Chappie

Chappie is a 2015 South African science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp. Set in a crime-ridden Johannesburg, it follows Chappie, a police robot who is granted human-like consciousness by a scientist named Deon Wilson. When Deon’s prototype is stolen, Chappie is raised by two criminals who mentor him in the ways of the city. The story explores artificial intelligence, consciousness, and social inequality.

The film stars Sharlto Copley as the voice and motion-capture performance of Chappie, with Dev Patel as Deon Wilson. Hugh Jackman plays Vincent Moore, a rival inventor, and Sigourney Weaver appears as Michelle Bradley, a Tetravaal executive. South African musicians Yo-Landi Visser and Ninja of Die Antwoord appear in supporting roles. The musical score was composed by Hans Zimmer.

Chappie received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Blomkamp’s visual world-building and performances but criticized the film’s tonal inconsistencies and its handling of social issues. It was released in 2015 and grossed about $102 million worldwide on a budget around $49 million, making it a modest box-office performer. The film’s depiction of a developing AI within a South African setting contributed to ongoing discussions about technology, ethics, and urban inequality in cinema.