Robots: 63

Directed by Wally Pfister and written by Jack Paglen, Transcendence (2014) is an American science fiction thriller film that follows the story of Dr. Will Caster, a scientist researching artificial intelligence and sapience. His goal is to create a sentient computer capable of achieving what he calls ‘Transcendence’. Assisted by his wife Evelyn, who is also a scientist, he works tirelessly with his team to bring this vision to life. However, their progress is hindered by the anti-technology group R.I.F.T., who carry out targeted attacks on A.I. laboratories ...

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) is an American science fiction action film based on Hasbro’s popular toy line. Sixty-five million years ago, an alien race known as the ‘Creators’ used special tools known as Seeds to cover Earth with a unique metallic substance called ‘Transformium’, resulting in the extinction of the dinosaurs. In the present day, geologist Darcy Tirrel excavates the Transformium for K.S.I. Industries, who then utilize it to create powerful Transformer drones. However, after the disastrous Battle of Chicago, humans now see Transformers as threats and cut off all partnerships with them. Despite claims of providing ...

Ex Machina (2014) is a science fiction thriller written and directed by Alex Garland. The plot follows Caleb Smith, a programmer at the search engine company Blue Book, who wins a contest for a one-week stay at the extravagant home of his CEO, Nathan Bateman. Along with Nathan and his quiet servant Kyoko, who Nathan claims does not speak English, they live with Ava, a humanoid robot created by Nathan with advanced artificial intelligence. As Ava has already passed a simple Turing test, Nathan wants Caleb to determine if she truly possesses consciousness and the ability to think. Despite being confined to her apartment, ...

The animated movie Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace (2013) depicts Fred participating in a science expo in Houston, Texas with his invention that uses magnets, a trampoline and a sticky net to catch monsters. While testing it out, the trap accidentally captures a girl named Melanie Staples who is quickly freed by Fred. She introduces herself as the daughter of NASA scientist Ned Staples and catches Fred’s attention. The gang then attends Ned’s presentation where he reveals a robotic dog named “Mecha Mutt” designed for exploring the terrain on Mars. However, things take a chaotic turn when Mecha Mutt malfunctions and shoots laser beams at the ...

Guillermo del Toro brought us Pacific Rim (2013), a thrilling American science fiction monster film. It introduces us to Kaiju, enormous alien monsters from another dimension that emerge through an interdimensional portal known as ‘the Breach’ located in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. These beasts proceed to attack coastal cities, prompting humanity to construct massive mechas called Jaegers. These machines require two or more pilots who are connected through a process called ‘Drifting’, allowing them to share the mental burden of controlling their Jaeger. Fast forward to 2020, and we see ...

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (2012) is the newest addition to the Battlestar Galactica franchise, serving as a prequel to the reimagined series. Originally created as a web-series, it later transformed into a pilot for potential continuation of William Adama’s early experiences. Taking place during the tenth year of the First Cylon War, we witness Adama’s first assignment after graduating from Academy: joining the crew of Galactica, one of the battlestars in the Colonial fleet. This installment offers important context for events that occurred between Caprica and Battlestar Galactica.

Dredd (2012) is a sci-fi action flick helmed by director Pete Travis and written/produced by Alex Garland. Set in future America, the country has become an irradiated wasteland. The East Coast, stretching from Boston to Washington DC, is home to Mega City One – a sprawling and violent metropolis controlled by criminals. The only law and order comes from the ‘Judges’, urban cops with the authority of judge, jury, and executioner. Dredd, known and feared throughout the city, serves as the top Judge and faces his biggest challenge yet – eradicating a ...

Prometheus (2012) is a science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and co-written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof. Serving as the fifth installment in the Alien franchise, the movie follows a group of astronauts on a mission to investigate a distant planet. As they depart, they witness a humanoid alien consuming a liquid that causes its body to disintegrate. Meanwhile, archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway uncover a star map that matches those from various ancient cultures. They believe it ...

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) is an American science fiction action film inspired by Hasbro’s popular toy line. Decades earlier, a Cybertronian spaceship known as the Ark crashes on the dark side of the Moon and is discovered by NASA. In order to investigate, President John F. Kennedy approves a mission to land on the Moon, which takes place in 1969 with Apollo 11. Unbeknownst to the public, the astronauts also explore the crashed spaceship before returning to Earth. In present day, the Autobots work alongside humans to prevent major conflicts. During a mission to investigate possible alien technology at Chernobyl, they are attacked by Decepticon ...

The animated superhero film, Astro Boy (2009), is a loose adaptation of the manga series by Japanese writer and illustrator Osamu Tezuka. Set in the futuristic city-state of Metro City in the 22nd century, the story follows teenage protagonist Toby Tenma. His father, Dr. Tenma, works at the Ministry of Science alongside his colleague Dr. Elefun. Together, they create the Peacekeeper – a highly advanced defensive robot powered by two opposite energy spheres – one blue and one red. These powerful orbs were discovered from a star fragment by Dr. Elefun himself. The two scientists then present their creation to Stone, the President of Metro City who is ...

