Love, Death + Robots Volume Four: Every Episode Ranked

Dinosaur gladiators, rock-star puppets, alien invasions – Love Death + Robots returns with Volume Four, delivering 10 new animated stories that dive deep into the realms of science fiction, horror, and dark comedy. With its signature blend of thought-provoking storytelling and cutting-edge animation, the series once again blurs the lines between genres, offering a wildly diverse lineup that confirms its status as the most exciting short film anthology around.

Volume Four reunites viewers with a number of acclaimed directors, alongside a number of fresh creative voices. In the rest of this article, we’ll break down each episode, explore what sets it apart, and give it a score to help you decide which stories to watch first.

Watch the anthology on Netflix now

***

Can’t Stop

by David Fincher

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: String puppets of the Red Hot Chili Peppers rock out at Ireland’s Slane Castle, reimagining their iconic 2003 concert through creative marionette artistry.

With Fincher’s contribution standing out as a major highlight of Volume Three, fans of Love Death + Robots might find themselves underwhelmed by Can’t Stop. Transforming the Red Hot Chili Peppers into a chaotic ensemble of bouncing, contorting puppets certainly captures the wild energy of their live performances, but in the context of an anthology typically defined by dark sci-fi and horror, the tonal shift feels a bit out of place. Those hoping for a narrative twist or something stranger to unfold will likely be disappointed. If you’re a die-hard RHCP fan or have a particular fondness for quirky puppetry, this short may hit the right notes – but outside of those niches, it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression.

Rating: 2.5

***

Close Encounters of the Mini Kind

by Robert Bisi & Andy Lyon

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: A miniaturized alien invasion unfolds through unique tilt-shift photography, turning catastrophic destruction into an oddly adorable spectacle of chaos and human folly.

From the moment an alien’s enormous glowing appendage gets blasted off in the opening of Close Encounters of the Mini Kind, you know exactly what kind of irreverent humor you’re in for – and it absolutely delivers. Packed with anal probes, towering robots, and full-scale destruction, Bisi & Lyon lean into the same manic formula that made their Volume Three entry, Night of the Mini Dead, such a blast, this time paying homage to classic alien invasion tropes. While the scale and ambition remain impressively intact, the novelty feels slightly diminished, making this short feel more like a fun rehash than a fresh addition. It does leave you speculating what genre they’ll parody next – Kaiju rampages, Mad Max-style chases, or even a miniature Middle Earth showdown – but the real question is whether audiences are still as eager to follow them there.

Rating: 3

***

Spider Rose

by Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: In a distant asteroid mine, a heartbroken tech-enhanced worker finds unexpected friendship and the opportunity to confront her spouse’s killer from a rival genetic-modifying faction.

Set in the same universe as Swarm – one of Volume Three’s less successful entries – Spider Rose struggles with many of the same issues that made its predecessor a miss. While the CG visuals are undeniably impressive and the detailed world-building will certainly appeal to fans of sprawling interspecies sci-fi, the attempt to merge a revenge arc with a sentimental tale about finding purpose through a cute alien pet leaves both narratives feeling underdeveloped. As the longest short in Volume Four, it ultimately lands with a thud, offering spectacle without any real emotional payoff.

Rating: 1.5

***

400 Boys

by Robert Valley

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: In a devastated urban landscape, rival gangs live by ancient samurai principles. When a ruthless new faction emerges, former enemies must join forces to survive.

Absent from Volume Three, Valley makes a striking return in Volume Four with a visually distinct short that drops viewers into a brutal world of gang warfare and shifting allegiances. Evoking elements of The Warriors and Attack on Titan, 400 Boys manages to feel like the first truly original entry of the volume, thanks in large part to Valley’s unmistakable aesthetic – always a refreshing break from the polished CG style typically seen in LD+R. The world he creates is rich and intriguing, leaving you wanting to explore more, but the narrative ultimately feels like a prolonged build-up to a climactic battle, delivering the impact of a finale without ever fully drawing you into the story that should have preceded it.

Rating: 3.5

***

The Other Large Thing

by Patrick Osborne

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: A scheming housecat named Sanchez teams up with his tech-savvy robotic butler to pursue an ambitious plan: taking over the entire world. The butler’s internet-hacking abilities might just make their wild dream possible.

After making his LD+R debut in Volume Three, Osborne returns with a comedic spin on the robot uprising – this time led by a scheming cat. Based on the John Scalzi short story of the same name, The Other Large Thing captures the author’s trademark wit, leaning into the classic depiction of cats as manipulative masterminds. Told largely from the feline’s perspective, the short delivers plenty of sharp, satirical commentary on humanity – whom he not-so-affectionately refers to as “beef-witted fart-generators” – making for a sly and entertaining twist on the sci-fi rebellion narrative.

Rating: 3

***

Golgotha

by Tim Miller

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: A vicar welcomes an alien visitor who’s convinced their divine savior has returned to Earth – in the form of a dolphin.

