The Electric State (2025)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: The Electric State (2025)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Length:  2h 5min
Rating: PG-13
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Simon Stålenhag
Actors: Woody Norman, Millie Bobby Brown, Ann Russo, Greg Cromer, Camrus Johnson, Kurt Loder, Alan Tudyk, Roshni Edwards, Holly Hunter, Stanley Tucci, Will Lyman, Aubrey Brockwell, Woody Harrelson, Chris Pratt, Giancarlo Esposito, Jason Alexander, Lia Mariella Russo, Ke Huy Quan, Colman Domingo, Anthony Mackie, Hank Azaria, Joe Russo, Rob Gronkowski, Jenny Slate, Brian Cox

IMDb Blurb: An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.

Cat’s Point of View:
I had been intrigued by The Electric State ever since I watched the first trailer, and couldn’t wait to see it.

This was right up my alley, after all. A dystopian world full of sentient robots set in an alternate 1990s era felt like the perfect setting for a little sci-fi shenanigans. When you threw the cast into consideration, it was a foregone conclusion that I would be watching this ASAP. I do love some nostalgia.

But seriously, I counted minimum 16 well-known cast members involved with this project; among them: Chris Pratt (The Tomorrow War, The Terminal List, The Super Mario Bros. Movie), Millie Bobby Brown (Enola Holmes, Stranger Things, Damsel), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, Triangle of Sadness, Last Breath), Ke Huy Quan (Loki, Kung Fu Panda 4, Love Hurts), Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien, Creature Commandos, Harley Quinn), Anthony Mackie (We Have A Ghost, Twisted Metal, Elevation), Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul, The Mandalorian, Abigail), and Hank Azaria (The Smurfs 2, Ray Donovan, The Simpsons). I really could keep going. That partial list, alone, is enough to make me giddy about a production.

When you add the fact that the movie was directed by The Russo Brothers (Avengers: Endgame, Cherry, The Gray Man), it made me wonder why this was a Netflix joint instead of hitting theaters. I’m grateful, however, because streaming this film meant that my family could watch together without dropping almost a whole Benjamin between tickets and concessions. We needed the distraction this week, too. The world is going nuts, medical issues are issues, and my vehicle is in the shop. (We’re all OK, though.)

My favorite movies transport you to another place for a while and let you forget about everything else for just a little bit. The Electric State was successful in accomplishing that.

The concept wasn’t all that far-fetched, either. It also felt like it could be an alternate universe somewhere parallel to Ready Player One (2018). That’s just my head canon, at least.

I enjoyed the story within The Electric State and felt the emotional rollercoaster as I connected with the characters on their journey. There were laughs, touching moments, a need for justice, and ultimately, I was satisfied with how everything played out.

I don’t understand why The Electric State is getting so much hate from critics – aside from the fact that most of them seem to enjoy being thieves of joy. My family and I had a good time with this film, and I didn’t even nod off while we watched it! (That is a serious feat these days.)

If the concept or cast for The Electric State intrigues you and you like the movies that The Russos tend to make, I’d highly recommend giving this film a chance.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 14%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 72%
Metascore – 29%
Metacritic User Score – 3.7/10
IMDB Score – 6.0/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

Movie Trailer: