The Iron Giant

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The Iron Giant

PG

1999

1h 26m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Fantasy

Action

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

143 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In this animated adaptation of Ted Hughes' Cold War fable, a giant alien robot crash-lands near the small town of Rockwell, Maine, in 1957. Exploring the area, a local 9-year-old boy, Hogarth, discovers the robot, and soon forms an unlikely friendship with him. When a paranoid government agent, Kent Mansley, becomes determined to destroy the robot, Hogarth and beatnik Dean McCoppin must do what they can to save the misunderstood machine.

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Critics Consensus

The endearing Iron Giant tackles ambitious topics and complex human relationships with a steady hand and beautifully animated direction from Brad Bird.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

06/18/2018

The Iron Giant captures and crystallizes its source material's anxious, humane spirit. It might be the most empathetic and exhilarating mainstream American animated feature ever made.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

02/11/2016

4/5

Tender, moving and exciting for kids (and their secretly tearful parents).

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

02/11/2016

4/5

Watching this again 17 years after its original release, I savoured again the resemblances to Spielberg, Wilde and Brian Forbes's Whistle Down the Wind.

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Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

04/12/2025

Every bit deserving of its instant classic standing.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

09/24/2024

5/5

The Iron Giant more than holds up over a quarter-century after its release.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

08/19/2023

Brad Bird’s cartoon fable in science fiction clothing and fairy tale trappings is a delightful throwback to the classic era of hand-drawn animated movies and delivers the most amazing little boy wish fulfillment fantasies.

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Rebecca v

Jul 23

One of the best animated movies ever made.

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chad

Jul 23

What a great movie even better than I remember, everyone should go watch this now. Just do it.

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Jaime

Jul 23

A classic that still stands high to this day

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SJS

08/11/2024

Underappreciated gem! A bit violent for a kid's film, similar to The Incredibles, but still great. Lots of humor, voice cast is terrific, and excellent animation.

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Kat

08/11/2024

Nostalgic throwback I was able to share with my son, who is the age I was when it first released. He loved it! A classic

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jamie b

08/10/2024

Its a beautiful story and well done.

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Brad Bird

Director

Jennifer Aniston

Annie Hughes

Eli Marienthal

Hogarth Hughes

Harry Connick Jr.

Dean McCoppin

Vin Diesel

The Iron Giant

Christopher McDonald

Kent Mansley

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The Iron Giant: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In this animated adaptation of Ted Hughes' Cold War fable, a giant alien robot crash-lands near the small town of Rockwell, Maine, in 1957. Exploring the area, a local 9-year-old boy, Hogarth, discovers the robot, and soon forms an unlikely friendship with him. When a paranoid government agent, Kent Mansley, becomes determined to destroy the robot, Hogarth and beatnik Dean McCoppin must do what they can to save the misunderstood machine.

Director: Brad Bird
Producer: Des McAnuff, Allison Abbate
Screenwriter: Ted Hughes, Brad Bird, Tim McCanlies
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Warner Bros. Animation
Rating: PG (Mild Language|Fantasy Action)
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2008
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Surround