---
title: "Ron's Gone Wrong"
year: 2021
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong"
fi1m_id: "rons-gone-wrong"
imdb_id: "tt7504818"
tmdb_id: 482321
wikidata_id: "Q106299119"
fi1m_score: 71
critics_score: 59
critics_reviews: 17
published: "2026-10-05T16:17:07.976108+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T16:17:08.210641+00:00"
region: "AR"
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."
---

# Ron's Gone Wrong (2021)

Directed by Sarah Smith, Jean-Philippe Vine · 1h 47m · Animation, Science Fiction, Family, Comedy

## Identity

Ron's Gone Wrong

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** rons-gone-wrong
- **IMDb ID:** tt7504818
- **TMDB ID:** 482321
- **Wikidata ID:** Q106299119
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7504818/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/482321, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106299119

**Fi1m score: 71** · Critics 59 from 17 reviews

*In a sentence:* We would accept this robot’s friend request, though we might regret introducing it to anyone

> An amiable family comedy about a boy and a faulty robot, with enough affection to make its familiar story worth an evening. The friendship is convincing; the warnings about technology need more thought.

## Synopsis

Barney (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer) struggles with the social rules that everyone else seems to understand. He wants a friend, but Ron (voiced by Zach Galifianakis), a malfunctioning robot, has difficulties of his own. Their attempts to get along unfold amid B*Bots, social media and the pressure to make connections through technology. As Barney and Ron begin learning how to deal with one another, the robot’s mistakes expose how awkward friendship can be for the boy as well. Ed Helms voices Graham and Olivia Colman voices Donka.

## Review

*Ron’s Gone Wrong* is a funny, affectionate family film with an uncertain grasp of the technology it wants to criticise. Directors Sarah Smith and Jean-Philippe Vine have a useful starting point: a socially awkward boy gets a robot companion whose malfunctions make getting along with people no easier. They understand how much comedy can be found in that shared difficulty, and how quickly it can become painful. The friendship is good enough to make the film worth an evening, despite the muddle around it.

Jack Dylan Grazer gives Barney’s embarrassment enough bite to stop him becoming a generic lonely child waiting for the plot to deliver a companion. The early scenes take his uncertainty about other people seriously, while still finding room for jokes. Once Ron arrives, there are two characters struggling with behaviour that seems to come easily to everyone else. We felt for Barney more than we expected, because the resemblance between his hesitant social efforts and Ron’s malfunctions makes the slapstick a little uncomfortable.

Zach Galifianakis voices Ron with a deadpan delivery that makes the robot’s mistakes funnier than a more eager performance would. There are stretches where the voice becomes monotonous, and another malfunction does not always amount to another joke. Even so, his lack of apology gives the character a stubborn comic presence that plays well against Barney’s self-consciousness. Their growing affection is believable because the script allows them to be difficult company for each other.

David Peers’s cinematography keeps the physical jokes legible, allowing Ron’s buggy movements to supply the variety that his voice sometimes lacks. Production designers Aurélien Predal and Nathan Crowley make the B*Bots appealing enough for us to understand their attraction. The care in the animated surfaces helps sell these machines as things children might want to have around, which is useful in a story questioning that desire. Against the more inventive end of family animation, this is modest work; Ron has to supply much of the fun himself.

David Burrows’s editing is brisk within the comic scenes, but cannot disguise how often the story repeats itself. The film is liveliest when it lets boy and robot deal with one another; the corporate plot keeps interrupting a relationship that is already interesting. Henry Jackman’s music supplies warmth, though it is too ready to underline feelings the voices have already made clear. At 107 minutes, the film has enough room for the relationship to develop without stopping so often to explain itself.

Writers Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith are alert to the pressure to accumulate online connections, and to the loneliness that can persist despite them. Their account of what companies gain from collecting people’s data is less satisfying. The criticism stays broad, while the familiar corporate story supplies distractions instead of helping the film think through its own warnings. We understand why Barney wants a friend, but the script is less clear about what it wants children to understand about the technology offering him one. Worth a family evening, especially with someone who remembers how hard finding a friend can be.

