Astro Boy (AstroBoy)

2009

Astro Boy (AstroBoy)

Critics Consensus

While it isn't terribly original, and it seems to have a political agenda that may rankle some viewers, Astro Boy boasts enough visual thrills to please its target demographic.

50%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 136

50%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 148,455
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Movie Info

A young robot with incredible powers, super strength, and the purest spirit on the planet discovers the joys of being human while embarking on a worldwide journey to discover his true potential in this animated update of Osamu Tezuka's classic anime story. Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is a young robot from futuristic Metro City. Created by a brilliant scientist named Tenma (Nicolas Cage), and powered by pure positive "blue" energy that gives him such abilities as x-ray vision, inhuman speed, and flight, the wide-eyed android longs to find his true place in the world. He sets out on an epic journey that brings him face to face with an underworld army of robots and some of the strangest creatures ever to walk the Earth, and along the way learns to experience human feelings and emotions. Astro Boy's remarkable mission of discovery is suddenly cut short, however, when he learns that his friends and family back in Metro City are in grave danger. As Astro Boy prepares to face off against his greatest adversary in order to save everything he cares most about, he realizes that only through victory will he finally discover what it takes to be a hero. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Cast

Freddie Highmore
as Astro/Toby
Nicolas Cage
as Dr. Tenma
Kristen Bell
as Cora
Nathan Lane
as Hamegg
Eugene Levy
as Orrin
Matt Lucas
as Sparx
Bill Nighy
as Dr. Elefun/Robotsky
Donald Sutherland
as President Stone
Charlize Theron
as "Our Friends" Narrator
Ryan Stiles
as Mr. Moustachio/Burning Robot
David Alan Grier
as Mr. Squirt/Math Cowboy/Boxer Robot
Alan Tudyk
as Mr. Squeegee/Scrapheap Head/Stinger Two
Newell Alexander
as General Heckler
Bob Logan
as Stinger One
Dee Bradley Baker
as Trashcan
Moises Arias
as Zane
Madeline Carroll
as Widget
David Bowers
as Mike the Fridge
Elle Fanning
as Grace
Sterling Beaumon
as Sludge
Sofia Bowers
as The Little Stinker
Samuel L. Jackson
as Zog
Nicole Fletcher
as "Oh No!" Kid
Maryann Garger
as Dr. Pigknuckle/Newscaster
Tiffany Hillkurtz
as Bride to Be
David Feiss
as Cowboy Robot
Nicholas Guest
as French Waiter Robot
Max Burkholder
as Billy
Victor Bonavida
as Sam
Steve Alterman
as Press Secretary
Rif Hutton
as Metro City Sergeant
Madeleine Russell
as Metro City Girl
Pilar M. Flynn
as Cora's Mom
Tony Matthews
as Cora's Dad
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Critic Reviews for Astro Boy (AstroBoy)

All Critics (136) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (68)

  • Like its supersonic, jets-in-his-feet hero, the movie itself feels totally robotic.

    Jul 6, 2010 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Steven Rea

    Philadelphia Inquirer
    Top Critic

  • The animation bar has been raised, and not just by Pixar. Poor little Astro Boy hasn't a prayer of clearing it.

    Jul 6, 2010 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

  • Bowers's play-it-straight attitude towards the material combined with the crisp, if unspectacular, animation doesn't allow 'Astro Boy' a moment to bob its head above the ever-swelling digimation pack.

    Feb 5, 2010 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    David Jenkins

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • What makes this peppy kids' film interesting is the human/robot apartheid system that has evolved in the futuristic world that Astro inhabits.

    Feb 5, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Wendy Ide

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • It is a bold and even poignant idea and the movie certainly zips along. It's not in the Wall-E league, but it's well made and inventive.

    Feb 5, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • David Bowers's film looks good and tries for a bit of adult interest by suggesting there might be another way other than arrant capitalism. It's not much less sophisticated than Avatar but hasn't the eye-catching novelty.

    Feb 5, 2010 | Rating: 2/5

    Derek Malcolm

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Astro Boy (AstroBoy)

  • Jul 28, 2012
    Astro Boy is a fun and exciting animated film that explores some unusually deep topics. The story follows a scientist who builds a robot to replace his dead son; but when the son discovers that he's a robot, he goes out into the world to find his life's purpose. Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Donald Sutherland, and Nicolas Cage do an excellent job at voicing the characters and giving them distinct personalities. Additionally, the animation is quite good and has a strong, crisp visual style that works for the futuristic look of the film. With some interesting messages about identity and plenty of exciting action, Astro Boy makes for a fun adventure.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 07, 2012
    Like TMNT, Astro Boy lacks originality and falls short of it's source material. So fans of the anime may be dissapointed but for the rest of us it's actually great to look at. It's not a great movie. But its a fun watch. It's a good kid's movie.
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Dec 16, 2011
    Astro Boy, also called Atom (アトム, Atomu) in Japan, is a 2009 computer-animated film loosely based on the long-running Japanese series of the same name by Osamu Tezuka... I am not a great fan of this type of movies but this animation which was adapted for a western audience was very watchable! Imagi had several discussions on how round and curvy Astro's body proportions should be and in the end they were made to be more lean. Also there were issues on Astro's rear end being too small, and that too was altered after talks with Tezuka. The by-product of these changes was Astro's Caucasian look, which I did not mind at all... it seems that Japanese did not like it and the film was not a big hit in Japan. But in China broke a box-office record for a CG animated film! I can understand why... it was interesting story for the younger audience but I can not say that there was anything special. Just solid piece of work of experience crew members who did just enough for a positive review. I think it could be a nice Christmas present for your 8 year old!
    Panta O Super Reviewer
  • Jul 25, 2011
    Super-surreal cartoon about a little boy who's love for science took him further than he could ever use in his young imagination. His father serving as a current head of the "Ministry of Science" in the mystical island of Metro City is coerced into utilizing the spheres of energy for political gain. During the experiment the little boy gets caught in the experiment and winds up being an unfortunate casualty. Out of his grief, the father decides to re-create a replica of his lost son in the form of a robot with powers and ability way beyond the expectations of himself and the whims of the politician. This is an incredible journey that you would not want to miss! Please see this!
    Fascade F Super Reviewer
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