In the not-too-distant future, the world has been ravaged by environmental disaster and people are living in oxygen bubbles just to survive. Or, maybe everyone’s thoughts are being controlled by the thought police and self-expression has been banned. Maybe a few scientists made an all-powerful AI that now rules over all humans. Sound familiar? These are the hallmarks of a dystopian sci-fi film – a movie that challenges societal norms and brings awareness of societal issues through stories about disastrous futures.
The thing that makes these stories the most frightening is the fact that they usually contain shades of truth to them. A truly effective film will have you looking around and questioning the society you’re currently living in – how far away is it from becoming a dystopia itself?
Thanks to their intricate lore, fantastical elements, and the comments they make on society, dystopian sci-fi films often end up becoming underground cult classics. If you’re interested in diving into this genre niche, here are ten of the best dystopian sci-fi films that will have you yearning for more.
Battle Royale (2000)
Battle Royale is like The Hunger Games turned up to eleven. If you thought the kid death matches in The Hunger Games weren’t gory enough, check this Japanese cult classic out. In the film, the Japanese government has decided that the best way to curb juvenile delinquency is to have a yearly death match between students. A class full of kids must fight to the death, all because their teacher is thirsty for vengeance after a student in the class hurt him.
It’s brutal and violent, sure, but the movie also has a LOT of heart. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll find yourselves emotionally attached to a lot of these kids by the time the movie is over.
Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame wrote and directed this cult classic sci-fi flick. Since Gilliam is a well-known comedian, the movie features a ton of satirical and sardonic looks at society and bureaucracy. It’s just as absurd as an episode of Monty Python would be, too! The production design is super over the top, making the movie a visual feast.
The setting is a super polluted totalitarian 20th Century that is dominated by needless technology. All Sam wants to do is hook up with the woman of his dreams, but by trying to follow his dreams, he ends up becoming a wanted man. One of the movie’s taglines probably sums it up best: “It’s about flights of fantasy. And the nightmare of reality. Terrorist bombings. And late-night shopping. True Love. And creative plumbing.”
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Stanley Kubrick’s film is a cult classic that is essential viewing for any sci-fi fan…and any film fan in general, really! Based on the Anthony Burgess novel of the same name, A Clockwork Orange features a downright iconic performance from Malcolm McDowell as Alex. Alex is a classical music loving delinquent who takes joy in running around and terrorizing people with his “droogs.” Eventually, he finds himself being captured and being used for a reconditioning experiment called the Ludovico Technique. Chances are, you’ve seen the famous screen-cap where Alex is strapped to a chair with his eyes pried open.
The movie’s definitely not for the faint of heart, since it has a ton of disturbing themes about “ultra-violence,” rape, and mind control. Still, if you’re into dystopian sci-fi, this is an essential.
Watch A Clockwork Orange on Netflix
Greatland (2020)
This underrated gem of a movie is WILD. In the world of Greatland, everyone is expected to accept and love and respect one another, no matter what. Everyone is expected to be having fun fun fun at all times, and the omnipresent Mother is always around to make sure everyone is following a nonjudgmental lifestyle. It’s like a dystopian sci-fi version of the Dead Kennedys song, “California Uber Alles.” Everything is TOO hippie and nice, to the point where it’s actually harmful.
The production design is fantastic throughout. The visuals are bright and in-your-face so as to really emphasize this fake world of over-the-top entertainment. There’s a campiness to it all, too, that makes it very enjoyable. It’s all about how seemingly progressive ideas can actually be weaponized to mask actual injustices and crumbling infrastructures. It’s a message unique to the times we’re living in now.
The Matrix (1999)
The Wachowskis totally changed the game for pop culture with The Matrix films. Even if you’ve never seen any of them, you’ve definitely heard about “the blue pill” and “the red pill.” Your mileage may vary on the sequels, but this first movie is a classic. Neo thinks he’s living in the normal world, but it turns out he’s actually living in “the Matrix,” a simulated reality. In actuality, he and other humans are in womb-like incubators while AI robots control them. Neo and the rest of the crew aboard the Nebuchadnezzar fight to unplug humanity and regain autonomy.
Watch The Matrix on HBOMax, or rent on YouTube
Minority Report (2002)
With Minority Report, we have another film adaptation from a heavy hitting sci-fi author. This dystopian sci-fi is loosely based on a Philip K. Dick story. Between the Philip K. Dick connection and the direction from Steven Spielberg, you know this is a good one.
It’s a pretty genre-bending movie. It has action, noir elements, mystery, and thriller elements all mixed in with the sci-fi. It follows Chief John Anderton, a member of the “PreCrime” police unit that can predict a violent crime before it ever happens. As a result, they’ve cut crime in half…but also results in false arrests and imprisonment. The film asks questions about free will and whether or not we can ever really predict people’s behaviors.
Watch Minority Report on YouTube
Planet of the Apes (1968)
This franchise is hugely influential, and the original screenplay was partially penned by Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone. In the film, apes are at the top of the food chain, while humans are mostly mute and prehistoric. Three astronauts crash land on this planet after they’ve been hibernating, and are captured by the apes and rendered speechless.
The movie is filled with twists and turns, just as you’d expect from the creator of The Twilight Zone. This film is a verified classic, but it’s worth noting that the later 2000s remakes of the movie are also really great.
Watch Planet of the Apes on Hulu
Soylent Green (1973)
If you don’t know about the story of Soylent Green yet, I don’t want to spoil too much for you. Let’s just say it’s a classic about a dystopia that’s been devastated by pollution, overpopulation, and poverty due to the greenhouse effect absolutely decimating the Earth’s climate. It has a really brutal and shocking twist. You see, soylent green is really made of…
The movie’s a pop culture touchstone, and if that’s not enough to convince you of its greatness, it won the Nebula Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film. It is a must-see for fans of the genre.
Watch Soylent Green on HBOMax, or rent from YouTube
Vivarium (2019)
This here is another underrated sci-fi thriller. The movie stars Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg playing a young couple on the hunt for a new house. Little do they know, the neighborhood they’ve been tricked into moving into is constantly being watched by some sort of…being…pretending to be human. Eventually, they’re even given a fake child to complete their nuclear household.
The movie’s a really interesting take on suburban ennui and satirizes the typical family lifestyle. It’s a biting look at carbon copy, “normal” family life. It’s a low budget flick that instills a lot of style into its story.
And finally, the most iconic dystopian sci-fi movie…
1984 (1956)
It would be a sin NOT to mention George Orwell’s famous story here. This is THE hallmark of dystopia here. While the book is arguably better, the film is still fantastic and definitely worth watching. The plot tells of a futuristic London that is controlled by Big Brother. Maybe the most iconic part of the story is the Thought Police, the secret police who punish anyone who thinks thoughts that the government doesn’t approve of. These are called “thoughtcrimes.” Even if you’ve never seen the movie or read the book, you’ve probably heard people reference the Thought Police before, right?
The film stars Edmond O’Brien as the lead, Winston Smith, and Michael Redgrave as the antagonist General O’Connor. There is actually another film adaptation of the movie that was put out in 1984 (ha!). That version starred John Hurt and Richard Burton. It’s a pretty solid adaptation, so the 80’s version is worth watching too, but I’m a sucker for the old school black and white film.
Funnily enough, this film was funded by the CIA. That sounds a little dystopian in and of itself, right? As an interesting side-note, a branch of the CIA also helped fund the film adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm in order to help push an anti-communist message in America.
There you have it, ten of the greatest dystopian sci-fi films of all time. Hopefully, you walk away from this list with a few recommendations!