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This article is rated PG-13, meaning it contains content that may be inappropriate for readers under the age of 13. |
| “ | Bite us. | „ |
| ~ Tagline |
| Murder Drones | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | David Leitch |
| Written by | Liam Vickers |
| Based on | Murder Drones by Glitch Productions & Liam Vickers |
| Produced by | Kelly McCormick David Leitch Shawn Levy Neal H. Moritz |
| Starring | Ryan Reynolds Matthew McConaughey Emma Watson Michael Cera Angourie Rice Elsie Lovelock Michael Kovach |
| Cinematography | Jonathan Sela |
| Edited by | Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir |
| Music by | Tyler Bates AJ DiSpirito |
| Production companies | New Eden Pictures 21 Laps Entertainment Original Film 87North Productions Screen Australia |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures (through Sony Pictures Releasing) |
| Release dates | November 7, 2024 (Sydney Opera House) December 4, 2024 (Australia) December 6, 2024 (United States) |
| Running time | 124 minutes |
| Countries | United States Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $93 million |
| Box office | $548.7 million |
Murder Drones is a 2024 science-fiction film loosely based on the web series of the same name. It was directed by David Leitch and produced by Shawn Levy, Neal H. Moritz, Kelly McCormick, and Leitch, with a screenplay by Liam Vickers, the creator of the series. It stars Elsie Lovelock, Michael Kovach, who reprise their roles as Uzi and N respectively, along with newcomers Ryan Reynolds, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, and Angourie Rice, who star in live-action roles. It tells the story of Uzi Doorman, a sardonic teen helper robot, who meets Serial Designation N, a drone who is meant to kill robots her kind, and the two develop an unlikely bond between each other.
Development of a Murder Drones film began in late 2021 when series creator Liam Vickers pitched a script to the Lerdwichagul brothers, who eventually accepted it. After a bidding war against Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Studios, and Lionsgate over distribution rights to the film, the project was finally acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment and would release it under their Columbia Pictures label.
Murder Drones premiered at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia on November 7, 2024. It was released in Australia on December 4 before it was released in the United States two days later. It received positive reviews from critics for its visual effects, performances, score, faithfulness to the series, and suspense, but received minor criticism for its screenplay and PG-13 rating. It grossed $548.7 million worldwide on a $93 million budget, making it the 23rd highest-grossing film by Sony. A couple follow-ups are in development.
Synopsis[]
"In a world where Worker Drones co-exist with humans, when interstellar and technology company JCJenson (IN SPAAAAACEE!!!!) announces the termination of the robots through the deployal of Dissassembly Drones, one of them falls into an unlikely relationship with one of the Workers in Anchorage, Alaska, prompting attempts by JCJenson and the Dissassembly Drones to break them apart."
-Sony Pictures
Plot[]
In 1988, interstellar and technology giant JCJenson announce Worker Drones, autonomous robots created to help humans in everything. However, since the later emergence of improved artificial intelligence as time went on, the company announced the mass termination of these robots left on the planet via Disassembly Drones sent to exterminate them, as they were viewed as "no longer necessary" by the company.
Amidst the ongoing extinction of the Worker Drones, in Anchorage, Alaska, rebellious teenage robot Uzi Doorman nearly gets killed after a run-in with Serial Designation N, a Disassembly Drone. After she is recovered, Uzi rencounters N, to which she scolds him for nearly killing her. N says it's not his fault, and that he is forced to by order of JCJenson. Uzi forgives him, but tells him not to do it again, to which N promises.
The next morning, Serial Designations V and J become suspicious of N's motives with the Worker Drones, even prompting to call the JCJenson headquarters. CEO Raymond Brown tells them to stay vigilant until anything about them arises, to which the two drones abide by. Meanwhile, Uzi and N decide to spend some time with each other, such as going to a local library, but get kicked out after N threatens a child for supposedly making rude comments about Uzi, and sneaking into a local gang's hideout, to which they are caught, but escape after. When N takes Uzi to one of his favorite spots in Anchorage, which is a telecommunications tower overlooking the city, he confesses to her that he has a soft spot for her, and that he doesn't want to kill her. Uzi feels unsure about this, as Disassembly Drones were known to kill Worker Drones. But she feels the same about N, so she decides to keep their relationship secret.
