Image: Midjourney/ MomJunction Design Team
Robot movies for kids are a great source of entertainment and education. Robots have long been an interesting feature of movies. For example, the 1918 silent film, The Master Mystery, starring Harry Houdini (wherein Automaton was the Robot’s name) was quite famous. Also, the most iconic and beloved robots — C-3PO and R2-D2 — were shown in George Lucas’ Star Wars, another magnificent motion film. Such films affect generations of science fiction fans who are crazy about robots and cyborgs. Children love to impersonate robots—the way they walk, laugh, and weep. These movies also provide valuable lessons about technology, friendship, and moral dilemmas, making them ideal for family viewing. Here is a selection of the top robot movies that will keep your kids engaged with the wonders of artificial intelligence and robotics.
36 Robot Movies For Kids
1. D.A.R.Y.L
Image: IMDb
A family adopts a little boy who is lost in the woods. The wonder kid doesn’t remember who he is or knows nothing about his parents. The family tries to help him find his family and his home. Soon, the family notices that the boy seems to have certain special abilities, which are usually not common among children of his age. Sometimes he does things that no human can do. D.A.R.Y.L is a hilarious watch for the entire family.
2. WALL-E
Image: IMDb
Humans have completely abandoned the Earth because the entire planet has now become a huge landfill. WALL-E, a trash-collecting robot, lives alone on Earth with a gigantic task to clean up the planet. As he sifts through the garbage, he finds relics of human culture through memorabilia, history, and music. WALL-E runs into an advanced robot called EVE. Though technically not a musical, this movie makes its way into the list of one of the best musical movies for kids to watch for its beautiful soundtrack.
3. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
Image: IMDb
Based on the bestselling book of the same name, this movie is full of humor and witty dialogues that kids will love. When it was planned to “remove” Earth to make room for the Galactic Highway, Arthur Dent found a way to preserve it. This robot cartoon movie is full of all kinds of weird friends and enemies, including a depressed robot, space cops, and aliens. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is one of the best space movies for kids and adults alike.
Do remember4. The Incredibles
Image: IMDb
Although this is more akin to a movie about superheroes, it has the enduring themes of robots and A.I., and many plots and action scenes revolve around them. When a superhero family “retires” due to public pressure, they find it difficult to adjust to normal human life. A threat from an unexpected angle makes them come out of retirement to save the world – as a family. It has all the iconic features of Disney movies, excellent 3D animation effects, solid dubbing, and weird plots that will keep you guessing.
5. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Image: IMDb
When A.I. technology was still in its early stages, this movie brought it into the mainstream. When the coastline of the world began to flood, and the cities sank, humans moved to the middle of the continent and developed advanced A.I. in robots that perform daily tasks. David is one of the artificial intelligence models in a human body, adopted by a human mother. The film is beautifully made and explores deep concepts such as the things that truly make us human, moral, and the essence of existence.
6. Robots
Image: IMDb
In a world filled with robots, a maverick inventor takes a trip to the big city to meet his inspiration and work for him. He quickly learns that the big city, despite all its charms, and appeals has some sinister elements that he needs to worry about if he’s to achieve his goal of making the world better. With comedy, some robot romance, and some witty social commentary on how corporations shape our world’s this is a great watch for all.
7. Pacific Rim
Human beings are fighting for their own survival. But the threat does not come from each other or aliens, but the threat of giant monsters at the bottom of the ocean. The only thing between humans and destruction is the giant robot suits, which are “piloted” by humans who have bonds with each other and the robot. Although the film is about fighting monsters and saving humans, it touches on many topics such as family, self-worth, and inner courage.
8. I, Robot
Image: IMDb
The suicide of a famous A.I. scientist brought Detective Spooner to the case. Despite his inner fear and aversion to robots as entities, while sailing in this robot-filled future, he began to discover that there were more obvious suicides than he initially thought. Loosely based on Issac Asimov’s classic novel, the animation and the plot will keep you thoroughly entertained.
9. Inspector Gadget
Image: IMDb
Inspector Gadget is a movie adapted from the beloved children’s cartoon and is a lively watch for the whole family. A bewildered security guard is caught in an accident, and when he recovers, he finds that he is part cybernetic with a gadget or tool for seemingly any occasion. The doctor/scientist who repairs him becomes interested in him. When the city is threatened by Claw, Inspector Gadget will make full use of all gadgets and his cunning abilities.
Certain movies or films are always dear to the heart, no matter how old we are. Novelist and magazine editor Jason Russell shares his thoughts on the ever-growing Inspector Gadget franchise. He says, “Like many kids in the early 1980s, I remember the Inspector Gadget franchise pretty fondly. While it lacked the fantastical elements I craved in my daily He-Man fix and the over-the-top do-gooder ways of Superfriends on the weekends, it was always a treat to visit Metro City’s bionic crime fighter, his niece and the true “brains” behind the operation; Brain the dog (i).”
