PG-13

Real Steel

Courage is stronger than steel.

2011 • 127 min • Action · Science Fiction · Drama

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Synopsis

Charlie Kenton is a washed-up fighter who retired from the ring when robots took over the sport. After his robot is trashed, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son to rebuild and train an unlikely contender.

Our family guide

Best from age 10

Movie Knight Score

9402 reviews

50 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
71 Audience · 9400 · 49%

Charlie, a washed-up boxer in a robot-fighting future, reluctantly teams up with his estranged young son Max. Together, they discover and train a discarded robot, Atom, transforming their lives and their relationship as they aim for the robot boxing championship. It's a heartwarming tale of redemption and family.

Violence & peril: 6/10
Language: 3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Intense robot boxing matches
Some mild language
Brief scenes of gambling and drinking
Father-son conflict

What it models well

Redemption and second chances
The power of teamwork
Believing in yourself
Family bonding and forgiveness

Talk about it after

What makes a good parent-child relationship?
How do you handle losing and trying again?
The ethics of robot sports
Why is Max so determined to help Atom?

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Real Steel. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Shawn Levy • Crew: Jeremy Leven, Dan Gilroy, John Gatins

Trailers & clips

Official Theatrical Trailer

Reviewer notes

Not recommendedTrusted family reviewers
I wonder if this was originally written to be a Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots movie, but when they couldn't get the rights they just decided to make it anyway. In either case, it's not very good. Amazing that you could take a movie about anthropomorphic **robots** and manage to still make it into a cliche sports film. _Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible._
Gimly, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
No splitting this Atom, it has got a rock solid heart. Real Steel is directed by Shawn Levy and collectively adapted to the screen by John Gatins, Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Leven from a Richard Matheson short story called Steel. It stars Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Durand, Hope Davis and James Rebhorn. Music is scored by Danny Elfman and cinematography by Mauro Fiore.…
John Chard, TMDB Community