Bicentennial Man (1999)

37% of critics liked it
(95 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(337,585 ratings)

If a robot spends enough time around humans, can he learn to become one of them? The Martin family purchases a domestic android as a servant and names him Andrew (Robin Williams). Andrew comes to know the man of the house as Sir (Sam Neill), his wife as Ma'am Wendy Crewson, and their daughter as… More If a robot spends enough time around humans, can he learn to become one of them? The Martin family purchases a domestic android as a servant and names him Andrew (Robin Williams). Andrew comes to know the man of the house as Sir (Sam Neill), his wife as Ma'am Wendy Crewson, and their daughter as Portia (Embeth Davidtz); before long, the Martins suspect that they do not have an ordinary robot on their hands. Andrew seems capable of expressing emotion and generating original thoughts, and the longer he stays with the Martins, the more strongly these human traits manifest themselves. Over the next 200 years, Andrew becomes less a machine and more a member of the family, until a mechanic (Oliver Platt) tells Andrew that he might be able to turn him into a human being. Based on a short story by renowned science fiction author Isaac Asimov (surprisingly, it's only the second Asimov story to be brought to the screen), Bicentennial Man was directed by Chris Columbus, who previously worked with Robin Williams on Mrs. Doubtfire. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 11 min.
Directed By: Chris Columbus
Written By: Nicholas Kazan
Genres: Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 17, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Jan 15, 2002
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Columbus lays on the sentimentality thickly, sometimes letting it get in the way of the storytelling. The longer the movie continues, the more overt he becomes in his emotional pandering.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
It's one thing to ask an audience to love a mechanical man, but quite another to love a mechanical performance.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Bicentennial Man has heart, but lacks bite.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It's a step in the right direction for both its star and maker.
Tom Keogh, Film.com
Part of the deep appeal of this film is its undercurrent of yearning beneath surface ironies.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This tin man has a heart, but his movie needs a pulse.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Film about robot who wants to be human is so-so.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...aspires to an almost adult level of seriousness.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Bicentennial Man is sometimes sweet, but it's also a phenomenal waste of talent, and a continuation of a Williams' trip down the wrong road.
Mike Higgins, Sight and Sound
The film swiftly settles into an unevenly paced, episodic structure, unsure whether it's a family saga, a sci-fi drama or a children's comedy.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Virtually every emotion, motivation, idea, character and plot point in the movie is flat and perfunctory -- except for those that carry the invisible subtitle, 'Cry, dammit!'
Mike Kerrigan, Boxoffice Magazine
You long for [Williams] to break the metal mold, if only for a minute, to remind you that you are watching the best improvisational comedian of this millennium.
William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Becomes a somber, sentimental and rather profound romantic fantasy that is more true to the spirit of the Golden Age of science-fiction writing than possibly any other movie of the '90s.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie sucks the life out of you, turning you into a robot. Seriously I am tired of all these robot movies where we're supposed to feel bad for them, try to make them more human, etc. And Williams is more than annoying trying to play one of these annoying robots. I… More
This movie sucks the life out of you, turning you into a robot. Seriously I am tired of all these robot movies where we're supposed to feel bad for them, try to make them more human, etc. And Williams is more than annoying trying to play one of these annoying robots. I didn't find this touching or heartwarming, I didn't find it funny or enjoyable, I just hated it. I don't recommend this movie.
Michael E

hands down, Robin Williams best film. the character Andrew is likable and you feel all the things he goes through, the pain joy and all other emotions. The film has a very touching story how he loves all the people he serves and how he feels pain for losing them and how he can't… More
hands down, Robin Williams best film. the character Andrew is likable and you feel all the things he goes through, the pain joy and all other emotions. The film has a very touching story how he loves all the people he serves and how he feels pain for losing them and how he can't die. one line Andrew says truely shows the emotions you feel for him "it is torture that you can cry and i can't." The ending is one of the few movie moments that actually make me cry.
Dead A

You know when they keep inventing internal parts of a human body, that was pretty cheesy to me. This was 1999s movie, more than 10years have passed but still the scientist couldn't create a human. That's the truth of our life that we can't give life… More
You know when they keep inventing internal parts of a human body, that was pretty cheesy to me. This was 1999s movie, more than 10years have passed but still the scientist couldn't create a human. That's the truth of our life that we can't give life to anything. A robot having feelings just like the human feels and looks just weird. If it could have feelings than my PC would have killed me for torturing it 24hrs. And the making love part was too must to tolerate. Robin Williams acted more like a human rather than a robot. Is he that bad? I didn't think so but this made him look terrible. Though it was a 2 hrs movie, yet I didn't find myself feeling bored. It was okay enough to watch.
James A

Only bad things can happen when you make a Robin Williams sex Robit.
Dean M

Average and dull robot film I ever seen in my life to know about a robot makes himself human discovers the following human traits. At the end of all his journeys and discoveries of human condition, the one thing that makes him human is that he can die. Ugh!
Anthony L

Over-hyped, badly directed and totally miscast. That aside, it's still a fairly entertaining film. Given to a better director and it could have been amazing!
Jason O

