Astro Boy
Directed by David BowersSet in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving man's expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators, before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the father who had rejected him.
- Michael SurberApril 4, 2025I'm an old school fan from watching the original cartoons way back in the early '60s so I was glad Astro was getting a more modern reboot. It looks great but the story leaves a lot to be desired. Basically, they complicated a decent premise to attempt to modernize the cartoon. Didn't need it. Worth watching but I much preferred the new Speed Racer reboot to this to be honest.
- RichardNovember 29, 2025Ah, Astro Boy. The little robot with jets in his feet who was supposed to carry the torch of Tezuka’s legacy into the shiny CGI era. I remember catching the original cartoons on German TV back in the day , grainy, dubbed and somehow more soulful than this glossy reboot. David Bowers’ version looks slick, sure, but it feels like Hollywood tried to mash sentimental Pixar vibes onto a Japanese icon and the result is… well, a bit robotic. Freddie Highmore’s voice work gives Astro a touch of innocence, but the script complicates what was once a simple, heartfelt premise. Instead of letting the boy robot’s search for identity breathe, we get political parables, robot gladiators and Nicolas Cage brooding as Dr. Tenma. It’s entertaining enough, but you can almost hear the studio execs whispering: “Make it modern, make it bigger.” For me, the nostalgia kicks in when Astro takes flight, those jets in the feet moments still spark a grin, even if the rest of the film feels like a mistranslation. Compared to other reboots (Speed Racer did it better, honestly), this one lands somewhere in the middle: fun for kids, curious for old school fans, but not the definitive revival the character deserved. Worth a watch for the names attached and the occasional burst of anime energy, but don’t expect the magic of the ’60s cartoons.
- CallumDecember 29, 2025⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Astro Boy – Anime heart, blockbuster energy. This was a genuinely fun and entertaining watch, helped along by a cast stacked with recognisable names and a clear affection for the source material. I came to it without any built-in nostalgia — I haven’t read the manga or watched the classic cartoon — and that actually worked in its favour. It stood on its own without requiring prior investment. What surprised me most is how confidently it channels Japanese anime sensibilities into something aimed squarely at an American audience. The emotional beats are broad but sincere, the action is colourful and kinetic, and the themes around identity, loss, and belonging are handled with more care than you might expect from what looks, at first glance, like a straightforward kids’ film. Visually, it leans hard into stylisation rather than realism, which suits the story perfectly. It doesn’t try to sand down its anime roots — it embraces them, translating that energy into a form that feels accessible without being diluted. The result is something lively, heartfelt, and easy to engage with, even if you’re coming in cold. It’s not revolutionary, and it doesn’t pretend to be. But it’s earnest, entertaining, and far more enjoyable than its relatively quiet reputation might suggest. 🍿 A warm bowl of popcorn and a fizzy drink — colourful, comforting, and gone sooner than you expect.
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Astro Boy Trivia
Astro Boy was released on October 8, 2009.
Astro Boy was directed by David Bowers.
Astro Boy has a runtime of 1h 33m.
Astro Boy was produced by Maryann Garger.
Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving man's expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators, before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the father who had rejected him.
The key characters in Astro Boy are Astro / Toby (voice) (Freddie Highmore), Cora (voice) (Kristen Bell), Hamegg (voice) (Nathan Lane).
Astro Boy is rated PG.
Astro Boy is an Action, Adventure, Animation film.
Astro Boy has an audience rating of 5 out of 10.
Astro Boy had a budget of $10M.
Astro Boy has made $19.6M at the box office.