Comparing Iris’ Powers in Companion with 5 Iconic Movie Androids

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Companion. In director Drew Hancock’s latest film, Companion, audiences are introduced to Iris, an innovative cinematic android portrayed by Sophie Thatcher. Iris embarks on a life-altering journey as she discovers her true identity as a robot, culminating in a shocking act of violence during a romantic getaway with her boyfriend Josh, played by Jack Quaid. While starting with limited capabilities, Iris transforms into a formidable entity, showcasing her enhanced powers that make her a difficult opponent to defeat.

The androids featured in Companion bear a resemblance to those seen in various other films, sharing thematic elements common in science fiction.Iris is deliberately kept under a veil of restricted powers, which contributes to the mounting tension of her survival narrative. However, as the story progresses, she emerges as an intelligent and capable machine, breaking free from confines of her programming, thus earning her place among notable film androids.

5 The T-800 in Terminator (1984)

Played by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Iris and the T-800, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, are distinct yet equally advanced androids. Although Iris is designed to closely mimic human experiences—including feeling pain—her resilience is notable when she endures torture without relenting. In contrast, the T-800 is programmed solely for destruction, exhibiting no sensation of pain; it continues to pursue its target regardless of injury.

Equipped with a sophisticated targeting mechanism, the T-800 is virtually unstoppable, boasting long-range and night vision capabilities that make it an ideal soldier. Despite these differences, Iris mirrors the T-800’s skill in voice modulation, allowing her to deceive others, even attempting to lure Josh into a dangerous situation by mimicking another voice.

4 K in Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Played by Ryan Gosling

K, a Nexus-9 replicant from Blade Runner 2049, is designed to fulfill human commands, paralleling Iris’s enforced obedience in Companion. Both characters grapple with constructed memories, serving as a backdrop for their identities. Although both must navigate challenges posed by their creators, K displays inherent combat abilities, readily engaging in violent confrontations, unlike Iris who struggles against physical constraints.

3 Ava in Ex Machina (2014)

Played by Alicia Vikander

Both Companion and Ex Machina explore the lives of sentient androids, drawing intriguing parallels between Iris and Ava. While Iris’s intelligence is capped at a certain level, Ava benefits from vast access to knowledge, enabling her to exhibit advanced manipulative skills. Upon gaining full intelligent capabilities, Iris becomes a strategic figure capable of outsmarting adversaries, resembling Ava’s adeptness in bending those around her to achieve freedom.

2 M3GAN in M3GAN (2022)

Played by Amie Donald & Voiced by Jenna Davis

Iris’s narrative shares thematic elements with the titular character from M3GAN, as both androids begin as companions but develop violent tendencies. However, M3GAN’s evolution grants her an extraordinary range of powers, including the ability to control digital systems at will, representing an advanced threat. In contrast, Iris functions within the limits of her programming while showing emotional complexity, including hesitation to harm her former owner despite her newfound abilities.

1 Andy in Alien: Romulus (2024)

Played by David Jonsson

Both Iris and Andy are initially depicted as caring androids who yearn to protect their human companions. However, Andy experiences a dramatic transition upon receiving a new chip, which enhances his knowledge and shifts his demeanor. Both androids gain insights that aid their survival, yet while Iris’s evolution represents a quest for freedom, Andy’s transformation leads him toward a more sinister role under the Weyland-Yutani corporation.

Ultimately, while Companion explores the transformation of Iris and her struggle against her programming, it raises poignant questions about autonomy, identity, and the implications of artificial intelligence within narrative frameworks. Showcasing an array of complex androids, the film invites the audience to reflect on the very nature of existence as experienced by these machines.

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