Every year, a few movies come out of nowhere to become box office juggernauts — and in 2024,The Wild Robotwas that film. Written and directed by animation legendChris Sanders, the man behindLilo & Stitch, the movie quietly arrived in theatres before taking flight in a big way, grossing over$330 millionworldwide. After a successful run on Peacock, it’s now found a brand-new audience on Netflix — where it’s already cracked the Top 10 just days after debuting on Saturday, May 24.
Critics and audiences were nearly unanimous in their praise whenThe Wild Robothit theatres.The film currently holds a96% critics scoreand98% audience scoreon Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the best-reviewed animated movies of the decade so far. It’s not hard to see why: the story is heartfelt, gorgeously animated, and surprisingly deep.
What Is ‘The Wild Robot’ About?
The movie follows Roz, a high-tech robot who washes ashore on a remote island after a shipwreck. Finding herself alone and disoriented, she’s forced to learn how to survive in the wild. Soon, Roz begins forging bonds with the island’s animal residents and becomes a surrogate mother to a baby goose she adopts. Very quickly, Roz begins to learn empathy and what it means precisely to be alive as she becomes a parent. Roz is voiced byLupita Nyong’obringing a soulful presence to the metallic hero of the story. The supporting cast is stacked, too:Pedro Pascal,hot off his turns inThe Last of UsandThe Mandalorianbrings that trademark warmth as Fink the fox,Kit Connor(fromHeartstopper)voices Brightbill the gosling, andMark Hamill,Ving Rhames, andCatherine O’Hararound out the impressive voice ensemble.
And then there’sChris Sanders, whose signature warmth and visual style shine through every frame. Best known for creatingLilo & Stitch —and voicing Stitch himself in both the animated film and its box office juggernaut live-action reboot in theaters now — and co-directingHow to Train Your Dragon, Sanders knows how to tap into emotional storytelling without losing the sense of wonder that defines great family animation.The Wild Robotmight be his most emotionally mature film to date — and judging by its staying power, audiences agree.
The Wild Robotis now streaming on Netflix. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest updates on all your favorite movies and television series.
The Wild Robot