*Fi1m score 71, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean towards qualified approval of Ron’s Gone Wrong, with praise clustering around Barney and Ron’s friendship, the humour and the robot’s expressive malfunctions. Several critics find the central bond convincing enough to give the familiar story emotional weight. Zach Galifianakis’s comic voice work earns repeated praise, while even some detractors credit the animation’s bright colours, textures and character designs.

The sharpest division concerns the treatment of technology and social media: some critics find it thoughtful, while others see confused warnings and an unconvincing lesson about friendship. The spread is wide, from warm recommendations to outright dismissals, with repetitive plotting and limited invention recurring complaints. Empire finds the friendship earned and moving; The Wrap considers the film emotionally hollow and sees its social-media warning compromised by its apparent desire to sell Ron as a toy. The Los Angeles Times also dissents on Galifianakis, finding his delivery one-note.

## Straight answers

**Is Ron's Gone Wrong worth watching?**

*Ron's Gone Wrong* is worth a family evening for its funny, convincing friendship between a socially awkward boy and a faulty robot; we score it 71 out of 100. We find their shared difficulty getting along more engaging than the repetitive corporate plot, and the film’s warnings about technology need more thought.

**How long is Ron's Gone Wrong, and what is it rated?**

*Ron's Gone Wrong* runs 1h 47m. It is an animation and science fiction film.

**Where can I watch Ron's Gone Wrong in Argentina?**

*Ron's Gone Wrong* is streaming on Disney+ in Argentina. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Ron's Gone Wrong compare to The Iron Giant?**

*Ron's Gone Wrong* is an amiable robot-friendship comedy, but we recommend [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) more strongly for its sharper storytelling and more troubling sense of danger. Barney and Ron’s awkward attempts to get along offer affection and slapstick, while *The Iron Giant* makes its central friendship feel more consequential without losing its humour or tenderness.

**What should I watch after Ron's Gone Wrong?**

After *Ron's Gone Wrong*, try [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): Another unlikely friendship, with sharper storytelling and a more troubling sense of danger. Then [*My Life as a Courgette*](https://film.one/film/my-life-as-a-zucchini) (2016, Fi1m 84): Lonely children find companionship in animation that gives awkward feelings time to settle.

