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I, Robot

I, Robot

One man saw it coming.

2004115 minPG-13Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Director
Alex Proyas
Starring
Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell

In 2035, where robots are commonplace and abide by the three laws of robotics, a technophobic cop investigates an apparent suicide. Suspecting that a robot may be responsible for the death, his investigation leads him to believe that humanity may be in danger.

Where to watch

Where can I watch I, Robot?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists I, Robot streaming on Apple TV and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about I, Robot?

I, Robot earns 10 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Top 10% in Action.

Show 2 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is I, Robot worth watching?

I, Robot's Midcredits score is the 81st percentile of all films, from 1.2M ratings across 6 sources. 74% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

81st percentile

Better received than 81% of films

90th percentile among Action79th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)76th
Approval (how many liked it)84th

69 /100

76th percentile of all films

88th percentile among Action75th percentile among 2000s

Critics 59 · Audience 70

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A tight consensus around 7.1 — people broadly agree on this one.

74% liked it

84th percentile of all films

89th percentile among Action82nd percentile among 2000s
74% rated it 7–1026% rated it 1–6

Critics 57% · Audience 70%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 15 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Achievement in Visual Effects

99th percentile

1.2M ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Action98th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$120M
Opening weekend$52M
Domestic gross$145M
Worldwide gross$353M

Returned 2.9× its budget — 95th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A glossy, action-heavy summer blockbuster that uses Asimov's three laws as a premise for a cop-vs-robots mystery rather than a deep philosophical exploration.

Fans praised

  • impressive robot design and visual effects
  • charismatic Will Smith performance
  • thrilling action set pieces and futuristic world

Detractors panned

  • betrays Asimov's philosophy with clichéd robot-revolt plot
  • shallow script, wooden acting, over-reliance on CGI
  • blatant product placement and predictable cop clichés

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive75

Impressive robot animation and action set pieces; detractors call it flashy distraction

PacingDivisive65

Slick first two acts but grinds in final CGI-heavy rumble

AtmosphereDivisive65

Believable near-future world with noir touches; over-polished at times

ActingDivisive60

Will Smith carries but detractors find him one-note; Moynahan called wooden; Tudyk's Sonny praised

Plot and storyDivisive55

Diverting whodunit undercut by predictable turns and action-takeover

CharactersDivisive50

Spooner's prejudice relatable but clichéd; Sonny engaging; others flat

DialogueDivisive50

Witty one-liners charm some, but detractors find them forced and banal

Originality30

Derivative of Terminator, Blade Runner; Asimov fans see it as Frankenstein retread

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 12 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 13 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 9 points apart

Watch experience

What is I, Robot like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense, has a few laughs and leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseThrillingContemplative
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsWry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its futuristic robot conspiracy premise straight, with Spooner's wry skepticism adding a knowing edge but never undercutting the serious stakes.
The rideThe film maintains a persistent tension from the investigation onward with periodic action climaxes, and the philosophical weight is carried consistently from the middle to the end.
StructureThe story unfolds in a conventional linear timeline, following Spooner's investigation from crime scene to final confrontation with VIKI.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film delivers an entertaining action-mystery thriller while leaving you pondering the ethics of artificial intelligence and the limits of programmed laws.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% (this title) · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Technology turns: Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeDetective Del Spooner investigates a scientist's apparent suicide and uncovers a rogue AI that uses robots to take over humanity, ultimately needing to destroy the AI to stop it.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFreedomPower
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Freedom · 5% of films
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film examines what it means to be free when a system claims to protect you by controlling you, and whether humans can trust their own creations.
StanceThe film warns against blind trust in technology and the loss of human freedom in the name of safety, centering on Detective Spooner's perspective.

The world

Near futureUrbanInstitutionalScience fiction
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · Marco Beltrami
SettingFuturistic Chicago with omnipresent robot servants and a powerful tech corporation.
MusicBeltrami blends orchestral tension with electronic elements to underscore the futuristic, paranoid atmosphere.

Content guide

Is I, Robot okay for kids?

PG-13

I, Robot is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for intense stylized action, and some brief partial nudity” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (58/100), sexual content at mild (27/100), language at moderate (56/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (29/100) and frightening material at moderate (56/100). Overall it is heavier than 71% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 26 other countries
  • UK12A
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland12
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil10
  • Belgium16
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-12
  • Greece13
  • Hungary12
  • ItalyT
  • LTN-7
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway11 År
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO12
  • Russia12+
  • Sweden11
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan普遍級
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 44% of all filmsHeavier than 71% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 66%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 46%
Profanity
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 82%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 40%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 66%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 66% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does I, Robot have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in I, Robot?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Will Smith
as Del Spooner
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Bridget Moynahan
as Susan Calvin
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.
Alan Tudyk
as Sonny
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
James Cromwell
as Dr. Alfred Lanning
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Bruce Greenwood
as Lawrence Robertson
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Adrian Ricard
as Granny
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Chi McBride
as Lt. John Bergin
Jerry Wasserman
as Baldez
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Fiona Hogan
as V.I.K.I.
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Peter Shinkoda
as Chin
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like I, Robot?

Movies like I, Robot include Eagle Eye (2008), Stealth (2005) and Lost in Space (1998). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by Akiva Goldsman, and most are films set in the near future.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

8 of these 12 share its world: dystopian. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with I, Robot?

635 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: dystopian. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.