Real Steel (2011)

In the near future, robot boxing is a top sport. A struggling promoter feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot.

Director:

Shawn Levy

Writers:

John Gatins (screenplay), Dan Gilroy (story)

Stars:

Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Jackman	...	Charlie Kenton
Dakota Goyo	...	Max Kenton
Evangeline Lilly	...	Bailey Tallet
Anthony Mackie	...	Finn
Kevin Durand	...	Ricky
Hope Davis	...	Aunt Debra
James Rebhorn	...	Marvin
Karl Yune	...	Tak Mashido
Olga Fonda	...	Farra Lemkova
John Gatins	...	Kingpin
Sophie Levy	...	Big Sister
Tess Levy	...	Little Sister
Charlie Levy	...	Littlest Sister
Gregory Sims	...	Bill Panner
Torey Michael Adkins	...	Large Texan Man (as Torey Adkins)

Storyline

In the near future when people become uninterested in boxing and similar sports, a new sport is created - Robot boxing wherein robots battle each other while being controlled by someone. Charlie Kenton, a former boxer who's trying to make it in the new sport, not only doesn't do well, he is very deeply in the red. When he learns that his ex, mother of his son Max, dies, he goes to figure out what to do with him. His ex's sister wants to take him in but Charlie has first say in the matter. Charlie asks her husband for money so he can buy a new Robot in exchange for turning Max over to them. He takes Max for the summer. And Max improves his control of his robot. But when the robot is destroyed, they go to a scrap yard to get parts. Max finds an old generation robot named Atom and restores him. Max wants Atom to fight but Charlie tells him he won't last a round. However, Atom wins. And it isn't long before Atom is getting major bouts. Max gets Charlie to teach Atom how to fight, and the ...

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Plot Keywords:

robot | boxing | robot battle | arena | boxing movie | 

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Taglines:

Courage is stronger than steel.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

DreamWorks [Canada] (French) DreamWorks [United States]

Country:

USA India

Language:

English Ukrainian

Release Date:

7 October 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Real Steel: The IMAX Experience

Filming Locations:

Yankee Air Museum

Box Office

Budget:

$110,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$27,319,677 (USA) (7 October 2011)

Gross:

$85,463,309 (USA) (10 February 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, Touchstone Pictures, Reliance Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Max's guzzling Dr. Pepper at the Parkway Motel (at around 1:05:00) might be suspected as product placement, Shawn Levy mentions in the DVD commentary (at around 1:09:00) that the production only received permission to use Dr. Pepper, without remuneration. The filmmakers wanted to use a recognizable product containing caffeine that could make Max hyper enough to have worked throughout the night.

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Goofs

After Charlie and Max get beat up an aerial shot over the city is shown filmed in reverse. Look at the flags and the cars on the street driving backwards.

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Quotes

Max Kenton: Shut up! You're not helping!
Charlie Kenton: Actually, I think I am.

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Connections

Referenced in Estrenos Críticos: Fuga de Cerebros 2, Happy Feet 2, Acero Puro, La Chispa de la Vida, In Time (2011)

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Soundtracks

Here's a Little Something for Ya
Written by Mike D (as Michael Louis Diamond), Adam Horovitz and Adam Yauch (as Adam Nathaniel Yauch)
Performed by Beastie Boys
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Great movie, good story. Who doesn't like fighting robots??

We saw an advanced screening on Sept 22. I thought it was going to be another one of those cheesy, campy, not really believable, warm fuzzy, type of underdog/rags to riches movies. I was actually surprised. It had some great plot twists, it had a real story line. And while yes, there is some language sprinkled throughout, it did make a good family movie for older kids, 10+ (my opinion). The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting, but looking back I think I liked it better for that. Who wants an ending they can see coming the entire movie?

It had some great comedy moments. The relationships between the actors felt genuine and not overdone or forced.

The robot animatronics was good. The robots themselves were fun and imaginative and definitely made me wish we really had this sport. I would so be there!