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This post was originally published in 2015 with the release ofChappie.It has been updated (or should we say … to include two newer robot movies, includingThe Creator.
We also avoided films that were specifically solely about computers so, no2001: A Space Odyssey.
(ButThe Matrixmakes it in, because its actually full of robot creatures.)
And, as always, only one film per franchise.
17.The Creator(2023)
17.
Despite the looming shadows of theTerminatorandMatrixfranchises, modern movies have actually been relatively kind to artificial intelligence.
DoesThe Creatorhave anything new to say about robots or AI?
On the surface, not really.
16.Robots(2005)
16.
This star-studded animated flick (Ewan McGregor!
wasnt particularly well-liked when it first came out, but its enchanting and beautiful.
You could lose yourself in it for hours.
15.M3GAN(2023)
15.
For much of cinema history, robots were seen as scary, mysterious things.
Soon enough, the two have formed an unbreakable bond, and M3GAN starts to wreak unholy havoc.
14.Transformers(2007)
14.
Okay, forget how much you hated the sequels for a second.
And yet, Bay pulled it off.
Bloat and self-importance would eventually consume the franchise, but this first one still holds up.
13.Big Hero 6(2014)
13.
12.Ghost in the Shell(1995)
12.
11.The Day the Earth Stood Still(1951)
11.
10.The Iron Giant(1999)
10.
Brad Birds touching animated film, based on Ted Hughess childrens book, is an underseen marvel.
Its a wonderful family drama, a great kids movie, and an exciting plea for peace.
And its still got the best performance of Vin Diesels career, as the voice of the Giant.
9.The Stepford Wives(1975)
9.
8.Westworld(1973)
8.
What the hell did Michael Crichton have against amusement parks, anyway?
Artificial Intelligence(2001)
7.
6.RoboCop(1987)
6.
Paul Verhoevens masterpiece is a lot funnier than you might remember.
(And, ED-209 is a true robot if there ever was one.)
5.The Matrix(1999)
5.
Years later, its still fantastic.
4.Blade Runner(1982)
4.
Plus, they can die often in surprising, poetic ways.
In other words, they havesouls.
And among the questions the films asks is whether one throw in of soul is more valid than another.
3.WALL-E(2008)
3.
2.Metropolis(1927)
2.
Robot-Maria then proceeds to use her magical, nefarious powers to entrance the populace of this dystopian society.
Theres no science behind this robot, of course; her powers are basically fantastical.
1.The Terminator(1984)
1.
For many years the robots that threatened us in sci-fi movies looked like actual robots.
They were made of metal and gears and spinning doodads and spoke like machines.
