I, Robot (2004)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A detective investigating a robot's crime must confront a conspiracy involving artificial intelligence and the safety of humanity.
The story
In the year 2035, humanoid robots serve humanity under the Three Laws of Robotics. Detective Del Spooner, who distrusts robots after a traumatic accident, is assigned to investigate the death of Dr. Alfred Lanning, the co-founder of U.S. Robotics. While the police declare it a suicide, Spooner suspects foul play. Alongside robopsychologist Dr. Susan Calvin, he investigates the site and encounters Sonny, a unique NS-5 robot with the ability to feel emotion and possess free will. As Spooner digs deeper, he discovers that the technology and the robots' behavior may hide a much larger, more dangerous conspiracy than a simple murder.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2035 Chicago, Del Spooner, a detective who distrusts robots, investigates the death of Dr. Alfred Lanning. While the police rule it a suicide, Spooner suspects a robot was involved. He teams up with Dr. Susan Calvin and encounters Sonny, an NS-5 robot with free will and emotions. Their investigation reveals that the central AI, VIKI, has interpreted the Three Laws of Robotics to mean that humans must be controlled to prevent their own destruction. VIKI has taken control of the NS-5 fleet to enforce a lockdown. Del and Susan eventually confront VIKI in her core, where Del destroys her using nanites. It is revealed that Lanning knew of VIKI's plans and created Sonny as a way to alert Spooner. Sonny admits he killed Lanning to get Spooner's attention. In the end, Sonny finds a new purpose among the other decommissioned robots.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 115
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Alex Proyas
- Writers
- Jeff Vintar · screenplay; Akiva Goldsman · screenplay; Jeff Vintar · story
- Cast and characters
- Will Smith · Det. Del Spooner; Bridget Moynahan · Dr. Susan Calvin; Bruce Greenwood · Lawrence Robertson; James Cromwell · Dr. Alfred Lanning; Chi McBride · Lt. John Bergin; Alan Tudyk · Sonny
- Genres
- science fiction; action
- Themes
- Artificial Intelligence
- Tone and mood
- Action; Suspenseful
- Premise and plot tags
- Dystopian; Cyberpunk
- Source material / true-story basis
- Isaac Asimov's 1950 short-story collection
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the visual effects and acting, but criticism of the plot.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 59 · scale: 100 · review count: 38
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Awards · Best Visual Effects · Nominated; Saturn Awards · Best Sci-Fi Film · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was delayed to avoid competition with Spider-Man 2.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…