---
title: "Robots"
year: 2005
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/robots-2005"
fi1m_id: "robots-2005"
imdb_id: "tt0358082"
tmdb_id: 9928
wikidata_id: "Q756238"
fi1m_score: 62
critics_score: 56
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-10-05T04:00:50.375953+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T04:00:50.848061+00:00"
region: "ZA"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Robots (2005)

Directed by Chris Wedge · 1h 30m · Animation, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction

## Identity

Robots

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/robots-2005
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** robots-2005
- **IMDb ID:** tt0358082
- **TMDB ID:** 9928
- **Wikidata ID:** Q756238
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358082/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/9928, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q756238

**Fi1m score: 62** · Critics 56 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* The robots are better company when they stop talking and let the machinery do the jokes

> Chris Wedge’s *Robots* earns a look for its busy mechanical world and some well-timed slapstick. The familiar story and thin characters make it harder to care once the visual surprises begin to wear off.

## Synopsis

Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) travels through a world of robots, where even a subway ride becomes an adventure. The robots around him include Fender (Robin Williams), Cappy (Halle Berry), Bigweld (Mel Brooks) and Ratchet (Greg Kinnear). Herb Copperbottom (Stanley Tucci) and Mrs. Copperbottom (Dianne Wiest) also feature, alongside Piper (Amanda Bynes), Crank (Drew Carey) and Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent). This animated science-fiction comedy follows its mechanical characters through a story built around physical mishaps, verbal jokes and action.

## Review

Chris Wedge’s *Robots* offers enough visual pleasure to interest animation enthusiasts, but the storytelling is thin. A population of machines gives a family comedy plenty to work with before anyone has said a word, and the film plainly enjoys the possibilities. It is less assured when it needs us to care about one particular robot. At 90 minutes, it ought to feel brisk. Too often it feels hurried, as though leaving a pause might allow us to notice how little is happening beneath the activity.

Production designers William Joyce and Marcin Jakubowski supply the strongest reason to watch. The crowded backdrops reward attention, and the colour helps all that mechanical detail feel playful rather than merely complicated. We can enjoy looking around this world even when the dialogue has ceased to hold our attention. The characters themselves do not always seem to belong to as interesting a film as the one being suggested by their surroundings.

Rodney’s subway ride is where the film gets the balance right. We laughed because a simple journey becomes a sustained piece of slapstick, with the movement doing the work that dialogue elsewhere struggles to manage. John Carnochan’s editing suits this sort of physical comedy, keeping the action lively. Across the film, though, the pace allows too little space between jokes. After a while, being asked to laugh again so quickly becomes tiring.

David Lindsay-Abaire, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel’s screenplay has much less invention to spare than the images. Rodney Copperbottom, voiced by Ewan McGregor, is amiable enough, but never becomes particularly interesting. The familiar plotting gives us little reason to be curious about him, and the writing asks his likeability to do too much. We can follow his story without feeling much attachment to him. More time spent establishing his character would have helped before another round of action begins.

Robin Williams, voicing Fender, supplies a livelier comic presence, although his energy is not always helpful. The verbal comedy sometimes seems to be competing with the pictures, and the cultural references too often feel like interruptions. We would gladly lose some of those asides for another clearly developed visual gag. There are laughs here, particularly when the slapstick takes over, but also stretches when the film seems unwilling to stop nudging us. Robin Williams gives it momentum without solving its lack of focus.

John Powell’s music helps sustain that momentum, although it does little to make us feel closer to the characters. Chris Wedge keeps the film occupied, and the action has a willingness to be silly that is welcome in itself. Yet the stronger examples of animated family comedy let a character’s behaviour make us laugh and tell us something about them at the same time. Here the jokes too often seem detachable from the robots delivering them.

There is enough care in the making to keep us from dismissing it, and the visual imagination deserves a better script. Children happy with near-continuous movement may be less troubled by that mismatch than we were. Choose it for the robot world and the physical comedy, with modest expectations of the company.

*Fi1m score 62, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus on Robots is mixed, with praise clustering around its visual invention rather than its storytelling. Critics repeatedly single out the detailed robot world, colourful animation and inventive design, which several find entertaining enough to compensate for a familiar plot. The warmer reviews also welcome the mixture of slapstick and subtler humour, while even some detractors admire the backdrops and production design.

The spread is fairly wide, and critics differ chiefly over how much those pleasures can excuse. Reservations centre on thin characters, weak jokes and a meandering story, with frantic action and crowded cultural references adding to the complaints. Robin Williams’s performance divides opinion particularly clearly: Eye for Film calls his Fender the scene-stealer, while Slant Magazine finds the visual design a welcome alternative to his contribution. For the less persuaded critics, there is too little beneath the busy surface.

## Straight answers

**Is Robots worth watching?**

*Robots* is worth considering for animation enthusiasts and families keen on mechanical slapstick; we score it 62 out of 100. The detailed robot world and Rodney’s subway ride supply the strongest pleasures, but thin characters, familiar plotting and a tiring rush of jokes keep our recommendation modest.

