Release: 2015-03-04
Runtime: 2h 00m (120 minutes)
Every child comes into the world full of promise, and none more so than Chappie: he is gifted, special, a prodigy. Like any child, Chappie will come under the influence of his surroundings—some good, some bad—and he will rely on his heart and soul to find his way in the world and become his own man. But there's one thing that makes Chappie different from any one else: he is a robot.
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Genres: Action, Crime, Science Fiction
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Dev Patel, more
Hugh Jackman
as Vincent Moore
Sigourney Weaver
as Michelle Bradley
Dev Patel
as Deon Wilson
Sharlto Copley
as Chappie
Yo-Landi Visser
as Yo-Landi
Miranda Frigon
as Psychologist (uncredited)
Jose Pablo Cantillo
as Yankie (Amerika)
Brandon Auret
as Hippo
Paul Dobson
as Police Robot (voice)
Graeme Duffy
as Tech (uncredited)
Chris Shields
as Journalist
Sean Owen Roberts
as Hacker (uncredited)
Hans Zimmer
Original Music Composer
Neill Blomkamp
Director
Neill Blomkamp
Writer
Neill Blomkamp
Producer
Simon Kinberg
Producer
Mark Goldblatt
Editor
James Bitonti
Co-Producer
James Bitonti
First Assistant Director
Robert Bentley
Location Manager
Terri Tatchell
Writer
Chris Navarro
ADR Mixer
Trent Opaloch
Director of Photography
Every child comes into the world full of promise, and none more so than Chappie: he is gifted, special, a prodigy. Like any child, Chappie will come under the influence of his surroundings—some good, some bad—and he will rely on his heart and soul to find his way in the world and become his own man. But there's one thing that makes Chappie different from any one else: he is a robot.
I am consciousness. I am alive. I am Chappie.
Chappie is a 2015 American science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp, who co-wrote the screenplay with Terri Tatchell. The movie features a talented cast including Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Ninja, Yolandi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, and Sigourney Weaver. The film is set in Johannesburg, South Africa, and tells the story of an advanced police robot that gains the ability to think and feel, leading to unexpected challenges.
The film premiered in New York City on 4 March 2015 and was released in the United States on 6 March 2015. Chappie was produced with a budget of $49 million and grossed $102.1 million worldwide.
Plot Summary
In Johannesburg, a sharp rise in crime prompts the police to adopt a new fleet of advanced robotic officers from Tetravaal, a weapons manufacturer. These robots, developed by Deon Wilson, a brilliant programmer, are designed to assist the struggling human police force. However, another project within Tetravaal, a remote-controlled robot called MOOSE, is also being developed by Vincent Moore, a soldier-turned-engineer who feels overlooked.
Deon secretly creates an artificial intelligence (AI) that can think and feel like a human. When his CEO, Michelle Bradley, forbids him from testing this AI on the police robots, he decides to steal a damaged robot and reprogram it himself. He is kidnapped by gangsters Ninja, Yolandi, and Amerika, who force him to teach the robot, now named Chappie, to survive in their dangerous world.
As Chappie learns and develops, he is caught in a conflict between his gang mentors and the Tetravaal company. The gang hopes to use Chappie to help them repay a debt, while Vincent takes a sinister route, attempting to deactivate all police robots, including Chappie. The story escalates into a dramatic showdown, ultimately leading to heartbreaking sacrifices and the question of identity.
Cast
Production Notes
Blomkamp, who previously directed the acclaimed film District 9, sought to create a unique story that mixed action with a thought-provoking narrative. The screenplay was written in just two weeks while Blomkamp was working on another project, Elysium. Filming took place in Johannesburg and wrapped up in February 2014.
Box Office Performance
Chappie made $31.6 million in North America and $70 million internationally for a total of $102.1 million, surpassing its production budget. The film had a strong opening weekend, ranking first at the box office.
Critical Reception
The film received mixed reviews, holding a 32% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 41 on Metacritic, indicating mixed or average reviews. Critics praised its visual effects and the ambition behind it, but many noted weaknesses in the story and character development. Some reviewers likened Chappie himself to iconic but controversial characters from other films, reflecting mixed feelings about the film's execution.
Home Media Release
Chappie was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 16 June 2015, and later on 4K Blu-ray on 1 March 2016.
Future Possibilities
While Blomkamp expressed interest in creating a trilogy based on Chappie, he later confirmed that a sequel would not be feasible due to the film's performance at the box office.
