7.Bicentennial Man (1999)

Bicentennial Man can be a frustrating watch because it jumps back and forth between playful humor and weepy melodrama. A family in the future hires a robot to help with household tasks, from cooking dinner to entertaining the children. The robot, Andrew, has a shiny metallic exterior that’s very smooth and polished, and the design of his face closely resembles that of late, great actor Robin Williams, which is charming but a little bit creepy. Andrew develops a close bond with the family through his snappy dialogue, witty observations, and flair for the theatrical—all Robin Williams’ trademarks.

The family realizes their robot is very special and not just a mindless machine. Like many tales of artificial figures dating back to 1940’s Pinocchio, Bicentennial Man revolves around Andrew’s desire to become an ordinary man. His character explores what it means to be human through creative pursuits like playing the piano and falling in love. Even though it suffers from genre confusion and oversentimentality, in some ways Bicentennial Man was ahead of its time. It raises interesting questions about how smart artificial intelligence can really get, while also reminding us of humanity’s beauty and complexity. Plus, it includes enough silliness to keep younger audiences entertained.