Real Steel

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Real Steel

PG-13

2011

2h 7m

Action

Drama

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

231 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Charlie Kenton used to be a prizefighter but lost his chance to win a title when heavy, towering robots took over the boxing ring. Now working as a small-time promoter, Charlie pieces together scrap metal into low-end fighters, barely earning enough to make it from one underground venue to the next. After hitting rock bottom, Charlie reluctantly teams with his estranged son, Max, to build and train a championship robot for a last shot at redemption.

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Critics Consensus

Silly premise notwithstanding, this is a well-made Hollywood movie: Thrilling and exciting action with just enough characterization.

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Logan Hill

New York Magazine/Vulture

It's more of a throwback to Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick, a rags-to-middle-class-respectability tale about the humble joy of old-fashioned decency.

Nov 14, 2018

Full Review

Tom Charity

CNN.com

It's as corny as Kansas, but the mix of old fashioned heart and new fangled animatronic cyber tech will make this picture a winner for fathers and sons.

Nov 14, 2018

Full Review

Shawn Levy

New York Times

All things considered, it is a well-wrought piece of entertainment, confidently paced, although its necessary subplots are little more than dutiful filler sandwiched between fight sequences.

Nov 6, 2018

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

As hokey as that sounds, "Real Steel" will catch you with a body blow of father-son emotion.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 28, 2025

Full Review

Iván Kazi

EscribiendoCine

The truth is that it is a fun film and its few inconsistencies are insignificant compared to the outstanding special effects and the compelling thematic thread. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Sep 27, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A tired old cast re-pressed and coated with a shiny new layer of wax.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 7, 2023

Full Review

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Tyler G

When it opened with an Alexia Murdoch song, I was ready to love this movie, but I just cannot. It is bad. I cannot stress how much of this movie is delivered with a character yelling into a camera less than a foot from their face. Hugh Jackman yells 80%+ of his lines, and the kid isn't far behind. It begins to grind on the ears and eyes. Pass.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/27/25

Full Review

Idris S

Amazing concept to bring rock em sock ems to the big screen, with good story, cgi, practical effects and actors. Wish there was a sequel to this. Could've been bigger

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/24/25

Full Review

Lyle Zildjian G

This movie will be heartwarming & emotional, that I used to be watched this real steel movie as a kid before, such a good movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Watched it 10 times, never gets old. Must see!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

Full Review

Warren T

This is one of top 3 movies on my list, very entertaining and fun to watch! Highly recommend

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

Full Review

ERNIE A

I think it was great because it was made before 2015, the fall of all movies. Great movie for a father and son.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/04/25

Full Review

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Shawn Levy

Director

Hugh Jackman

Charlie Kenton

Evangeline Lilly

Bailey Tallet

Dakota Goyo

Max

Anthony Mackie

Finn

Kevin Durand

Ricky

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55%

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40%

36%

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15%

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Synopsis

Charlie Kenton used to be a prizefighter but lost his chance to win a title when heavy, towering robots took over the boxing ring. Now working as a small-time promoter, Charlie pieces together scrap metal into low-end fighters, barely earning enough to make it from one underground venue to the next. After hitting rock bottom, Charlie reluctantly teams with his estranged son, Max, to build and train a championship robot for a last shot at redemption.

Director: Shawn Levy
Producer: Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Shawn Levy
Screenwriter: John Gatins
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: 21 Laps Entertainment, Montford Murphy
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Action|Brief Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $85.5M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital

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