Apple TV+ recently wrapped up the streaming of their dark comedy-drama series, Sunny. Created for television by Katie Robbins, the series is based on Colin O’Sullivan’s 2018 sci-fi novel, The Dark Manual.
Sunny made its debut on Apple TV+ on July 10, 2024, featuring a total of 10 half-hour episodes, concluding its season on September 4, 2024. The show starred renowned actors including Rashida Jones, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Judy Ongg, Jun Kunimura, and You, also known as Yukiko Ehara. Additionally, Joanna Sotomura provided her voice for the titular character.
Set against a futuristic Tokyo backdrop, the narrative follows Suzie Sakamoto, a woman grappling with the grief of losing her husband and son in a tragic airplane crash. The arrival of Sunny, a domestic robot designed by her late spouse, aids her in navigating her loss, intertwining her journey with an unexpected conspiracy tied to the Japanese underbelly.
Critics and audiences alike have praised Sunny for its stunning cinematography, elaborate set design, and compelling performances. If you enjoyed the exploration of human-robot dynamics in Sunny, we have a list of films that delve into similar themes of human-robot interaction across various genres.
This article presents a carefully selected lineup of sci-fi movies that echo the themes found in Apple TV+’s Sunny. Here are the titles to add to your watchlist.
Films Like Sunny: Her, Finch, and More
1) Her
Her is an American sci-fi romantic drama produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. Directed and written by Spike Jonze, the film premiered at the 2013 New York Film Festival and hit theaters in 2014.
The star-studded cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, Matt Letscher, and Olivia Wilde, alongside the voice of Scarlett Johansson. The film was a commercial triumph, garnering critical acclaim and numerous awards, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Jonze’s screenplay.
Taking place in a near-future Los Angeles, Her follows a man coping with a difficult divorce as he forms a sensitive connection with an AI system named Samantha. Similar to Sunny, it delves into themes of solitude and the effects of technology on human relationships.
2) Big Hero 6
Big Hero 6 is an animated adventure drama from Walt Disney Studios, which premiered at the 2014 Tokyo International Film Festival prior to its U.S. theatrical release.
This film features the voice talents of Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, T.J. Miller, Daniel Henney, Damon Wayans Jr., Maya Rudolph, and more. Celebrated for its engaging story and emotional richness, Big Hero 6 received an Oscar for Best Animated Feature and became the highest-grossing animated film of that year.
Set in the fictional metropolis of San Fransokyo, the film focuses on the friendship between a young boy and Baymax, a robot created by his deceased brother. Together, they join forces with friends to take down a masked antagonist threatening their city.
Both Big Hero 6 and Sunny explore the themes of coping with grief and the bonds between humans and robots.
3) Finch
Finch is a dystopian survival drama available on Apple TV+. Originally titled BIOS, its release was delayed due to the pandemic, resulting in Universal Pictures selling the rights to Apple TV+, where it was renamed Finch.
This film features Tom Hanks in the lead role, alongside his dog Goodyear, played by Seamus, and Caleb Landry Jones as Jeff, the humanoid robot.
Set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco devastated by extreme radiation, the story follows Finch, a robotics engineer, who builds an android to care for his dog after his demise, teaching it lessons about life and relationships.
Despite their different narratives, both Finch and Sunny confront themes of mortality and the complexities of human-robot relationships.
4) A.I. Artificial Intelligence
A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a sci-fi drama from Warner Bros. Pictures, directed and written by Steven Spielberg with the story adapted by Ian Watson from Brian Aldiss’s 1969 short story, Supertoys Last All Summer Long. Released in 2001, the film is considered one of Spielberg’s significant works.
The cast includes Haley Joel Osment, Frances O’Connor, Sam Robards, Jude Law, and Jake Thomas. The film has been recognized for its critical acclaim and numerous awards, being regarded as one of the defining films of the century.
Focusing on the journey of an abandoned android programmed for unconditional love, it seeks to obtain the affection of his mother, striving to become as “human”as possible.
While Sunny features a human relying on a robot for emotional support, A.I. Artificial Intelligence flips the script, depicting an android’s quest for human acceptance.
5) I Am Mother
I Am Mother is an Australian sci-fi thriller film from Netflix that premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival before being released on Netflix in June 2019.
Starring Clara Rugaard, Hilary Swank, Tahlia Sturzaker, Luke Hawker, and Rose Byrne, the film has been well-received for its innovative plot and pacing.
Set in a dystopian future where humanity teeters on extinction, it follows an AI robot that nurtures and raises a girl, who eventually discovers harrowing truths about humanity’s demise and the robot’s true agenda.
In contrast to Sunny, I Am Mother explores the consequences of blind faith and trust in a non-human entity.
6) Robot and Frank
Robot and Frank is a sci-fi comedy-drama from Samuel Goldwyn Films. Premiering at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, it won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize before being released theatrically later that year.
The film stars Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Jeremy Strong, and Jeremy Sisto, with Peter Sarsgaard voicing the titular robot. Critics embraced the film, particularly praising its exploration of themes and Langella’s performance.
The story revolves around Frank, an older ex-convict suffering from dementia, who forges a bond with his robot caretaker while plotting heists to relive his past adventures.
Like Sunny, Robot and Frank highlights the significance of companionship between humans and robots in alleviating loneliness and despair.
7) I, Robot
I, Robot is a sci-fi action thriller produced by 20th Century Fox.
Starring Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride, along with voice performances from Alan Tudyk and Fiona Hogan, I, Robot achieved commercial success and was celebrated for its visual effects and acting.
Set in 2035, the plot follows Detective Spooner as he investigates the suspected suicide of Dr. Alfred Lanning, the father of modern robotics, questioning whether one of his creations was responsible for the act.
While both I, Robot and Sunny navigate the realm of human-robot interactions, they provide distinctly different experiences, making I, Robot a fascinating selection on this list.
These are our top picks for films to watch if you enjoyed the Apple TV+ sci-fi drama series, Sunny.
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