19

Help me remember the name of an animated movie from the 90's, I think.

It was about a giant metal robot who came to Earth and becomes friends with a boy, who tries to hide him from the other people in town and from the US Government, which had sent someone to find this robot.

I know the robot was created to be a super-weapon but in the end he saved everybody, sacrificing himself. He flew into a bomb,

"like superman".

3
  • 174
    Show of hands, how many people instantly knew the movie just from reading the question title?
    – Stevoisiak
    Commented Dec 21, 2017 at 19:01
  • 4
    @StevenVascellaro I remembered the movie quite vividly; but not the actual title.
    – JMac
    Commented Dec 21, 2017 at 19:18
  • 37
    @StevenVascellaro - Google certainly knows. Searching the title word for word brings up IMDB... Makes me think not much research effort went into searching before posting... Commented Dec 21, 2017 at 20:25

1 Answer 1

72

The Iron Giant sounds like it fits

Set during the Cold War in 1957, the film is about a young boy named Hogarth Hughes, who discovers a giant metallic robot who fell from space. With the help of beatnik artist Dean McCoppin, they attempt to prevent the U.S. military and Kent Mansley, a paranoid federal agent, from finding and destroying the Giant.

The movie ends with the robot sacrificing himself to stop a nuclear missle launched to destroy him, and his last word is "Superman"

Kent convinces Rogard to prepare to launch a nuclear missile from the USS Nautilus offshore if they cannot stop it. Dean and Annie revive Hogarth, and he helps return the Giant to his docile state, while Dean explains the situation to the military. Rogard is ready to stand down when Kent panics and orders the missile launch. Rogard furiously reminds Kent that the missile is locked onto the Giant's current position and they will all be killed in the blast radius. Kent tries to escape but the Giant stops him, and Rogard's men secure him. Hogarth explains to the Giant what would happen if the missile strikes. The Giant says farewell to Hogarth and flies off to intercept the missile, remembering Hogarth's words about being who ones chose to be, and the Giant says, "Superman" just before collision. The missile explodes harmlessly in the atmosphere. As the townspeople and military are relieved to be alive, Hogarth is saddened by the robot's apparent destruction.

2
  • 9
    This movie is also notable for being the directorial debut of Brad Bird, who went on to direct The Incredibles and Ratatouille for Pixar.
    – tj1000
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 0:47
  • I'd add more context about the Superman thing. If I recall correctly, Hogarth is reading a Superman comic and explains to the Giant what Superman stands for. Also "about being who ones chose to be" is probably a typo. Maybe "about being who one chooses to be"? Commented Dec 23, 2017 at 6:55

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.