9

When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good.

Shane Acker's animated film wins consistent admiration for its extraordinary visual world-building — a post-apocalyptic landscape rendered with genuine craft and atmosphere — but critics found the story thin and derivative, unable to match the ambition of its imagery. The mixed reception lands squarely on that gap: stunning to look at, underwhelming to follow.