Real Steel#Video game

In the 2020s, boxing between human fighters has been replaced with robots. In Texas, former boxer Charlie Kenton owns the robot Ambush until it is destroyed in a fight against a bull belonging to promoter and carnival owner Ricky. Having bet money he did not have with Ricky that Ambush would win, Charlie absconds before Ricky can collect.

After the fight, Charlie learns his ex-girlfriend died, and he must attend a hearing about their 11-year-old son Max, whom he hasn’t seen since birth. Max's maternal aunt Debra and her husband Marvin seek full custody. Charlie agrees to give up custody of Max for money, while Marvin negotiates that Charlie keeps custody for three months during their vacation.

Settling into a gym owned by Bailey Tallet, the daughter of Charlie's former boxing coach, Charlie uses half the money to acquire the once-famous World Robot Boxing (WRB) robot Noisy Boy. He and Max take Noisy Boy to Crash Palace, an underworld boxing arena run by his friend Finn, where Noisy Boy is destroyed against robot boxer Midas.

While searching for replacements in a junkyard and then sliding down a cliff, Max discovers Atom, an obsolete, dilapidated, but mostly intact sparring robot that breaks Max's fall and saves his life. Atom is designed to endure damage with a rare "shadow function" program, which mirrors and memorizes the handler's or opponent's movements.

Charlie pits Atom against the robot Metro at Max's request, and the junkyard bot surprisingly comes out on top. Max integrates Noisy Boy's voice command hardware with Atom and convinces Charlie to optimize Atom's movements. Altogether, Charlie’s boxing experience and Atom’s shadow function build a winning streak that leads to Charlie being offered a WRB fight between Atom and the national champion, Twin Cities.

The fight starts with Atom on the attack, but Twin Cities quickly takes the offensive. Charlie notices a hitch whenever Twin Cities throws a right punch, and he exploits this to win by knockout. Elated by their success, Max challenges the undefeated global champion robot Zeus. After the fight, Ricky and two henchmen attack Charlie for bailing earlier and rob him and Max of their winnings, prompting a defeated and dejected Charlie to return Max to Debra.

When Charlie tries to convince an upset Max that he is better off without him, the boy reveals that all he ever wanted was for him to fight for him and be there as a father. After Max leaves, Charlie returns to Tallet's Gym and talks with Bailey. She persuades him to reconcile with Max, and Charlie convinces Debra to allow Max to come to the fight he set up with Zeus.

As the fight begins, Zeus dominates the first round, but Atom manages to survive, stunning the audience. Ricky, who bet with Finn on Atom losing within the first round, tries to leave but is cornered by Finn and his bookmakers.

As the fight continues, Atom lands multiple punches and withstands further attacks but makes no definitive progress. Late in the fourth round, Atom's voice-response controls are damaged, forcing Charlie to fight Zeus with Atom's shadow function for the fifth and final round, in which Charlie wards off Zeus with a rope-a-dope tactic long enough to deplete its power core, allowing Atom to begin a counterattack against an exhausted Zeus. With Zeus' programmers unable to compensate, the designer, Tak Mashido, intervenes and controls Zeus manually.

Zeus is soundly beaten but narrowly avoids losing by knockout and wins by decision. Despite the match result and remaining undefeated, Zeus is left critically damaged, and Mashido's group is humiliated by the near-loss. The cheering crowd triumphantly labels Atom the "People's Champion," and Max and Charlie celebrate.

{{cast listing|

• Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton: A former boxer
• Dakota Goyo as Max Kenton: Charlie's son
• Evangeline Lilly as Bailey Tallet: A boxing gym owner and daughter of Charlie's former boxing coach
• Anthony Mackie as Finn: A friend of Charlie
• Olga Fonda as Farra Lemkova: Tak Mashido's partner
• Karl Yune as Tak Mashido: A robot fighting inventor and designer of Zeus
• Kevin Durand as Ricky: A negotiator and enemy of Charlie.
• Hope Davis as Debra: Max's aunt
• James Rebhorn as Marvin: Debra's husband and Max's uncle
• Gregory Sims as Bill Panner

