--- title: "The Iron Giant: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant" critics_score: 84 critics_reviews: 7 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." --- # The Iron Giant (1999): what the critics said Critics' score 84 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The consensus is warmly positive, with praise clustering around the friendship between the boy and the robot, the retro animation and the film’s pacifism. Most critics find the humour and sentiment well judged, with enough narrative confidence to carry serious ideas without turning the story into a lecture. The 1950s setting also earns attention: Cold War fears and atomic paranoia give the adventure substance, while the giant’s gentle character keeps it accessible to children. The reviews differ more in emphasis than in judgement, and there is no substantial negative dissent in the supplied responses. Some concentrate on the action, visual wit and emotional force; others foreground the challenge to conformity and reliance on weapons. The New York Times offers a modest qualification, suggesting that the messages about nonconformity and the dangers of weapons may resonate more with adults. ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 1999. The critic calls it the best animation of the year and the best family movie for Christmas, describing it as a little gem with tremendous sweetness and narrative confidence, like an apocalyptic ET or pre-teen Terminator 2. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/1999/dec/17/tedhughes) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. A delightful surprise and refreshing animated feature with an unfashionable commitment to pacifism. The critic singles out the sophisticated 1950s depiction, including atomic paranoia and the giant's fully realised character as a lovable old-fashioned robot who does not want to be a weapon. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/iron-giant-review/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. The critic hails it as a first-class achievement in cartoon virtuosity that borrows from 1950s comic art and sci-fi to stunning effect. They single out its blend of political allegory for adults with dazzling visuals and excitement for children. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-qwyuk8/the-iron-giant/) ## Slant Magazine — Joseph Jon Lanthier Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2010. The critic describes the film as an Americana fairy tale with emotional intelligence, praising its subtle moral themes, visual wit, and the giant's struggle for agency against its destructive programming. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-iron-giant/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2009. The critic highlights the film's singular, personal vision as a cult favorite that rejects typical animated formulas, praising its retro style, earnest take on 1950s America, and the bond between the boy and the pacifist robot. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-iron-giant-1798216153) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 1999. A touching and hilarious film that delivers laughs, tears and food for thought in a picture aimed at kids. The critic singles out the effective mix of knowing humour, well-paced action, retro animation (with the giant as the only CG element) and a dramatic finale. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-iron-giant-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan 4 August 1999. The critic calls the film straight-arrow yet subversive, blending old-fashioned 2D animation with computer effects to create a warm, timeless tale of a boy and his robotic friend that feels like a classic. Its dry humor, anti-establishment tone, and gentle lessons against guns and nuclear weapons are singled out for praise alongside its heartfelt simplicity. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-04-ca-62286-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert 6 August 1999. The critic praises the film as an enchanting animated feature with an E.T.-like story about a boy befriending a giant robot from space, noting its charm and underlying Cold War parable about choice and self-determination. The simple, story-driven approach without musical numbers or cute animals, along with its visual style reminiscent of Japanese animation, is highlighted positively. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-iron-giant-1999) ## Sight and Sound — Leslie Felperin The critic calls it one of the more emotionally satisfying films of the year and a welcome non-Disney animated success. They praise the skillful mix of humour and sentiment that delivers its moral message without preachiness. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/537) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Hunter 21 July 1999. The critic calls the film outstanding and a giant leap for Warner Bros. animation, praising the wonderful central character of the Iron Giant and the sense of joy in scenes between Hogarth and the robot. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/iron-giant-review-1999-movie-1025363/) ## The New York Times — Lawrence Van Gelder 4 August 1999. The review describes the film as a polished animated work that re-examines 1950s Cold War fears through a modern lens, turning sci-fi tropes upside down to critique conformity, paranoia, and military dependence. It notes the story of a boy befriending the robot and the messages about nonconformity and the perils of weapons, which may resonate more with adults. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/04/movies/film-review-the-attack-of-the-human-paranoids.html) ## Time Out — WH 13 March 2014. The review describes the film as entertaining and intelligent, a delightful animation that effectively dramatises the conflict between imaginative solutions and forceful ones. It notes the moral elements while keeping it suitable for younger audiences. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-iron-giant) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A+. 12 September 2015. Festival review. The critic finds the film a timeless classic that continues to resonate with its blend of humor, heart, and anti-war message. The animation, humor, and 1950s sci-fi affection are singled out for praise, along with the emotional impact of the Giant's sacrifice. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-iron-giant-review-signature-edition-tiff-2015/) ## Den of Geek 15 February 2011. The critic calls The Iron Giant one of the very best animated films of its generation and an exceptional, special film that has aged brilliantly. They single out its tight, fat-free storytelling, character focus, and refusal to rely on sugary Hollywood tropes for praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/looking-back-at-the-iron-giant-the-best-family-film-youve-never-seen/) ## Digital Spy — Sam Ashurst 17 May 2015. The critic praises The Iron Giant as a vivid, funny, and emotionally rich animated classic with wonderful characters and heart. They single out its combination of comedy, detail, and emotional depth (comparing it favorably to the best Pixar output) for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/re-viewed/a647491/how-the-iron-giant-influenced-guardians-of-the-galaxy-and-what-it-means-for-tomorrowland/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md