Saw this at the theater and never understood why it wasn't well received; it's funny and has a great love story that works.
Thomas B

really clever concept. robin williams is brilliant. the dialogue is very well written as well.
Sanjaya &

What a very touching story from Chris Columbus... He's the master for creating a great family movie... Robin Williams shows pretty good acting here, even from his sound I know that he's hard trying to be a robot... And the ending, it really really makes me cry... That one is… More
What a very touching story from Chris Columbus... He's the master for creating a great family movie... Robin Williams shows pretty good acting here, even from his sound I know that he's hard trying to be a robot... And the ending, it really really makes me cry... That one is one of the best movie ending I've ever seen, the touching one... Now Chris Columbus movies becomes my favorite... I really really wanted to see this movie again...
Candy R

This is a sweet movie in the same vein as 'A.I' and 'Short Circuit', a family robot is unique as he starts to feel and think like a human. Throughout the movie he tries to become more human, win his freedom and get recognition as a human. Great cast.
Stephen M

I saw this on a flight to Australia; I think it was still running when we got there. It's slower than evolution and sentimental enough to make you wince.
Dean !

A strange film and quite serious most of the time. Slighlty drawn out but overall a fairly good film. It's similar in story to Robots (also with Robin William's voice) and in other ways to A.I.
Ross C

Isaac Asimov inspired story of a domestic robot becoming human. Surprisingly good, and the ending is simply excellent.
xGary X

I can't stand Robin Williams at the best of times, but this saccharine soaked mush had me reaching for the sick bag. Like the similarly nauseating AI with a frontal lobotomy.
Jason S

Slow.
Leigh R

Good movie and oh, so, sweet.
Kalel J

One of Robin Williams best roles out of comedy. Bicentennial Man is a touching tale of how the mechanical can be forged into the biological through want and will power.
Nate Z

[font=Arial][color=darkred]I shed a tear for what the great comedian Robin Williams has become. Once the quickest and sharpest of minds just cascading with outrageousness and fanciful wit has been turned into the Holiday gift-giver of schmaltzy pull-from-the-heartstrings sap. And… More
[font=Arial][color=darkred]I shed a tear for what the great comedian Robin Williams has become. Once the quickest and sharpest of minds just cascading with outrageousness and fanciful wit has been turned into the Holiday gift-giver of schmaltzy pull-from-the-heartstrings sap. And 'Bicentennial Man' is simply the final nail in the coffin for the Robin of old.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The story of 'Bicentennial Man' is set in the not-too-distant future, so not-too-distant that it looks like it's just next week - with the addition of flying cars. The future seems to lack outbursts, crime, and even minorities. Seems like not everyone has a future I guess. In this world of marvels you can buy a shiny metal man for your homelife and/or atrociously neglectful parenting needs. Enter walking trash receptical robo-Robin as Sam Niell's family nanny and solution for not getting his children a dog. Through the 200 years robo-Robin learns to laugh, and love, and what the true meaning of humanity is and heart. Put some scrubs on him and this entire thing is basically 'Patch Adams in Space'.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]As the film lags on it grows increasingly more annoying until the point where it might cause audiences to bleed from the ears. If you thought a dentist appointment was painful just wait until the euthanasia comedy kicks in with this sucker. [/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Williams yet again throws on his usual Holiday blubbery dough eyes and message of good will. But this time the pill is much harder to swallow, especially coming from an actor encased in silver foam rubber. The movie aims for a deep message of what makes us human, but comes away more likely with the message of "Wait an hour for Williams to get this crap off then do his schtick." If you're trying to find out what makes people human, it certainitely ain't this flick.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Williams has such unparalelled comic ability that one wonders why he is wasting his time on sappy films like these when he needs to flee back to his zany comedic roots. Anyone could be a robot in this, judging from the acting for a start, but no one can do the things Williams does - and that's why his uniqueness is being utterly wasted.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The real heart breaker isn't in this movie, it's seeing Robin Williams fade into mediocrity and seem content with it. A moment of silence for the Robin we all knew please...[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: D[/color][/font]
Mouhannad S

First of all, I must say that it was WAY too long. But "Bicentennial Man" was a very moving film for me, and I thought it was beautifully done. I've now seen it 3 times, and it was as moving for me at the third viewing as for the previous viewings. I believe Robin… More
First of all, I must say that it was WAY too long. But "Bicentennial Man" was a very moving film for me, and I thought it was beautifully done. I've now seen it 3 times, and it was as moving for me at the third viewing as for the previous viewings. I believe Robin Williams was a good choice to play Andrew. While he is in the metal suit, and later out of it, he is talented enough to control is body language and delivery to make him look and sound believable as Andrew Martin. And while it is funny to watch Robin Williams perform some light comedy and slapstick to liven things up, the movie meanders between that . Celine Dion my fav singer , I loved the end-credits song very much , her voice was so powerful , I wonder how come it was not nominated, and "Titanic"'s was... so I give 8/10 for the movie & for amazing Celine Dion sing's I give 10/10, Here is the link for Celine Dion song " then you look at me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzyUWLD9f1o enjoy
Bryce I

Meant for imagination. Probably nothing else.