The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant Review: 25 years later, it's still supreme

Brighton Nelson

06 Aug 2024 — 4 min read

As a 19-year-old trying to catch up on a century of cinema, it's always hard to pick and choose which movie to watch next. However, with a theatrical rerelease, it was time for me to finally check out one of the most acclaimed animated features of all time. So, did The Iron Giant really live up to the hype? That's what I'll be deciphering in today's Reel Ranker review. Thanks so much for joining me, and I hope you enjoy this article!

This is one of the greatest moments in all of cinema.

As usual, I'll start with the negatives. There's nothing bad about this film whatsoever, but there were a few times where some of the themes and elements could have gone a tad deeper. Maybe it's just me wishing the movie were longer or that this got a sequel to explore more of the film's beauty, but still, I wanted more! Though I can't really complain when my only gripe with the film is "I wanted it to be longer!" outside of that selfish claim, the only two things I could think of are I'd have liked to see more of the mom, and perhaps a little less cartoonyness from the antagonists.

Anyway, now for the film's brilliance to shine through! First of all, this film features a gorgeous, distinct animation style that's so warm, fuzzy, and throwback-esque in all the best ways. While I love so much of the 3D animation we get today, it's hard to not miss films that looked like this. While Japan still fires on all cylinders with 2D animation, unfortunately, most big-budget studios have given up on the superb style, leaving all of us animation fans truly deprived of these types of films. This film also has a tight, witty, and quirky script!

This film doesn't at all have the low-brow humor that plagues children's films today; instead, it stays funny and engaging through its emotional intelligence, worn so powerfully on its sleeve. The trio of Hogarth, Dean, and The Giant was an electric friendship, and there's nothing to complain about there! The mom and the villain are also great characters, but, as aforementioned, I would have liked to see a little bit more from them. The score of this film is also wonderful, imbuing everything with a sense of awe. Every element of this film comes together to make something truly timeless and terrific.

Dean is so real and GOATed for just being, well, himself.

The Reel Ranker Verdict

Reel or Unreel? - Unreel
The Reel Ranker Score: 38%
Letter Score: D
Star Ranking: 2 out of 5

The Iron Giant is truly a work of art in every way, earning its title as one of the best animated films of all time for a reason. With an unequivocally witty script, fantastic characters, an ethereal score, and gorgeous visuals, there's no denying that this film is a true certifiable classic.

Interested in checking out my reviews for some other recent animated projects? Check them out below!