The “Electric State” is a chaotic, $320 million mess that somehow manages to be both baffling and painfully boring.
TRAILER
TOP 5
5. The Russo Brothers’ Post-Marvel Struggles Continue
The Russo Brothers’ transition from Marvel’s cinematic juggernaut to independent filmmaking has been nothing short of disastrous. Their post-Endgame projects (Cherry, The Grey Man, and now The Electric State) have all been widely panned, lacking the strong character work and emotional weight that made their Marvel films work. In the MCU, they inherited an ensemble of well-developed, beloved characters, allowing them to focus on large-scale spectacle without needing to establish emotional stakes from scratch. However, when left to their own devices, they fail to create compelling narratives or characters, instead relying on hollow genre pastiche. The Russo Brothers’ penchant for imitating rather than innovating is painfully evident in The Electric State, which borrows liberally from better works but never manages to justify its own existence.
4. A Jumbled, Incoherent Mess of a Story
Perhaps the most damning critique of The Electric State is its abysmal storytelling. The film is an overstuffed, convoluted mess, constantly introducing new elements without ever providing a clear, engaging throughline. It desperately wants to evoke the nostalgic wonder of Amblin films like E.T. or The Goonies, but it lacks the heart and careful storytelling that made those movies timeless. Instead, it bombards viewers with bizarre, incongruous set pieces—like Woody Harrelson voicing Mr. Peanut in a sword fight against Giancarlo Esposito—without ever grounding them in an emotional or narrative context. The result is a film that is visually and conceptually chaotic but emotionally barren, leaving audiences disconnected from its characters and stakes.
3. Flat Characters and Weak Emotional Core
For a film that hinges on a supposedly heartfelt sibling bond, The Electric State does a terrible job of establishing its characters. From the very first scene, Millie Bobby Brown’s character and her brother (played by Woody Norman) are hastily presented as having an unbreakable bond, but this connection is told rather than shown. There’s no real effort to develop their relationship in a way that feels organic or meaningful. As a protagonist, Brown’s character is an empty vessel, lacking any real growth or defining traits. In a hilarious moment of unintentional self-parody, one of the Russo Brothers even makes a cameo near the film’s end to ask, “Who is she?”—a question the audience is equally baffled by after two-plus hours of aimless storytelling. This lack of character depth is a fatal flaw, as it robs the film of any emotional resonance.
2. Wasted Talent and Resources
With a budget of $320 million, The Electric State is one of the most expensive Netflix films ever made, yet it feels strangely small and claustrophobic. The extensive cast of A-list actors—most of whom are relegated to voice roles—are completely wasted on characters that lack depth or personality. The film’s visuals, while occasionally striking, feel inconsistent and underwhelming, particularly in contrast to the stunning art of Simon Stålenhag, whose work inspired the project. Despite its enormous resources, the film never feels grand or immersive; instead, it’s a disjointed slog that fails to justify its exorbitant budget. The mismanagement of talent and money is emblematic of the Russo Brothers’ post-Marvel trajectory—big budgets, big names, and absolutely no substance.
1. A Tone-Deaf Approach to Filmmaking
Beyond the film itself, the Russo Brothers’ public comments and industry stance have only added to the frustration surrounding The Electric State. Their vocal advocacy for AI-generated content, disdain for theatrical distribution, and petty social media feuds with legendary directors like Martin Scorsese and James Cameron paint a picture of filmmakers who misunderstand both art and audience. Their attempt to invoke the spirit of Pixar and Amblin in the film’s marketing is laughable, given that The Electric State is more reminiscent of Ready Player One’s worst tendencies than anything truly heartfelt or innovative. Rather than crafting a story with care and purpose, they have delivered a soulless, derivative spectacle that embodies the worst aspects of modern blockbuster filmmaking.
RGM GRADE
(D)
At its core, The Electric State is a film that mistakes spectacle for storytelling, imitation for inspiration, and excess for ambition. The Russo Brothers, once seen as promising blockbuster directors, have now repeatedly demonstrated that they lack the ability to craft compelling stories outside of pre-existing franchises. With its incoherent plot, empty characters, wasted talent, and misguided approach to filmmaking, The Electric State stands as a prime example of what happens when a film is made with all the money in the world but none of the heart or skill necessary to make it worthwhile.
