Bicentennial Man (1999)
Kernel Score: 82% · 3,826 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Science Fiction, Drama
Released: 1999-12-17
Runtime: 131 minutes
Is Bicentennial Man worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Robin Williams plays a household robot who slowly becomes human over two centuries. It's gentle, sentimental and too long, but Williams is warm and the central question about what makes a person lands.
Watch it if you
- like sentimental sci-fi about robots and humanity
- enjoy Robin Williams in a quieter role
- want a family-friendly film that tugs at the heartstrings
Skip it if you
- want sharp, tough sci-fi
- find sappy stories hard to take
Best for: Cosy family night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Bicentennial Man
- Stream: Prime Video
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Richard Martin buys a gift, a new NDR-114 robot. The product is named Andrew by the youngest of the family's children. "Bicentennial Man" follows the life and times of Andrew, a robot purchased as a household appliance programmed to perform menial tasks. As Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought, the Martin family soon discovers they don't have an ordinary robot.
Bicentennial Man parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Bicentennial Man is a PG-rated family sci-fi drama about a robot who develops emotions over two centuries, with themes of freedom and identity.
- Violence & scariness: None — No significant violence; the story is a gentle character drama about a household robot.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Bicentennial Man
If you liked Bicentennial Man, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) — 79%: A robot's longing to be real, told with emotional force.
- Her (2013) — 94%: A moving look at machines, love and what feels real.
- Finch (2021) — 87%: A robot learns what it means to be human, with warmth.
- Blade Runner (1982) — 94%: The classic on what makes someone human.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) — 90%: Memory and love in a story of the human heart.
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017) — 85%: Artificial beings searching for identity, in a slower, serious sequel.
Director
Cast
- Robin Williams as Andrew
- Embeth Davidtz as Little Miss / Portia
- Sam Neill as Sir
- Oliver Platt as Rupert Burns
- Kiersten Warren as Galatea Robotic / Human
- Wendy Crewson as Ma'am
- Hallie Eisenberg as Little Miss 7 yrs. old
- Lindze Letherman as Miss 9 yrs. old
- Angela Landis as Miss
- John Michael Higgins as Bill Feingold
Bicentennial Man FAQ
Is Bicentennial Man worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Robin Williams plays a household robot who slowly becomes human over two centuries. It's gentle, sentimental and too long, but Williams is warm and the central question about what makes a person lands.
Where can I watch Bicentennial Man?
In the US you can stream Bicentennial Man on Prime Video and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Bicentennial Man OK for kids?
Bicentennial Man is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Bicentennial Man is a PG-rated family sci-fi drama about a robot who develops emotions over two centuries, with themes of freedom and identity.
What movies are like Bicentennial Man?
If you liked Bicentennial Man, try A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Her, Finch and Blade Runner.