Sony Pictures Animation is developing a sequel to The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Netflix announced this week.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a critically acclaimed 2021 animated science fiction comedy film that was released on Netflix back in 2021. Blending action, comedy, and heartfelt family drama, it was highly praised for its humor, heart, inventive visual style, and strong voice cast.
Netflix hasn't shared any concrete details about The Mitchells vs. the Machines, only that it's officially on the way from Sony Pictures Animation and Lord Miller. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The LEGO Movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) served as producers for the first movie and played a significant role in its creative vision and style.
Directed by Mike Rianda and co-directed by Jeff Rowe — who also co-wrote the screenplay — The Mitchells vs. the Machines follows the quirky and dysfunctional Mitchell family on a cross-country road trip to take their eldest daughter, Katie, to film school. An aspiring filmmaker, Katie often clashes with her outdoorsy and technophobic father, Rick, setting the stage for themes of family connection, generational differences, and technology’s place in modern life. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when the family becomes humanity’s last hope during a robot apocalypse led by a vengeful virtual assistant named PAL.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines was met with widespread acclaim by audiences, boasting a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. "Eye-catching and energetic, The Mitchells vs. the Machines delivers a funny, feel-good story that the whole family can enjoy," the critics consensus reads. It received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and won several Annie Awards.
It remains to be seen if Rianda and Rowe are returning for the sequel. Casting details have also not been announced. The original film starred Abbi Jacobson as the voice of Katie; Mike Rianda as Aaron Mitchell, her little brother; Danny McBride as Rick, their father; and Maya Rudolph as Linda, their mother. Presumably, all four actors will return to reprise their roles, but we still have no idea what the sequel will entail.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines concluded with the family mending their strained relationships and managing to save the world in the process. While PAL was defeated and the robot threat neutralized, humanity’s dependence on technology and AI has only grown in the years since the film’s release, leaving the door wide open for another potential robot uprising.