Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Human drama is focus of sci-fi film with violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mother/Android
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
At the start of MOTHER/ANDROID -- set in the near future, when every house has a robot butler -- college student Georgia (Chloe Grace Moretz) and her boyfriend, Sam (Algee Smith), find out they're pregnant right before leaving Georgia's parents' house for a party. During the party, something happens that turns the androids violent, and the humans find themselves vulnerable to the stronger robots. Flash forward nine months, and a very pregnant Georgia and Sam are surviving in the wilderness and evading the androids. They hatch a plan to get to a safe nearby city to give birth and hopefully escape the country.
Is It Any Good?
Seemingly based in the premise that human emotion is at the heart of all compelling sci-fi, this film misfires a bit by focusing too heavily on the drama of a pregnant couple in an apocalyptic world. Mother/Android is much more "mother" than "android." There's some tension around Georgia and Sam's survival (and that of their imminent baby), but the murderous robots and the circumstances involving their rebellion deserved more development.
The performances are compelling -- particularly Moretz, who's a very credible pregnant woman on the run -- and the grey tonality of the film successfully conveys the harshness of their situation. But the story's focus may disappoint both those looking for romantic drama and those looking for sci-fi action. And the ending forces the actors into a scene that feels disconnected from the rest of the film.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the premise for Mother/Android. Can you imagine a time when every house has a robot butler? Do you think this is an attractive future? Why, or why not?
A character mentions a Czech play from the 1920s that mirrors the plot of the film. Does it surprise you to know robots were a topic of interest to artists so long ago? Where could you go for more information about Karel Capek's work?
How would you describe the look of this film? What emotions do the color scheme and the music evoke?
How do characters demonstrate courage? Why is that an important character strength?
What role does violence play in the film? How did it make you feel? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 17, 2021
- Cast : Chloe Grace Moretz , Algee Smith , Raul Castillo
- Director : Mattson Tomlin
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Hulu
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Robots
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate