Netflix’s The Electric State arrived with sky-high expectations, boasting a star-studded cast led by Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan. Directed by Avengers: Endgame duo Anthony and Joe Russo, the film promised a visually stunning adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s acclaimed graphic novel. The film blended live-action and voice performances from stars like Anthony Mackie and Woody Harrelson. Hype surged as fans anticipated a visually rich, post-apocalyptic adventure. Yet, the excitement soon collided with harsh realities. 

The film premiered globally on March 14, 2025, on Netflix. While the retro-futuristic aesthetic and voice acting earned nods, early reviews highlighted glaring issues. Critics called the pacing uneven, and audiences took to social media to vent bitterness. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score nosedived to 19%, with Netflix users overwhelmingly rating it one star. Fans echoed the frustration, flooding social media with critiques like “$320M wasted” and accusing the Russos of straying too far from the source material.

Set in an alternate 1990s scarred by a human-robot war, The Electric State follows Michelle (Brown) on a quest to find her missing brother, who shares a psychic link with machines. Joined by smuggler Keats (Chris Pratt) and a sardonic robot (Cosmo), the group battles rogue machines and uncovers government secrets. While the premise brimmed with potential, viewers argued the execution fell flat, calling the emotional beats rushed and the world-building underdeveloped.

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Amid the fallout, fans are asking: Did the film’s troubled storyline doom it from the start? And one question lingers, how did a project with so much pedigree and cash crash so spectacularly?

Audiences widely panned the film’s storyline on X, labeling it disjointed and lacking the depth of Simon Stålenhag’s novel. Many noted that the seven-year development cycle and record-breaking $320 million budget failed to translate into a cohesive narrative. While the visuals drew praise, viewers argued that dazzling CGI could not mask the weak script. Social media buzzed with complaints about Millie Bobby Brown’s performance, with some calling it wooden, though Chris Pratt’s charisma as Keats emerged as a rare bright spot.

The backlash only intensified as fans dissected the film’s flaws.

Criticism also centered on the adaptation’s fidelity to its source material. Fans of the graphic novel accused the Russos of stripping away its haunting atmosphere and philosophical themes, reducing it to a generic action flick. Others mocked Netflix’s decision to greenlight the project, suggesting it prioritized financial recovery. The Electric State serves as a cautionary tale about balancing ambition with execution. Despite its star power and visual grandeur, the film’s weak script and deviation from its source material left audiences cold. For Netflix, the backlash underscores the risks of banking on big budgets over storytelling.

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What’s your take on The Electric State? Did it deserve the hate, or are fans being too harsh? Share your thoughts in the comments below!