There has been a fascination with robots since the first robot appeared in 1897 in the French short film “The Clown and Automaton.” Since then, the passion has only increased, with robots appearing in hundreds of movies. In a lot of cases, the robot has outshone its human co-stars.
Let’s look at the top 10 famous robots from movies:
10. Gort – The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Gort is an 8-foot tall alien robot, a bodyguard for Klaatu, who is an ambassador from another planet. Gort has the ability to detroy anyone with the laser beam shot from one eye in the middle of his forhead.
9. Johnny 5 – Short Circuit (1986)
Johnny 5, originally named SAINT Number 5, was a prototypic robot used in the Cold War, but a power surge causes a malfunction and essentially gives Number 5 life. He turns from the original, destructive purpose he was created for and has to evade soldiers to avoid disassembly.
8. Optimus Prime – Transformers (2007)
Optimus Prime is the powerful and wise Supreme Commander of the Autobots, from the planet Cybertron. They try to improve the universe, especially earth, by warring against the evil Decepticons. Optimus emanates everything that’s good and just about a leader.
7. Robot Maria – Metropolis (1927)
Robot Maria is based on a real character of the same name, created by a crazed scientist named Rotwang. A plan is plotted by Rotwang to kidnap the real Maria, make the robot look like her and use her to kill the city’s leader’s son. Robot Maria ends up wreaking havoc by causing all the men in the city to lust after her.
6. Wall-E – Wall-E (2008)
Wall-E, the computer animated robot, was designed to clean up a garbage-laden earth in the future, but managed to stay alive, even though the earth was long abandoned. Wall-E falls in love with another robot named EVE, and they have an adventure surrounding a seedling plant, the only one left on the planet.
5. Terminator – The Terminator (1984)
Played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator is a cyborg assassin, created to destroy what’s left of the human race after the apocalypse. He’s sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of the future leader of the apocalypse survivors, before he’s even born.
4. The Iron Giant – The Iron Giant (1999)
This animated film depicts a robot who crashes to earth, and befriends a boy named Hogarth. The Iron Giant ends up on the run from the government, and sacrifices himself to save the earth from a giant missile.
3. C-3PO – Star Wars
C-3PO was created as a droid to serve humans, but ends up essentially as a side-kick to another robot R2-D2, and translates for him. He is quite clever and he and R2-D2 help each other out, through thick and thin.
2. R2-D2 – Star Wars
R2-D2, along with his side-kick C-3PO, is an android who supports member of the Force, such as Hans Solo, Luke and Anakin Skywalker, by delivering plans and getting them out of hot water. You don’t need robotics training to go along side with good old R2-D2 as this robot is one smart cookie.
1. HAL 9000 – A Space Odyssey
HAL 9000 is the artificial intelligence that controls the space ship Discovery One and takes the form of a red T.V. camera eye. HAL is almost human-like, and vows to kill anyone who tries to destroy him.
The love for robots in film doesn’t cease and filmmakers constantly try bigger and better things when creating movie robots that fans will either love or hate.
Who is your favourite movie robot and why?