}}

File:ShawnLevyHughJackmanRealSteelJuly10.jpg

Based on Richard Matheson's 1956 short story "Steel", the original screenplay was written by Dan Gilroy and was purchased by DreamWorks for $850,000 in 2003 or 2005 (sources differ).{{cite journal | last1=Siegel | first1=Tatiana | last2=Graser | first2=Marc | url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/hugh-jackman-to-star-in-real-steel-1118011766/ | title=Hugh Jackman to star in 'Real Steel' | journal=Variety | date=November 23, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145546/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118011766 | archive-date= June 29, 2011| access-date=September 14, 2011 | url-status= live}}{{cite news | last1=Fernandez | first1=Jay A. | last2=Kit | first2=Borys | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shawn-levy-man-steel-88898 | title=Shawn Levy is new man of 'Steel' | work=The Hollywood Reporter | date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=September 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914192101/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shawn-levy-man-steel-88898 | archive-date= September 14, 2011| url-status=live}} The project was one of 17 that DreamWorks took from Paramount Pictures when they split in 2008. Director Peter Berg expressed interest in the project in mid-2009 but went no further. Levy was attached to the project in September 2009,{{cite journal | last=Fleming | first=Michael | url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/levy-in-for-bots-of-steel-1118008686/ | title=Levy in for 'bots of 'Steel' | journal=Variety | date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145300/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008686 | archive-date= June 29, 2011| url-status=live }} and Jackman was cast in the starring role in November for a $9 million fee. In the same month, Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider at DreamWorks greenlit the project. Les Bohem and Jeremy Leven had worked on Gilroy's screenplay, but in 2009 John Gatins was working on a new draft. When Levy joined the project, he worked with Gatins to revise the screenplay,{{cite journal | last=Fleming | first=Michael | url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/hugh-jackman-boxed-in-for-levy-1118009393/ | title=Hugh Jackman boxed in for Levy | journal=Variety | date=September 30, 2009 | access-date=September 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145326/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009393 | archive-date= June 29, 2011| url-status=live }} spending a total of six weeks fine-tuning the script. Advertising company FIVE33 did a two-hundred page "bible" about robot boxing. Levy said he was invited by Spielberg and Snider while finishing Date Night, and while the director initially considered Real Steel to have "a crazy premise," he accepted after reading the script and feeling it could be "a really humanistic sports drama."Shawn Levy audio commentary, Real Steel Blu-Ray

Real Steel had a production budget of {{nowrap|$110 million}}.{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/10/movie-projector-real-steel-ides-of-march.html|title=Movie Projector: 'Real Steel' to crush 'Ides of March'|last=Kaufman|first=Amy|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 6, 2011|access-date=October 7, 2011|archive-date=July 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715181637/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/10/movie-projector-real-steel-ides-of-march.html|url-status=live}} Levy chose to set the film in state fairs and other "old-fashioned" Americana settings that would exude nostalgia and create a warm tone for the film's father-son story.{{cite news | last=Breznican | first=Anthony | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2010-06-15-realsteel15_ST_N.htm | title=In Hugh Jackman's 'Real Steel,' the robot titans go pugilistic | work=USA Today | date=June 15, 2010 | access-date=September 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912114322/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2010-06-15-realsteel15_ST_N.htm| archive-date= September 12, 2011| url-status=live}} There was also an attempt for the scenery to blend in new and old technology. Filming began in June 2010,{{cite journal | last=McClintock | first=Pamela | url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/goyo-added-to-levy-s-steel-1118016494/ | title=Goyo added to Levy's 'Steel' | journal=Variety | date=March 15, 2010 | access-date=September 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145408/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016494| archive-date= June 29, 2011| url-status=live}} and ended by October 15, 2010.{{cite journal|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/2163561081.html?FMT=ABS&date=Oct+15%2C+2010 |title=Michigan movie clips|first=Julie|last=Hinds|date=October 15, 2010|journal=Detroit Free Press | page = C1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914194239/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/2163561081.html?FMT=ABS&date=Oct+15%2C+2010 | access-date= September 14, 2011| archive-date= September 14, 2011| url-status= dead}}. Abstract only: "Filming has concluded here on 'Real Steel,' 'Transformers 3,' 'Scream 4' and many other productions that made metro Detroit and nearby regions seem like Hollywood Midwest for the past few months". Locations include areas around Detroit, Michigan, and across the state,{{cite news | url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=62641 | title=Hugh Jackman to Film Real Steel in Michigan | publisher=ComingSoon.net | date=January 22, 2010 | access-date=February 14, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723052134/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=62641 | archive-date=July 23, 2011 | url-status=live }} Cited to unavailable Detroit Free Press article, "[http://www.freep.com/article/20100122/ENT01/100122056/1035/ENT/Hugh-Jackman-coming-to-Michigan-to-star-in-big-budget-sci-fi-movie "Hugh Jackman Coming to Michigan to Star in Big-Budget Sci-Fi Movie"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617000024/http://www.freep.com/article/20100122/ENT01/100122056/1035/ENT/Hugh-Jackman-coming-to-Michigan-to-star-in-big-budget-sci-fi-movie |date=June 17, 2013 }}, January 22, 2010. including at the Renaissance Center, the Cobo Arena, the Detroit Fire Department headquarters, the Russell Industrial Center, the Ingham County Courthouse in Mason, Michigan, the Leslie Michigan Railroad Depot, the former Belle Isle Zoo, and the Highland Park Ford Plant.{{cite news | last=Hinds | first=Julie | url=http://www.freep.com/article/20111002/ENT01/110020460/Michigan-locations-Real-Steel- | title=Michigan locations in 'Real Steel' | work=Detroit Free Press | date=October 1, 2011 | access-date=October 4, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004230150/http://www.freep.com/article/20111002/ENT01/110020460/Michigan-locations-Real-Steel- |archive-date=October 4, 2011|url-status=live}}

