I, Robot (PG-13)

Will Smith + great special effects = a winner.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
2305_orig.jpg
Movie details
  • Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Twentieth Century Fox
  • Directed By: Alex Proyas
  • Cast: Will Smith
  • Running Time: 90 minutes
  • Release Date: 07/16/2004
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 12/14/2004
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: intense stylized action and some brief partial nudity

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has strong language for a PG-13 and intense action violence with gunshots, crashes, and explosions. Characters are injured and killed.

Families can talk about how our lives have changed over the past 20 years due to the development of computers and how they are likely to change over the next 20 years. What will we gain and what will we lose? Why was Spooner the only one who did not trust the robots? If you could create a robot, what would you make sure it could do and what would you make sure it could not do? When we can create machines that do so many things better than we can, what is it that makes us human? Will machines ever have feelings?

Message

Social Behavior:

Diverse characters.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Intense action violence, characters killed.

Sex

Very brief shot of naked backside.

Language

Some harsh language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

Spooner (Will Smith) is a homicide detective and apparently the only person in the world who is skeptical about the endlessly patient and obedient robots who now make up most of the labor force for menial and domestic tasks. Spooner's friend Dr. Lanning (James Cromwell) is dead, an apparent suicide. But Lanning left an enigmatic hologram with a message for Spooner. And he left behind a robot whose behavior is so contrary to the principles of robot behavior that it transcends any sort of context. Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan) and wealthy Lawrence Robertson (Bruce Greenwood), the founder of the USR company, are preparing for the biggest robot distribution in history. Robertson dismisses the idea of a rogue robot as impossible because it would undermine his business. Colvin dismisses the idea too, as does the chief of police. But Spooner knows from experience that logical systems sometimes produce illogical results. He knows that Lanning was trying to tell him something important. And he knows more about robotics than he lets on.

Is it any good?

4
I, ROBOT is what I call a summer popcorn movie! It's hard to say which has the sleeker profile, Will Smith (everything you could ask for in an action hero) or the Chicago skyline of 2035, as envisioned by director Alex Proyas and production designer Patrick Tatopoulos. The look of the film helps to tell the story and the special effects don't let us down. Smith has enough movie star charm and charisma to fill any screen and then some, but he also shows great sensitivity and understanding in giving Spooner some depth and complexity without throwing off the balance of what is first and foremost an action movie. But Moynahan is chillier and more expressionless than the robots her character tries to make more human.

The movie's one drawback is the ending, a disappointing retread of too many Star Trek episodes. It has enough to keep both head and adrenaline engaged while watching, but the lack of imagination in its resolution mean that by the time your heart slows down again, your mind will already be long gone in a different direction, probably both by the time you toss that popcorn bucket in the trash.

Support Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non-profit and will receive a portion of your purchase from Pricegrabber. Learn more.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 28 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/03/08 by Bubbajean Kid contributor, age 13

Great Movie!

This is one of Will Smith's greatest movies ever made. but i CANT BELIEVE common sense gave this an on for 13 and up...i think it should a know your kid for 13 and up...but whatever. there is language, not to much, but there is language. theres at least on dick, i think 3 shits, and i believe there are 2 damns, and if you count hell as a cuss word, (i dont) theres about 5. violence can get pretty intense, with a really bad car wreck, then a seemingly defenseless Will getting knocked around by a robot that reminds me of the Terminator mixed with Spiderman. in a scene where robots are assaulting allot of people, you see a man get his head crushed, people are thrown all over the place, robots are shot, and we see a 12 year old girl screaming for help while drowning. so there is plenty of violence. as far as sexual content goes, you see Will in the shower with his leg covering his crotch, we also see a female protagonist in the shower with mist overing everything but her neck/face and her legs. for the first time in my life i dont think common sense was hard enough on this movie. know your kid, 13 and up.
3


Posted on 07/02/08 by pitpens9091 Adult contributor
4


Posted on 06/30/08 by ScottK Adult contributor
5

Posted on 05/14/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

ROCKS MY SOCKS

Two Words: Will Smith
3


Posted on 04/17/08 by hola man Adult contributor

it rocks my socks!!!!

this movie is tied for my favorite movie which the other is i am legend will smith rocks he is my favorite actor and one of my favorite song artists this movie has lots of action it has some causing but i still think 8+ can watch
4


