Robots Are The Only Choice For Love In This Streaming ’80s Sci-Fi Cult Classic
The 1988 sci-fi film Cherry 2000 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Directed by Steve De Jarnatt from a script by Michael Almereyda, the movie stars Melanie Griffith as Edith Johnson, David Andrews as Sam Treadwell, Tim Thomerson as Lester, Pamela Gidley as the titular robot, Harry Carey Jr. as Snappy Tom, and Ben Johnson as Six-Fingered Jake.
The 1988 cult classic Cherry 2000 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Cherry 2000 is set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic future where the United States has descended into lawlessness and chaos. An economic downturn has prompted the recycling of outdated 20th-century machinery and technology. Additionally, societal attitudes have shifted towards reluctance for intimacy, with a simultaneous increase in hyper-sexualization and bureaucracy.
Robotic advancements have given rise to Gynoids as alternatives to traditional spouses. The story begins with the introduction of Sam Treadwell, a business executive living in the city with his Cherry 2000, a lifelike android companion designed to fulfill his every desire. The Cherry 2000 is not just a piece of machinery to Sam – he genuinely loves and cherishes it.
Sam’s world is turned upside down when Cherry 2000 short-circuits during a romantic encounter. He is devastated and determined to find a replacement body for her.
However, his model is no longer in production, and the components required to repair her are extremely rare. Sam hires Edith Johnson, a tough and skilled tracker, to help him find a functional Cherry 2000.
For a more indie and heartwarming take on human-robot relationships, Robot & Frank is a delightful choice.
As Sam and Edith Johnson journey deeper into the wastelands, they encounter hostile and eccentric characters, including a group of criminals led by a warlord named Lester. When they finally locate a functioning model in a remote warehouse, the pair must once again contend with Lester and his bandits.
As the journey unfolds, Sam and E. Johnson develop a complex relationship, and Sam starts to question his attachment to his artificial companion. This relationship is a central theme of the film.
Cherry 2000 was not a major box office success. It had a limited release and only managed to earn $14,000 during its theatrical run.
The film’s budget was a relatively modest $10,000, and its box office performance didn’t cover production costs. However, Cherry 2000 gained a much wider audience through home video and cable television broadcasts in the years following its release. Critical reception for the film was relatively mixed.
Some critics praised its unique concept and the chemistry between David Andrews and Melanie Griffith, while others criticized its uneven pacing and unconventional storyline. Although Cherry 2000 only holds a 38 percent rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it has since gained a cult following among fans of retro-futuristic and post-apocalyptic cinema.
Cherry 2000 was initially conceived as a short film but was eventually expanded into a feature-length production. The film’s depiction of a post-apocalyptic world was influenced by other sci-fi classics of the time, such as Mad Max. The film’s soundtrack includes a mix of 1980s pop songs, adding to its unique atmosphere.
Cherry 2000 gained a much wider audience through home video and cable television broadcasts in the years following its release.
The entirety of the film was shot in Nevada. The scene depicting the van plunging into an open pit took place at Three Kids Mine, and the river-crossing sequence was captured at the Hoover Dam. The casino, which represented the “abandoned manufacturing plant” holding a rare Cherry 2000, was filmed at the Integratron building in Landers, California.
Over the years, several movies with themes similar to Cherry 2000 were released. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior offers a gritty post-apocalyptic world with intense vehicular action, while The Terminator series delves into advanced technology and human-robot dynamics. Blade Runner and its sequel, Blade Runner 2049, explore futuristic landscapes and the complexities of artificial intelligence and humanity.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence examines love between humans and advanced robots, akin to the central theme of Cherry 2000. For a more indie and heartwarming take on human-robot relationships, Robot & Frank is a delightful choice. Her delves into emotional complexities in human-AI relationships, offering a poignant exploration of love in a high-tech world.
These films present viewers with thought-provoking stories set in captivating, dystopian, or futuristic environments, each with its unique twist on the intersection of technology, romance, and human connection. But Cherry 2000 can be found on Amazon Prime Video if you want to catch the original.
