The Russo brothers might be busy working on the upcoming Avengers movies right now, but before that, they return to the realm of high-concept science fiction (they were also producers on 2022’s Everything Everywhere All at Once) with The Electric State, a visually ambitious adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel.
Set in an alternate 1990s America, this road movie-meets-dystopian adventure delivers stunning world-building and moments of genuine emotional resonance — though it doesn’t always stick the landing.
At the heart of the film is Millie Bobby Brown’s Michelle, a determined teenager searching for her missing brother in a crumbling world where sentient robots roam the ruins of a failed society. Accompanied by her robotic companion Cosmo and the enigmatic smuggler Keats (Chris Pratt) and his robot side-kick Herman (delightfully voiced by Anthony Mackie), Michelle’s journey unfolds across desolate landscapes and neon-lit remnants of a vanished civilization.
The film’s strongest asset has to be with its visual design, which faithfully translates Stålenhag’s haunting retro-futuristic aesthetic to the screen and feels entirely unique. From towering mechanical relics to eerie abandoned highways, every frame feels like a piece of concept art brought to life.
Brown delivers a fairly solid performance, capturing Michelle’s resilience and vulnerability, even if the script doesn’t always give her character the depth she deserves. Pratt’s Keats, meanwhile, is a more mixed bag — his usual charm is present, but the role doesn’t offer much beyond the familiar roguish archetype that we have seen in many-a sci-fi movie (he even has his own love-hate buddy bro sidekick).
The supporting cast, which includes Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, and Ke Huy Quan, is stacked with talent but some characters feel underutilised and largely one-dimensional (if Tucci has a mustache, he’d be twirling it).
Story-wise, The Electric State struggles to balance its world-building with emotional engagement. The screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely moves briskly and you’ll certainly never be bored while watching the movie, but all that action occasionally sacrifices character moments for spectacle. There’s an interesting meditation on memory, loss, and the relationship between humanity and technology lurking beneath the surface, but the film doesn’t explore these themes as deeply as it could.
Despite its uneven storytelling, The Electric State remains an enjoyable journey. The visual spectacle alone makes it worth watching, and while it may not reach the heights of its ambitious premise, it offers enough moments of wonder to make the ride worthwhile.
The Electric State is available to stream on Netflix from 14 March 2025.
