The Electric State Trailer Breakdown: A Thrilling Sci-Fi Epic or Costly Misfire?

Trailer Breakdown

The trailer of “The Electric State” introduces us to a sci-fi adventure in an alternate 1990s. It begins with a voiceover stating that robots, who previously coexisted with humans peacefully, rose up against them, and as a result, were banished to The Electric State, a place of exile. This establishes a suspenseful, retro-futuristic world with a blend of 1990s nostalgia and advanced technology.

Played by Millie Bobby Brown, orphaned teenager Michelle believes her brother Christopher is dead until a mysterious robot named Cosmo appears, who suggests otherwise and that her brother can be found in The Electric State, making Michelle go find him. Along the way, she joins Keats, played by Chris Pratt, a smuggler and former soldier, who is unsure of why there is this robot war. Keats’ robot sidekick, Herman, provides comedic relief during their travels through the American Southwest.

Easter Eggs and Visuals

The trailer probably contains flashbacks from the robot war, where Chris Pratt’s character is portrayed as a soldier, which explains his conversion. The robots are made to resemble cartoons and mascots, a surprise detail that combines whimsy with dystopia. This aesthetic based in the 1990s is opposing to the common sci-fi robot images, making the world feel familiar yet otherworldly.

What to Expect

Studies indicate “The Electric State” will bring with it breathtaking visuals, considering the Russo brothers’ background in blockbusters such as “Avengers: Endgame.” The trailer promises action sequences and an emotionally charged narrative of family and loss, with the search for Michelle’s brother at its center. But, with the film’s release on March 14, 2025, and less than favorable reviews, such as a 15% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes), viewers might find the deliverance deviates from the promise of the trailer.

Detailed Analysis of “The Electric State” Trailer and Movie Release Buzz

The trailer for “The Electric State,” a Netflix original film released on March 14, 2025, has generated significant buzz, particularly given its high-profile cast and directors, Anthony and Joe Russo, known for their work on Marvel films like “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Avengers: Endgame.” This analysis delves into the trailer’s plot points, Easter eggs, and what audiences can anticipate, reflecting the movie’s release buzz and incorporating the latest insights.

Background and Context

“The Electric State” is based on Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 graphic novel, but the film diverges significantly to tell its own story, as confirmed during its panel at New York Comic Con in October 2024 (Wikipedia). The movie, with a reported budget of $320 million, is one of Netflix’s most expensive productions, contrasting with their typical low-budget offerings (SciFiction). It features Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle, Chris Pratt as Keats, and has a strong cast that includes Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, and voice work by Woody Harrelson and Anthony Mackie, among others (IMDB).

The trailer, with its final version released on March 3, 2025, has been analyzed across various platforms, providing insights into its content and implications for the film’s reception. Given the movie’s recent release, this breakdown relies on trailer descriptions and early reviews to gauge expectations.

Plot Points from the Trailer

The trailer establishes a retro-futuristic setting in an alternate version of the 1990s, where sentient robots, resembling cartoons and mascots, once coexisted peacefully with humans (Rotten Tomatoes). A failed uprising led to their banishment to The Electric State, a 200-square-mile area humans are barred from entering, as noted in Netflix’s Tudum articles (Netflix Tudum). The trailer voiceover narrates this backstory, emphasizing the conflict between humans and robots, with flashbacks depicting the war, including Chris Pratt’s character, Keats, as a soldier (SciFiction).

Michelle, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is an orphan teenager living in this world, having assumed her brother Christopher to have died. The trailer shows a turning point when Cosmo, a kind but enigmatic robot, appears in her life, hinting that Christopher is alive and being held captive by Cosmo, who is somewhere in The Electric State (Rotten Tomatoes). This leads Michelle to embark on a journey, begrudgingly teaming up with Keats, an underworld smuggler, and his sarcastic robot companion, Herman, voiced by Anthony Mackie (Netflix Tudum). The journey across the American Southwest, as shown, promises adventure and danger, with Keats’ backstory of doubting the war’s justification adding depth to his character (SciFiction).

Easter Eggs and Visual Analysis

There are several Easter eggs and visual elements that stand out in the trailer. Flashbacks to the robot war, showing battles and Pratt’s character in combat, provide context for the conflict and Keats’ moral shift, a detail likely to resonate with fans of war-themed narratives (SciFiction). The robot designs, described as worn and mechanical yet cartoon-like, reflect the film’s unique aesthetic, aligning with the retro-futuristic 1990s setting (Tech Preview). This visual design, borrowed from Stålenhag’s artwork, is a contrast to conventional sci-fi robots, with a fantastical yet dystopian feel that may endear it to fans of his other creations such as “Tales from the Loop.”

The trailer also teases The Electric State itself, with sweeping shots of barren landscapes and towering robot figures, hinting at a world on the brink of collapse due to humanity’s dependence on technology (Tech Preview). In these visuals, according to Joe Russo, precision was needed in order to create a real, lived-in environment, as robots are endowed with individual functions and personalities (Netflix Tudum).
To be expected from the movie
Given the trailer’s emphasis, “The Electric State” appears to offer a visual feast, taking advantage of the Russo brothers’ skills in blockbuster cinema. The concentration on Michelle’s emotional quest to locate her brother hints at themes of family, loss, and redemption, likely appealing to viewers looking for more than action (Rotten Tomatoes). Action scenes, teased through chases and likely clashes with marauding robots, fit Chris Pratt’s action-hero image, foretelling thrill-ride suspense (Joblo).

Rotten Tomatoes has a 15% positive rating from 105 critics with an average score of 3.8/10, and Metacritic gives a 29 out of 100, which represents “generally unfavorable” reviews (Wikipedia). Critics such as Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times have attacked the film’s divergence from the source material, calling it “obvious, garish and just plain dumb,” against the novel’s “elliptical narrative, muted color palette and melancholy mood” (Wikipedia). This controversy only reveals a division: between fans who eagerly anticipated a faithful adaptation and the Russo brothers’ creative liberties, which they justified as necessary to expand the world for a two-hour film (Wikipedia).

The $320 million budget of the movie has also been under the spotlight, with some critics labeling it as a wasteful spend considering the lackluster critical reception, potentially affecting box office collections set by the trailer’s promise (ABC News). Yet, the celebrity following of actors like Millie Bobby Brown, whose recent success in Netflix releases such as “Enola Holmes” and “Damsel,” and Chris Pratt, from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” can potentially generate viewership, considering the trailer’s promotion of the movie as an entertaining adventure with humor (SciFiction).

Comparative Insights

In comparison to initial movie reviews, the trailer promises too much emotional depth and action, and there are criticisms from some reviewers of dull performances and lack of substance for Brown and Pratt (Wikipedia). The emphasis of the trailer on the retro-futuristic aesthetic and robotic designs matches with approving visual critiques, but the narrative consistency, an issue in reviews, is perhaps not as clearly present, so there could be a disconnection between marketing and delivery.

Tables for Clarity

Here is a breakdown of the trailer content:

Comparison of trailer expectations vs. early reviews:

The trailer for “The Electric State” succeeds in establishing a sci-fi adventure of original retro-futuristic visual style with a promise of action, emotional resonance, and visual excitement. Post-release mixed reviews, however, might leave the audience feeling the execution is inconsistent, with criticism for deviating from the original material and an expensive budget. The hype for the movie shows both enthusiasm and doubt, rendering it a divisive release in Netflix’s catalog.