Astro Boy | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | David Bowers |
Written by |
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Story by | David Bowers |
Based on | Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Pepe Valencia |
Edited by | Robert Anich |
Music by | John Ottman |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Summit Entertainment (United States) Panasia Films (Hong Kong) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Budget | $65 million[2] |
Box office | $42 million[3] |
Astro Boy is a 2009 CGI-animated superhero film loosely based on the manga series of the same name by the Japanese writer and illustrator Osamu Tezuka. Produced by the Hong Kong-based company Imagi Animation Studios, it was directed by David Bowers, who co-wrote the screenplay with Timothy Hyde Harris. The film stars Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Matt Lucas, Bill Nighy, Samuel L. Jackson, Donald Sutherland, Charlize Theron, and Nicolas Cage. In the film, Dr. Tenma (Cage) creates Astro (Highmore), a teenage robot implanted with the memories of his son after he is killed in an accident. The pair face Stone (Sutherland), the president of Metro City who is running for re-election, for their betrayal.
The film was first released in Hong Kong on October 8, 2009, and in the United States on October 23, 2009. It received generally mixed reviews from film critics, but a financial failure, earning $42 million worldwide against its $65 million budget. As a result of the film's bad performance, Imagi was shut down on February 5, 2010, and as a result, it became the last film produced by the studio.
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