Jason Matthews of Legacy Effects, successor to Stan Winston Studios, was hired to turn production designer Tom Meyer's robot designs into practical animatronic props. He said, "We have 26-and-a-half total live-action robots that were made for this film. They all have hydraulic neck controls. Atom has RC [radio-controlled] hands as well."{{cite web|url=http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/09/13/bringing-real-steels-robots-to-life/|title=Bringing Real Steel's Robots To Life|date=September 13, 2011|access-date=September 28, 2011|first=Rob M.|last=Worley|publisher=ComicBookResources.com|archive-date=September 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924073857/http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/09/13/bringing-real-steels-robots-to-life|url-status=dead}} According to Jackman, executive producer Spielberg "actually said to Shawn, 'You should really have real elements where you can.' ... Basically if they're not walking or fighting, that's a real robot."{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/real-steel-rock-em-sock-em-robots-1.3210957|title='Real Steel': Rock 'em, sock 'em robots|date=September 29, 2011|work=Newsday|author-link=Frank Lovece|first=Frank|last=Lovece|access-date=October 4, 2011|page=C8 of print edition|archive-date=October 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002090345/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/real-steel-rock-em-sock-em-robots-1.3210957|url-status=live}} (Website requires subscription) Levy added that Spielberg gave the example of Jurassic Park, where Winston's animatronic dinosaurs "got a better performance from the actors, as they were seeing something real, and gave the visual effects team an idea of what it would look like." As Real Steel was not based on a toy, Meyer said that "there was no guideline" for the robots, and each was designed from scratch, with an attempt to put "different personality and aesthetics," according to Levy. In Atom's case, it tried to have a more humanizing design to be an "everyman" who could attract the audience's sympathy and serve as a proxy to the viewer, with a fencing mask that Meyer explained served to show "his identity was a bit hidden, so you have to work harder to get to see him.""Building The Bots", Real Steel Blu-Ray Executive producer Robert Zemeckis added that the mask "became a screen so we can project what we want on Atom's face." Damage was added to the robots' decoration to show how they were machines worn out by intense battles.

For scenes when computer-generated robots brawl, "simulcam" motion capture technology, developed for the film Avatar, was used. As Levy described the process, "[Y]ou're not only capturing the fighting of live human fighters, but you're able to take that and see it converted to [CGI] robots on a screen instantaneously. Simulcam puts the robots in the ring in real time, so you are operating your shots to the fight, whereas even three, four years ago, you used to operate to empty frames, just guessing at what stuff was going to look like."{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3ic7a144ebb92875c81e7f8c4bf659a382| title=Robots in the ring: Shawn Levy and Anthony Mackie bet on 'Real Steel'| date=September 29, 2011|work=Film Journal International| author-link=Frank Lovece |first=Frank|last=Lovece|access-date=October 4, 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005000120/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3ic7a144ebb92875c81e7f8c4bf659a382 | archive-date=October 5, 2011 | url-status=live}} Boxing hall-of-famer Sugar Ray Leonard was an adviser for these scenes and gave Jackman boxing lessons so his moves would be more natural."Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ", Real Steel Blu-Ray