10. Bicentennial Man
Image: IMDb
In this movie, androids are household “servants” that people rely on for menial tasks. Android Andrew starts to develop emotions similar to a human being, such as happiness or creativity. However, some people don’t see this development as positive, and he finds himself trying to evade his creators. Bicentennial Man is a funny yet compelling plot with excellent voice acting by Robin Williams.
11. Star Wars Series
Image: IMDb
Without the iconic Star Wars series, no robot movie list will be complete. In addition to the futuristic environment, aliens, and cool action sequences, the movie has a lot of robots. They’re often sentient or semi-sentient at the very least, making their influence on the story impactful and enjoyable to watch. Whether they’re evil robots obsessed with war or a bumbling android, they simply cannot be rude.
Did you know?12. The Iron Giant
Image: IMDb
A giant “killer” robot from outer space has landed on Earth. As the government and military mobilize to fight and destroy this perceived threat, something incredible happens – the robot befriends a little boy. When they find common ground despite being different, the boy tries to save the robot from the government and military. What follows is a heartwarming story that will appeal to both adults and kids alike.
13. The Day The Earth Stood Still
Image: IMDb
In this remake of the 1951 classic, a spaceship arrives at Earth with two passengers – an alien and a powerful robot. Although the aliens claim that their goal was to save Earth, humans begin to panic at the size and power of the robot, which they regard as a threat. When a scientist believes that the captured alien was sincere about his intentions to save Earth, she decides to free him to see what exactly Earth needed to save from it. The movie is a compelling watch that will make you question our direction as a species.
14. Tomorrowland
Image: IMDb
Many movies about the future of robots are often pessimistic or ominous. Tomorrowland breaks through this formula, showing a relatively optimistic future for mankind in a different dimension. When human survival is threatened by predictions and calculations by futuristic scientists, our protagonist will try to change the future in an attempt to influence the present. Although it may be a bit confusing, the plot is very compelling and has excellent characters, including animated and animatronic characters.
15. Flight Of The Navigator
Image: IMDb
Flight of the Navigator has everything you would like to have in a science fiction movie of the 80s – time travel, aliens, and a sentient robot with a strange sense of humor. When a young boy disappears down a ravine and finds that eight years have passed since he “returned,” it gets the whole world was thinking about what happened. The government becomes more worried when the alien spaceship crashes on Earth and is eventually captured by NASA. This movie is a light-hearted watch with great comedy.
16. Flubber
Image: IMDb
When a wacky professor tries to save his beloved university from being shut down, he accidentally stumbles upon a bouncy, flexible material he names “Flubber,” which seems to be sentient at times. The professor’s rivals attempt to steal the substance at all costs. The professor is helped along the way by his wandering robot companion called Weebo. If you’re a fan of comedic sci-fi and Robin Williams, you’ll love this movie.
17. Hugo
Image: IMDb
Hugo is a young Parisian orphan. He is an expert in repairing gadgets, which he learned from his father and uncle. However, he has no contact with his father apart from the robot “automaton,” but he lacks the key to operate it. When Hugo and his friends set out to find out more about his father and the automaton, they discover they are linked by surprising circumstances. Watch this for the great portrayal of Paris in the 1930s and the theme of family.
18. Short Circuit
Image: IMDb
When one of five experimental robots in the military is struck by lightning, the robot undergoes a profound transformation that leads him to become self-aware and sentient. When the military chases the robot to reprogram it, the robot flees with the help of a woman who believes he’s as human as anyone. The robot “Number 5” must escape from being captured while trying to convince his creator that he has developed consciousness and personality similar to any human being. A classic of its times, the movie still holds up as a good watch to this day.
19. Big Hero 6
Image: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
In the near future, robots will become common everywhere. 14-year-old genius Hiro activates his brother’s medicare robot “Baymax,” they join forces to prevent an unknown villain from misusing Hiro’s invention – a dangerous new type of robot called “microbots.” Helping them are the goofy science whizzes from Hiro’s brother’s college as they form “Big Hero 6” to safeguard the futuristic city of “San Fransokyo.” What starts off as a simple movie about family evolves into one of the best superhero movies for kids.
Trivia20. Astroboy
Image: IMAGI
When a genius scientist loses his son, he creates a robot in his image to help him cope with grief. The robot “Astro Boy” is powerful and smart, but he cannot fill the void left by the scientist’s son. He then embarks on a journey to discover himself and his place in the futuristic Metro City. This movie is full of action and emotional roller coaster scenes. Astro Boy seeks a sense of self and tries to gain the approval of his creator.
21. The Adventures Of Roborex
Image: IMDb
Young James Miller is extremely distraught when he loses his pet dog and best friend, Rex. His life is changed forever, though, as one night, a time machine emerges in his backyard piloted by “RoboRex”, a robot dog that has traveled back in time to save the future. As they team up to stop an evil scientist and his cat sidekick from world domination, they form a heartwarming bond that goes beyond the barrier of species and technology.
22. Cody The Robosapien
Image: IMDb
When a scientist creating intelligent robots for the government finds out they are meant for violence and military use, he tries to steal one of them and free him. The now broken robot is found by a lonely young boy who fixes him up and forms a bond with him. The two then team up to rescue the boy’s parents as well as the robot’s creator from the evil organization that wants to weaponize the robots.
23. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
Image: IMDb
Jimmy Neutron is already a genius at age eight and invents things that adults only dream of. But this does not make him the most popular kid in school. When alien species kidnap all the adults in the world, all these things are no longer important. Jimmy, his unlikely friends, and his robot dog, Goddard must embark on a hilarious journey to save their parents and Earth itself.
24. Tron: Legacy
Image: IMDb
Sam Flynn is a tech-savvy rebel without a cause. When a series of clues about his father’s disappearance leads him to an old video game arcade, he finds himself transported to a virtual world. This is the same virtual world his father created and has been stuck in for two decades. To save his father, they have to battle the artificial intelligence called CLU and its army of robots, as they plan to dominate the real world, as well. With stunning visuals and a retro vibe, this is a great film to watch with family as there is a strong father-son plot as well as great action sequences.
25. Meet The Robinsons
Image: IMDb
Lewis is a young orphan who’s having a hard time getting adopted. He’s a prolific inventor whose inventions scare away potential parents. When he runs into an odd kid who claims to be a cop from the future, his life becomes even stranger. As Lewis realizes the future is directly linked to his actions, he and the future cop go on a quest to stop the “Bowler Hat Guy” (with a robotic, talking bowler hat) from changing the flow of time itself. Meet the Robinsons is a hilarious and heartwarming tale with a strong theme of family.
26. Transformers: The Movie (1986)
Image: IMDb
From the 80s to today, the Transformers franchise has been extremely popular among kids and teenagers. Watch these everyday vehicles morph into heavily armed giant robots as the Autobots fight to defend their home planet, which has been taken over by the evil Decepticons. An even larger threat looms on the horizon in the form of Unicron, a massive planet-eating robotic entity. Fans of the original and the newer version of Transformers will enjoy this movie starring Orson Welles. Newer renditions, such as Transformers Prime, have achieved comparable levels of acclaim and adoration.
27. Robocop (1987)
Image: IMDb
In the dystopian future where crime has taken over Detroit, the police are almost helpless. Taking advantage of the situation, a company tries to privatize the city’s police force. One day, a policeman called Alex Murphy is seriously injured by criminals. The only way to save his life is to cybernetically enhance his body, thereby creating “Robocop.” Although Robocop is effective in dealing with local crime, the real villain may be closer than he thought.
28. Batteries Not Included
Image: IMDb
The Rileys have no end to their problems. For one, there is a gang of hooligans harassing them in their own neighborhood. Worse still, they’re employed by developers who want to demolish their apartments. Luckily for them, help arrives from the most unexpected source. Robotic aliens who are willing to use their abilities to help the Riley’s keep their home and thwart the developer’s plot. Batteries Are Not Included is a light-hearted movie that deals with human nature.
29. The Adventures Of A.R.I.: My Robot Friend
Image: IMDb
Young Noah is an empathetic shy boy who tries to do the right thing. When he became friends with a robot, he was “liberated” from his father’s workplace, and he hardly knew that this would have serious consequences. The robot in question, A.R.I. was designated to be a weapon for evil purposes, and the laboratory director wants him back at all costs. When Noah and ARI try to be one step ahead of the kidnappers, they form a close friendship that transcends differences.
30. Sid The Science Kid: The Movie
Image: IMDb
When Sid and his classmate get a chance to see a modern science museum, before its grand opening, they’re ecstatic. To add to their excitement, the tours for this museum are all robots, courtesy of the eccentric scientist who helped design the exhibits. Things will change when a robot begins to exhibit strange behavior and threatens the grand opening and the museum itself! Sid, his classmate Gabriella, and the scientist will have to handle this rogue tour guide before he can cause significant damage.
31. Real Steel
Image: IMDb
In the future, sports will be dominated by robots, and especially people who like to watch boxing matches. A former boxer tries his hand at the new sport and discovers he is terrible at it. To make matters worse, his ex-wife dies, leaving him with custody of their young son Max. As Max builds his own boxing robot and starts winning matches, the estranged father-son duo discover that they have more in common than they initially thought. They compete, bond, and understand what it means to be a family.
