Robot Dreams
A lonely dog and a homemade robot discover the tenderness, exhilaration, and ache of an unforgettable friendship in 1980s New York.
Overview
A heartfelt and humorous journey through friendship and adventure in a vibrant city.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- whimsical
- nostalgic
- reflective movie night
- family animation night
What critics said
Critics broadly celebrate the film as an inventive, beautifully observed, and deeply moving animated portrait of friendship that can enchant children while affecting adults profoundly.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dog and Robot’s relationship unfolds through silent-film-inspired visual action and expressive behavior, with no conventional dialogue-driven exchanges.
The central relationship grows from Dog’s loneliness into an intimate companionship with Robot, making friendship the film’s defining emotional subject.
The 1980s New York setting is reimagined as a diverse metropolis inhabited by anthropomorphic animals living, dating, working, and socializing like humans.
The film’s New York setting, summer adventures, and period atmosphere are anchored in the 1980s and filtered through affectionate nostalgia.
Films like Robot Dreams, and why
The Red Turtle
shared wordless storytelling, tender friendship, bittersweet emotionality, and urban animation
Wall-E
shared nonverbal character comedy, warmth, melancholy, and expressive visual storytelling
My Life as a Zucchini
shared bittersweet relationship drama, animal protagonists, and emotionally rich animation
The Illusionist
shared whimsical animation, loneliness, companionship, and poignant life transitions
Movie Details
- Director
- Pablo Berger
- Release Date
- 2023-12-06
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (857)
Cast
- Ivan Labanda
- Tito Trifol
- Rafa Calvo
- José García Tos
- José Luis Mediavilla
- Graciela Molina
- Esther Solans
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Robot Dreams about?
- A lonely dog and a homemade robot discover the tenderness, exhilaration, and ache of an unforgettable friendship in 1980s New York.
- What is Robot Dreams like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Robot Dreams as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Robot Dreams violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Robot Dreams.
- What did critics think of Robot Dreams?
- Critics broadly celebrate the film as an inventive, beautifully observed, and deeply moving animated portrait of friendship that can enchant children while affecting adults profoundly.
- Which films are like Robot Dreams?
- Films with a similar feel include The Red Turtle, Wall-E, My Life as a Zucchini, and The Illusionist.
- How long is Robot Dreams?
- Robot Dreams runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Robot Dreams?
- In United States, Robot Dreams streams on Hulu.