{{main article|Real Steel (soundtrack)}}

Real Steel{{'}}s soundtrack consists of 13 tracks featuring artists including Foo Fighters, Tom Morello, Eminem, Royce da 5'9" (Bad Meets Evil), Yelawolf, 50 Cent, and Limp Bizkit. Levy, a fan of The Crystal Method, invited that duo to contribute to the soundtrack; they recorded two new songs for it after viewing a rough cut of the film. The album was released by Interscope Records on October 4, 2011.{{cite web |title=Real Steel – Music From The Motion Picture |url=https://www.amazon.com/Real-Steel-Music-Motion-Picture/dp/B005K1VR0Q/ |access-date=July 28, 2012 |website=Amazon |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714052432/http://www.amazon.com/Real-Steel-Music-Motion-Picture/dp/B005K1VR0Q |url-status=live }} The score album, Real Steel: Original Motion Picture Score consists of 19 tracks composed by Danny Elfman, and was released on November 8, 2011, in the US. Levy considered Elfman one of the few composers who could do a score similar to that of the Rocky franchise, alternating guitar-based ambient music and songs with a full orchestra.{{cite web |title=Real Steel |url=https://www.amazon.com/Real-Steel-Danny-Elfman/dp/B005P89EOU/ |access-date=July 28, 2012 |website=Amazon |archive-date=July 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701165544/http://www.amazon.com/Real-Steel-Danny-Elfman/dp/B005P89EOU |url-status=live }}

Real Steel had its world premiere on September 6, 2011, in Paris at the Le Grand Rex.{{cite magazine | author=Staff | url=http://www.life.com/image/123950673 | title='Real Steel' Paris Premiere at Le Grand Rex | magazine=Life | date=September 6, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The film had its United States premiere on October 2, 2011, in Los Angeles at the Gibson Amphitheatre.{{cite journal | last=Ford | first=Rebecca | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hugh-jackman-evangeline-lilly-real-steel-242978 | title=Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly Attend 'Real Steel' Premiere | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=October 2, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004235936/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hugh-jackman-evangeline-lilly-real-steel-242978 | archive-date=October 4, 2011|access-date=October 4, 2011|url-status=live}} It was commercially released in Australia on October 6, 2011,{{cite news | author=Staff | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/jackman-a-big-hit-at-wrestling-show-20110921-1kkm5.html | title=Jackman a big hit at wrestling show | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=September 21, 2011 | access-date=April 20, 2020 | archive-date=April 21, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421123737/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/jackman-a-big-hit-at-wrestling-show-20110921-1kkm5.html | url-status=live }} followed by the United States and Canada on October 7, 2011. Its U.S. release, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures,{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/real-steel-1117946256/|title=Review: 'Real Steel'|date=September 28, 2011|first=Peter|last=Debruge|work=Variety|access-date=December 11, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201233625/http://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/real-steel-1117946256/|url-status=live}} was originally scheduled for November 18, 2011, but it was moved earlier to avoid competition with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.{{cite journal | last=McClintock | first=Pamela | url=https://variety.com/2010/film/features/dreamworks-holiday-war-horse-1118025632/ | title=DreamWorks' holiday 'War Horse' | journal=Variety | date=October 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145826/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118025632 |access-date=September 15, 2011|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status= live}} The film was released in 3,440 theaters in the United States and Canada,{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/schedule/?view=&release=&date=2011-10-07&showweeks=4&p=.htm | title=Release Schedule | publisher=Box Office Mojo | access-date=October 3, 2011 | archive-date=October 19, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019125237/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/schedule/?view=&release=&date=2011-10-07&showweeks=4&p=.htm | url-status=live }} including 270 IMAX screenings. There were also over 100 IMAX screenings in territories outside the United States and Canada, with 62 screenings on October 7.{{cite journal | last=Vlessing | first=Etan | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-show-real-steel-270-243062 | access-date=October 4, 2011| title=Imax To Show 'Real Steel' on 270 Domestic Screens | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=October 3, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004232218/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-show-real-steel-270-243062| archive-date=October 4, 2011|url-status=live}}

