Cyberpunk Films

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

The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction action film directed by the Wachowskis. It stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving. The story follows computer hacker Neo (Reeves), who discovers that the world around him is a simulated reality called "the Matrix". In his quest to free humanity from its false reality, he teams up with rebel leaders Morpheus (Fishburne) and Trinity (Moss) and must battle the powerful AI machines. With the help of his newfound allies, Neo must ultimately confront the AI's leader, Agent Smith (Weaving). The film is noted for its innovative visuals and its use of special effects and slow motion action sequences.

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

Terminator 2: Judgment Day, directed by James Cameron, is a science fiction action movie set in a post-apocalyptic future. It is the sequel to the 1984 movie The Terminator, and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Robert Patrick. In the movie, the cyborg assassin the Terminator (Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time from a post-apocalyptic future to protect John Connor (Edward Furlong), the future leader of the human resistance from a new, more advanced and deadly Terminator (Patrick). Together, the Terminators, Sarah Connor (Hamilton), and John must prevent the launch of a computer system known as Skynet, which, if launched, would create a future in which machines control and destroy the human race. Along the way, they must battle the forces of Skynet and their relentless pursuit of the Connors. The movie culminates in a spectacular battle between the Terminators, Sarah, and John and the Skynet forces, and ends with an uncertain but hopeful future for the human race.

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

Metropolis is a 1927 silent science fiction film directed by Fritz Lang. Set in a futuristic urban dystopia, it follows the story of Freder, the son of the city's wealthy ruler, and Maria, a poor worker who is trying to save the city's children from the oppressive nature of their lives. When Freder discovers the injustices the workers are facing, he sets out to help them, and soon finds himself entangled in a larger conspiracy that could bring the entire city to ruin. The film is a stunning visual masterpiece, and its themes of class and technology are still relevant today.

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

Blade Runner is a 1982 neo-noir science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The film is set in a dystopian future Los Angeles, where humans have created bioengineered humanoid replicants used to work on off-world colonies. When four replicants escape to Earth, former Blade Runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to track them down. As he pursues the replicants, he discovers a shocking truth that will change his life forever. The film is a complex exploration of morality, identity, and what it means to be human.

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

The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action movie directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The plot revolves around a cyborg assassin (Schwarzenegger) sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Hamilton), a young woman whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against the machines in the future. Kyle Reese (Biehn), a human soldier from the future, is also sent to protect Sarah. As Sarah and Kyle struggle to stay one step ahead of the relentless Terminator, they must also confront the possibility that the fate of humanity may already be predetermined.

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

Akira is a cyberpunk action film set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, 30 years after World War III. The story follows a teenage biker gang leader, Shotaro Kaneda, who discovers his old childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, has been abducted by a secret government project. After Tetsuo is subjected to experiments, he gains psychic powers and threatens to unleash a destructive force known as "Akira" which could cause the destruction of the world. In order to save humanity, Kaneda and his biker gang must team up with the revolutionary forces of the city and stop Tetsuo’s plans before it’s too late. Along their journey, they uncover the dark secrets behind the government’s experiments, as well as the prophecy of Akira.

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

Ghost in the Shell is a 1995 Japanese animated cyberpunk film directed by Mamoru Oshii, based on the manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow. Set in a futuristic world, the plot follows a cyborg counter-cyberterrorist field commander named Motoko Kusanagi and her task force, which specializes in combating technology-related crime. The team is tasked with tracking down a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. The film explores themes of existentialism, identity, artificial intelligence, and the nature of consciousness. Featuring a mix of traditional animation and CGI, the movie is widely considered a classic of the cyberpunk genre.

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

Gattaca is a science fiction film directed by Andrew Niccol and released in 1997. It takes place in a future society where genetic engineering and perfectionism are a way of life. The main character, Vincent Freeman, is born with a genetic defect that relegates him to second-class citizen status. He is determined to defy his genetic destiny and join the elite ranks of the Gattaca Corporation and become an astronaut. To do so, he must pass rigorous genetic tests, and he must also lead a double life, pretending to be a genetically superior individual. With the help of a stolen identity and forged genetic records, he is able to pass all the tests and join Gattaca. Along the way, he meets a love interest, Irene, and discovers a secret about his past which gives him the strength and courage to fight for his dreams. In the end, Vincent is able to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut, and the film ends on a hopeful note.

