10 Most Unexpectedly Depressing Movies
4. Bicentennial Man
Bicentennial Man was marketed as a family-friendly sci-fi dramedy in which Robin Williams portrays an android, Andrew, who wishes to become human as he develops emotions.
Yet what seemed to be a silly, accessible mainstream genre film turned out to be a far more philosophical and upsetting piece of work that wasn't really appropriate for its target audience at all.
Ultimately Bicentennial Man follows Andrew's uneasy transition from machine to man over the years while wrestling with the obstacles of society's inability to recognise his humanity (and therefore his rights).
This is a film about mortality, ageing, regret, and what it means to exist.
As an android, Andrew is forced to watch all who he's cared for pass away while his own understanding of death matures, and he ultimately decides to forfeit his immortality in order to be both recognised as human and validate his marriage.
The film ends with Andrew dying a natural death while hand-in-hand with his wife, Portia (Embeth Davidtz), shortly before she also dies.
What a weapons-grade bummer for a movie sold to audiences as another comedy-of-errors starring Robin Williams from the director of Mrs. Doubtfire.