The Iron Giant
A young boy befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy.
Directed by Brad Bird · Animation · Action · Adventure · 86 min · 1999
Trailer
Director
Brad Bird
Studio
Warner Bros. Feature Animation
Release
06 Aug 1999
Runtime
86 min
Genres
Animation, Action, Adventure
Full Plot
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.
Cast & Characters
Eli Marienthal
Harry Connick Jr.
Jennifer Aniston
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $50.0M, The Iron Giant has grossed $23.3M worldwide — about 0.5x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The Iron Giant opened in 2,179 theaters in the U.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
The origins of the film lie in the novel The Iron Man (1968), by poet Ted Hughes, who wrote it for his children to comfort them in the wake of their mother Sylvia Plath's suicide.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
The Iron Giant holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (257,198 votes), 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 2, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (257,198 votes), 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Iron Giant's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Iron Giant holds a 96% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Iron Giant's IMDb rating?+
The Iron Giant has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 257,198 votes.
What is The Iron Giant's Metacritic score?+
The Iron Giant has a Metascore of 85/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Iron Giant good? What are critics saying?+
The Iron Giant holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (257,198 votes), 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Iron Giant?+
The Iron Giant has a runtime of 86 min.
Who directed The Iron Giant?+
The Iron Giant was directed by Brad Bird.
Where can I watch The Iron Giant?+
The Iron Giant is available to stream, rent, or buy on Howdy Amazon Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "The Iron Giant" has received positive reviews from critics, with many noting its delightful animation and engaging storyline. The film's hard-to-believe premise, such as a 1950s man rescuing an iron giant robot from the ocean, is often commended for its originality and creativity.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
You are who you choose to be. It's the 1950s and young Hogarth Hughes happens upon a visitor from space ..... in the form of a giant iron man. Delightful animation adaptation of Ted Hughes' much beloved 1968 novel "The Iron Man". Set during the period of time when Cold War and sc…
John Chard · 9/10When a ship is caught up in a storm, it's captain finds the most unlikely of saviours - but nobody back in the town of "Rockwell" believes him! Hardly surprising as he claimed to have been rescued by an hundred foot robot with bright yellow eyes. "Hogarth" is an enthusiastic youn…
CinemaSerf · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
Take note Hollywood this is how you make a kids movie
@J.PMora1957 · 226 likesAlmost 20 years later, and it holds up. Guillermo del Toro was right when he told Brad Bird that he made a classic that will be recognized for years to come. It deserves every accolade it can get.
@JHParee · 313 likesThey don't make movies like this anymore!
@parkerpshebnisky1051 · 356 likesWatched it when I was a child. Definitely worth watching again.
@preamble2persona · 101 likesOne of the best animated films, period.
@MadMan731 · 344 likesthe voice of the iron giant and kid feel so different when compare to when i first saw it on tv
@tarun21kn42 · 58 likesCRITICS: Easily one of the best animated movies of all time! AUDIENCES IN 1999: *crickets chirp*
@supermariof0521 · 155 likesStill to this day One of the Best non-disney hand drawn Animated Movies!
@cyruskuria5165 · 65 likes