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

World on a Wire is a 1973 science fiction film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and starring Klaus Löwitsch, Barbara Valentin, Mascha Rabben, and Karl Heinz Vosgerau. Set in the near future, the film follows the story of Fred Stiller, a scientist who is hired to investigate the death of a colleague who had been working on a project developing a virtual reality program. With the help of a computer expert, Stiller discovers that his colleague had stumbled upon a dangerous secret involving a revolutionary technology called Simulacron-3, a computer system that creates a fully functional virtual world. As Stiller probes deeper, he finds himself struggling against powerful forces determined to keep the truth about Simulacron-3 hidden. With the help of his friends, he must find a way to expose the truth and save the virtual world before it's too late.

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

RoboCop is a 1987 science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. The film follows Alex Murphy (Peter Weller), a cop in the dystopian future of Detroit, who is brutally murdered and then resurrected as a cyborg known as RoboCop. As RoboCop, Murphy enforces the law with an iron fist, eventually uncovering a massive corporate conspiracy that puts him and his colleagues in danger. Along the way, Murphy must come to terms with his new existence and his place in a world that no longer sees him as human. Featuring plenty of action and dark comedy, RoboCop is a classic of the sci-fi genre.

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

Star Trek: First Contact is a 1996 science fiction film directed by Jonathan Frakes and written by Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore. It is the eighth film in the Star Trek film series and the first to feature the Borg, a race of cyborgs, as the main antagonists. The film follows the crew of the USS Enterprise-E as they travel back in time to the mid-21st century to help the human race prevent the Borg from preventing Earth's first contact with alien life. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, leads the mission and must face off against the Borg Queen, played by Alice Krige. With the help of the human resistance, the Enterprise crew is able to stop the Borg and restore Earth's timeline.

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

The Fifth Element is a 1997 sci-fi action movie directed by Luc Besson. The film follows the story of Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), an ex-special forces major who has become a down-on-his-luck cab driver. Korben is recruited by a mysterious priestess to join a group of warriors in a battle against evil. The evil is a powerful entity known as Mr. Zorg and his army of Mangalores, a race of alien mercenaries. Mr. Zorg is determined to use an ancient weapon known as the Fifth Element to take over the world. The element is guarded by the ancient Egyptians, who have hidden it away at the center of the Earth. Korben and his allies must work together to find the element and prevent Mr. Zorg from unleashing its power. Along the way, they are joined by the enigmatic Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), who is revealed to be the fifth element of the title. The Fifth Element is an exciting, visually stunning adventure story that features outstanding performances from its cast. The sheer energy and humor of the film make it one of the most entertaining sci-fi adventures ever made.

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

Total Recall is a 1990 science-fiction action movie directed by Paul Verhoeven, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The story follows Douglas Quaid, a construction worker who begins to suspect his entire life is a false memory implanted by a shady corporation. After visiting a memory-implantation parlor, Quaid discovers that he is actually a secret agent for a rebellion against the oppressive government of Mars. He soon embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about his past, and ultimately, save the planet from a totalitarian regime. Along the way, Quaid has to battle mutant monsters, cyborg assassins and giant robots in thrilling action set pieces. The film employs state-of-the-art special effects and an amazing cast of characters that make Total Recall a classic sci-fi movie.

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 French fantasy drama film directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world and follows One (Ron Perlman), a former carnival strongman searching for his kidnapped little brother Denree. He teams up with Miette (Judith Vittet), an orphan girl and thief living on the margins of the city, who leads him to the mysterious Krank (Daniel Emilfork), a scientist who is kidnapping children and stealing their dreams. As One and Miette search for Denree, they find themselves embroiled in a larger conflict between Krank and his clones, and a group of children who are trying to liberate the city from his oppressive rule. Along the way, they encounter a variety of colorful characters, including a talking brain in a jar and an underground resistance movement. With its darkly beautiful visuals and surrealistic storyline, The City of Lost Children is a classic of the French cinema, and a must-see for any fan of fantasy films.

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