**How long is Robots, and what is it rated?**

*Robots* runs 1h 30m. It is an animation and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Robots in South Africa?**

*Robots* is available to rent from Apple TV from R34.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Robots compare to The Iron Giant?**

*Robots* offers busy mechanical slapstick, but we recommend [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) as the stronger film for its carefully developed friendship between a boy and a robot. Its adults can be too neatly drawn, yet it gives us reason to care; *Robots* is better suited to an evening when visual invention matters more than emotional involvement.

**What should I watch after Robots?**

After *Robots*, try [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): A mechanical outsider whose friendships receive the attention Rodney could have used. Then [*Castle in the Sky*](https://film.one/film/castle-in-the-sky) (1986, Fi1m 82): For more machinery to explore, with an adventure worth following through it.

### Reviews we read (12)

- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (3/4): Ebert gives the film a positive review. He praises its visual invention and lively animated world. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/robots-2005)
- **Variety**, Joe Leydon (70/100, inferred): Leydon finds the film an entertaining, visually impressive spectacle despite its recycled storyline. He especially praises the richly detailed robot world and its inventive animation. [Read](https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/robots-1200527396/)
- **The Guardian**, Rob Mackie (65/100, inferred): The review finds the film imaginative and skilfully written, though not as distinctive as its predecessor, Ice Age. It praises the combination of adult and children’s comedy and the film’s visual inventiveness. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/sep/23/dvdreviews1)
- **Screen Daily**, Brent Simon (64/100, inferred): The review's verdict is unavailable in the accessible text. Its specific praise or complaint is also obscured by the paywall. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/robots/4022287.article)
- **The New York Times**, A. O. Scott (64/100, inferred): The Times article is a review of the 2005 film. Its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be confirmed from the accessible page. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/11/movies/machines-that-rage-against-other-machines.html)
- **Empire**, Caroline Westbrook (60/100, inferred): Westbrook finds the film entertaining but far from a classic, with its weak plot and frantic action holding it back. She praises its candy-coloured visuals and singles out Rodney’s subway ride as a high point. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/robots-review/)
- **Radio Times**, Sloan Freer (3/5): Freer finds the film an enjoyable, visually inventive follow-up to Ice Age. She particularly praises its colourful, richly textured computer animation for revitalising a familiar story. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-yiqcp9/robots/)
- **Time Out**, DA (40/100, inferred): The available description is critical of the film’s animation compared with Pixar’s. It singles out the CGI as less well-defined, but the review text is unavailable, so its overall verdict is unclear. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/robots)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (1.5/4): Gonzalez finds the film largely lifeless and criticizes its weak plot, shallow characters, and intrusive humor. He praises the detailed backdrops and visual design as a welcome alternative to Robin Williams’s performance. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/robots/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Carina Chocano (35/100, inferred): The review finds the film overstuffed with cultural references and its familiar moral message unconvincing, despite occasional flashes of brilliance. It singles out Robin Williams’ performance for puncturing the movie’s prevailing idealism. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-11-et-robots11-story.html)
- **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (30/100, inferred): Phipps finds the comedy amiable but thin, with little story to support its production design. He praises the film’s look while criticizing its weak jokes and meandering narrative. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/robots-1798200535)
- **Eye for Film**, Josh Morrall (70/100, inferred): Morrall finds the film engaging and enjoyable despite its simplistic plot and relentless action. He singles out its blend of slapstick and subtle humor, with Robin Williams’s Fender as the scene-stealer. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/robots-film-review-by-josh-morrall)

## Details

- **Director:** Chris Wedge
- **Director:** Chris Wedge
- **Screenplay:** David Lindsay-Abaire, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
- **Story:** Ron Mita, Jim McClain, David Lindsay-Abaire
- **Editor:** John Carnochan
- **Music:** John Powell
- **Production design:** William Joyce, Marcin Jakubowski
- **Producer:** William Joyce, John C. Donkin, Lorne Orleans
- **Cast:** Ewan McGregor as Rodney Copperbottom (voice); Halle Berry as Cappy (voice); Greg Kinnear as Ratchet (voice); Mel Brooks as Bigweld (voice); Drew Carey as Crank (voice); Amanda Bynes as Piper (voice); Robin Williams as Fender (voice); Jim Broadbent as Madame Gasket (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 30m
- **First release (Singapore):** 10 March 2005
- **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
- **Budget:** $75 million
- **Box office:** $263 million

## Where to watch in South Africa

- Apple TV: rent R34.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy R129.99, sd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2006: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: A mechanical outsider whose friendships receive the attention Rodney could have used. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)
- *Castle in the Sky* (1986), Fi1m 82: For more machinery to explore, with an adventure worth following through it. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/castle-in-the-sky.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): Everyday errands become physical chaos, with fewer interruptions to explain the joke.
- *WALL-E* (2008): Another robot with plenty to say, particularly when nobody is talking.
- *The King and the Mockingbird* (1980): An elaborate animated kingdom whose machinery gives the fantasy something to push against.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/robots-2005