As V, J, and the rest of the JCJenson key people are becoming more suspicious about N and his actions, the company sends certified technician Tessa Elliott to assist the two Disassembly Drones in finding him. V eventually finds N and interrogates him, but N tries to explain to V that Uzi is not against him, and that she is actually friendly to those that befriend her. V is not convinced, but when she continues threatening him, Uzi almost fires her railgun at her to defend N. N explains to Uzi about V, and V decides to step down, but keeps a close eye on Uzi, in case she betrays them.
TBA.
Cast[]
Live-action roles[]
- Ryan Reynolds as Raymond Brown, the CEO of JCJenson
- Matthew McConaughey as James Smith, the President of JCJenson
- Emma Watson as Kaylee Orlean, the CFO of JCJenson
- Michael Cera as Timothy Albert, the COO of JCJenson
- Angourie Rice as Tessa Elliott, a certified technician sent to assist V and J in finding Uzi and N
- Colin Jost as Collin Williams, the governor of Alaska
- Sam Rockwell as Alton
- Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo
- Happy Anderson as "some creepy dude"
- David Leitch as Johnny Kermuckel, a taxi driver
- Jordan Peele as a JCJenson employee (uncredited)
- Ken Jeong as an engineer (uncredited)
Voice roles[]
- Elsie Lovelock as Uzi Doorman, a rebellious teenage Worker Drone
- Michael Kovach as Serial Designation N, a dangerous but friendly Disassembly Drone
- Nola Klop as Serial Designation V, a sadistic Disassembly Drone
- Shara Kirby as Serial Designation J, the leader of N and V's Anchorage extermination team
- David J. Dixon as Khan Doorman, Uzi's door-obsessed and overprotective father
- Sean Chiplock as Thad, a jock at Uzi's school
- Emma Breezy as Doll, a Russian-speaking student
- Caitlin Dizon as Lizzy, a student who tends to bully Uzi
- Keith David as Serial Designation Reaper
- Marc Maron as Serial Designation S
- Liam Vickers as Serial Designations B, P, and X
- Luke Lerdwichagul as Serial Designations A, L, T, and Alpha
- Kevin Lerdwichagul as Serial Designations I, O, Z, and Beta
- Tara Strong as Tammy
- Sylvester Stallone as John J. Rambo, a former Green Beret
- Bruce Campbell as the JCJenson infomercial voiceover (uncredited)
Production[]
Development[]
Following the release of the pilot in October 2021, a film based on the Murder Drones webseries was considered when creator Liam Vickers showed the project to Glitch Productions founders Kevin and Luke Lerdwichagul, who found it "amazing and appealing." The film was originally going to be fully computer-animated until a decision was made to add live-action to it, as it might add a "new touch" to the series, as well as being somewhat "suitable" for the current world. In August 2022, when asked about if a film was in development, Vickers stated: "Please wait..." This prompted many viewers of the show to speculate that there was a possibility of a feature film based on the series.
In November 2022, it was announced that a live-action/animated film based on the series was in production, with a slated release date of mid-to-late 2024. The film would be completely different from the series, as it would focus on an original story developed by Vickers, and would be more of a "romantic action" film. A budget of around $90 million to $100 million was funded to haul the project. Director David Leitch was announced to direct and produce the film, while Shawn Levy and Neal H. Moritz joined the project as producers through their 21 Laps Entertainment and Original Film banners respectively.
During the film's premiere, Leitch revealed that the film was originally planned to have an R rating. The Lerdwichagul brothers and Vickers confirmed this as true, and told fans that the cut was so "outside of the series" that it was quickly scrapped and rewritten to fit the PG-13 rating.