DreamWorks released the first trailer for Real Steel in December 2010 and it was attached to Tron: Legacy.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/film-trailer-real-steel-starring-hugh-jackman-2156459.html | title=Film trailer: 'Real Steel' starring Hugh Jackman | work=The Independent | date=December 10, 2010 |access-date=September 14, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914220220/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/film-trailer-real-steel-starring-hugh-jackman-2156459.html | archive-date= September 14, 2011| url-status=live}} In May 2011, DreamWorks released a second trailer. While the film features boxing robots, Levy said he wanted to show in the trailer "the father-son drama, the emotion Americana of it". He said, "We are very much the robo-boxing movie, but that's one piece of a broader spectrum."{{cite magazine | last=Breznican | first=Anthony | url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/05/10/real-steel-trailer-hugh-jackman/ | title='Real Steel' trailer: Hugh Jackman and director Shawn Levy discuss the human element in their robo-boxing movie | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=May 10, 2011 |access-date=September 14, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914220619/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/05/10/real-steel-trailer-hugh-jackman/ | archive-date= September 14, 2011| url-status=live}} In addition to marketing trailers and posters, DreamWorks enlisted the British advertising company Five33 to build large physical displays representing the film as it had done for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.{{cite journal | last=Graser | first=Marc | url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/pic-promos-get-physical-1118037629/ | title=Pic promos get physical | journal=Variety | date=May 26, 2011|access-date=September 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915180742/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118037629 | archive-date= September 15, 2011| url-status=live}} The studio also collaborated with Virgin America to name one of their Airbus A320s after the film, and one of the film's robots is pictured on its fuselage.{{cite journal | last=Fernandez | first=Sofia M. | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugh-jackman-unveils-real-steel-239861 | title=Hugh Jackman Unveils 'Real Steel' Airplane | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=September 23, 2011 | access-date=April 20, 2020 | archive-date=April 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416101711/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugh-jackman-unveils-real-steel-239861 | url-status=live }} On September 19, Jackman appeared on the weekly sports entertainment program WWE Raw to promote the film.{{cite news | last=Miller | first=Julie | url=http://www.movieline.com/2011/09/video-hugh-jackman-wwe-stars-spend-6-uncomfortable-minutes-in-the-ring.php | title=VIDEO: Hugh Jackman, WWE Stars Spend 6+ Uncomfortable Minutes in the Ring | publisher=Movieline | date=September 20, 2011 | access-date=September 27, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926002952/http://www.movieline.com/2011/09/video-hugh-jackman-wwe-stars-spend-6-uncomfortable-minutes-in-the-ring.php | archive-date=September 26, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }} In addition to Jackman making an appearance on the show, WWE named Crystal Method's "Make Some Noise" from the film's soundtrack as the official theme song for their returning PPV, Vengeance.

Jakks Pacific released a toy line with action figures based on Atom, Zeus, Blendo, Noisy Boy, Midas and Twin Cities.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} The company has also released a one-on-one, playset fighting game with robots in a ring.{{cite web|url=http://en.paperblog.com/real-steel-movie-playsets-and-role-playing-games-rpg-90278/|title=Real Steel Movie Playsets and Role Playing Games|publisher=PaperBlog.com|date=November 3, 2011|access-date=November 27, 2011|archive-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426005310/http://en.paperblog.com/real-steel-movie-playsets-and-role-playing-games-rpg-90278/|url-status=live}}

ThreeA released a line of high-end sixth-scale figures, as adapted by Australian artist Ashley Wood, based on Ambush, Atom, Midas, and Noisy Boy.

Jump Games released a fighting video game based on the film for Android and iOS devices,{{cite news | author=Staff | url=http://skoar.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Jump-Games-releases-Real-Steel-fighting-game_7608.html | title=Jump Games releases Real Steel fighting game for Android and iOS | work=ThinkDigit.com | publisher=Nine Dot Nine Mediaworx Pvt. Ltd | date=September 23, 2011 | access-date=October 3, 2011 | archive-date=September 26, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926092015/http://skoar.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Jump-Games-releases-Real-Steel-fighting-game_7608.html | url-status=dead }} and Yuke's made a game for the PS3 and Xbox 360.{{cite web|url=http://realsteelgame.com/us/|title=Real Steel Video Game official website|access-date=January 27, 2014|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225924/http://realsteelgame.com/us/|url-status=dead}} An arcade game was also released by Innovative Concepts in Entertainment (ICE).

