RoboRex

Sci-fi family flick has some violence, tween taunting.
RoboRex
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that RoboRex (aka The Adventures of RoboRex) is a 2014 sci-fi family movie about James, an inventive tween boy who meets a robotic dog sent from the future by his future self to save the world from the evil designs of one Professor Apocalypse. There is frequent sci-fi style violence (computer-animated explosions and lasers), but what might be most troubling to families is the image of a seemingly dead dog lying on its side toward the end of the movie. There also is some verbal bullying and taunting in the classroom and sad scenes showing James and his father trying to come to grips with James's mother's death.
Community Reviews
Ok. But better then people say.
Report this review
Loved it
Report this review
What's the Story?
James Miller (Kalvin Stinger) is a creative tween who is constantly coming up with Rube Goldberg-style devices in his bedroom. His life changes forever when he comes across a giant egg that has come crashing from the sky. A robotic dog with a message from the future hatches out of the egg with a message from James' future self. The dog, RoboRex, warns James that a man who will soon call himself Professor Apocalypse (Ethan Phillips) is out to rule the world by using advanced scientific plans developed by James' late mother to create an evil robotic feline named Destructo-Cat. It's up to James to stop Professor Apocalypse from using science and technology for his own foul ends and, with the help of RoboRex, save the world.
Is It Any Good?
ROBOREX (aka THE ADVENTURES OF ROBOREX) is a low-budget and mostly family-friendly sci-fi movie. Although the cheap computer animation of robotic dogs, cats, and laser explosions tends to distract from the plot, the story itself is entertaining enough to keep families with tweens entertained. There are some cheesy character tropes in the movie -- the father who doesn't believe his imaginative tween son's wild stories of robot animals from the future, the tween girl who does believe him and wants to help -- but the movie keeps the action moving at a regular enough clip to keep audiences engaged.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about science-fiction movies. How is this movie similar to and different from other sci-fi films?
How is verbal bullying and taunting addressed in the movie?
How does this movie address the untimely passing of a parent?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 21, 2014
- Cast: Ben Browder, Ethan Phillips, Kalvin Stinger
- Director: Stephen Shimek
- Studio: Phase 4 Films
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: Some mild action.
- Last updated: December 6, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love science fiction
Themes & Topics
Browse titles with similar subject matter.
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