The Iron Giant (1999)

A young boy befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy.

Director:

Brad Bird

Writers:

Tim McCanlies (screenplay by), Brad Bird (screen story by)

Stars:

Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Aniston

20 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Aniston	...	Annie Hughes (voice)
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Dean McCoppin (voice)
Vin Diesel	...	The Iron Giant (voice)
James Gammon	...	Foreman Marv Loach / Floyd Turbeaux (voice)
Cloris Leachman	...	Mrs. Tensedge (voice)
Christopher McDonald	...	Kent Mansley (voice)
John Mahoney	...	General Rogard (voice)
Eli Marienthal	...	Hogarth Hughes (voice)
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Earl Stutz (voice)
Jack Angel	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Bob Bergen	...	Additional Voices (as Robert Bergen)
Mary Kay Bergman	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Michael Bird	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Devon Cole Borisoff	...	Additional Voices (voice) (as Devon Borisoff)
Rodger Bumpass	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Storyline

This is the story of a nine-year-old boy named Hogarth Hughes who makes friends with an innocent alien giant robot that came from outer space. Meanwhile, a paranoid U.S. Government agent named Kent Mansley arrives in town, determined to destroy the giant at all costs. It's up to Hogarth to protect him by keeping him at Dean McCoppin's place in the junkyard.

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | robot | government agent | friend | friendship | 

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Taglines:

It came from outer space!

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

El gigante de hierro

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,732,614, 8 August 1999, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$23,159,305, 21 November 1999

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$80,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Feature Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min 90 min (Signature Edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS (Digital DTS Sound) SDDS DTS Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sarah Michelle Gellar was considered for the role of Annie Hughes.

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Goofs

As Hogarth runs from the Giant, he hits his head on a branch and falls. In the next shot, Hogarth is lying on a clearing, with no sign of the branch.

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Quotes

Dean McCoppin: Found your pet.
Hogarth Hughes: Where?
Dean McCoppin: It's up my leg, man. Squirrel's in my pants, Hogarth, and it's climbing its way out of here.
Hogarth Hughes: Don't wig out.
Dean McCoppin: Okay, it's heading north now. I'm sorry, kid.
[to the people in the restaurant]
Dean McCoppin: Excuse me! I'd like to apologize to everyone in advance for this.
[zips down his fly to let the squirrel out, which cause a loud commotion]
Dean McCoppin: Check, please.

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Crazy Credits

The Warner Brothers logo is done in 50's art deco, as the Sputnik signal is heard.

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Alternate Versions

In the original, Hogarth finds the Giant's hand watching the TV, showing an advertisement for Maypo Cereal. Director Brad Bird initially wanted an ad for the Disneyland attraction Tomorrowland. Disney would not not grant clearance to use Tomorrowland footage back 1999, when the film was originally shown. Years later for the Signature Edition, Disney allowed the Tomorrowland footage to be used. So in the Signature Edition, the TV shows an ad for Tomorrowland. Oddly enough Brad Bird directed the film version of Tomorrowland for Disney, which was released the same year as the Signature Edition.

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Connections

Referenced in Justice League: Hereafter (2003)

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Soundtracks

Little Bitty Pretty One
(Signature Edition)
Written by Bobby Day (as Robert Byrd)
Performed by Bobby Day
Courtesy of Lynn Adajian
By Arrangement with Ace Music Services LLC

User Reviews

Exquisite.

The Iron Giant is a critically acclaimed piece of animated cinema. I wasn't expecting it to be that good, but The Iron Giant was an amazing movie, it is easily the most exquisite animated movie I have ever seen.

Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marenthal) is obsessed by the opportunites offered by science fiction, the possibility of an alien take-over or, at the very least, an attack from outer space. The original story, which the late Poet Laureate had set in England, saw the innocent Titan of the title emerge from the sea; here he is a visitor from another galaxy.

The Iron Giant is an amazing piece of animation, the voice-overs were done perfectly, the actors obviously enjoyed themselves, the animated art direction and cinematography was beautiful and the giant itself is just...breathtaking.

The Iron Giant is not just another silly little kiddies movie, it is perfection in filmmaking. Please, for the love of God, make your life better and see this brilliant film.

I rate The Iron Giant 10 out of 10.