Robot Jox

Robot Jox
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Stuart Gordon
Produced by	Charles Band
Screenplay by	Joe Haldeman
Story by	Stuart Gordon
Starring	Gary Graham Anne-Marie Johnson Paul Koslo Robert Sampson Danny Kamekona Hilary Mason Michael Alldredge
Music by	Frédéric Talgorn
Cinematography	Mac Ahlberg
Edited by	Lori Ball Ted Nicolaou
Production company	Empire Pictures
Distributed by	Trans World Entertainment (Theatrical) Columbia Pictures (Canada) MGM/UA Home Entertainment (Home media)
Release date	November 21, 1990 (1990-11-21)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$10 million
Box office	$1,272,977

Robot Jox is a 1990 post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Stuart Gordon and starring Gary Graham, Anne-Marie Johnson, and Paul Koslo. The film was co-written by science fiction author Joe Haldeman. The film's plot follows Achilles, one of the "robot jox" who pilot giant machines that fight international battles to settle territorial disputes in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world.

After producer Charles Band approved Gordon's initial concept, the director approached Haldeman to write the script. Gordon and Haldeman clashed frequently over the film's tone and intended audience. Principal photography finished in Rome in 1987, but the bankruptcy of Band's Empire Pictures delayed the film's release in theaters until 1990. It earned $1,272,977 in domestic gross, failing to earn its production cost in theaters. Robot Jox received negative critical response and little audience attention upon its first theatrical run, but it has recently attracted some critical praise. The film has been released on various home video formats, most recently on Blu-ray in July 2015.

Fifty years after a nuclear holocaust, open war is forbidden by the surviving nations, which have merged into two opposing factions: the western-influenced Market and the Russian-themed Confederation. To resolve territorial disputes, the two sides hold gladiator-style matches between giant robots piloted by "robot jox". Following a contest in which Confederation fighter Alexander (Paul Koslo) defeats and kills the Market's Hercules, it becomes clear that the Confederation is receiving information about new weaponry and designs from spies within the Market, resulting in the loss of critical matches and the deaths of several of the Market's best pilots.

Market jock Achilles (Gary Graham) is supported by robot designer "Doc" Matsumoto (Danny Kamekona) and strategist Tex Conway (Michael Alldredge), the only jock to win all ten of his contract matches. He prepares for his tenth and final contracted match against Alexander, who has killed the last nine Market jocks he has faced. During the battle, Achilles attempts to intercept a wayward projectile launched by Alexander when it careens towards a civilian spectator section. His robot takes the full impact and collapses on top of the bleachers, killing over 300 spectators. In a post-match conference, both sides reason that their respective fighter was the victor; however, the referees decide that the match is an inconclusive draw, and schedule a rematch. Achilles, shaken by the incident, insists that the draw was his contractual tenth match and retires, much to the disapproval of his management and fans.