Pre-production[]
Due to the film going out of the series' base, creativity was said to have taken "ages" to think about. Locations and filming techniques were also hard to conquer, as the series originally took place in a winter wasteland. Leitch also said that any actions scenes in the film had to be pre-visualized and made to figure out how the film would play out.
In February 2023, the cast of the series were confirmed to reprise their roles respectively, while newcomer Keanu Reeves was announced in an undisclosed role. Ryan Reynolds and Emma Watson were also said to have joined in said roles. In April 2023, Michael Cera had joined the cast. In May 2023, Matthew McConaughey was said to have joined the cast. Reeves left the film later on, with Reynolds taking his role.
Filming[]
Principal photography began on June 20, 2023 under the working title Roboto & Juliet, a play on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Some shots were filmed in Anchorage, Alaska, where most of the film took place. Production was suspended on July 14 as a result of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, but resumed on November 13. There were also a few delays in filming due to Reynolds' involvement in Deadpool & Wolverine. Principal photography wrapped on January 2, 2024 in San Francisco, California. Some sets, such as the JCJenson headquarters and a library, were made from scratch.
Post-production[]
The animation and visual effects were provided by Glitch Productions, who produces the series, along with Cinesite and DNEG.
The film completed production on August 29, 2024.
Music[]
Main article: Murder Drones (film)/Soundtrack
Tyler Bates, one of Leitch's collaborators, was announced to compose the film's score on November 6, 2023. AJ DiSpirito, the original composer of Murder Drones, returned to compose the film's score with Bates.
The song "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf is a recurring theme in the film. A cover of the song by Elsie Lovelock and Michael Kovach was released online on October 8, 2024. Other songs are played throughout the film, such as "Tainted Love", "Everybody Wants To Rule The World", "Blue Monday", and "Just Can't Get Enough."
Marketing[]
A teaser trailer of the film was revealed on November 9, 2023, during GlitchX, which showed a snowy background with a shadow of Uzi approaching before cutting to black. The same day, a teaser poster was revealed online.
From September 2024 to February 2025, a website of JCJenson, the antagonistic faction of the series and film, was created to promote the film. The website included information about Worker and Disassembly Drones, while also showing biographies of the company's key people, including the CEO of JCJenson.
To promote the film, the 2023 animated movie Blockysworld: The Beginning and The End was rereleased in select theaters for a week from November 22 to November 29 to promote the release of Murder Drones, with a sneak peek for the latter attached after the credits.
Release[]
Theatrical[]
On September 29, 2023, it was announced that Sony Pictures Releasing had acquired the distribution rights to Murder Drones, and would release it under their Columbia Pictures banner worldwide, after a bidding war with Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Studios, and Lionsgate.
Murder Drones held its world premiere in Sydney, Australia on November 7, 2024, where Glitch is located. It was released theatrically first in Australia on December 4, and then released in other international markets on December 5 before its initial release in the United States on December 6 in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and IMAX formats. It was originally planned to be released on July 5, 2024, but was delayed to October 18. It was then delayed to November 22 before being rescheduled to its initial date. Those who attended the film's theatrical screenings were given free mini figurines of Uzi, N, V, and J.
Home media[]
Murder Drones was released for digital download by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on February 11, 2025 before it was released on Ultra HD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD formats on March 18, 2025. The Blu-Ray and Ultra HD formats contain deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes, audio commentary by Leitch, the Lerdwichaguls, and Vickers, and the full uncut gameplay of Uzi and N's Call of Duty: World at War gaming scene featured in the film. The film was released on Netflix on April 4, 2025, and would stream on Disney+ and Hulu at a later date. It would also appear on Disney's linear television networks.
The unrated version of the film was released with the digital, Blu-Ray and Ultra HD Blu-Ray formats.
Reception[]
Box office[]
Murder Drones grossed $195.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $353.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $548.7 million against a budget of $93 million.
