The Electric State
Directed by Joe Russo and Anthony RussoBased on the graphic novel of the same name by Simon Stålenhag, the story takes place in a reimagined version of 1997. With humans isolated in their VR helmets and a continuing battle against a strange breed of monstruous drones in the wake of a technological meltdown, a teenage girl named Michelle and a robot travel the West Coast of the U.S in search of the girl's missing brother.
Where to Watch The Electric State
Cast of The Electric State
The Electric State Ratings & Reviews
- Kit LazerMarch 13, 2025It’s kinda like if Ready Player One and E.T. had a baby with Chappie but that baby was Monstro Elizasue.
- jackmeatApril 30, 2025My quick rating - 6.4/10. The Electric State delivers a visually impressive, often intriguing journey through an alternate 1990s where robots are seamlessly embedded into society, but its narrative doesn't quite hit the mark it sets out for. Directed by the Russo brothers, this post-robot-war odyssey sees an orphaned teen (Millie Bobby Brown) hitting the road with a mysterious robot companion to find her long-lost brother. Along the way, she teams up with a smuggler (Chris Pratt, nearly unrecognizable under a scruffy makeover) and his snarky sidekick. The world they traverse is one where society never collapsed, Terminator-style—instead, it adapted. It's a clever, almost optimistic reimagining of tech's role in culture, and the 1990s setting adds a rich nostalgic flair. Virtual reality meetings launched via AOL invites are just one of many charming touches that breathe life into this retro-futuristic vision. Millie Bobby Brown steps into a new kind of role here, one that plays with both vulnerability and resilience, though the character's emotional arc sometimes feels muted by the film's uneven tone. The film shifts frequently between mature themes—grief, identity, existential crisis—and lighter, family-friendly moments, which can make it hard to pin down exactly who it's for. Chris Pratt’s Keats, somewhere between Star-Lord and Andy Dwyer, provides comic relief and heart. His instantly recognizable voice helps anchor the character, even if his rugged look initially throws you. The supporting cast gets a fun boost from Woody Harrelson as a flamboyant AI mall leader modeled after Mr. Peanut—an imaginative and surreal highlight that shows the creative team wasn’t afraid to get weird. Visually, the film is undeniably stunning. With a reported $300 million budget, you expect spectacle, and you get it. From the vast robotic junkyards to the neon-lit cyber malls, the aesthetic is lush and immersive. The integration of live-action with VFX is some of the cleanest and most convincing seen in recent memory, and the world-building, from robot etiquette to tech norms, feels deeply considered. That said, while the setting is rich and the journey is long, it often feels like the film is circling rather than progressing. The emotional stakes never fully land, and by the end, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the movie had more potential than payoff. It’s less of a destination story and more of a meandering road trip through an alternate timeline that’s worth seeing, even if you won’t remember every stop along the way. Despite the media flack it reportedly received, The Electric State isn’t a misfire—it’s just not the genre-defining epic it might’ve aspired to be. It’s imaginative, well-produced, and occasionally poignant, but it coasts more on its production value and cool ideas than on a solid emotional core.
- James CMarch 23, 2025I don't understand the hate on this movie. This movie was actually really good and carried a good message (enjoy reality and the world around yourself, stop disconnecting yourself via virtual means). In all highly enjoyed it and can't wait to read the book.
- Michael FosterMarch 15, 2025Deserved the big screen. Great performances, a visual treat, and killer 80s soundtrack. Very much enjoyed.
- PatrikStarMarch 14, 2025$320 million for a Movie that doesn’t even get a theatrical release... It seems like the Russos and Netflix are on a mission to kill cinema. Oh, and the movie? It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, but with that BUDGET, you’d expect way more...
- Игорь ГориховскийApril 26, 2025It's for 3 years and earlier only.
- parcolanApril 23, 2025I enjoyed it a lot, worth it your time! 👌🏻
- eyeofthetornadoApril 20, 2025The Electric State is a visually ambitious, emotionally resonant project that offers incredible creative opportunities—especially in visual tone, character emotion, and world-building. However, it also brings directorial challenges in pacing, adaptation, and balancing visual effects with narrative depth. The integration of retro-futuristic elements with decayed Americana gives the film a distinct identity. Translating Stålenhag’s artwork to screen is a director’s dream challenge—blending realism with surreal elements. And lastly please stop calling Millie Bobby Brown as kiddo
- JCApril 18, 2025Loved it! The kind of movie that, if I saw it as a kid, I would have remembered it in my 40s. Old school Goonies, Fallout, Stranger Things feel.
- Motaba Movie centerMarch 14, 2025The Electronic State is probably the most spectacular film in Netflix history, a brilliantly ambitious, excitingly individual world in which the illustrations of the original work really come to life. If this world had been blessed with more captivating characters and a less predictable plot, we could now be talking about one of the greatest blockbusters of the year - so it remains one of the greatest, which is entertaining, but a little hollow
- Jay JosephApril 17, 2025So so so boring. Just really forgettable and I even fell asleep in the last 30 minutes and had to finish it the next day. And I NEVER fall asleep in movies, it has so be super super dull to put me to sleep like that.
- Rob Logan | The Geek GenerationMarch 17, 2025This movie's getting a lot of hate because the budget is ridiculous, but I'm not interested in reviewing it based on its budget, just the final movie. Is it a fantastic movie? No. Is it a horrible movie? Also no. While it hits on a lot of obvious themes and does have some nice world-building, it also has a few things holding it back. The themes are explored mostly through dialogue, but just because the characters say something about their experiences doesn't mean it has weight. In other words, a lot more telling than showing. Two, there was a lot of potential for some memorable, wacky side characters to exist with their own mini-arcs, but instead they're all pretty forgettable. Lastly, it's incredibly predictable because almost every plot development is telegraphed way in advance. Even with all the negatives, it's a perfectly middle-of-the-road adventure with a coherent plot, a main character that has a motivation to move toward, and antagonists that make that journey challenging.
- LordDeTracyMarch 16, 2025It was retro funny. Great for family's and kids. Some good laughs and catapults that throw fridges. LoL.
- Delroy G JamesMarch 23, 2025This movie had a different and unique concept. Unfortunately Whoever watch and bash it didn't not just watch the movie just for entertainment, they were looking for something more than what this movie was about. I remember the same thing happen with the Matrix came out in 1999. Some people did not understand the movie at first watch. Then, they started making up crap about what it was about besides what they actuallh saw. Sometimes, they should just watch a movie and let it be that. Stop looking for meanings in the movie, just watch and enjoy 😉.
- ParkerthonApril 13, 2025Disney channel like movie that tried to be campy scifi, but felt like I had to be 11 to appreciate it. There's better options for family friendly entertainment. Even my almost 12 year old thought it "cringe". That said the robot CGI is phenomenal. The acting and dialogue is just beyond terrible unless you like your dialogue extra corny. Unfortunately there's way too much of it. There are points where you wish they'd just stop talking and trying to act. It's like every actor played a bad parody of themselves. The plot was okay but completely predictable. The action was quite good, but mostly because of the CGI robots. I guess in the end, it depends on what you appreciate more. The extreme mixed reviews makes sense now. This is a CGI fest with no substance and makes you wish they serviced the acting and dialogue better. It really could have been so much more.
