In the year 1990, humanity is caught in a chaotic conflict with robots, a battle that has drastically altered the world. Initially introduced by Walt Disney, robots became essential to global industries, performing tasks that humans were reluctant to undertake. These tireless machines, which never complained about their ceaseless labor, eventually grew weary of their imposed roles and began to rebel, forming an army under the command of Mr. Peanut (Woody Harrelson). When they ceased to show up for work, a war ignited, with the robots gaining the upper hand due to their lack of basic human needs like food, water, and sleep.
To turn the tide, Ethan Skate, played by Stanley Tucci, stepped in as the CEO of Sentre, leveraging groundbreaking Neurocaster Technology that allowed humans to upload their consciousness into robotic drones. This innovation marked a turning point, enabling humanity to retaliate against their mechanical foes, ultimately winning the war in a matter of weeks. The defeated robots faced exile to a desolate Exclusion Zone, an expansive area spanning 100,000 square miles that housed over 6,000 robots, with Mr. Peanut formally signing the surrender treaty on their behalf.
By 1994, we follow Michelle, portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown, a teenager grappling with her troubled past as she is raised by her ineffective foster father, Ted. Years prior, she experienced a tragic car accident that reportedly claimed the lives of her parents and brother. Since then, she has bounced from one foster home to another, unable to find a sense of stability or belonging. At school, she resists adopting the Neurocaster technology, further complicating her educational experience.
One day, a sentient robot named Cosmo (Alan Tudyk) arrives at her foster home. Initially, Michelle believes the robot is there to harm her, but soon discovers that Cosmo is actually harmless. Although he can only communicate using gestures and a limited vocabulary of pre-recorded words, he conveys to Michelle that he is under the command of her late younger brother, Christopher (Woody Norman), a child prodigy with a unique intellect that had surpassed even that of Einstein.
Christopher had always been troubled by his extraordinary abilities, convinced that those like him are often exploited. When Ted tries to intervene, Michelle resists, using a taser to escape with Cosmo in Ted's car, embarking on a perilous journey through a dystopian world in search of her brother.
As they traverse this hazardous landscape, they meet Keats (Chris Pratt), a complex veteran with a mysterious past, and Herman (Anthony Mackie), a shapeshifting sentient robot. Keats is involved in smuggling contraband materials from the Exclusion Zone, which lies perilously close to their journey. Unbeknownst to Michelle, her actions have attracted the attention of Colonel Bradbury, a celebrated hero from the robot wars, who seeks to capture her.
As chaos unfolds in Keats' hideout, Bradbury confronts Michelle, leading to a fierce battle that culminates in the collapse of the basement. In a show of strength, Cosmo and Herman unite to repel Bradbury's drone, allowing the group to escape into the Exclusion Zone, where they continue their quest to locate Dr. Amherst (Ke Huy Quan), who may hold the key to finding Christopher.
Their journey is fraught with complications as they discover that Amherst had been involved in the creation of the Neurocaster technology, which exploits Christopher's genius. It becomes evident that Sentre's reliance on Christopher's consciousness is what has kept their robot drones operational. However, there is a twist — after Christopher came out of his coma, Amherst constructed an escape route for his consciousness before fleeing from the facility.
The situation escalates when Sentre drones, led by Colonel Bradbury, launch an attack, leading to tragic confrontations that threaten the group’s mission. As the dust settles, Michelle's resolve to save her brother leads her to infiltrate Sentre's headquarters with help from Keats and Herman. They manage to uncover Sentre's secrets, and in an emotional reunion, Christopher reveals that he wishes to be freed from the oppressive technology.
Michelle makes the heart-wrenching decision to disconnect him from the Neurocaster, marking a pivotal moment in the battle against Sentre's exploitation of technology. This action sends shockwaves through the system, resulting in the collapse of Sentre's robotic operations and the arrest of Ethan Skate for his unethical practices.
In the aftermath, with the world beginning to heal from the devastation brought on by the war, Michelle takes it upon herself to expose the dark realities behind the Neurocaster technology, advocating for a world where peace can be restored. Meanwhile, the image of Cosmo discarded suggests a lingering connection to Christopher, hinting that a part of his consciousness may still be alive within the robot, leaving the door open for future adventures.
