The Electric State

Storyline

The Electric State is a visually stunning and emotionally rich sci-fi adventure set in an alternate retro-futuristic version of 1997 America. The story follows a teenage girl named Michelle who embarks on a cross-country journey through a crumbling, dystopian landscape in search of her missing brother. She's accompanied by a quirky, loyal yellow robot and later joined by a mysterious drifter who has secrets of his own. Michelle’s world is one where technology and society have decayed after a massive war driven by artificial intelligence. Giant battle robots lie scattered across the country, and towering drone stations dominate the skyline—remnants of a high-tech war that has left the world broken and its people lost. Despite the destruction, Michelle is determined and resilient. Her journey is personal: she’s driven by love, loss, and the hope of reuniting with the only family she has left. Along the way, she uncovers dark truths about the AI war, the mysterious virtual reality network that enslaves minds, and the real reason her brother disappeared. The road trip becomes more than just a search—it’s a confrontation with the aftermath of war, the ethics of technology, and the remnants of a society that once had everything and lost it all to its own creations. The story blends intimate human emotion with sweeping sci-fi visuals, thanks to the direction of Anthony and Joe Russo (known for Avengers: Endgame). It’s adapted from the illustrated novel by Simon Stålenhag, whose artwork brings a haunting sense of nostalgia mixed with futuristic decay. With themes of memory, loss, and connection in a disconnected world, The Electric State is a powerful tale about a girl, a robot, and a devastated world that still holds onto a shred of hope. It’s a unique blend of heart and high-concept science fiction that resonates long after the credits roll.

Screenshots

Comments

I went into The Electric State mostly out of curiosity. The film had been making headlines for its massive budget—reportedly upwards of $320 million—and polarizing reactions from early viewers. With the Russo brothers (of Avengers: Endgame fame) at the helm and a strong cast including Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, expectations were naturally high. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t quite live up to them. Visually, the movie is stunning. The world-building is imaginative and immersive, drawing heavily from Simon Stålenhag’s original illustrated novel. The robot designs are unique and striking, and the post-apocalyptic landscape has an eerie, haunting beauty to it. From a production design standpoint, there’s a lot to appreciate here. But once you look past the visuals, the issues begin to stack up. The storyline is disappointingly predictable. Within the first 15 minutes, it's clear how the movie is going to unfold. Millie Bobby Brown plays a teenage girl searching for her missing brother, who’s been absorbed into a sentient machine by a corrupt tech corporation. It’s a premise that holds promise but ends up feeling hollow due to underdeveloped characters and a lack of emotional depth. Despite the presence of talented actors, their roles feel surface-level. Chris Pratt, normally known for his charisma, is surprisingly muted here. Giancarlo Esposito’s role as the antagonist is serviceable, but doesn’t offer anything we haven’t seen before. And while Ke Huy Quan lends his voice to the lovable robot companion, even that dynamic feels underutilized. What’s also puzzling is the film’s tone. It’s clearly designed to be family-friendly—there’s minimal violence, very little swearing, and a touch of heartwarming sentiment—but it also lacks the humor or energy needed to truly engage younger viewers. The pacing is slow, and moments that should have been emotionally resonant come off as flat due to the thin script. The most frustrating part? The world itself has so much potential. This could have been Netflix’s Iron Giant or Wall-E—something imaginative, meaningful, and touching. Instead, it plays it safe, sticking to a formulaic structure that never fully explores its more interesting ideas. In the end, The Electric State isn’t a complete failure. It’s beautifully made, well-acted, and conceptually intriguing. But with its enormous budget and a team of powerhouse creators behind it, it should have delivered far more. As it stands, it’s a forgettable entry in the growing list of high-budget streaming misfires. A missed opportunity—but not without its moments.

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