Posted on 03/19/08 by scottyk1712 Kid contributor, age 14

Good Movie, Bad Language

To start off, I very much enjoyed this movie. I watched most of it, and from what I saw I would say noone younger than thirteen should watch this. It had a few intense scenes, but for the most part it wasn't "scary". The most recent Will Smith movie I'd watched was "I Am Legend", which was disturbing in many ways. Naturally I was worried that this movie would freak me out, and compared to "I Am Legend" this movie could easily be rated PG. However, ratings are not a comparison, and this movie could most certainly not have gotten a rating any lower than a PG-13. The violence was PG-13 level, but as far as the violence or intensity of this movie goes any average-less than average eleven year old could see this. The big thing with this movie is the language. They swear so often. From what I saw there were no F words, but as far as I'm concerned, a swear word is a swear word. The thing that got me was how often they used God's name in vain. How many times, I'm not sure. But definitelly more than any child should be hearing
5

Posted on 12/31/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

one of the best movies i've ever seen!

this is a great movie,lots of action, cool special efects, and just plain cool! But not the mos apropriate either.. 1. lots of guns but only used on robots, after a car crash there is blood on the main charicter's head and a little driping from his mouth, after a fall a man's head lies in a small pudle of blood, old robots art torn up while battling the new robots, and pices of them are everywhere. 2. lots of language,pretty strong for a PG-13, go---mn, p--s, s--t, a-s, are used alot. 3. a brife scene where twoard the begining where the main charecter is standing sideways, and naked in the shower, but no privates are shown. 4. not alot of drinking, exept one scene in a bar. so this is a realy sweet movie! probably good for kids 12 and up.
5


Posted on 11/30/07 by Mr. Boxbox Adult contributor

5-stars

An amazing sci fi film. One of the best I have ever seen. There is no sexual content at all but the violence is pretty intense so i think 13 or 14+ should be ok.
3


Posted on 09/25/07 by Georgeman Adult contributor

Cool

12 an up good movie with good action I highly recamend it. But there is a backend of man in a distance and the f-word some of you mayhave noticed was said.
5


Posted on 09/05/07 by schuymarch1 Kid contributor, age 13

Number 1 movie...

This movie is #1!

See all 28 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/02/08 by pitpens9091 Adult contributor
4


Posted on 06/30/08 by ScottK Adult contributor
3


Posted on 04/17/08 by hola man Adult contributor

it rocks my socks!!!!

this movie is tied for my favorite movie which the other is i am legend will smith rocks he is my favorite actor and one of my favorite song artists this movie has lots of action it has some causing but i still think 8+ can watch
5


Posted on 11/30/07 by Mr. Boxbox Adult contributor

5-stars

An amazing sci fi film. One of the best I have ever seen. There is no sexual content at all but the violence is pretty intense so i think 13 or 14+ should be ok.
3


Posted on 09/25/07 by Georgeman Adult contributor

Cool

12 an up good movie with good action I highly recamend it. But there is a backend of man in a distance and the f-word some of you mayhave noticed was said.
5


Posted on 04/08/06 by HaloFreak123 Adult contributor
3


Posted on 02/10/05 by PapaBarrer Adult contributor

Not for the Younguns!

Good action movie - Will Smith is great! His budding acceptance of Sonny is a good subplot. R rating for violence and language, but I'd let my 14-year old watch it without my thumb on the remote.
1

Posted on 10/24/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

God's Name in Vain

The movie "would" have been a pretty good movie except for Will Smith using G--D--- TWICE in the movie. Plus some other curse words were used, too.<p>We need to start paying attention to the movies we watch and let our children watch.
2


Posted on 08/12/04 by fivebewe Adult contributor

Will is great; dumb story line

I love Will Smith...he was his usual great self in this one...but I thought the overall story was a dud. The robot-chasing-the-car was over-kill. <p>I left mildly entertained, but would not recommend it to anyone as a GREAT movie.<p>It is one I'd let my kids see (13 and 16); there were really few "disturbing" elements. A few tense moments when the robots take over Chicago, but its short-lived and kinda dumb.<p>I'll be glad to see Will in another role like "Enemy of the State." THAT is a nail biter!!
4


Posted on 07/18/04 by stan Adult contributor

I liked it, but...

