9 (2009)
Kernel Score: 76% · 3,811 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Science Fiction, Thriller
Released: 2009-08-19
Runtime: 79 minutes
Is 9 worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Stitched-doll survivors fight machines in a ruined world. The design is striking and imaginative, but at 79 minutes the story and characters are thin. Watch it for the look, not the depth.
Watch it if you
- love dark, inventive animation design
- like short post-apocalyptic adventures
- want something visually unusual
Skip it if you
- want a deep story or developed characters
- need a family-friendly film for little kids; it's dark
Best for: Short, visual sci-fi night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch 9
- Stream: Peacock
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good.
9 parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that 9 is a PG-13 animated sci-fi thriller about ragdoll creatures fighting machines in a post-apocalyptic, human-free world.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Frequent battles between small creatures and menacing machines in a bleak post-apocalyptic setting, with intense peril throughout.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like 9
If you liked 9, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- 9 (2005) — 81%: The original short film that inspired this feature.
- Ghost in the Shell (1995) — 92%: A thoughtful, richly designed animated sci-fi classic.
- The Wild Robot (2024) — 91%: A robot in the wild, with real heart and gorgeous design.
- Akira (1988) — 92%: A landmark animated sci-fi in a ruined world.
- Castle in the Sky (1986) — 93%: Imaginative adventure with a gentle robot and a sky-high world.
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) — 91%: Animation where the look is as inventive as the story.
Director
Shane Acker
Cast
- Elijah Wood as #9 (voice)
- Christopher Plummer as #1 (voice)
- Martin Landau as #2 (voice)
- John C. Reilly as #5 (voice)
- Crispin Glover as #6 (voice)
- Jennifer Connelly as #7 (voice)
- Fred Tatasciore as #8 / Radio Announcer (voice)
- Alan Oppenheimer as Scientist (voice)
- Tom Kane as Dictator (voice)
- Helen Wilson as Newscaster (voice)
9 FAQ
Is 9 worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Stitched-doll survivors fight machines in a ruined world. The design is striking and imaginative, but at 79 minutes the story and characters are thin. Watch it for the look, not the depth.
Where can I watch 9?
In the US you can stream 9 on Peacock and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is 9 OK for kids?
9 is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that 9 is a PG-13 animated sci-fi thriller about ragdoll creatures fighting machines in a post-apocalyptic, human-free world.
What movies are like 9?
If you liked 9, try 9, Ghost in the Shell, The Wild Robot and Akira.