32. Next Gen
Image: IMDb
When young Mai accidentally activated a deadly robot at a product launch, she hardly thought that it would follow her home. The robot 7723 lives in the dog’s kennel and soon becomes good friends with Mai, helping her fight off bullies (with their own robots), and staying with her when her own mother was too busy to give Mai attention. But 7723 has some limitations, especially because it was damaged while escaping from the laboratory. The film explores themes such as family, loss, the nature of friendship, and morality.
33. Zathura: A Space Adventure
Image: IMDb
Young brothers Walter and Danny have resigned themselves to having a boring time when their father has to attend to some work, and they’re all alone in the house. All that changes when they realize that the old board game they found is actually influencing real events such as launching their home into space and landing them amongst aliens, robots, and other dangers. As they navigate these obstacles to find their way home, they run into an astronaut from Earth who is equally lost. If you liked Jumanji or science fiction, you would definitely enjoy this one.
34. Spaceballs
Image: IMDb
Spaceballs tells the tale of ace pilot Lonestar and his companion Barf as who help rescue a princess and her loyal robot from the “Spaceballs” chasing her. Their leader not only wants to kidnap the princess but also intends to steal the atmosphere from her home planet. With the odds stacked against them and an evil alien race on their tail, this movie is packed full of wacky action scenes, over the top characters, and a lot of references to the Star Wars franchise, which it routinely parodies. If you are a big fan of Star Wars, this one is for you.
35. Treasure Planet
Image: IMDb
This film is adapted from “Treasure Island” by R.L Stevenson. When young Jim discovers the location of “Treasure Planet” from the dying pirate, he and his doctor friend Doppler go on an expedition to find its location to save his mother’s inn. However, a large part of the crew of the ship is disguised as pirates, and they plan to take the treasure for themselves. When they escape from the pirate crew, they encounter an abandoned navigation robot named B.E.N, whose help they need to find the treasure.
36. Bling
This film is set in the future when robots are common and revolve around Sam, a mechanic in a robot theme park. Sam lives with three robots (who dream of becoming superheroes) and wishes to propose to his childhood sweetheart, Sue. Sam accidentally discovers the plot of an evil scientist who wants to destroy the city with a new energy source. Sam must use his newfound superpowers, granted by the invention, to save the day. With his friends by his side, Sam battles the villain and learns valuable lessons about heroism and love. Find out if Sam is finally able to confess his love.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do robot movies teach children about technology?
Robot movies teach children that technology can replicate a human and endow it with qualities that humans do not possess. However, a robot cannot have emotions, which separates them from humans.
2. What age groups are most likely to enjoy robot movies for children?
Enjoying a good robot movie is not limited to any age group. Anyone can enjoy these movies and learn from them.
3. What are the benefits of watching robot movies for children?
Robot movies help acquaint children with robotics, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence. They help generate interest in science and technology and encourage them to think of possibilities of turning ideas into reality.
4. How do robot movies compare to other types of children’s movies?
Children’s movies are meant to entertain and teach suitable life lessons. Robot movies are entertaining but also open up the world of infinite possibilities through technology. They deal with human life and emotions while helping widen a child’s imagination, encouraging them to create something that can make their lives easier.
5. What are some examples of moral and educational lessons taught in robot movies?
Robot movies often explore themes such as teamwork, problem-solving, and the ethical implications of technology. They impart valuable moral lessons about friendship, the consequences of technology misuse, and understanding emotions. These films can also spark conversations between parents and children about technology’s role in everyday life and how it can help us with our chores or tasks when used responsibly.
Robot movies for kids could keep them intrigued while helping them learn about technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence. If you are running out of family movie night ideas, robot movies are always a safe bet. Whether or not your child has an affinity for robots, they are sure to be fascinated by these movies. These movies include robots playing multiple roles, such as that of a best friend, a wicked antagonist, and an adorable pet. Further, they have gripping and heart-touching storylines and are suitable for children of all ages. So pick a movie with your child, grab some popcorn, and enjoy a fun movie night with them.
Infographic: Robot Movies For Children
Robots have always been a point of attraction and hold the interest of people of all age groups. In the following infographic, we bring you a list of movies to introduce to your children and let them enjoy. You can even plan family movie nights so everyone can have a fun time together. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Watching a robotic movie with family can be fun, and it widens the imaginations of your child.
- WALL-E is a trash-collecting robot, and the movie tells the story of humans abandoning earth since it has become a huge landfill.
- The plot of D.A.R.Y.L revolves around an adopted boy with special abilities that are not common for his age.
Illustration: Best Robot Movies For Kids To Watch
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Review: Inspector Gadget’s Biggest Caper Ever.https://cgmoviereview.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/review-inspector-gadgets-biggest-caper-ever/
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