The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and both high-definition and standard-definition digital download on January 24, 2012, from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (under the Touchstone Home Entertainment label). Additional material includes Disney Second Screen; deleted and extended scenes with introductions by director Levy; and a profile of film consultant Sugar Ray Leonard.{{cite news|title=Real Steel Blu-ray Release Date, Details and Cover Art|url=http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Real-Steel-Blu-ray-Release-Date-Details-and-Cover-Art/9959|access-date=December 2, 2011|newspaper=The HD Room|date=December 2, 2011|archive-date=December 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204070914/http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Real-Steel-Blu-ray-Release-Date-Details-and-Cover-Art/9959|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Real Steel Hitting DVD and Blu-ray in January|url=http://filmonic.com/real-steel-dvd-release-date|access-date=December 2, 2011|newspaper=Filmonic|date=December 2, 2011|archive-date=December 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209044407/http://filmonic.com/real-steel-dvd-release-date|url-status=live}}

Real Steel earned $85.5 million in North America, and $213.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $299.3 million. It had a worldwide opening of $49.4 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-hugh-jackman-245948|access-date=October 11, 2011|title=Box Office Report: Hugh Jackman Starrer 'Real Steel' Wins Weekend with $27.3 Mil|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 9, 2011|archive-date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011002609/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-hugh-jackman-245948|url-status=live}} In North America, it topped the box office with $8.5 million on its opening day and $27.3 million in total on its opening weekend, claiming the number one spot, ahead of the other new nationwide release (The Ides of March) and all holdovers.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2011&wknd=40&p=.htm|access-date=October 18, 2011|title=October 7–9, 2011 Weekend|archive-date=October 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018150703/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2011&wknd=40&p=.htm|url-status=live}} It managed first-place debuts in 11 countries including Hugh Jackman's native Australia ($4.2 million).{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&view=byweekend&id=realsteel.htm|access-date=October 14, 2011|title=Real Steel|archive-date=November 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106152539/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&view=byweekend&id=realsteel.htm|url-status=live}}

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 60% based on reviews from 233 critics and an average rating of 5.91/10. The website's consensus is, "Silly premise notwithstanding, this is a well-made Hollywood movie: Thrilling and exciting action with just enough characterization."{{cite web |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/real_steel/ |title= Real Steel (2011) |work= Rotten Tomatoes |publisher= Fandango |access-date= May 4, 2020 |archive-date= August 5, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200805012745/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/real_steel |url-status= live }} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 56 out of 100, based on reviews from 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/real-steel/critic-reviews |title= Real Steel: Reviews (2011) |website= Metacritic |publisher= CBS |access-date= May 4, 2020 |archive-date= November 12, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015914/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/real-steel/critic-reviews |url-status= live }} Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore during the opening weekend gave the film a grade A, on a scale from A+ to F.{{cite web |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/10/box-office-real-steel-ides-of-march.html |title= Box Office: 'Real Steel' KOs competition, including George Clooney |last= Kaufman |first= Amy |work= Los Angeles Times |date= October 9, 2011 |access-date= May 4, 2020 |archive-date= October 11, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191011171304/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/10/box-office-real-steel-ides-of-march.html |url-status= live }}

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times rated the film 3 stars out of 4, saying, "Real Steel is a real movie. It has characters, it matters who they are, it makes sense of its action, it has a compelling plot. Sometimes you go into a movie with low expectations and are pleasantly surprised."{{cite web |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/real-steel-2011 |title= Real Steel Review |last= Ebert |first= Roger |author-link= Roger Ebert |work= Chicago Sun-Times |date= October 5, 2011 |access-date= October 9, 2011 |archive-date= May 7, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130507140301/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/real-steel-2011 |url-status= live }} Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gave the film an A−, saying director Levy "makes good use of his specialized skill in blending people and computer-made imaginary things into one lively, emotionally satisfying story".{{cite magazine |url= https://ew.com/article/2011/10/13/real-steel-review/ |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |title= Real Steel (2011) |first= Lisa |last= Schwarzbaum |author-link= Lisa Schwarzbaum |date= October 13, 2011 |access-date= April 20, 2020 |archive-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317020838/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20518300,00.html |url-status= live }}

