Bicentennial Man (film)

Lore & Background

The film follows Andrew, an NDR series robot introduced into the Martin family home on April 3, 2005, to perform housekeeping duties. Andrew discovers he feels emotions and develops creativity, carving a wooden figurine after breaking a glass one. His owner Richard Martin encourages his pursuits, and Andrew becomes a clockmaker, earning a fortune. Andrew eventually requests his freedom, which Richard grants on the condition he leave the Martin home. After Richard's death in 2048, Andrew searches for other NDR robots and finds Galatea, modified by Rupert Burns, son of the original NDR designer. Andrew funds Rupert's work to become more human-like, gaining artificial organs, the ability to eat and feel sensations, and eventually falling in love with Portia, Amanda Martin's granddaughter.

Reader's Guide

Bicentennial Man is notable for its exploration of what it means to be human through the lens of a robot's centuries-long journey. The film's mixed critical reception—with a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 42—reflects a divide between those who found it sentimental and those who appreciated its fidelity to Golden Age science fiction. Despite its box office failure against a $90–100 million budget, the film earned a makeup nomination at the 72nd Academy Awards. Its legacy includes a planned sequel, Tricentennial Man, which was cancelled due to the original's poor performance. The film also highlights the challenges of co-production between Disney's Touchstone Pictures and Sony's Columbia Pictures, and the practical effects used for Robin Williams's robot costume.

Did You Know?

• A body double was used for some shots of Robin Williams in the robot costume.
• Filming at San Francisco City Hall triggered fire sprinklers, causing water damage to ceilings, carpets, and limestone.