Dystopian films have seen a remarkable surge in popularity recently. They often depict some of our greatest fears of the future and explore many different ethical concerns that are being debated even today. However, dystopian films can also be enjoyable to watch. These seven films are all great choices that provide the perfect way to unwind at home after a long day at work. They also pose interesting hypothetical questions about a future that has gone awry.
Blade Runner was released in 1982 and is still one of the best dystopian films today. Some of the main actors include Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos. The film is set in the distant future where large companies reign supreme. Humanity has conquered the cosmos and uses artificially created humans to complete tasks that are considered too risky for normal citizens. These artificial lifeforms are known as replicants and their presence is banned on earth. However, the ban has not stopped many replicants from returning home. Special hunters must pursue and eliminate them whenever possible. However, one hunter begins to question the validity of this practice and questions the moral reasoning of his decisions.
12 Monkeys is a film that was released in 1995 that was directed by Terry Gilliam. It stars Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt. It is set in a distant future where the world has decimated by an unknown virus. This forces the remaining members of humanity to live underground. To solve this, scientists send a convict into the past to prevent the spread of the contagion. The film explores the premises of not being able to change the past since it has an impact on the present. Ultimately, it shows that we are bound by our actions and must accept our fate.
Logan’s Run was released in 1976 and was directed by Michael Anderson. Some of the main stars include Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett and Peter Ustinov. The film is set in the distant year 2274. In this time, humanity lives under large sealed domes. All of our activities are monitored and managed by a central computer. To help curb population growth, humans are not allowed to live longer than 30. However, a group of people rebel against this practice of forced euthanasia. They are called runners and seek a special hiding place known as the sanctuary. This film explores the pitfalls of a potential utopian society where free will no longer exist.
Soylent Green is a film that was released in 1973 that was directed by Richard Fleischer. It stars Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, and, Edward Robinson. The film is set in 2022 where the world is suffering from overpopulation, pollution, and the effect of global warming. Only the wealthiest citizens still have access to sanitary living conditions and real food. The masses are forced to eat manufactured food known as soylent green. However, a detective discovers a startling fact about this food source during a murder investigation. The film explores the concept of rampant corporate growth where citizens are nothing more than materials used for production.
The Matrix was released in 1999 that was written and directed by the Wachowskis. It stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano. The film is set in the distant future where humans are used to produce electricity to power our machine overlords. Humanity is kept in a virtual reality environment where they are effectively in a dreamlike state. Only a select few know the truth and are able to awaken and escape from this prison. The film explores the boundaries of rampant artificial intelligence where humanity is subjugated by its creation.
The original planet of the apes was released in 1968 and directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. The film stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, James Daly and Linda Harrison. The spaceship lands on an unknown planet in the year 3978. Due to the effects of high-speed travel, the surviving crew member has barely aged. After further investigation, it is determined that the unknown planet is actually earth. During the survivor’s exploration, he is captured by a group of highly evolved apes. They are amazed at the high degree of intelligence the captive man shows. Where apes have evolved, humanity has devolved into a caveman like state. With this startling discovery, the survivor must fight for his freedom knowing that humanity is now treated as nothing more than animals.
Minority Report was released in 2002 and was directed by Steven Spielberg. Some of the more well-known cast members include Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Steve Harris, and Daniel London. It is set in the year 2054. In the future, police have the power to predict crimes before they happen. Using this technology, a special police unit apprehends offenders. However, a manhunt for a potential murderer begins to expose flaws in this predictive system. As the main character flees capture, he learns more about the prediction methods that are used. He learns that many times one of the futures deviates from the rest of the predictions. This knowledge is kept quiet to avoid creating uncertainty about the program’s validity. The film explores the unique situation of predicting a crime before it happens. It also examines the validity of persecuting someone before they commit a crime. With appropriate foresight, we can change our destined futures and alter the outcome of the future. Feel free to check out these films for yourself. This list includes classics like the original Planet of The Apes as well as newer films like the Minority Report. You are sure to be entertained by their creative stories and portrayals of dystopian futures.
