Inspector Gadget (1999)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a laboratory explosion caused by Sanford Scolex leaves John Brown mangled, Brenda Bradford transforms him into 'Inspector Gadget' by implanting gadgets into his body. John struggles to master his new abilities, aided by the Gadgetmobile, a robotic car with a chatty AI. Meanwhile, Scolex takes on the alias 'Dr. Claw' and uses stolen technology to build 'Robo-Gadget' to frame John for crimes in Riverton. Brenda eventually discovers Scolex's betrayal and the murder of her father. She, along with John's niece Penny and her dog Brain, track John to a junkyard. A kiss from Brenda awakens John's human willpower, allowing him to control his body without a power chip. John eventually duels Robo-Gadget on a bridge, destroying the robot. In a final confrontation, John uses his helicopter hat to intercept Scolex's escape, eventually causing Scolex to be captured by the Gadgetmobile. Penny arrives with a reformed Sykes to clear John's name, and John is officially acknowledged as a police officer.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 78
- Production countries
- United States; France
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Kellogg
- Writers
- Kerry Ehrin · screenplay; Zak Penn · screenplay; Kerry Ehrin · story; Dana Olsen · story
- Cast and characters
- Matthew Broderick · Inspector Gadget; Rupert Everett · Dr. Claw; Michelle Trachtenberg · Penny; Dabney Coleman · Chief Quimby; Joely Fisher · Dr. Brenda Bradford; Mike Hagerty · Sykes; Andy Dick · Kramer; Cheri Oteri · Mayor Wilson
- Genres
- superhero comedy; action comedy; science fiction comedy; children's film; slapstick comedy; detective film
- Themes
- technology vs. humanity; heroism; identity
- Tone and mood
- cartoonish; mischievous; slapstick
- Premise and plot tags
- origin story; cyborg; superhero; comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1983–1985 animated television series
- Franchise connections
- Inspector Gadget
- Reception
- The film was a box office bomb and received generally unfavorable reviews from critics, who praised the score and certain performances but criticized the screenplay, visual effects, and lack of faithfulness to the source material.
- Reported review scores
- CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Worst Picture · Stinkers Bad Movie Awards · 1999 · Nomination; Worst Director · Stinkers Bad Movie Awards · 1999 · Nomination; Most Painfully Unfunny Comedy · Stinkers Bad Movie Awards · 1999 · Nomination; Worst Resurrection of a TV Show · Stinkers Bad Movie Awards · 1999 · Nomination; Least "Special" Special Effects · Stinkers Bad Movie Awards · 1999 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was dedicated to the memory of production designer Michael White, who died during production.; The Gadgetmobile is a white & chrome 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible.; The film was the last film produced by Caravan Pictures before it merged into Spyglass Entertainment.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…