The Electric State – Movie Review | Netflix (3/5)

THE ELECTRIC STATE on Netflix is a sci-fi adventure starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. It has important messages, but first and foremost, it’s solid entertainment for the whole family. Read our full The Electric State movie review here!

THE ELECTRIC STATE is a new Netflix sci-fi adventure from the Russo Brothers. It’s set in an alternative version of the 1990s, which makes for a very wholesome (yet also quite brutal in some ways) setting for this very entertaining movie.

It stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, with a whole slew of wonderful and recognizable actors as voices of robots. While the moral of the story is obvious, it’s not trying to attack anyone. In fact, it’s entertainment for the whole family with an important message.

Continue reading our The Electric State movie review below. Find it on Netflix from March 14, 2025.

Alternative 1990s full of robots and AI

The Electric State begins in an alternative version of the 1990s where the use of robots is much further along than we see it even now. Especially as they’re also equipped with AI, which we will experience the consequences of in this story.

There’s a quick time jump, and now we’re in the aftermath of a robot uprising. We follow the orphaned teenager, Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), as she ventures into forbidden robot territory.

Not only is her life with a foster dad constantly “plugged in” a very sad situation, but she also leaves in search of her younger brother. She believed him to be dead, but suddenly, a cartoon-inspired robot shows up and (in a roundabout way) claims to be a digital version of him.

Amazing casting in The Electric State

Along with the robot (voiced by Alan Tudyk), the smuggler Keats (Chris Pratt), and his sidekick (voiced by Anthony Mackie), they head into the forbidden area known as “The Exclusion Zone”.

This is a walled-off corner in the desert where robots are still allowed to exist by themselves. No humans control them, and they are a wonderfully colorful group of animatronics. The colorful (and often branded) robots are voiced by very familiar actors.

They include Woody Harrelson, Brian Cox, and Jenny Slate. Among the humans, we also see familiar faces in even smaller roles. Including Holly Hunter and Stanley Tucci. Okay, the latter practically runs the world as a Steve Jobs look-alike genius.

Also, playing both humans and robots are Ke Huy Quan and Giancarlo Esposito.

A warning or an eye-opener

The story of The Electric State is one that should feel very familiar despite being set in an alternative version of our world. And also, in the 1990s. Personally, I think it would’ve hit way too close to home if it had been set in the present and closer to what we’re living.

Still, this story has a lot of obvious commentary on the world we’re living in. Particularly how digital we’ve become, which I found to be both an eye-opener and a warning to hold back. Make sure you take your eyes off the screen and look up.

Turn off (or leave behind) various devices from time to time and just exist in the world.

However, if you’re worried that The Electric State is a movie that judges us all, you needn’t worry. I mean, both the heroes and villains use digital tools. It’s more about how (and to what extent) you allow your life to be run by all things digital. Or electric, as it were.

While The Electric State has this deeper and important message, it’s first and foremost solid entertainment for the whole family.

Watch The Electric State on Netflix

The Electric State was directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (The Russo Brothers), and yes, you can tell. Not least from the action and comedy as well as the fairly long runtime. It’s 2 hours and 8 minutes, but it doesn’t feel too long. Not to me anyway.

Also, the character-driven plot with important messages seems to be another Russo Brothers trademark. They previously directed Avengers: End Game and The Gray Man, to name just a few.

The screenplay comes from Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (co-creators of Agent Carter), but it’s based on the graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag (Tales from the Loop). In some ways, this movie reminded me of Toy Story but for teens and young adults.

I mean, sure, this is also dystopian sci-fi with a focus on artificial intelligence, so maybe Toy Story meets Terminator with a plot that could’ve been a Black Mirror episode. If that sounds good to you, then check it out. It’s entertaining, and the story has a lot of heart.

The Electric State premieres on Netflix globally on March 14, 2025.

Details

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Screenplay: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci, Woody Norman, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Alan Tudyk