5 Years Later, This Gem With 97% on RT Remains One of the Best Family Animations Ever Created
You just can't miss this one.
In 2021, Netflix released The Mitchells vs. the Machines, an animated masterpiece from Gravity Falls creators Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller served as producers.
The movie features wacky humor, visual ingenuity, and an unexpectedly touching story about the importance of embracing your true self and staying connected to your loved ones.
What Is 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' About?
Katie Mitchell, an outsider, loves making quirky short films with her pug, Monchi. She dreams of attending film school, but her old-fashioned father, Rick, doesn't understand her passion.
After he cancels her plane tickets, the family embarks on one last trip together to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, AI robots created by tech magnate Mark Bowman rise up and take over America.
Their goal is to destroy humanity, and only the Mitchell family, caught in the middle of it all by accident, can save the world.
'The Mitchells vs. The Machines' Is a Visual Feast With Modern Humor
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is an animated project that isn't afraid to experiment with form – its animation combines computer graphics with elements of comics, anime, and crude overlay drawings.
The movie's visual style is a feast for the eyes, with intertitles, split screens, and effects reminiscent of TikTok and YouTube popping up throughout the frame. The creators use memes, quick editing, and absurd gags to tell a relatable story to the modern generation.
At the same time, the movie doesn't resort to cheap humor – it remains smart and witty. It pokes fun at tech moguls, gadget addiction, and people's willingness to enslave themselves for free Wi-Fi.
At the center of all this madness, however, is a heartfelt story about a family learning to understand each other. In the climactic scene, Father Rick, ignorant of technology, attempts to open a YouTube video to save the world – and this becomes not only a funny moment, but also a touching one.
'The Mitchells vs. The Machines' Tells the Story of a Family That Triumphs Through Its Flaws
The main strength of The Mitchells lies in the dysfunction of its characters. Katie and her father struggle to get along, their mother, Linda, tries to be a peacemaker, and the younger brother, Aaron, is obsessed with dinosaurs. It's precisely their imperfections that make them so charming.
This animated gem reminds us that it's okay to be weird and that a family's true strength isn't found in perfect Instagram photos but in accepting each other for who we are.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a true modern classic that deserves far more attention than it has received.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines'?
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The Mitchells vs. the Machines has 97% from critics and 90% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.6/10.
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On Letterboxd, The Mitchells vs. the Machines scored 3.8/5.0.
Where to Watch 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines'?
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is available to stream on Netflix.