Claudia Puig of USA Today said, "Though the premise of fighting robots does seem a plausible and intriguing extension of the contemporary WWE world, Real Steel is hampered by leaden, clichéd moments in which a stubborn boy teaches his childish father a valuable lesson."{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/story/2011-10-06/real-steel-hugh-jackman/50682392/1|title='Real Steel' robots do battle with movie cliches|last=Puig|first=Claudia|work=USA Today|date=October 7, 2011|access-date=October 12, 2011|archive-date=October 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013014956/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/story/2011-10-06/real-steel-hugh-jackman/50682392/1|url-status=live}} James White of the UK magazine Empire gave the film 3 of 5 stars, saying, "Rocky with robots? It's not quite in Balboa's weight class, but Real Steel at least has some heft. There's barely a story beat among the beat-downs that you won't expect, and sometimes the saccharine gets in the way of the spectacle, but on the whole this is enjoyable family entertainment."{{cite journal|url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=136562|journal=Empire|title=Real Steel|first=James|last=White|date=n.d.|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134849/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=136562|url-status=live}}

In an interview on August 8, 2021 for his then-upcoming film Free Guy, Levy expressed interest in a Real Steel sequel reuniting both Jackman and Free Guy-star Ryan Reynolds, the latter of whom was introduced to Levy by Jackman.{{Cite web|date=August 8, 2021|title=Real Steel Director Determined To Reunite Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman For Sequel|website=Screen Rant|url=https://screenrant.com/real-steel-2-hugh-jackman-ryan-reynolds-reunion/|access-date=August 9, 2021|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809150732/https://screenrant.com/real-steel-2-hugh-jackman-ryan-reynolds-reunion/|url-status=live}}

In another interview on April 13, 2024 for Deadpool & Wolverine which stars both Reynolds and Jackman in their respective roles, Levy noted that he and Jackman still talk about a potential sequel at times, and he himself felt encouraged to do so thanks to the positive fan reception over the first film.{{Cite web|date=April 13, 2024|title=Real Steel 2 Gets Encouraging Update From Deadpool & Wolverine Director|website=CBR|url=https://www.cbr.com/real-steel-2-encouraging-update-shawn-levy/}}

On January 14, 2022, it was reported that a series is in early development for Disney+.{{Cite web|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=January 14, 2022|title='Real Steel' Series in Early Development at Disney Plus|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/real-steel-series-disney-plus-1235148275/|website=Variety|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113223225/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/real-steel-series-disney-plus-1235148275/amp/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|first=Steve|last=Weintraub|date=January 14, 2022|title='Real Steel' TV Series In Development at Disney+|url=https://collider.com/real-steel-series-disney-plus/|website=Collider|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113223222/https://collider.com/real-steel-series-disney-plus/amp/|url-status=live}} Unfortunately the series has never been touted as the long-awaited series that fans have been expecting. As far as we know, Hugh Jackman might not even be a part of development for Amazon Prime Video instead.{{Cite web |last=Pernalete |first=Tito |date=March 24, 2025 |title=Real Steel 2: Hugh Jackman Sequel Still Has A Fighting Chance |url=https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/real-steel-2-hugh-jackman-sequel-still-has-a-fighting-chance/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=Fortress of Solitude}}

• "Raging Bender" from the second season of Futurama also depicts a hidden human controller of a robotic boxer, likely a reference to Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
• List of boxing films

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2011/03/hollywood-top-earners-201103?currentPage=1|title=Hollywood's Top 40|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=March 2011|access-date=October 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529022123/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2011/03/hollywood-top-earners-201103?currentPage=1|archive-date=May 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF275878/ |title=Real Steel |date=August 4, 2011 |publisher=British Board of Film Classification |access-date=September 26, 2011 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930081828/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF275878/ |url-status=dead }}

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{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20120211195135/http://www.steelgetsreal.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|0433035|Real Steel}}

{{Shawn Levy}}

{{Richard Matheson}}

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