Alita: Battle Angel

When Alita wakes in a scrapyard with no memory of her past, Dr. Ido rescues what remains of her body and gives her a new torso and a chance at life in Iron City. She adapts to a city split by wealth and violence while fragments of skill and instinct hint at a hidden history. As she trains, develops friendships and flirts with hope, shadowy figures from the underworld and the elite take notice of her combat prowess. Confused but determined, Alita tries to piece together who she was and why she matters, testing her limits in brutal tournaments and clandestine encounters. Her discoveries force hard moral decisions too.

Released in 2019, Alita: Battle Angel was directed by Robert Rodriguez, adapted from Yukito Kishiro's Battle Angel Alita manga, with Laeta Kalogridis writing the screenplay and James Cameron shepherding the long-gestating film project, and it blended practical and digital effects.

Alita attracted a broad international audience, translating into significant box office returns worldwide. Its financial performance sparked debate about whether it justified planned sequels, with fans and studios weighing the cost of continuing the franchise versus its cultural momentum still.

The movie's visual style, especially Alita's enlarged eyes and glossy CGI, ignited conversation about adapting manga aesthetics for live-action. Its fight choreography and worldbuilding inspired fan art, costumes and social media movements pushing for more stories. Persistent online campaigns and fan screenings kept the title visible after its theatrical run.

Critics gave mixed to positive reviews, often praising Rosa Salazar's energetic performance and the film's technical achievements while noting uneven pacing and a crowded plot. At its heart the story asks what makes someone human, how memory shapes identity and how unequal social structures can exploit extraordinary individuals, and resilience.