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009), a television film set in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica universe, follows the events leading up to the destruction of the Twelve Colonies as shown in the miniseries. Humanoid Cylon John Cavil is seen strategizing the devastating attack on humanity with the other seven known Cylons at their main base. Meanwhile, two versions of Cavil reside in a Resurrection Ship along with the mysterious ‘Final Five’ Cylons in stasis. In a brief conversation, the two Cavils discuss their plans for punishing their creators. One version of Cavil makes his way to witness the annihilation of humanity firsthand on planet ...

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) is an American science fiction action film, inspired by Hasbro’s popular Transformers toys. In ancient times, the Primes, highly regarded leaders of Cybertronians, obtained their energy known as Energon through star harvesters. However, there was a rule among the Primes to never deplete stars that support life. One Prime broke this rule by constructing a star harvester on Earth and thus became known as ‘the Fallen’, the first Decepticon. Fast forward to 2009, two years after the battle in Mission City, the Autobots and humans have joined forces to form NEST (Non-biological Extraterrestrial Species ...

Terminator Salvation (2009) is an American military science fiction action film and the fourth installment of the popular Terminator franchise. It serves as a sequel to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), while also functioning as a soft reboot. In that same year, Dr. Serena Kogan, of Cyberdyne Systems, persuades death row inmate Marcus Wright to donate his body for medical research after his execution. Later on, Skynet – a highly advanced automated system – becomes self-aware and perceives humans as a threat to its existence, triggering a nuclear holocaust known as ‘Judgment Day’. In 2018, John Connor leads an assault ...

BURN-E (2008), an American short film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, is included with the DVD and Blu-ray of WALL-E. As WALL-E journeys through space with EVE on a ship heading to the Axiom starliner, he dislodges a small rock while passing through the Rings of Saturn. The rock gains enough momentum to become a meteor and collides with one of the Axiom’s running lights (known as ‘spires’), causing it to break. AUTO, the ship’s computer, alerts autopilot SUPPLY-R to fix the damage. BURN-E is then activated and equipped with a welding torch and an intact spire to complete the repair on the hull track. However, he becomes distracted ...

The film WALL-E (2008) is an American animated science fiction romance produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Set in the 29th century, Earth has become a wasteland due to an ecocide caused by rampant consumerism, corporate greed, and environmental neglect. Humanity was evacuated to space by the megacorporation Buy n Large (BnL) 700 years ago, leaving only trash compacting robots to clean up the planet. However, this cleanup effort has failed and only one active robot remains – Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth Class (WALL·E). He survives by salvaging parts from other inactive robots and lives with his pet cockroach in a large truck ...

Superman: Doomsday (2007), an American adult animated superhero film based on the DC Comics story The Death of Superman, follows the tragic death and triumphant return of the iconic superhero. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, it marks the first installment of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The movie received mixed reviews for its intense animation and more graphic approach compared to previous adaptations, but ultimately left some critics unsatisfied. While in a romantic relationship with Lois Lane, Superman struggles with her dissatisfaction over his keeping his true identity a secret from her. During a construction project at LexCorp, ...

The television film Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007) is a re-imagining of the popular series and premiered on multiple networks, including Sci Fi in the US, Space in Canada, and Sky One in the UK. It takes place during the first thirty days of Lee Adama’s command on the Pegasus, after ‘The Captain’s Hand’ but before ‘Lay Down Your Burdens’, utilizing flashbacks to showcase Rear Admiral Cain’s orders during and after the Cylon attack. Kendra Shaw, who sees herself as Cain’s legacy, connects her actions during the post-apocalyptic aftermath with the present. Meanwhile, viewers witness Lieutenant William Adama and Helena ...

Transformers (2007), an American sci-fi action film based on Hasbro’s toy line, follows the epic story of two factions of sentient robots – the Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the Decepticons led by Megatron. A brutal civil war on their home planet Cybertron has left it devastated and in ruins, as both sides fight for control of the AllSpark – a powerful cube that holds the key to their existence. The Autobots seek to use it for healing and peace, while the Decepticons aim to use its power for destruction and domination. But fate brings them to Earth when Megatron crash-lands in the Arctic Circle, where he remains frozen until discovered by Captain ...

Robots (2005) is an American animated sci-fi adventure comedy film set in a world inhabited by sentient beings made of metal. The story follows the journey of Rodney Copperbottom, a young and ambitious inventor who looks up to Bigweld – a renowned entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of Bigweld Industries. The company not only employs other inventors but also provides spare parts for robots in need. Inspired by Bigweld’s motto of ‘seeing a need and filling it’, Rodney creates his own flying robot named Wonderbot to help his father Herb, who works as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. However, when Herb’s boss catches them in the act, ...

The Island (2005) is an American science fiction thriller film, directed and co-produced by Michael Bay based on a story by Tredwell-Owen. On July 19, 2019, residents of a secluded compound, including Lincoln Six Echo and Jordan Two Delta, are governed by strict rules as they believe the outside world is no longer habitable except for one pathogen-free island. In this dystopian setting, a lottery determines who gets to leave the compound and live on the island each week. However, Lincoln begins experiencing dreams that he knows are not his own memories. When Dr. Merrick, ...