Movie · 2021 · Animation, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 54m · PG · English
Curator score: 8.0/10 (741.2K ratings)
Saving the world can be a trip.
Overview
A quirky, dysfunctional family's road trip is upended when they find themselves in the middle of the robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity's unlikeliest last hope.
Ratings
Curator score: 8.0/10
IMDb: 7.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.84/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Metacritic: 81
TMDB: 7.8/10
Director
Mike Rianda
Production
Lord Miller, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, One Cool Films
Cast
Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric André, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Lo Mutuc, Blake Griffin, Conan O'Brien, Doug the Pug, Melissa Sturm, Doug Nicholas, Madeleine McGraw, Ellen Wightman, Sasheer Zamata, Elle Mills
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A fast, funny, and genuinely heartfelt animated adventure that turns a family road trip into a big, colorful apocalypse. It stands out for its visual invention, emotional honesty, and a smart balance of chaos and warmth.
Best for
fans of inventive animated comedy
viewers who like dysfunctional-family stories with real feeling
people who enjoy pop-culture-savvy, high-energy adventure
audiences looking for a queer-friendly, Gen Z-coded sensibility
Skip if
you want a quieter, more restrained family film
you dislike rapid-fire visual gags and constant stylistic overload
you prefer animation that stays grounded in realism
you are allergic to sentimental third-act reconciliation
Overview
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is one of the rare animated studio movies that feels both wildly commercial and weirdly personal. It uses a robot-apocalypse premise as a delivery system for a very familiar family story: a daughter trying to outrun her father’s expectations, and a father learning how to listen before it’s too late.
Worth noting
What makes it pop is the filmmaking. The movie is packed with visual jokes, internet-age collage energy, and expressive animation that keeps finding new ways to surprise you. It’s chaotic in a deliberate way, but the emotion underneath is clear and sincere, which keeps the comedy from feeling disposable.
Bottom line
It can be a little broad in its messaging, and some of the tech satire is more enthusiastic than sharp. But the movie’s warmth, sincerity, and sheer creative confidence make those rough edges easy to forgive. It’s a crowd-pleaser with personality, and one of the better family animations of its era.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Sabrina 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (4★) · 11873 likes
Most relatable character in fiction: a gay pretentious film bitch who hates their dad!
Katie Mitchell (5★) · 9038 likes
Imma go full Paul Schrader on this and rate my OWN movie five stars.
*Also why isn't this listed in documentary? Gotta talk to the mods.
dselwyns (3.5★) · 8504 likes
For those of you saying this wasn't clearly gay enough:
- Columbia logo literally shoots rainbows
- what appears to be a parody of a Subaru
- daddy issues
- car lands in the dashcon ballpit
- Le Tigre song
- Y tu mama tambien parody dvd
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire themed short film
- "my parents haven't figured me out yet"
- performative femininity/cowboy/ska phases
- asks a girl to prom
- pride pin
- voiced… more For those of you saying this wasn't clearly gay enough:
- Columbia logo literally shoots rainbows
- what appears to be a parody of a Subaru
- daddy issues
- car lands in the dashcon ballpit
- Le Tigre song
- Y tu mama tambien parody dvd
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire themed short film
- "my parents haven't figured me out yet"
- performative femininity/cowboy/ska phases
- asks a girl to prom
- pride pin
- voiced… more
James (Schaffrillas) (4★) · 6823 likes
WHY IS SONY PICTURES ANIMATION SO GOOD AT MAKING MOVIES NOW
˗ˏˋ suspirliam ˊˎ˗ (4★) · 5311 likes
i think tarantino and scorsese could learn a thing or two from future best director winner katie mitchell