A.I. Artificial Intelligence

A.I. is the most emotionally brutal science fiction film Spielberg ever made — a Kubrick-conceived Pinocchio story about a robot child programmed to love unconditionally, abandoned by the human mother he was designed to adore. Haley Joel Osment's David is not learning to be human. He already believes he is. His quest to become 'real' so his mother will love him back is the most devastating journey in sci-fi cinema.

The film's tonal shifts — from suburban drama to dystopian nightmare to transcendent coda — reflect its dual authorship. Kubrick's cold intelligence and Spielberg's warm empathy collide in every scene. The Flesh Fair, where obsolete robots are destroyed for entertainment, is a horror sequence. The final scene, where David gets one perfect day with his mother, is the most openly weeping ending Spielberg has ever filmed. Divisive on release, A.I. has been steadily reappraised as one of the most ambitious films either director was associated with.