An iconic science fiction action movie that somehow manages to perfectly blend whip-smart satire with overwhelming violence, and all while introducing one of the genre’s most iconic characters ever, is stomping onto a new streaming home.
First introduced way back in 1987, RoboCop remains one of the most iconic and recognizable figures in science fiction. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, the first RoboCop takes place in a crime-ridden, near-future Detroit, and centers on police officer Alex Murphy (played by Peter Weller) who, after being brutally murdered by a gang of ruthless criminals, is resurrected by the mega-corporation Omni Consumer Products as a cyborg law enforcer.
Now unaware of his former life, RoboCop follows Murphy as he slowly attempts to regain some semblance of his humanity, all while the movie takes satirical swipes at consumerism, capitalist greed, corporate corruption, and hyper-violent action movies.
Both RoboCop and (the sadly much lesser) Robocop 2, which finds Murphy taking on crime boss Cain after the spread of a dangerous new drug called Nuke, are now streaming on Peacock as of January 1, 2026, meaning you can now start the new off just as our ancestors intended…by watching a gloriously high-concept sci-fi action double-bill.
Amazon Is Now Working on a ‘RoboCop’ Reboot
While RoboCop has already been thoroughly franchised, spawning a further sequel in RoboCop 3, as well as several TV series, an animated show, various video games, and comic books, the titular robot cop has not been seen since director José Padilha and star Joel Kinnaman’s divisive reboot back in 2014.
However, this is expected to change in the near future, with Amazon now planning its own TV series reboot of the beloved sci-fi action franchise following the acquisition of MGM Studios by the studio back in March 2022. Details of what the streamer has planned remain largely under wraps, but it was revealed last year that a series is moving forward, though whether it will be a full-on reboot or a legacy-type sequel is currently unknown.
The RoboCop series sees Peter Ocko (Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, The Office) serving as writer, executive producer, and showrunner, with Aquaman, The Conjuring, and Fast and Furious director James Wan on board as an executive producer. A brief logline for the series has been released, and you can check it out below:
“A giant tech conglomerate collaborates with the local police department to introduce a technologically advanced enforcer to combat rising crime — a police officer who’s part man, part machine.”
Should the Amazon series take the legacy sequel approach, original star Peter Weller has expressed interest in a return, saying earlier this year, “As far as the RoboCop reboot, I don’t know. I would do anything if the script is good and the money’s right. I ain’t going to North Korea to shoot it, but, ya know, if it’s a good deal I’d do it.”
- Release Date
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July 17, 1987
- Runtime
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102 minutes
- Director
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Paul Verhoeven
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Officer Alex J. Murphy / RoboCop
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Nancy Allen
Officer Anne Lewis
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