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Family sci-fi film

A-X-L (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

A-X-L (2018) movie poster

A-X-L is a 2018 family sci-fi film directed by Oliver Daly, starring Jonathan Camp as Craine Operative Cameron, Dominic Rains and Eric Etebari. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $8.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Its Echo Score is 61/100.

worldwide gross
$8.5M
Echo Score
61
budget
$10M
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A-X-L (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 38m (98 min)
Director
Oliver Daly
Genres
Family , Sci-Fi , Adventure , Action
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is A-X-L About?

The premise of A-X-L without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Man’s best friend has evolved The life of a teenage boy is forever altered by a chance encounter with cutting edge military technology.

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Cast & crew

A-X-L Cast & Characters

Jonathan Camp leads the cast as Craine Operative Cameron, with Dominic Rains as Andric and Eric Etebari as Craine Operative Berman. Directed by Oliver Daly; 31 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in A-X-L

· 27 more
Show all 31 cast members
From the director

More from Oliver Daly

One more film directed by Oliver Daly: A.X.L..

Full filmography
Ratings

A-X-L Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 61/100, strongest in art & craft (70) and weakest in story & flow (50).

61 /100

A-X-L Echo Score Breakdown

A-X-L delivers an uneven experience that sits between novelty and fatigue. The film’s visual elements, such as CGI and practical puppetry, attract modest praise, while its narrative and character work draw frequent criticism for being derivative and underdeveloped. Audience reactions reflect this split, with some viewers expressing enthusiasm for the concept and rewatchability, and others highlighting a lack of depth and coherence. Consequently, the movie achieves a mixed but slightly below‑average standing overall.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, the film showcases competent visual execution, with CGI and practical effects receiving appreciation from several reviewers. However, direction and editing are described as sloppy and lacking originality, leading to a sense of a derivative production. The combination of solid visual work and uneven overall craftsmanship results in a moderately positive assessment of the film’s artistic aspects.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When evaluating character and emotion, critics note weak performances and shallow development, describing the script as hollow. User feedback mirrors this, citing limited chemistry and underwritten relationships, though a few viewers find the coming‑of‑age elements modestly engaging. The prevailing view is that the characters fail to resonate strongly, yielding a mixed but ultimately lukewarm impression of this aspect.

  • Story & Flow 50

    Story and flow receive consistent criticism for being clichéd and incoherent, with reviewers calling the plot a pastiche of earlier robot‑buddy films. Some audience members acknowledge an entertaining premise but note predictable pacing and a lack of narrative depth. The overall sentiment points to a story that is functional yet unoriginal, placing its rating squarely in the middle of the scale.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    Sensory experience is one of the film’s stronger points, as multiple reviewers commend the CGI quality, practical puppet work, and overall production design. While sound design receives limited mention, the visual style is described as appealing and technically competent. This positive feedback balances the weaker areas, resulting in a generally favorable evaluation of the film’s sensory components.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Rewatch factor varies among viewers; some express strong desire to view the film again or see a continuation, highlighting its entertaining moments and cliffhanger appeal. Others report boredom and limited incentive for repeat viewings. The mixed responses produce a modestly positive rewatch rating, reflecting that the movie holds occasional repeat value despite overall shortcomings.

Plot

A-X-L Plot Summary

What happens in A-X-L from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A-X-L is a cutting-edge robotic dog engineered by Andric, a scientist at Craine Systems, designed to support and defend soldiers in the field. The project, funded by the military, gives rise to A-X-L, which stands for “Attack, Exploration, Logistics,” showcasing state-of-the-art artificial intelligence capabilities. After an experiment goes awry, A-X-L finds itself alone and damaged in the desert, where it is discovered by outsider and motorbike racer Miles. At that moment, Miles is already feeling abandoned by Sam Fontaine, who has left him behind during a stunt.

Full summary

The whole story of A-X-L, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

A-X-L Box Office & Budget

A-X-L grossed $8.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 85% of what it cost. $6.5 million came from the US and Canada and $2 million (23%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$8.5M

85% of its budget back

US & Canada
$6.5M
International
$2M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 77% Rest of the world 23%
Videos

A-X-L Trailers & Videos

16 videos: 1 trailer, 11 teasers, 3 clips and 1 featurette.

All 16 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Meet A-X-L
  • Teaser "Discovery" TV Spot
  • Teaser "Mission" TV Spot
  • Teaser "Sara" TV Spot
Quiz

How Well Do You Know A-X-L?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What does the acronym A-X-L stand for?

Cars

Cars in A-X-L

37 cars on screen, including the 2016 Honda CRF 250 R and the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty.

All 37 cars
  • 2016 Honda CRF 250 R in A-X-L 2016 Honda CRF 250 R Main role
  • 2010 Ram Heavy Duty in A-X-L 2010 Ram Heavy Duty Main role
  • 2013 Ram Heavy Duty 3500 in A-X-L 2013 Ram Heavy Duty 3500 Main role
  • unknown in A-X-L unknown Important role
Details

A-X-L Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “Miles” and “AXL”.

Also known as
  • Miles
  • AXL
  • Attack - eXploration - Logistics
  • A-X-L - O Cão Robô
  • A-X-L Chú Chó Robot
  • 機動戰犬
  • 机器猛犬
  • 机械猛犬
  • A-X-L - Mein bester Freund 2.0
  • Аксель
  • A.X.L.
  • 액슬
+11 more
  • A-X-L - Un'amicizia extraordinaria
  • 機器戰犬
  • Robot Köpek A-X-L
  • Аксел
  • A-X-L: O Cão Robô
  • Robotkutyám
  • AXL: Robotsuns
  • איי אקס אל
  • แอคเซล โคตรหมาเหล็ก
  • A-X-L/アクセル
  • Superpes, აქსელი

Seen A-X-L?

FAQ

A-X-L FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of A-X-L, each answered in a sentence.

How long is A-X-L?

A-X-L runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).

When was A-X-L released?

A-X-L was released on August 16, 2018.

Who directed A-X-L?

A-X-L was directed by Oliver Daly.

More films by Oliver Daly

Who is in the cast of A-X-L?

A-X-L stars Jonathan Camp as Craine Operative Cameron, Dominic Rains as Andric and Eric Etebari as Craine Operative Berman, among 31 credited actors.

How much did A-X-L make at the box office?

A-X-L grossed $8.5 million worldwide ($6.5 million domestic, $2 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

Does A-X-L have a post-credit scene?

No. A-X-L has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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