Super Intelligence

Superintelligence is a 2020 American romantic action comedy film directed by Ben Falcone and written by Steve Mallory. The film stars Melissa McCarthy in her fourth collaboration with her husband, Falcone.

Superintelligence was released by Warner Bros. Pictures digitally in the United States via HBO Max, and theatrically in some international markets, on November 26, 2020. The film has grossed $4 million and received negative reviews from critics, who called the film "forgettable", although McCarthy's performance was praised.

Carol Peters is an unemployed former corporate executive. She is not satisfied with the current job market and is living day to day. One day, while at her apartment her home network system begins to communicate with her. It turns out it is an autonomous artificial intelligence. It takes on the voice of James Corden to speak to her, as he is her favorite celebrity. It erases her student debt and deposits 10 million dollars in her bank account.

It wants to study Carol and her interactions as a way to learn about humanity. It gets her back with her ex-boyfriend, George. However, George will be leaving the country in a few days but he and Carol bond in that time. The Corden-voiced AI is actually a sinister force whose goal is to annihilate the human race. However, through her selfless actions, Carol ends up changing its mind.

Casting

• Melissa McCarthy as Carol Vivian Peters
• James Corden as the voice of "Super Intelligence"/himself
• Bobby Cannavale as George Churchill, Carol's love interest
• Brian Tyree Henry as Dennis Caruso, Carol's best friend
• Jean Smart as President Monahan
• Sam Richardson as Agent John Donahue, an NSA agent
• Ben Falcone as Agent Charles Kuiper, an NSA agent
• Michael Beach as General Saul Gomez
• Rachel Ticotin as Director Tyson
  

 

In July 2017, it was reported that New Line Cinema had purchased the screenplay by Steve Mallory, with Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone on board the project to produce through their On the Day Productions banner. In April 2018, it was announced that McCarthy would star in the film and Falcone would direct it, marking their fourth actor-director collaboration. In June 2018, James Corden joined the cast, to voice the titular "Super Intelligence". In July 2018, Bobby Cannavale, Brian Tyree Henry, and Sam Richardson joined the cast.

The film started principal production right after McCarthy wrapped filming The Kitchen, on July 16, 2018, and wrapped on August 31, 2018. Some scenes were filmed at Georgia Tech. The restaurant scene was filmed at Landmark Diner in downtown Atlanta and the outdoor scenes were filmed on Broad Street, as evidenced by Dua Vietnamese Restaurant and Reuben's Deli.

The film was digitally released on HBO Max on November 26, 2020. The film was originally scheduled to be released theatrically on December 25, 2019, then was moved five days earlier to December 20, prior to WarnerMedia deciding in October 2019 to shift the film to a streaming release; Falcone said at that time that he agreed it would be better suited to a streaming platform.

The film grossed $745,000 from five countries in its opening weekend.