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Alita: Battle Angel

Alita: Battle Angel is a 2019 American cyberpunk action film directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Alita: Battle Angel is a 2019 American cyberpunk action film directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau. Based on Yukito Kishiro’s manga Battle Angel Alita, the film stars Rosa Salazar as the title character, a cyborg who awakens with no memory of her past.

Premise

The film is set in a future where Alita is discovered in a scrapyard and rebuilt by a cybermedic. She has no memory of her past and gradually uncovers abilities linked to her identity and destiny.

Production

Alita: Battle Angel was directed by Robert Rodriguez from a screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis, with James Cameron and Jon Landau producing. The film uses motion-capture and CGI to depict its central character.

Release and reception

The film premiered in London on January 31, 2019, and was released in the United States on February 14, 2019. It grossed about $405 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics.

Source material

The movie adapts Battle Angel Alita, a manga by Yukito Kishiro. It is part of a broader franchise that includes earlier animated adaptations and other related media.

Key facts

  • The film is a live-action adaptation of Yukito Kishiro’s manga series Battle Angel Alita.
  • Rosa Salazar portrays Alita using motion-capture and CGI performance techniques.
  • The story follows a cyborg who wakes up with amnesia and searches for her identity.
  • It premiered in London on January 31, 2019, and was released in the United States on February 14, 2019.
  • A sequel has been described as being in development.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally and has been available to Canadian audiences through theatrical and home-media release, but it has no uniquely Canadian setting or production identity based on the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Alita: Battle Angel based on?
It is based on Yukito Kishiro’s manga Battle Angel Alita.
Who directed Alita: Battle Angel?
Robert Rodriguez directed the film.
Who plays Alita?
Rosa Salazar plays Alita, using motion-capture and CGI techniques.
When was the film released?
It was released in the United States on February 14, 2019.
How did the film perform commercially?
It grossed about $405 million worldwide.
Is a sequel planned?
A sequel has been reported as being in development.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alita:_Battle_Angel
    Supports: Release date, director, producers, screenplay, cast, box office, reception, sequel status, and adaptation basis.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alita_battle_angel
    Supports: Synopsis, director, producer, screenwriter, distributor, genre, release date, runtime, and box office data.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Angel_Alita
    Supports: Relationship to the manga source material and story premise of Alita as an amnesiac cyborg.