A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) is a bittersweet, visually striking sci‑fi fairy tale about love, identity and what it means to be human. Set in a near future where climate change has reshaped civilization and humanoid robots called “mechas” serve people, the story follows David (Haley Joel Osment), a highly advanced robotic boy programmed to love. After being adopted as a substitute for a human child, David’s world falls apart when the real son returns. Abandoned and desperate to win back his mother’s affection, he embarks on a long, often dangerous journey to become “real.” Watching the film you’ll experience a blend of childlike wonder and deep melancholy: moments of tenderness and naive hope (David’s devotion and his bond with the talking bear Teddy) sit alongside darker, unsettling episodes (the Flesh Fair and the exploitation of mechas). Jude Law injects charisma and streetwise energy as Gigolo Joe, David’s unlikely companion, while Frances O’Connor and William Hurt anchor the emotional and ethical conflicts of the adults. Steven Spielberg directs with sweeping visuals—ruined, waterlogged cityscapes contrasted with sleek futuristic interiors—and John Williams’ score heightens both the poignancy and the sense of myth. The film is as much a meditation on loss, abandonment and the moral cost of technological progress as it is an adventure: expect to be moved, disturbed, and left thinking about the nature of love and personhood long after the credits. It mixes tender performances, haunting imagery, philosophical questions, and moments of dark satire into an emotional, thought‑provoking experience.

Actors: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor

Director: Steven Spielberg

Runtime: 146 min

Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi

6.5 /10 65 /100 7.2 /10 6.7 /10