I talked my wife into going to this movie with our 5 yr. girl & 7 yr. boy First ten minutes of the movie I was thinking I should have left the kids home. Language was the big issue. The brief nudity is not a big deal. There is violence and death issues. We have talked to our kids about death and violence, but still feel this movie might have been too much for them to handle....The movie is very good. Effects are great.
See all 10 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 18 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/03/08 by Bubbajean Kid contributor, age 13

Great Movie!

This is one of Will Smith's greatest movies ever made. but i CANT BELIEVE common sense gave this an on for 13 and up...i think it should a know your kid for 13 and up...but whatever. there is language, not to much, but there is language. theres at least on dick, i think 3 shits, and i believe there are 2 damns, and if you count hell as a cuss word, (i dont) theres about 5. violence can get pretty intense, with a really bad car wreck, then a seemingly defenseless Will getting knocked around by a robot that reminds me of the Terminator mixed with Spiderman. in a scene where robots are assaulting allot of people, you see a man get his head crushed, people are thrown all over the place, robots are shot, and we see a 12 year old girl screaming for help while drowning. so there is plenty of violence. as far as sexual content goes, you see Will in the shower with his leg covering his crotch, we also see a female protagonist in the shower with mist overing everything but her neck/face and her legs. for the first time in my life i dont think common sense was hard enough on this movie. know your kid, 13 and up.
5

Posted on 05/14/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

ROCKS MY SOCKS

Two Words: Will Smith
4


Posted on 03/19/08 by scottyk1712 Kid contributor, age 14

Good Movie, Bad Language

To start off, I very much enjoyed this movie. I watched most of it, and from what I saw I would say noone younger than thirteen should watch this. It had a few intense scenes, but for the most part it wasn't "scary". The most recent Will Smith movie I'd watched was "I Am Legend", which was disturbing in many ways. Naturally I was worried that this movie would freak me out, and compared to "I Am Legend" this movie could easily be rated PG. However, ratings are not a comparison, and this movie could most certainly not have gotten a rating any lower than a PG-13. The violence was PG-13 level, but as far as the violence or intensity of this movie goes any average-less than average eleven year old could see this. The big thing with this movie is the language. They swear so often. From what I saw there were no F words, but as far as I'm concerned, a swear word is a swear word. The thing that got me was how often they used God's name in vain. How many times, I'm not sure. But definitelly more than any child should be hearing
5

Posted on 12/31/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

one of the best movies i've ever seen!

this is a great movie,lots of action, cool special efects, and just plain cool! But not the mos apropriate either.. 1. lots of guns but only used on robots, after a car crash there is blood on the main charicter's head and a little driping from his mouth, after a fall a man's head lies in a small pudle of blood, old robots art torn up while battling the new robots, and pices of them are everywhere. 2. lots of language,pretty strong for a PG-13, go---mn, p--s, s--t, a-s, are used alot. 3. a brife scene where twoard the begining where the main charecter is standing sideways, and naked in the shower, but no privates are shown. 4. not alot of drinking, exept one scene in a bar. so this is a realy sweet movie! probably good for kids 12 and up.
5


Posted on 09/05/07 by schuymarch1 Kid contributor, age 13

Number 1 movie...

This movie is #1!
4


Posted on 08/09/07 by ferraris_rock Kid contributor, age 13

Awesome movie

This movie was very fun to watch. Great special effects, a cool storyline, and Will Smith make it intense and awesome all through. Most of the violence is against robots. Product placement for shoes, companies. Really cool.
5


Posted on 07/19/07 by the_terminator Kid contributor, age 10

awsome movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this movies awsome and real cool
5


Posted on 06/28/07 by danigirl123123 Kid contributor, age 13
4


Posted on 09/04/06 by Joe100 Kid contributor, age 17

A great action movie

This was highly entertaining. The action is great as is Will Smith's performance. Even if people don't rate it as highly as I do this should entertain anyone and it's fine for teens of 12 and above. To be honest this is just a pure and simple special effects/action popcorn muncher and any bore who's not satisfied should stick to Big brother or something.
5


Posted on 08/27/06 by Luthien Kid contributor, age 11

love it!

I watched and loved it, then read Isaac Asimov's collection of short stories that are similar to this plot and loved it even more!
See all 18 kids reviews >
Review It

All Things Naked Brothers Band

All Things Naked Brothers Band
What do your kids do online?
Surf
38%
Homework and research
19%
Download music
5%
Chat with friends
39%
64 votes