The Electric State has an arresting setup and memorable robot imagery, but critics found that its journey lacks the character development and momentum to make the spectacle resonate. The 2025 Netflix film is best approached as a visually ambitious, accessible reworking of Simon Stålenhag’s book—not a faithful translation of its mood or form.
What is The Electric State about?
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the film takes place in an alternate 1990s after a robot uprising. Orphaned teenager Michelle travels across the American West with a cartoon-inspired robot and a smuggler accompanied by his own robot sidekick, searching for her younger brother. Netflix’s global premiere was March 14, 2025. Netflix Tudum’s release page provides the date and production details.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Electric State | $22.47 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Tales From the Loop | $28.92 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Electrical Black Book (2nd USA Edition) | $33.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Things From the Flood | $22.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Free League Publishing The Electric State RPG Core Rulebook Tabletop Roleplaying Game for Adults,... | $44.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The cast includes Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, with Anthony Mackie among the voice performers. The setup promises a road adventure through a world where robots and humans have a fraught history; whether that premise becomes emotionally compelling is where the critical responses diverge from the film’s visual appeal.
Why did critics say the film falls short?
A big idea without enough emotional momentum
In its March 12, 2025 review, the Associated Press recognized the ambition and imagery but judged the film dull and ultimately forgettable. Reviewer Lindsey Bahr wrote, “And yet it’s lacking a spark and a soul that might distinguish it as memorable or special.” The criticism points to a gap between the scale of the premise and the emotional force of the storytelling: the world offers plenty to look at, but the characters and journey do not consistently give that spectacle weight. Read the AP review.
#1 Best Overall
Adaptation choices and a less distinctive atmosphere
The Guardian’s March 7, 2025 review was more severe, describing the adaptation as bland, derivative and muddled. Its critique supports a key caveat for readers who know the book: the film’s more accessible, blockbuster-adventure approach can feel like a loss of the source’s eerie, melancholic atmosphere. That is a critical interpretation, not a claim that every reader will prefer the book’s tone or that the film reproduces its story scene by scene. Read the Guardian review.
What works: robot imagery and visual design
The film’s strongest case is visual. Bahr noted that the robot designs and recreations of Stålenhag’s illustrations can be thoughtful and remarkable. That recognition matters: the critical complaint is not that the film has no imagination in its imagery, but that the imagery does not reliably translate into an absorbing dramatic experience. Viewers drawn to strange machines, retro-futurist landscapes and the collision of familiar American scenery with unsettling technology may find more to appreciate than those looking primarily for a tightly paced or deeply developed character drama.
Rank #2
How different is the film from the book?
The Electric State is adapted from Simon Stålenhag’s illustrated book, published by Skybound Books on September 25, 2018. The date is the book edition’s publication date, not the film’s release. Rather than a scene-for-scene reproduction, the movie changes and expands the source’s genre and story. Stålenhag told Netflix Tudum: “Even though the movie has changed genre from the book a bit, that main core is still the same and has been expanded on beautifully.” His positive view is useful context, but it does not negate the reservations in the AP and Guardian reviews.
The clearest comparison is in the overall experience. The movie builds toward a broader adventure, while critics have emphasized the book’s more unsettling and melancholy qualities. The visual connection is more direct: the film draws on Stålenhag’s distinctive robot imagery, which the AP reviewer singled out as a strength. The available reviews do not establish a detailed scene-by-scene comparison, so it is more accurate to describe a shift in tone and approach than to claim the adaptation preserves or discards particular episodes.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf you want to see how Stålenhag’s illustrations and storytelling work on the page, the Skybound Books edition of The Electric State is the source material; reading it is not a prerequisite for following the film.
Is The Electric State worth watching?
It depends on what you want from it. The film may suit viewers curious about its robot-filled alternate 1990s, its production imagery or a large-scale adventure built around a search for family. The critical case against it is stronger if you need distinctive atmosphere, well-developed characters and sustained narrative momentum. The AP and Guardian reviews are negative, but two reviews are not a complete measure of critical or audience opinion; Rotten Tomatoes’ page includes critic excerpts and audience reviews, and its totals can change over time. Check the current Rotten Tomatoes page for its live figures rather than relying on an undated score.
Rank #4
Rating and content note
The Associated Press review reports a PG-13 rating with the descriptor “sci-fi violence/action, language and some thematic material.” Ratings and classifications can vary by territory, so check the current local listing if that detail will affect your viewing decision.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- IMMERSE YOURSELF IN SIMON STÅLENHAG'S EPIC ADVENTURE: Experience the surreal beauty and haunting dystopia of an alternate 1997 America through an RPG campaign based on the acclaimed art book The Electric State.
- DISCOVER A WORLD IN DECLINE: Navigate a fantasy landscape filled with discarded battle drones and the remnants of a once-thriving tech-driven society, creating a visually and emotionally stunning backdrop for your tabletop roleplaying adventure.
- BUILD STRONG CHARACTER BONDS: Collaborate with your friends as you uncover secrets, face moral dilemmas, and challenge your perceptions of friendship, loyalty, and survival.
- POWERED BY THE YEAR ZERO ENGINE: Enjoy the dynamic, award-winning mechanics from Free League’s popular games like Tales From the Loop and Blade Runner RPG, delivering smooth gameplay and rich storytelling opportunities.
- A JOURNEY-DRIVEN ILLUSTRATED RULEBOOK: This role-playing game quest book emphasizes exploration and personal growth, focusing on the travelers' experiences and how the post-apocalyptic world shapes them along the way.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
