Bicentennial Man

Name: Bicentennial Man
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Family
Released: December 17, 1999
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 42
Cast: Robin Williams

1999

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 134 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 134 Ratings

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Bicentennial Man

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: December 17, 1999 | PG

Starring: Robin Williams

Summary: Follows the life and times of Andrew (Williams), a robot purchased by the Martin family as a household appliance programmed to perform menial tasks. As Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought, the Martins soon discover they don't have an ordinary robot. (Touchstone Pictures)

Director: Chris Columbus

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 132 min

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Critic Reviews

William Arnold

Finally becomes a somber, sentimental and rather profound romantic fantasy that is more true to the spirit of the Golden Age of science-fiction writing than possibly any other movie of the '90s. Read full review

Curtis Morgan

Entertains but never quite engages.

Lawrence Toppman

May wrestle with big ideas, but it does so through a succession of small emotional moments. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Columbus' approach is intended to cloak such topics as mortality and human identity in the warm glow of greeting card sentiment, which renders the prescription palatable for mass consumption but hopelessly diluted. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Director Chris Columbus...seals this comedy in an impenetrable bubble of hollow humanism. Read full review

Steven Rea

I'll be darned if I can think of a more excruciating, ponderous, remarkably unfunny and inert cinemagoing experience to come down the pike in ages.

David Ansen

Kids will be bored, the rest of us baffled.

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User Reviews

ALF

Sep 25, 2011

This film exemplifies just how pointless professional film critics are. As soon as I see a negative review by Roger Ebert I know I will really like the film. I concluded this is because firstly, I see the film, secondly I have an open-mind before seeing it and do not suffer from the crassThis film exemplifies just how pointless professional film critics are. As soon as I see a negative review by Roger Ebert I know I will really like the film. I concluded this is because firstly, I see the film, secondly I have an open-mind before seeing it and do not suffer from the crass "look at me" approach of most film critics. This film is a wonderful story really well told. A robot who through a fault, fate whatever aspires to be more than it is (a trait film critics could learn other than being failed writers). It is a film no matter how often I see it, never fails to leave me feeling entertained and fully engaged. It has the right mix of humour, story telling and a poignant ending which it only takes two brain cells to rub together to understand. Clearly to many film and television critics have nothing to rub together :). This was (1999) and is a rarity these days, a film which you can sit the whole family in front of, from toddlers to your 90 year old grandparents and know they will not need to reach for earmuffs, hide under the settee or pray for a rapid one way trip to the next life. I could not recommend this film highly enough for family entertainment. As JonR rightly says an emotional film, which at the end of the day is surely what the world of film is about, an emotional connection. Perhaps film critics need to learn this. Robin Williams excellent. One of his best roles. Embeth Davidtz also excellent. Sam Neil - also excellent. The rest of the cast were excellent to. Special FX to enhance, not dominate. Good pace and a decent length unlike the usual cheap 80 to 90 minute dross we normally get. Script is a good adaptation of Asimov who is one of my favourite authors. Having read the film reviews by so many supposedly professional critics, I must thank most of you for increasing my already deeply rooted levels of contempt for your "industry." An industry which seems to be one composed of literary hacks and failures and produce nothing but spite. If any of you had any balls you would create.… Expand

11 of 15 users found this helpful114

KyleS

Dec 31, 2007

If you don't like it, you don't get it. id say its as simple as that, wonderful movie gets me everytime.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JonR

Jun 9, 2008

This movie made me think how life should be much more appreciated than it already is. Probably one of the most emotional films I have seen.

3 of 3 users found this helpful

inaneswine

Nov 14, 2017

Sometimes you need the occasional mushy 90s film to get yourself through the day. What better form than this touching story about the robot who wants to be human. It may be a well-trodden idea, but Bicentennial Man has just enough heart, humour and Robin to make it a really great watch.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Martimus98

Mar 14, 2019

This story was based on a novelette written by Isaac Asimov, The Positronic Man.

It's a story about an unusual robot that spends it's life striving to become human. The movie is highly underrated in my opinion. I think the actors all did well dealing with what had to be a challenging storyThis story was based on a novelette written by Isaac Asimov, The Positronic Man.

It's a story about an unusual robot that spends it's life striving to become human. The movie is highly underrated in my opinion.

I think the actors all did well dealing with what had to be a challenging story to recreate. I'd speak highly of Robin Williams in particular but I think that others have spoken to his comic genius better than I can. I enjoyed Sam Neill's contribution to the movie. Embeth Davidtz did well in her dual role of 'Little Miss' and Portia.

In my opinion Chris Columbus allowed Robin fairly free reign in his role and that's what really made this movie shine. Is it a serious re-telling of Asimov's story? Not really. It's a serious story peppered with Robin Williams silliness that makes the subject matter much easier to digest.… Expand

8 of 9 users found this helpful81

FilmQueen

Oct 29, 2015

This film is not bad, but I found it too sentimental sometimes. Also it doesn't make any sense why Andrew, the robot is different from other robots and why he feels. Spielberg's "A.I.-Artificial Intelligence" is based on a similar idea but is much better done and makes much more sense.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

KeithH.

Aug 30, 2007

A boring movie. I was intrigued, when in the beginning they recapped asimov's three laws of robotics, but then they never used them. At the end, one robot even seems to break them. Plodding pace, a weepy score that will put you to sleep and Robin Williams mugging for the camera in A boring movie. I was intrigued, when in the beginning they recapped asimov's three laws of robotics, but then they never used them. At the end, one robot even seems to break them. Plodding pace, a weepy score that will put you to sleep and Robin Williams mugging for the camera in almost every scene (not for the first time either) make this a movie to avoid.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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36	#36 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
57	#57 Most Shared Movie of 1999