fi
- Release year: 2005
- Runtime (length): 1h 31min
- IMDb rating: 6.4/10 (167K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 64%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A small-town robot goes to the big city to work for his hero, only to discover capitalism is bad and he must fight the corporate overlords with fart jokes and outdated pop culture references.
🍿 Robots: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Rodney’s Dream
In a world populated by robots, Rodney Copperbottom, a young and idealistic inventor from a small town, dreams of making it big in Robot City. He idolizes Bigweld, a famous inventor and the head of Bigweld Industries, believing anyone can shine no matter what they’re made of. Rodney creates a helpful invention and decides to journey to Robot City to present it to Bigweld.

The Harsh Reality of Robot City
Upon arriving in Robot City, Rodney discovers that Bigweld Industries is now run by the ruthless Ratchet. Ratchet is focused on profits and discontinues the production of spare parts for older robots, forcing them to upgrade or face being scrapped. Disheartened, Rodney finds himself among the ‘Rusties,’ a group of outdated robots facing obsolescence.

Rising to the Challenge
Despite the setbacks, Rodney is determined to help the Rusties. He begins repairing them using his inventive skills, becoming a hero to the marginalized robots. This puts him at odds with Ratchet and his mother, Madame Gasket, who run a chop shop where outdated robots are melted down. Rodney and his new friends must fight to save the Rusties and restore Bigweld’s original vision of innovation and inclusivity.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor): A young, idealistic inventor who journeys to Robot City to work for his hero, Bigweld, but ends up fighting against a corporate conspiracy.
- Fender (Robin Williams): A rusty, comical robot who becomes Rodney’s close friend and helps him fight against the sinister forces in Robot City.
- Ratchet (Greg Kinnear): The villainous new manager of Bigweld Industries who discontinues spare parts to force robots to buy expensive upgrades, leading to a city-wide crisis.
- Cappy (Halle Berry): A high-ranking executive at Bigweld Industries who sides with Rodney and helps him in his quest to restore spare parts production.
- Bigweld (Mel Brooks): The eccentric and admired inventor and owner of Bigweld Industries, who has disappeared and is later convinced to return and fight for his company.
- Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent): Ratchet’s menacing mother and the operator of the Chop Shop, where outdated robots are melted down, posing a major threat to the robot community.
- Aunt Fanny (Jennifer Coolidge): A kind-hearted, matronly robot who runs a boarding house for misfit robots and provides support to Rodney and his friends.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Bigweld: “See a need, fill a need.” – Bigweld’s catchphrase, emphasizing the importance of innovation and helping others.
- Rodney Copperbottom: “You can shine no matter what you’re made of.” – Rodney’s core belief, promoting self-acceptance and the value of every individual.
- Fender: “Are you crying? Oh, I hate when they leak!” – Fender says this when he thinks that Rodney is crying.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $75,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $128,200,012
- Worldwide Gross: $262,511,490
💥 Robots Reviews
Personal Review
Robots was a fun watch when I was younger! I remember being completely blown away by the design of Robot City, and Fender’s antics always made me laugh. The story is a bit simple, but it’s a feel-good movie about following your dreams and not giving up. The musical score is upbeat and made me want to dance!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Families with children”
- “Fans of animated movies”
- “Viewers who enjoy stories about underdogs”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Brief mild language”
- “Some suggestive humor”
- “Animated violence/action sequences”
Professional Reviews
- Common Sense Media: “Robots is visually impressive, featuring a unique world and engaging character designs. The voice acting is strong, particularly Robin Williams as Fender. While the story is somewhat predictable, the film’s overall message about believing in yourself is positive.
- N/A: “Visually stunning and original, Robots creates a breathtaking world, but it falters with a formulaic plot and forgettable characters. The animation is top-notch, but Robin Williams’ over-the-top performance can be grating. Worth seeing for the visuals, but don’t expect a groundbreaking story.
- N/A: “The animation is well done, but it is not a kid’s film due to sexual innuendos, suggestive jokes, and some bad language. The movie is an attempt by Hollyweird to indoctrinate kids in their type of humor.
Audience Reactions
The Rube Goldberg-esque transportation system across Robot City was a visual treat and one of the film’s standout moments.: Viewers generally appreciated the film’s unique visual style and imaginative world-building, even if the story felt somewhat familiar.
Overall Consensus: Robots is a visually creative animated film with a somewhat predictable story, but is an enjoyable experience for the whole family. Good performances but flawed story-telling.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “A special rendering tool was created specifically to randomly place the pips on every domino in Bigweld’s workshop, ensuring each domino looked unique.”
- “The film’s art style drew inspiration from retro-futurism, combining elements of classic design with futuristic technology to create a distinctive visual aesthetic.”
🖥️ How to Watch Robots?
Robots is available for streaming on platforms such as Apple TV, and can be rented or purchased on demand via Amazon Prime Video and other digital retailers. Check your local listings for broadcast options and availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Robots, you might like these similar films:
- WALL-E (2008): Features a heartwarming story set in a futuristic robot-filled world with themes of environmentalism and societal critique.
- A Bug’s Life (1998): Shares the theme of an underdog protagonist challenging a larger, oppressive system with the help of a misfit group of friends.
- Monsters, Inc. (2001): Explores a unique world built around a central industry, with themes of friendship and uncovering corporate corruption.
🛒 Robots Related Products
- Robots (Widescreen Edition): Own the family favorite on DVD and relive Rodney’s adventure whenever you want!
- Robots Nintendo DS: Players guide Rodney and his friends in adventures. The DS format offers unique gameplay through the touch screen and dual screens.
- Robots (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Featuring the soundtrack for the movie including funk, jazz, and rock music. It’s the best way to hear some nostalgic bangers.
- Robots Movie Poster: The official movie poster to remember the family movie. It is designed with high-quality printing and vibrant colors.
🎧 Soundtrack
Robots features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” – performed by James Brown
- “From Zero To Hero” – performed by Sarah Connor
- “That’s What I Like” – performed by Chingy
- “Pomp & Circumstance” – performed by Edward Elgar
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The main message of Robots is that anyone can shine no matter what they’re made of. It promotes the importance of following your dreams, helping others, and standing up against injustice.
The main characters in Robots include Rodney Copperbottom, an idealistic young inventor; Fender, a rusty robot and Rodney’s friend; Cappy, an executive bot; Ratchet, the villainous head of Bigweld Industries; and Bigweld, the original founder of Bigweld Industries.
Bigweld’s motto is ‘See a need, fill a need.’ This reflects his philosophy of innovation and using inventions to improve the lives of all robots.
🔥 Bonus Content
How Robots (2005) Rejects Gender and Capitalism
Hey there, film buff! If you’ve ever wondered about the hidden layers in ‘Robots,’ check out this video. It dives into how the movie tackles gender and economic issues, giving you a whole new lens to appreciate this animated classic.
ROBOTS Is More Relevant Than Ever
Curious about how ‘Robots’ holds up in the modern world? This video analyzes the movie’s themes and shows how they’re still relevant today. It’s like having a movie club discussion right at your fingertips!
Everything Wrong With Robots In 13 Minutes Or Less
If you loved ‘Robots’ but also have a soft spot for poking fun at movies, this video is for you. It’s a witty and fast-paced critique that will make you laugh while reminding you why you enjoyed the film in the first place.
Robots isn’t a good movie.
Not sure how you feel about ‘Robots’? This review gives a no-nonsense assessment of the movie, pointing out both its flaws and its redeeming qualities. It’s a great way to gain a more balanced understanding of the film.
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