Avengers directors Anthony and Joseph Russo are back for another expensively assembled sci-fi flick, with the release to streaming of The Electric State. 

Having helmed a string of Marvel blockbuster smashes, this Netflix exclusive sees the brothers tackle a big-budget adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s dystopian 2018 illustrated novel of the same name. 

Set in an alternate 1990s where robots have been exiled following a failed uprising, the plot of The Electric State follows orphaned teenager Michelle, played by Millie Bobby Brown, who embarks on a journey across the American Southwest to find her missing brother, Christopher. 

Accompanied by a robot named Cosmo and a smuggler named Keats (Chris Pratt), Michelle uncovers sinister forces behind her brother’s disappearance. 

Despite its all-star cast and reported $320 million budget, early reviews have been poor. You can make up your own mind by finding out how to watch The Electric State below, and how a VPN could be useful.

Read more: 21 TV Shows on Netflix That Are Perfect for Your Next Binge-Watch

When to watch The Electric State

The Electric State lands on Netflix in the US on Friday, March. 14. 

Netflix now starts at $8 a month for its ad-based plan, and goes up to $25 per month for the premium tier. There are two price points for its extra member fees as well, depending on whether your additional member is streaming with ads ($7) or without ($9). 

How to watch The Electric State from anywhere with a VPN

Maybe you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Netflix while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to TV shows and movies from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too. 

A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.

You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are legal in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list such as Surfshark or NordVPN. 

If you’re looking for a secure and dependable VPN, our Editors’ Choice is ExpressVPN. It’s fast, works on multiple devices and provides stable streams. It’s normally $13 per month, but you can save money if you get an annual subscription. 

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation, and choose a country where the movie will be streaming. We’ve successfully tested using Netflix and an ExpressVPN server in New York City, so that’s one location you could choose to watch the new film.

Before you open the streaming app, make sure you are connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream Netflix on more than one device, you may need to configure each one to ensure you are signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. 

If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.