### Reviews we read (17)

- **Empire**, Dan Jolin (80/100, inferred): Jolin finds it an amiable, amusing story with a big heart and worthwhile ideas about technology. He especially praises the earned friendship between Barney and Ron, which gives the film its emotional force. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ron-gone-wrong/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Angie Han (72/100, inferred): Han finds the film endearing and funny, with a thoughtful critique of social media, despite its lack of daring imagination. She especially praises its cute, idiosyncratic robot and its sharp portrayal of technology’s effects on human connection. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rons-gone-wrong-review-1235034806/)
- **Radio Times**, Huw Fullerton (70/100, inferred): The available description suggests a positive verdict, saying the film’s humour helps it stand apart. It singles out that humour despite similarities to other animated movies. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/rons-gone-wrong-review-comment/)
- **Screen Daily**, Wendy Ide (70/100, inferred): Ide’s verdict is that the debut animation is appealing and deft. The available standfirst singles out its deft, appealing execution. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/rons-gone-wrong-london-review/5164130.article)
- **The AV Club**, Charles Bramesco (B-): Bramesco finds the film’s message about technology muddled, despite its sincere friendship story. He praises the buoyant mood, good jokes, and lively animation. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-future-of-friendship-is-glitchy-and-goofy-in-the-mi-1847823101)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (65/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film entertaining and tender, but ultimately too neutral about its big-tech questions. He especially praises the opening, where Barney’s own social awkwardness makes him seem like a malfunctioning robot. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/09/rons-gone-wrong-review-)
- **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The article content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be verified. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/movies/rons-gone-wrong-review.html)
- **IndieWire**, Rafael Motamayor (C+): Motamayor calls the film charming and worthwhile, though less distinctive and visually inventive than stronger animated peers. He praises its warm friendship story, humor, and thoughtful take on technology and social media. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/rons-gone-wrong-review-1234670598/)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (60/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film uneven but entertaining, with a familiar and unfocused corporate-critical plot. He praises Zach Galifianakis’s haywire performance and Ron’s buggy, expressive animation. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/rons-gone-wrong-review-zach-galifianakis-1235085023/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Derek Smith (2/4): Smith finds the film’s message about technology and friendship contradictory and ultimately unconvincing. He praises the early scenes where Ron’s malfunctions mirror Barney’s social awkwardness, along with their comic slapstick. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rons-gone-wrong-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Michael Ordoña (30/100, inferred): Ordoña finds the film’s friendship lesson and Big Tech warnings muddled, with little fun to distinguish it from other animated films. He praises the animation’s textures and B*Bot designs but says Zach Galifianakis’s performance is squandered by its one-note delivery. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-10-21/review-rons-gone-wrong-animated-zach-galfianakis)
- **Deadline**, Anna Smith (75/100, inferred): The critic finds it an endearing, often funny family film that takes a smart swipe at social media culture. She praises its heartwarming character development and the bond between Barney and Ron, while noting that not all the gags land. [Read](https://deadline.com/2021/10/rons-gone-wrong-review-disney-movie-zach-galifianakis-olivia-colman-1234852927/)
- **HeyUGuys** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a delightful, heartfelt adventure despite repetitive plotting and an unnecessary antagonist. They praise its warm friendship message and voice cast, while noting that Mitchells vs. the Machines is stronger in style and comedy. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/rons-gone-wrong-review/)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (5/10): Spiegel finds the film frustrating and unable to develop its critique of technology, despite a strong central idea. He praises Zach Galifianakis’s comic voice work and the leads’ convincing friendship, but says the film’s treatment of data mining and digital friendships is naïve. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/628621/rons-gone-wrong-review-a-messy-animated-tech-fantasy/)
- **Paste**, Jacob Oller (4/10): Oller pans the film as a false, formulaic lecture about technology that mistakes screen use for social connection. He gives Zach Galifianakis’s deadpan, goofy vocal performance some credit, though repetitive writing undercuts it. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/zach-galifianakis/rons-gone-wrong-review)
- **Eye for Film**, Andrew Robertson (30/100, inferred): Robertson finds the film entertaining enough but ultimately unsuccessful. He particularly objects to its dated nostalgia and recycled cultural references. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/rons-gone-wrong-2021-film-review-by-andrew-robertson)
- **The Wrap** (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the film derivative and emotionally hollow, with its warning about social media muddled by the desire to sell Ron as a toy. The review praises the animation as bright and lively, while criticizing the film for offering no meaningful guidance about online harm. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/rons-gone-wrong-film-review-animatee/)

## Details

- **Director:** Sarah Smith, Jean-Philippe Vine
- **Director:** Sarah Smith, Jean-Philippe Vine
- **Writer:** Sarah Smith, Peter Baynham
- **Cinematography:** David Peers
- **Editor:** David Burrows
- **Music:** Henry Jackman
- **Production design:** Nathan Crowley, Aurélien Predal
- **Producer:** Lara Breay, Julie Lockhart
- **Cast:** Jack Dylan Grazer as Barney (voice); Zach Galifianakis as Ron (voice); Ed Helms as Graham (voice); Olivia Colman as Donka (voice); Rob Delaney as Andrew (voice); Justice Smith as Marc (voice); Kylie Cantrall as Savannah (voice); Ricardo Hurtado as Rich (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 47m
- **First release (the UK):** 9 October 2021
- **Genres:** Animation, Science Fiction, Family, Comedy
- **Budget:** $57 million
- **Box office:** $61 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I8nMtzN05s

## Where to watch in Argentina

- Disney+: streaming, uhd

*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, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: Another unlikely friendship, with sharper storytelling and a more troubling sense of danger. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)
- *Robot & Frank* (2012): For the adults: a robot friendship complicated by ageing, dependence and criminal ambition.
- *My Life as a Courgette* (2016), Fi1m 84: Lonely children find companionship in animation that gives awkward feelings time to settle. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-life-as-a-zucchini.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): For the slapstick: misbehaving animated figures cause trouble without stopping to deliver lectures.
- *The Red Balloon* (1956): A child’s unusual companion, with images doing the work this film gives to speeches.

---
© 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/rons-gone-wrong