Best Cyberpunk Movies

From Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Rated R

The Matrix is a science fiction action film directed by the Wachowski siblings. It stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a computer hacker who discovers the world he lives in is a simulated reality called the Matrix, created by intelligent machines to subdue the human population while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Neo is drawn into a rebellion against the machines, where he meets other people who have been freed from the Matrix and joins forces with them to fight for their freedom. Along the way, Neo learns about the true nature of the Matrix and his role as the chosen one who can save humanity. In the end, Neo defeats the powerful machines and frees humanity from their rule.

From James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Rated R

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 sci-fi action film directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular cyborg. The film picks up ten years after the events of the first movie, with Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) now living in seclusion and preparing for the inevitable war between humans and machines. She is aided by the reprogrammed T-800 terminator (Schwarzenegger) who has been sent to protect her and her son John (Edward Furlong). Together they must find a way to stop Skynet and its army of Terminators from wiping out humanity. The film also stars Robert Patrick as the advanced T-1000 Terminator, which is sent after John and Sarah. In the end, they manage to avert the future apocalypse and Sarah and John triumph over the machines.

From Fritz Lang, starring Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich, Rudolf Klein-Rogge
Rated Not Rated

Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist science fiction film directed by Fritz Lang. Set in a futuristic urban dystopia, the film follows a privileged upper class as they take advantage of and oppress the working class and their underground society. The leader of the upper class, Joh Fredersen, is pressured by his son, Freder, to create a utopian society but instead creates a robot, Maria, to manipulate the lower class into compliance. When the robot Maria incites the workers to revolt, Fredersen must join forces with his son and the worker, Grot, to save the city from destruction. The film is seen as a forerunner of the science fiction genre and is a landmark achievement in German cinema.

From Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Rated R

Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott in 1982, follows Blade Runner Rick Deckard who is tasked with retiring a group of replicants, synthetic humans, who are on Earth illegally. Deckard falls in love with a replicant named Rachael and eventually discovers a secret that forces him to question his own identity and morality. The film is set in a dystopian future in which artificial intelligence has surpassed human intelligence and humans rely on technology for their day-to-day lives. Themes of morality, mortality, and the implications of technological advancements are explored throughout the film.

From James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, Paul Winfield
Rated R

The Terminator is a 1984 sci-fi action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, where machines have taken over the world and are set on exterminating the human race. A cyborg assassin known as the Terminator (Schwarzenegger) is sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), a young woman whose unborn son will be humanity's only hope for defeating the machines. In an effort to protect Sarah, a soldier from the future, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), is also sent back in time to help her. As the Terminator relentlessly pursues Sarah, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, forcing Sarah and Kyle to go on the run and do everything they can to stop the Terminator and save Sarah's son.

From Katsuhiro Ôtomo, starring Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Tesshô Genda
Rated R

Akira is a 1988 Japanese animated film directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo. Set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, the story follows a teenage biker gang leader, Shotaro Kaneda, on a mission to save his childhood friend, Tetsuo, who is being experimented on by a secret government project known as Akira. As Shotaro and Tetsuo grow closer, they realize that their destinies are connected to the mysterious Akira, a powerful being with superhuman abilities. With the help of their friends, the two must battle a powerful secret military organization as they uncover the truth behind Akira and the fate of the entire world.

From Mamoru Oshii, starring Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Akio Ôtsuka, Kôichi Yamadera
Rated TV-MA

Ghost in the Shell is a 1995 anime sci-fi classic directed by Mamoru Oshii. Set in a future cyberpunk world, the story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a part-human, part-cyborg police officer assigned to lead an elite task force known as Section 9. The team is charged with apprehending a mysterious hacker known only as the Puppet Master, who is capable of hacking into the cyber-brains of humans and controlling their thoughts and actions. As Major Kusanagi and her team investigate the case, they uncover a far-reaching conspiracy involving government corruption and a powerful artificial intelligence, while attempting to understand the motivations of the Puppet Master. With stunning animation and an immersive soundtrack, Ghost in the Shell is an essential entry in the world of sci-fi anime.

From Andrew Niccol, starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Gore Vidal
Rated PG-13

Gattaca is a science fiction film set in a future where genetic engineering and human cloning are commonplace. Vincent Freeman, a young man born with a genetic defect, dreams of space travel, but is denied his dream due to the discrimination of those without perfect genetic makeup. He takes part in a daring plan to become a space voyager and pass as a genetically enhanced man. With the help of a former swim champion, Jerome, he embarks on a dangerous journey to fulfill his destiny. In the process, he confronts the moral dilemmas of a society that values perfection over humanity. Along the way, he falls in love with Irene, a beautiful woman who eventually discovers his true identity.

