Movies About Living In A Simulation

From Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe
Rated PG-13

Inception is a 2010 sci-fi action-adventure film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a skilled thief who specializes in extracting information from people’s subconscious minds while they dream. He is offered a chance to regain his old life, in exchange for planting an idea in the mind of a CEO. To do this, he must assemble a team of specialists to create a shared dream, in which they can all enter and manipulate the target's subconscious. As they prepare for the mission, they must fight off subconscious defenses, as well as corporate espionage, while they search for the target's innermost secrets. In the end, Dom and his team must decide if the ultimate goal is worth the price they must pay for it.

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

The Matrix is a 1999 sci-fi action film directed by the Wachowski siblings. It stars Keanu Reeves as Thomas Anderson (a.k.a. Neo), a computer hacker who discovers that the world around him is a computer-generated false reality created by intelligent machines. With the help of Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo learns the truth and joins the rebellion against the machines. As Neo's journey progresses, he discovers that he is the Chosen One, capable of using his newfound powers to save humanity from the Matrix. The film follows Neo and the rebels' quest to save the human race from extinction and overthrow the machines. With its groundbreaking visual effects, intricate plot, and thought-provoking themes, The Matrix is considered one of the greatest science-fiction films of all time.

From Peter Weir, starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich
Rated PG

The Truman Show is a 1998 American drama movie directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, an unsuspecting man whose life is presented as a reality television show filmed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the entertainment of a worldwide audience. Despite his media-obsessed upbringing, Truman eventually discovers the truth about his life and attempts to break out of the artificial world created for him. With the help of his friend Marlon, he ultimately succeeds in his quest for freedom, though his newfound happiness comes at a price. The movie explores the themes of modern media, consumerism, and surveillance in a darkly comedic and thought-provoking way.

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. It follows Fred Stiller, a computer scientist who is hired to investigate a conspiracy surrounding the construction of a virtual reality simulation, known as Simulacron-3. As he begins to uncover the truth about the project, Fred finds himself caught up in a story of artificial intelligence, identity, and the ultimate nature of reality. The film stars Klaus Löwitsch, Barbara Valentin, Mascha Rabben, and Karl Heinz Vosgerau.

From Alex Proyas, starring Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt
Rated R

Dark City is a 1998 science fiction film directed by Alex Proyas and starring Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, and Jennifer Connelly. The plot centers around a man named John Murdoch (Sewell), who wakes up in a bathtub with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He soon discovers that he is being pursued by a mysterious group of people who want to control his every move. With the help of a mysterious doctor named Dr. Daniel Schreber (Sutherland), John learns that he is part of a secret experiment being conducted by the Strangers, an alien race who is manipulating the citizens of the dark city. With the help of a mysterious woman named Emma (Connelly) and a strange child named Dr. Schreber's son (William Hurt), John must discover the Strangers' true purpose and find a way to escape the dark city or risk being consumed by their evil plans.

From Charlie Kaufman, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener
Rated R

Synecdoche, New York is a 2008 drama film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman. The film follows Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a theater director in Schenectady, New York as he struggles with depression and anxiety during his quest to create a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse. As his mental health deteriorates and his life unravels, Caden's theatrical project becomes increasingly ambitious and surreal, blurring the line between reality and art. Along his journey, Caden meets various characters who help him to navigate his inner turmoil, including a love interest (Catherine Keener) and a psychiatrist (Hope Davis). Through Caden's interactions with these characters, the film explores themes of identity, mortality, and the creative process. By the end of the film, Caden's project has become a reflection of his life, offering him a way to make sense of his struggles and find redemption.

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

Total Recall is a science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie follows construction worker Douglas Quaid, played by Schwarzenegger, who discovers that he is actually a secret agent from Mars, a planet colonized by humans. After undergoing a procedure to make him remember his true identity, Quaid embarks on a journey to Mars to uncover the truth about his identity and discover the secrets behind a powerful conspiracy. Along the way, he faces off against a tyrannical leader and his henchmen, as well as a band of mutants. In the end, Quaid triumphs, restoring peace to Mars and discovering his true identity.

From Duncan Jones, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright
Rated PG-13

Source Code is an action-thriller film directed by Duncan Jones and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farmiga. The film follows the story of Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), an American soldier who wakes up in the body of a different person on a commuter train in Chicago. Through a top-secret military experiment called the Source Code, he is able to experience the last 8 minutes of the train's journey before it is destroyed by a terrorist bomb. With the help of a fellow passenger (Michelle Monaghan) and a scientist (Vera Farmiga) overseeing the experiment, Colter attempts to solve the mystery of the bombing to prevent further attacks and save the lives of the passengers. As Colter races against time, he unravels the mystery of his reality and his purpose inside the Source Code.

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

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

From Cameron Crowe, starring Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kurt Russell
Rated R

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

From Michael Bay, starring Scarlett Johansson, Ewan McGregor, Djimon Hounsou, Steve Buscemi
Rated PG-13

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

From Douglas Trumbull, starring Christopher Walken, Natalie Wood, Louise Fletcher, Cliff Robertson
Rated PG

From Jonathan Mostow, starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Ving Rhames, Rosamund Pike
Rated PG-13

From John August, starring Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Melissa McCarthy, Elle Fanning
Rated R

From Brett Leonard, starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Kelly Lynch, Stephen Spinella
Rated R