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D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)
The Friendship: D.A.R.Y.L. might be book smart, but Turtle's common sense proves invaluable when the cyborg nearly drowns.
Article continues belowJimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
The Robot: Goddard, a multi-functional robot dog designed to provide assistance to the titular Boy Genius.
The Human: Jimmy Neutron, an irresponsible inventor with a habit of creating gadgets that cause him a lot of trouble.
The Friendship: When Jimmy gets in a fix, Goddard usually has the solution thanks to a wide range of accessories built into his body.
Robocop (1987)
The Robot: ED-209, the future of law enforcement… provided Omni Consumer Products can get the thing to stop killing innocent people.
The Human: OCD Senior President Dick Jones (Ronny Cox), who backs the robotics programme over the cyborg Robocop concept preferred by his colleagues.
The Friendship: Jones remains loyal to ED-209 despite all evidence that the homicidal kill-bot is beyond repair… although that's probably due to professional hubris than any deep-seated affection.
Flight Of The Navigator (1986)
The Robot: Maxi, the artificial intelligence who pilots a Trimaxian Drone Ship from the planet Phaelon, and communicates via a robotic eyestalk.
The Human: David Freeman (Joey Cramer), who accidentally leaves Earth for eight years on a trip to the stars in the ship and is given increased brainpower for his troubles.
The Friendship: Max crash lands and has his memory wiped; only David - the 'Navigator' - can restore his databanks. In return, he gives David an adventure and a return ticket back to his own time.
Blade Runner (1982)
The Robot: Pris (Daryl Hannah), one of the replicants being hunted down by blade runner Deckard. Notable for being a "basic pleasure model."
The Human: J.F. Sebastian (William Sanderson), a toy designer who lives alone in an apartment full of his creations.
The Friendship: Sebastian has a rare genetic disorder which means he shares the replicants' limited life-span, making him unusually sensitive to their cause.
The Muppets (2011)
The Robot: 80s Robot, forever defined by the decade of his creation and compelled to serve beverages that are no longer available.
The Human: Muppet fan Gary (Jason Segel), on a mission to reunite the old gang for one last hurrah.
The Friendship: While 80s Robot is technically Kermit's butler, he proves to be an integral part of Gary's plan, not least for his ability to travel by map.
Real Steel (2011)
The Robot: Atom, an obsolete fighting robot with the ability to withstand whatever damage can be thrown at it.
The Human: Disgraced robot trainer Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), for whom rebuilding Atom is a shot at redemption.
The Friendship: Atom is fitted with a shadow mode that enables him to mimic human motion… and underlining the closeness of their bond when the robot has to copy Charlie's move in a title fight.
Prometheus (2012)
The Robot: Effete, Lawrence Of Arabia -obsessed android David (Michael Fassbender) with a secret agenda on LV-223.
The Human: Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), the archaeologist aboard the Prometheus with a not-so-secret agenda to find the answers to the meaning of life.
The Friendship: The most unlikely love story of recent years, as David gets Elizabeth pregnant (albeit by poisoning her lover with alien slime) and she rescues him from the doomed expedition on the next stage of their journey. They'll be a proper couple if they get around to a sequel.
The Black Hole (1979)
The Robot: Huge crimson-red robot who is second-in-command aboard the USS Cygnus.
The Human: Dr Hans Reinhardt, de facto commander of the Cygnus after he'd killed the crew and obsessed with an insane plan to fly his ship into a black hole.
The Friendship: Unusually close in that Maximilian shares (and executes) Reinhardt's bloodlust.
The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy (2005)
The Robot: Marvin 'the Paranoid Android' (voiced by Alan Rickman) has a brain the size of a planet, but remains permanently depressed because of the menial tasks he's asked to fulfil.
The Human: Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman), dressing gown-wearing survivor of the demolished Earth who has even more reason to be depressed than Marvin.
The Friendship: Grudging - the two are thrown together only by circumstance, and Arthur is quite content to leave Marvin waiting while he investigates the truth behind Earth's existence.