From Stars: Klaus Löwitsch, Barbara Valentin, Mascha Rabben, Karl Heinz Vosgerau, starring
Rated Not Rated

World on a Wire (1973) is a science fiction drama film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The film follows the story of Fred Stiller (Klaus Löwitsch), a scientist working on a virtual reality project for the Institute for Cybernetics and Future Studies. Stiller discovers that the Institute is not all that it appears to be and is embroiled in a conspiracy involving the wealthy and powerful. He is forced to confront the secrets of the Institute and its computer-simulated world, as well as his own innermost fears and desires. Along the way, he meets and develops a relationship with Eva (Barbara Valentin), a mysterious woman who has the potential to unlock the secrets of the virtual world. The film also stars Mascha Rabben and Karl Heinz Vosgerau.

From Paul Verhoeven, starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox
Rated R

RoboCop is a 1987 sci-fi action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a crime-filled future Detroit, the story follows Alex Murphy, a police officer who is critically injured in the line of duty and then resurrected as a powerful cyborg law enforcement officer known as RoboCop. RoboCop is programmed to serve the public trust, protect the innocent, and uphold the law, and is tasked with taking down the ruthless corporate crime lord, "Old Man" Clarence Boddicker, and his gang. Through RoboCop’s relentless pursuit of justice, the audience is faced with a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked corporate influence and greed.

From Jonathan Frakes, starring Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton
Rated PG-13

Star Trek: First Contact is a 1996 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Frakes. It is the eighth feature film based on Star Trek, and the first feature film to feature the cast of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The film follows the crew of the USS Enterprise-E, led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, as they pursue the Borg to prevent them from invading Earth and altering history. The Borg are a race of cybernetic life forms intent on conquering and assimilating all other races. After the Borg make their way to Earth and begin an attempt to assimilate it, the Enterprise crew must make a daring journey through time to ensure that the first contact between humans and Vulcans takes place. Along the way, they must also battle the Borg Queen, who has taken control of the Enterprise. Through their mission, the crew discovers the power of friendship, courage, and the spirit of exploration.

From Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm
Rated PG-13

The Fifth Element is a 1997 science fiction action film directed by Luc Besson. Set in a futuristic world, the plot follows a young cab driver, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), who discovers and protects a mysterious young woman named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich). He joins forces with her and a priest, Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm), to save the world from an impending evil. They must obtain four elemental stones, fire, water, air, and earth, which when combined with a fifth element will create a powerful weapon capable of destroying evil. Along the way, they face many perils and dangerous adversaries, including the sinister Mangalore aliens, and the mysterious Zorg (Gary Oldman). With the help of a unique energy source and Leeloo's superhuman powers, they ultimately prevail and save the world.

From Paul Verhoeven, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Rachel Ticotin
Rated R

Total Recall is a 1990 science fiction movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by Paul Verhoeven. The story is set in the year 2084 in a dystopian future where the world is ruled by a cruel tyrant. A construction worker named Douglas Quaid (Schwarzenegger) begins to experience vivid dreams of secret agent missions and an alien planet. He decides to visit Rekall, a company that can implant false memories into customers’ minds. After the procedure goes awry, Quaid discovers that the implanted memories were his real memories, and he’s actually a secret agent on a mission to prevent the tyrant from taking control of the planet. With the help of a beautiful woman, Quaid must battle his way through a war-torn world to uncover the truth and save the planet.

From Directors: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, starring Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet, Dominique Pinon
Rated R

The City of Lost Children is a 1995 science fiction fantasy film directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. It follows the story of Krank, a scientist who is unable to dream, and his henchmen as they kidnap children in a surreal, steampunk city. Krank needs to steal the dreams of the children in order to extend his own life. This sets off a chain of events as Krank's actions are opposed by a former circus strongman, One, and a young girl, Miette. Together, they must find and rescue the kidnapped children and defeat Krank's sinister plans. Along the way, they uncover a plot to harness the power of a giant brain, called the Brain of the City. The City of Lost Children is a visually stunning and ambitious film that explores themes of loss and redemption.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart
Rated R

From Steven Spielberg, starring Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor, Sam Robards
Rated PG-13

From Kathryn Bigelow, starring Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore
Rated R

From Josef Rusnak, starring Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Vincent D'Onofrio
Rated R

From Pierre-Paul Renders, starring Benoît Verhaert, Aylin Yay, Magali Pinglaut, Micheline Hardy
Rated R

From Chris Columbus, starring Robin Williams, Embeth Davidtz, Sam Neill, Oliver Platt
Rated PG

From Michael Anderson, starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne
Rated PG

From Wim Wenders, starring William Hurt, Solveig Dommartin, Pietro Falcone, Enzo Turrin
Rated R

From David Cronenberg, starring Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe
Rated R

From George Lucas, starring Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Don Pedro Colley, Maggie McOmie
Rated R

From Steven Lisberger, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan
Rated PG