A live-action comedy featuring Rhys Darby, a dolphin messiah, and a VFX alien, Golgotha delivers exactly the kind of over-the-top humor you’d expect from Deadpool director Tim Miller. True to the LD+R tradition, the short uses its absurdity to offer a sharp critique of humanity – encapsulated perfectly in Darby’s biting final line. As only the second primarily live-action entry in the anthology after Volume One’s Ice Age, the visuals are undoubtedly impressive, but despite its polished execution, this irreverent take on the apocalypse feels a bit too familiar to leave a lasting mark.

Rating: 3

***

The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur

by Tim Miller

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: In a luxurious orbital station above Jupiter, elite socialites flock to watch enhanced warriors battle atop lethal, custom-bred dinosaurs in a high-stakes arena spectacle.

If a gladiatorial space battle featuring dinosaurs sounds like exactly the kind of outrageous sci-fi concept you’ve been dying to see, then brace yourself for disappointment, as this entry falls far short of delivering on its wild promise. Visually unremarkable and lacking narrative depth, it plays like a rough draft that never made it past the initial brainstorming stage. There’s almost no character development, and the plot unfolds in a predictable, uninspired manner, leaving little to invest in emotionally or intellectually. Despite its flashy premise and a headline-grabbing MrBeast cameo, this will likely be one of the most talked-about shorts in Volume Four – but sadly, not for the right reasons, as the wasted potential is hard to ignore.

Rating: 1

***

How Zeke got Religion

by Diego Porral

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: B-17 Flying Fortress Liberty Belle has the oddest mission of World War Two: a journey into occupied France to bomb a church before the Nazis can raise an ancient evil.

With most of the episodes in Volume Four coming from directors we already knew, Porral was something of a wildcard in this latest release – though we were familiar with his Gobelins grad film Blind Eye and his work on Scavengers Reign. That said, his short quickly proves he belongs in the LD+R universe, delivering a glorious 2D aesthetic, buckets of blood-soaked horror, and some of the most memorably brutal on-screen deaths we’ve seen in a while. The intro is a bit clunky, with exposition that leans into cliché, but once things kick off, the action is relentless. As soon as that terrifying creature drags itself from the depths and begins tearing through the squad of unsuspecting soldiers, it’s pure chaos until the very end. Hats off to Porral – this is exactly the kind of bold, intense storytelling that stands out in the anthology.

Rating: 4.5

***

Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners

by Patrick Osborne

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: Bathroom appliances and objects come to life to share their funny and sarcastic opinions about the humans who use them on a daily basis, revealing stories from their peculiar point of view.

Heavily indebted to Aardman’s Creature Comforts, Osborne’s second entry in Volume Four adopts a mockumentary format, giving voice to a series of smart appliances as they candidly reflect on their relationships with their human owners. While the concept is undeniably fun and lighthearted, it ultimately feels a little too slight to leave any lasting impression. The most notable element here is its historical significance within the LD+R anthology, as it marks the first time stop-motion has been used in the anthology – another welcome change of pace visually. Unfortunately, beyond that novelty, the short struggles to stand on its own, coming across more like a loving homage than a fresh take.

Rating: 2.5

***

For He Can Creep

by Emily Dean

Love Death + Robots V4 Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Synopsis: In 18th century London, an institutionalized poet must protect humanity from Satan’s apocalyptic plans, with only his feline companion to help him resist the Devil’s demands for a world-ending verse.

Returning to the LD+R universe after her standout entry, The Very Pulse of the Machine, in Volume Three, Dean takes another bold narrative swing in For He Can Creep, this time taking on the ultimate antagonist – Satan himself. While her previous short blended a ‘trippy aesthetic with an existential storyline to create a thought-provoking, emotional short’, this new effort unfortunately falls short of that benchmark. Though the concept initially teases a devilishly clever tale, the good vs. evil conflict never quite evolves into anything substantial, leaving the viewer with a visually intriguing but ultimately hollow experience. There’s undeniable craft in the animation, but the story lacks the emotional depth or narrative payoff needed to make it truly resonate – leaving us wanting a bit more soul (pardon the cliché).

Rating: 1.5

***

Love Death + Robots Volume 4: Summary

An anthology we have a great fondness for here at Short of the Week, Love Death + Robots has delivered some truly memorable animated shorts since the release of its Volume One in 2019. However, after binge-watching Volume Four, our enthusiasm for the series has taken a hit. While Volume Three featured several standout episodes – and what we still consider the best short of the entire collection – this latest installment feels noticeably lacking in both energy and originality, with only Diego Porral’s How Zeke Got Religion reaching those previous creative heights. Following a three-year hiatus, anticipation was understandably high for the return of Netflix’s acclaimed anthology, but after Volume Four’s uneven showing, we’re left questioning whether this might signal the end of a once-promising series that, despite its flashes of brilliance, has consistently struggled with consistency.

Average Rating: 2.6

***