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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Iron Giant, The

Universal acclaim
Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 34 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Sci-fi
Written by:
Brad Bird
Tim McCanlies
Ted Hughes (book)
Directed by: Brad Bird
Release Date:
Theatrical: August 6, 1999
DVD: November 23, 1999
Running Time: 86 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG for fantasy action and mild language
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel, Harry Connick, Jr., Christopher McDonald, John Mahoney, Eli Marienthal, James Gammon, and Cloris Leachman
A giant metal machine falls to Earth in 1950s Maine, frightening townspeople. However, the robot befriends a nine-year-old boy named Hogarth who must save it from the predjudices of the townspeople and from a government agent intent on destroying the robot.
Also On Metacritic
FILM: The Incredibles Up
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site Animation Artist Online: Iron Giant
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack
Heart and tenderness are rare in cartoon movies. But in an age of frenetic children's fare, the new animated adventure The Iron Giant dares to show a lot of both, and it comes up a winner.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Jack Mathews
It's an antidote to complacency. The question is, whom is it trying to wake up?
Read Full Review >Mr. Showbiz Cody Clark
Bird's movie neither panders to children nor sneers at them, and it beautifully, lucidly captures the giddy adventurousness of childhood.
Read Full Review >Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy
One of the best children's movies in years. Spunky, inventive and filled with life and wonder.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
At times, The Iron Giant is more serene than it needs to be, but it's a lovely and touching daydream.
Read Full Review >Dallas Observer M. V. Moorhead
An unpretentious, funky, fast-moving work every bit as enchanting as the book.
Read Full Review >Salon.com Mary Elizabeth Williams
Surprising as it sounds, as far as examinations of trust, loyalty and identity go, the big metal dude's story winds up far more satisfying than the plodding Kubrick opus any day of the week.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan
Both a step back and a step forward from the trends of modern animation, it feels like a classic even though it's just out of the box.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
Clearly the single best, the single coolest (to borrow from Harry Knowles) animated film in a great while.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
Not just a cute romp but an involving story that has something to say.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Mark Caro
An animated tale equipped with heart, humor, blazing action and not a sappy song in earshot.
Read Full Review >Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman
Keeps its sense of humor while dealing with serious issues.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Stephen Hunter
Still, the movie -- as beautifully drawn, as sleek and engaging as it is -- has the annoyance of incredible smugness.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Lawrence Van Gelder
A smooth, skilled example of animated filmmaking.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Ken Fox
A rare adaptation that actually improves upon the original material: It's everything a good children's adventure tale should be, and a powerful fable for adults.
Read Full Review >Newsweek David Ansen
This is not exactly standard children's fare, but kids (and their parents) should be smitten by its wit and wisdom.
Read Full Review >Village Voice J. Hoberman
Remarkably unassuming, genuinely playful, and superbly executed, The Iron Giant towers over the cartoon landscape.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Jay Carr
A solid, not to say ironclad, winner in the less than overcrowded family animation arena.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
This remarkably clever, often hilarious animation derives much of its humor from its satirical view of the 1950s.
Read Full Review >Miami Herald Howard Cohen
The kind of uplifting film families can enjoy without any reservations.
Read Full Review >USA Today Susan Wloszczyna
We are happy to report there is intelligent life in feature animation beyond planet Disney and the gaseous ball of foul language known as South Park.
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak
More intelligent and thought-provoking than the usual dumb and dull-witted fare for children.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
An E.T. spin-off, but it's a very likable and imaginative one.
Read Full Review >New York Post Rod Dreher
In most respects, The Iron Giant is one of the better animated children's films in recent memory, which makes its strident political correctness all the more frustrating.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 34 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Mysti C gave it a10:
I watched this near the time of it's release, when I was eleven. I loved it then, as any science fiction-reading child would. But, what I did not expect was to come across it at twenty one, and cry like a baby throughout the last half.
Ikarus14 gave it a9:
A masterpiece in animation. Any animation student should admire this.
Gavin C gave it an8:
Very exciting, very entertaining, and very funny.
[Anonymous] gave it a10:
This movie was great.. I liked the giant robot learning not to kill, and about the boy teaching him, and being his friend... This movie has a good moral, i expected less excitement, but it gave me soo much excitement!!!!!
Sophie gave it a10:
By far one of the greatest animations ever made. Very underrated, but it's finally starting to get the recognition of critics and public alike, and it's great when a family-friendly cartoon is fantastic and intelligent entertainment for both kids, teens and adults. I really mean it - this is a rare thing, the type of wonderful movie they won't make anymore... Watch it and LOVE it.
Scott B. gave it a10:
One of the best and most moving movies -- animated or otherwise -- of all time.
Daniel K. gave it a10:
This movie not only has a good story; but it has heart. Along with a couple of comedic moments, there are morals that almost anyone can relate to.
