Forget Atlas, Another Robot Flick Is Now Conquering Netflix’s Chart
Step back, J Lo, here comes a better take on our metallic friends (or enemies).
These days Netflix ’s global top is blown by a new sci-fi that turned out to be a failure. Jennifer Lopez-starring Atlas, following an analyst on her space mission together with the onboard AI, received a shameful 19% of critical acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes.
Luckily, it has rekindled people’s interest in robot movies, as one of them is now recalled by Netflix audience. It has recently gained such a strong viewership that it is now holding the forth place in the platform’s chart, even though it was released 13 years ago.
The film’s plot revolves around Charlie, a boxer who was forced to retire from sports ‘cause the boxing ring was taken over by heavier and more powerful robots. That is why he starts living a routine of collecting scrap metal and making low-end fighters of it.
Charlie’s life is about to change when he learns about the death of his ex-girlfriend, and it is the very moment when he teams up with his estranged son Max to build a high-class championship robot that can bring them a lot of money and calm life.
This synopsis may seem rather silly, as why are robots here used almost only for boxing? However, if we put our prejudice aside, it develops as a thrilling action-packed roller coaster that is reminiscent of the Transformers and the Pacific Rim franchises.
Besides, the movie pays homage to classic sports movies of the 21st century, in particular the ones about boxing, like Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Russell Crowe’s Cinderella Man (2005). If you’re a fan of them, you’ll certainly like it.
Titled Real Steel and adapted from a 1963 Twilight Zone episode, this movie offers one of the best performances of the X-Men star, Hugh Jackman. He became the main key to the movie’s success, and it grossed $299.3 million against a budget of $110 million.
“It’s robot Rocky, what’s not to like,” jokes Redditor @cubanesis. Indeed, Real Steel is also very much alike to Sylvester Stallone’s cultish sports drama franchise.
The movie is of great interest to both kids and adults and is claimed to stand the test of time, so don’t miss Real Steel, which is now available for watching on Netflix.