It feels like we've been hearing about Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt teaming up forever. The buzz started years ago when the Russo Brothers—the guys who gave us Avengers: Endgame—announced they were adapting Simon Stålenhag’s hauntingly beautiful graphic novel, The Electric State.
But here’s the thing. When you put the queen of Stranger Things and the face of Guardians of the Galaxy in a room together, expectations go through the roof. Most people expected a typical blockbuster. What we actually got was a $320 million gamble that divided fans right down the middle.
Honestly, the chemistry between these two wasn't what anyone predicted.
A Retro-90s Disaster?
The movie finally hit Netflix on March 14, 2025. It’s set in a weird, alt-history 1990s where robots and humans fought a brutal war. Now, everything is decaying and neon. Millie plays Michelle, a teen looking for her lost brother, and Chris Pratt plays Keats, a smuggler who’s basically a drifter with a robot sidekick.
A lot of the "making of" stories are actually more interesting than the plot itself.
Think about the scale here. Netflix spent hundreds of millions. They filmed in Atlanta and Moab, Utah. They even had to deal with a tragic crew accident during production and massive reshoots in early 2024. By the time it came out, the pressure was immense.
People were skeptical. Can Millie Bobby Brown carry a massive sci-fi epic that isn't Stranger Things? Can Chris Pratt still do the "lovable rogue" thing without it feeling like Star-Lord in a different jacket?
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Duo
There’s this assumption that big stars just show up, read lines, and collect a check. But if you listen to the State Secrets podcast or the interviews they did with Entertainment Weekly, the dynamic was actually pretty intense.
Millie is known for being super disciplined. She’s been in the game since she was 10. She sticks to the script. Chris Pratt? Not so much. He’s an improv machine.
"I typically stick to the script," Millie told reporters. "I had to learn quickly to match Chris' energy... it taught me a lot."
Basically, she had to stop being so rigid. Most days, she was just trying not to laugh because Pratt was constantly going off-book. It created this weird, frantic energy on screen that some critics hated, but fans of their personal brands actually loved.
The Middle Name Confusion
Here is a fun bit of trivia that went viral: during their BuzzFeed UK interview, Millie revealed her middle name is actually Bonnie. Pratt was genuinely confused. He thought it was Bobby (hence the stage name). Watching him realize he didn't actually know his co-star's full name after months of filming was probably the most "human" moment of the entire press tour.
Why the Reviews Were So Brutal
Look, we have to talk about the 14% Rotten Tomatoes score. It was rough.
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Critics felt the movie was too "MCU-ified." Stålenhag’s book is quiet and lonely. The movie is loud and expensive. People felt that Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt were almost too big for the story. Instead of a girl and a drifter, it felt like "Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt" wandering through a CGI desert.
The performance of Chris Pratt as Keats was particularly scrutinized. Some felt he played it too safe. Others argued that Millie’s performance was a bit too "Damsel-esque"—referencing her 2024 hit.
Despite the critical panning, the movie shot straight to #1 on Netflix globally within 48 hours. It turns out that star power still beats a bad review any day of the week.
The Reality of the Budget
A $320 million price tag is insane for a streaming movie. For context, that’s more than most Marvel movies.
Where did the money go?
- The Robots: They weren't just guys in suits. The Russo brothers used a mix of high-end CGI and practical motion capture.
- The Cast: You don't get Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, and Brian Cox for cheap.
- Reshoots: Those 2024 reshoots in Brazil and Utah added a massive chunk to the final bill.
There’s a lot of talk in the industry right now about whether this was the "peak" of the Netflix blockbuster era. If you spend that much and the critics hate it, is it worth it? Netflix seems to think so, as long as the "minutes watched" stay high.
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What’s Next for Millie and Chris?
Now that the dust has settled on The Electric State, both actors are moving into very different phases.
Millie is finally closing the book on Stranger Things. Season 5 is the big one. She’s also dealing with the reality of growing up in the public eye. She actually did a video recently where she called out the media for acting like she should stay "frozen in time" as a 12-year-old. It’s clear she’s trying to pivot into more "adult" producer-actor roles.
Pratt is heading back to the MCU. With the Russos directing Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, it's almost a guarantee we’ll see him as Star-Lord again. He’s also got a sci-fi thriller called Mercy coming out in 2026.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re a fan of these two or just looking for something to watch, here’s the best way to handle the Electric State phenomenon:
- Watch the Movie for the Aesthetics: Even if you hate the plot, the '90s retro-futurism is stunning. If you love plaid, old vans, and giant robots, it’s a visual treat.
- Check Out the Source Material: If you find the movie too "loud," go find Simon Stålenhag’s book. It’s a completely different experience—much more haunting and atmospheric.
- Follow the BTS: The State Secrets podcast gives a way better look at the relationship between the stars than the actual movie does.
- Ignore the Scores: If you like Millie Bobby Brown’s work in Enola Holmes or Pratt’s vibe in Jurassic World, you’ll probably enjoy this. Don’t let a 14% score stop you if you just want some popcorn sci-fi.
The pairing of Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt might not have been the "prestige" win Netflix wanted, but it definitely kept everyone talking. Whether it’s a cult classic in five years or a forgotten expensive experiment, it’s a fascinating snapshot of where Hollywood is right now.
To get the most out of this era of sci-fi, keep an eye on the upcoming AGBO projects from the Russos—they're clearly not done spending Netflix’s money on high-concept star vehicles.