Critical reception[]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 84% based on 304 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "System error: Murder Drones captures the perfect combination of romance, sci-fi, and action." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 75 out of 100 based on 48 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Audiences polled on CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported around 82% filmgoers giving it a positive review, with 67% giving it a "definite recommend."
Accolades[]
TBA.
Other media[]
Murder Drones: Absolution[]
In 2030, Sam Raimi officially announced his involvement as the director of Murder Drones: Absolution. Raimi is known for his unique blend of horror, suspense, and dark humor, which he plans to bring to the Murder Drones universe.
After a six-year hiatus, Murder Drones creator Liam Vickers returns as the producer of Absolution. Fan were excited to see Vickers return to the franchise he originally created, adding his signature storytelling and character-driven narratives to the movie.
Absolution marks a partnership between DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures. This collaboration allows the film to have the high-quality animation and extensive distribution that both studios are known for.
The executive production team for Murder Drones: Absolution includes Luke and Kevin Lerdwichagul, co-founders of Glitch Productions, the studio behind the original Murder Drones series. Their involvement ensures that the film remains faithful to the original series' tone and world-building.
Fans eagerly anticipate how Sam Raimi's dark and creative directing style will mix with Liam Vickers' previous works. Raimi's announcement sparked a wave of fan theories about the direction Absolution will take.
Murder Drones: Dark Horizons[]
Duncan Jones, Glen Keane, and Travis Knight have teamed up to direct Murder Drones: Dark Horizons. This collaboration brings together directors known for both live-action and animation, promising a mix of visual storytelling styles, with Jones known for his Sci-fi flair (Moon, Source Code), Keane's deep animation experience (The Little Mermaid, Tangled), and Knight's expertise in stop motion and animation (Kubo and the Two Strings).
While Liam Vickers steps down from producing, he still plays a pivotal role as a writer for Dark Horizons, alongside Christopher Miller. this ensures that the film continues to carry the creative spirit and dark themes of the original series, While incorporating Miller's witty, action-packed writing style (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street).
The cast of Dark Horizons has been boosted with high-profile stars, Including Finn Wolfhard, known for his role in Stranger Things, and Andrew Garfield, star of The Amazing Spider-Man. Their involvement adds star power and depth to the cast, attracting a broader audience while introducing these actors to the Murder Drones universe.
Murder Drones: Dark Horizons is no longer being produced by DreamWorks. Instead, Sony Pictures Animation and Universal Pictures have taken the helm as the primary production companies, indicating a shift in visual style, possibly embracing more advanced CGI and animation technology seen in films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
With Duncan Jones at the helm and Liam Vickers involved in writing, Dark Horizons is expected to delve deeper into sci-fi themes, with a focus on complex storytelling, world-building, and character development. Fan can expect a grittier, more futuristic tone compared to its predecessor, Absolution.
Prequel[]
In November 2024, Sony began development on Murder Drones: Creation, a prequel that depicts JCJenson years before the events of Murder Drones and the lead-up to the development of Worker Drones. Shawn Levy was in talks to direct the film.
Bonus features[]
The bonus features are only featured on the Ultra HD and Blu-Ray formats.
- The Making of Murder Drones - A documentary focusing on the production of the film and interviews with many people involved, including the director, writer, producers, and actors.
- Deleted Scene: A Night Out - More scenes of Uzi and N hanging out together.
- Deleted Scene: Investigation - The police attempt to find Uzi after she goes missing.
- Outtakes - Shots containing fails and awkward moments.
- Call of Duty: World at War Gameplay | darkXwolf17 - The full uncut gameplay of Uzi and N's Call of Duty: World at War gaming moment featured in the film.
Credits[]
Main article: Murder Drones (film)/Credits
Trailer transcripts[]
Main article: Murder Drones (film)/Trailer transcripts
Trivia[]
Main article: Murder Drones (film)/Trivia
Gallery[]
Main article: Murder Drones (film)/Gallery