The Mitchells vs. the Machines release date, trailer, cast for the Netflix road trip gone haywire
Nothing like a technological uprising to ruin a road trip. Here's everything we know.
This article about the film The Mitchells vs. The Machines was originally published on February 25, 2020 and updated on July 23, 2021 following the movie's release. Read on for the original article, with some new changes to reflect the latest updates on this topic.
Two years ago, Sony shocked the world by swiping the Best Animated Picture award at the Oscars from Pixar and Disney with its cartoon superhero movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Now, it looks like the company may be poised to do the same, countering Pixar's fantasy road trip Onward with a dystopian road trip in The Mitchells vs. the Machines.
Produced by Sony's secret weapons Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and from the minds of co-directors Michael Rianda (Gravity Falls) and Jeff Rowe (Disenchantment), The Mitchells vs. the Machines tells the story of a family who discovers their cell phones and tablets are no longer willing to do what they tell them. Here's everything you need to know about the film.
When was the release date for The Mitchells vs. the Machines?
The Mitchells vs. the Machines was released to a limited theatrical run in the United States on April 23, 2021. The next week, on April 30, it was officially released worldwide on Netflix. Initially, the film was set for September 18, 2020. But when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theaters worldwide, Netflix bought distribution rights from Sony to put the new film on streaming.
Who is in the cast of The Mitchells vs. the Machines?
There are tons of familiar voices included in the colorful The Mitchells vs. Machines cast. The family at the center, the Mitchells, are voiced by some true-blue comedy greats.
- Danny McBride (Pineapple Express) voices Rick Mitchell. McBride has previous experience voicing characters in movies and TV shows, including The Angry Birds Movie, The Angry Birds Movie 2, and Sausage Party.
- Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids) voices Linda Mitchell. Rudolph has previously voiced characters in movies and TV shows, including Big Hero 6 and Bless the Harts.
- Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) voices Katie Mitchell, Rick and Linda's oldest kid.
- Michael Rianda, who is also a co-director and co-writer, voices Aaron Mitchell. Aaron is Rick and Linda's youngest child.
- Eric Andre voices Tech CEO Mark Bowman
- Olivia Colman voices PAL, the AI software that rises up against humanity
What is the plot of The Mitchells vs. the Machines?
The plot of The Mitchells vs. the Machines sounds like a more family-friendly version of the hysterical bonkers family road trip at the heart of National Lampoon's Vacation but with the twist of a technological uprising where machines revolt against their users.
The movie follows the Mitchell family as they take a road trip to drop off daughter Katie at college. Katie and her dad, Rick, are a bit like oil and vinegar: Katie's an artsy kid who loves film, while Rick is an outdoorsy cord-cutter. As with most road-trip movies, the Mitchells' travels encounter some roadblocks in the form of glitchy tech.
Was there another title for The Mitchells vs. the Machines?
Yes! In February 2020, the first images of the film were released through Entertainment Weekly. There, it was revealed that the movie’s name had changed to Connected. You can see the initial poster with that below.
However, when Netflix picked up the rights to the movie, the title notably changed back. According to director and co-writer Mike Rianda, The Mitchells vs. the Machines stuck because neither he nor the studio were impressed with the second title.
Is there a trailer for The Mitchells vs. the Machines?
Yes! Sony dropped the first official trailer in February 2020. You can watch it below.
How do Phil Lord and Chris Miller figure into The Mitchells vs. the Machines?
The directing and writing duo behind Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie, and Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse are attached to The Mitchells vs. the Machines. But instead of taking the helm once more, the dynamic duo has thrown their weight behind the film as producers on the feature and let Rianda and Rowe step into the co-director-writer slot.
What did critics have to say about The Mitchells vs. the Machines?
The Mitchells vs. the Machines has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 80 on Metacritic. Special praise was reserved for making Katie, an LGBTQ+ character, the central part of the titular family.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines was released on Netflix on April 30, 2021.
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