There are plenty of things that can make a society suck. The dehumanization of civilians, repressive control exercised by authoritarian governments, environmental disasters, sociopolitical instability—no matter which of these elements is present, they’re all essential to the dystopian genre. Over the course of the last 100 years, we’ve gotten several masterful dystopian movies which have proved just how effective these types of stories can be at making comments on the real world.
Almost always belonging to the science fiction genre, these films can serve as powerful reflections of the actual issues that ail the modern world. Hugely imaginative, potently suspenseful, and virtually faultless in every sense that matters, the best dystopian films of the last century are all a testament to how this genre has managed to produce several of what are now counted among the best films ever made.
10
’12 Monkeys’ (1995)
Based on Chris Marker‘s 1962 short film La Jetée, far and away one of the greatest short films of the 20th century, 12 Monkeys was directed by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame. Only a comedic mastermind like Gilliam could have possibly come up with a dystopic vision of the future as zany as that presented in 12 Monkeys, where the whole point of the narrative is to travel back and time and prevent said dystopia from ever coming together in the first place.
12 Monkeys comments on societal madness and the inevitability of fate in what inevitably ends up being one of the smartest time travel movies of all time.
Supported by a fantastic cast (this is easily one of Brad Pitt‘s best sci-fi movies), 12 Monkeys comments on societal madness and the inevitability of fate in what inevitably ends up being one of the smartest time travel movies of all time. Full of mind-blowing twists and brilliant bits of subtle world-building, it’s one of the strongest Hollywood sci-fi flicks of the 1990s.
9
‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ (2017)
There are plenty of movie trilogies where every film is considered a classic, and a few decades from now, it would be no surprise if the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy were considered among those. Matt Reeves took over in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, itself also a phenomenal dystopian action film; but it’s War for the Planet of the Apes that stands out as the strongest installment in the entire franchise.
The culmination of Caesar’s revolutionary journey is one filled with poignancy, political commentary, and striking moments of quiet and slow-paced characterization. It’s a visually breathtaking, beautifully sad film that constantly surprises viewers with just how deeply it’s able to make them care about a group of primates. It is, in more ways than one, the most dystopian of all Planet of the Apes films; and as such, it’s perhaps no surprise that it’s also the best.
8
‘WALL·E’ (2008)
Pixar has been having some difficulty living up to the quality of their past work over the last few years, but back in the day, they were the authors of several of the best animated movies ever. This includes what’s many people’s favorite Pixar film: WALL·E, dystopian science fiction at its most family-friendly. But what makes this dystopian masterpiece particularly unique is that its focus isn’t on humans, who don’t show up until well into the story. Rather, it’s a love story about a pair of robots.
A tribute to both classic sci-fi films and old-school rom-coms from Hollywood’s Golden Age, this quasi-silent film is an absolute delight for viewers of all ages. But aside from being funny, cute, and genuinely romantic, WALL·E also feels awfully timely. Its commentary on the loss of humanity through people’s growing dependence on technology feels more and more relevant with every year that passes, and that’s the thing that will undoubtedly ensure this Pixar gem remains timeless.
7
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
The Wachowskis released The Matrix in 1999, and the sci-fi action genre was never the same again. Thanks to its revolutionary visual effects, its unique approach to action scenes, and its powerfully philosophical story, this is one of the most important action movies ever made, and it should be considered essential viewing for all those who love the genre.
Part trans allegory, part treatise on human freedom’s struggle against technological control, part metaphor that has been wildly misunderstood and twisted by thousands of people over the years, The Matrix is 100% one of the most brilliant Hollywood masterpieces of the ’90s. Its energetic, exquisitely choreographed twist on the dystopian genre formula is a constant treat, and it hasn’t grown even a little bit old in 27 years.
6
‘A Clockwork Orange’ (1971)
There are plenty of controversial movies that have aged like fine wine, and Stanley Kubrick—deemed by many to be the greatest filmmaker in history—is the author of a good number of those. Perhaps most noteworthy of all is A Clockwork Orange, an immensely dark and disturbing adaptation of Anthony Burgess‘ equally dark and disturbing 1962 novel.
Clockwork Orange may have been a bit much for audiences back in 1971, but it soon transformed into a cult classic—and today, it’s so widely praised that it has transformed into a classic as mainstream as any other. Its subtly yet potently dystopic world offers sharp commentary on the nature of evil, the clash between autonomy and state control, and the fragility of free will in civilized society. Its sci-fi elements are understated, but oh so effective and powerful.
5
‘Children of Men’ (2006)
Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón made the jump to Hollywood pretty early in his career, and he’s made some of the greatest genre films that the town has had to offer over the course of the 21st century. This includes what some may point to as his magnum opus (at least from his Hollywood work): Children of Men, one of the greatest movie masterpieces of the last 20 years.
This is another instance of a dystopian film that uses its sci-fi elements sparsely and very deliberately, to tremendously fruitful effect. Bolstered by the incredible cast, Cuarón’s airtight direction, and Emmanuel Lubezki‘s masterful camerawork, Children of Men takes an infertile world as the perfect vehicle to tell a story about hope, survival, migration, and the struggle to maintain faith in the face of the total structural collapse of society.
4
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
After Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, the third installment in the franchise, George Miller decided to move away from the action genre and move on to different kinds of projects. A whopping three decades later, Max Rockatansky made a return that was nothing if not triumphant. Mad Max: Fury Road is not only far and away the strongest installment in the Mad Max series, but one of the best action movies of the last 80 years as well.
Fury Road is everything that action movies should aspire to be, and then some. It doesn’t have any big, bold statements to make on modern society, but not all dystopian cinema needs to. Instead, this is two hours of non-stop adrenaline and high-octane action, with some surprisingly complex character work and exceptional performances. It’s exciting, it’s visually impressive, the world-building is phenomenally over-the-top, and Miller’s direction is downright perfect.
3
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
Back when it originally came out, Ridley Scott‘s Blade Runner was a failure in pretty much every sense of the word. With time, however, it started growing a loyal cult following. Today, it’s often praised as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. It has some of the best writing, some of the best characters, some of the best visuals, and some of the best dialogue of any sci-fi movie ever made.
Whether it’s the dingy, rainy neo-noir version of a futuristic Los Angeles, the slow-burning yet thrilling narrative, or Scott’s commentary on identity, cloning, and genetic engineering, every aspect of Blade Runner contributes to its being a masterpiece of the dystopian genre. Methodically constructed, highly philosophical, and nothing short of groundbreaking, it’s a must-see masterpiece for all sci-fi fans.
2
‘Stalker’ (1979)
Soviet auteur Andrei Tarkovsky was a poet with a camera, one of the most important and influential arthouse filmmakers in history. Over the course of his short-lived career, he only gave the world under a dozen movies, but one of those is among the best sci-fi films of the last 75 years: Stalker, a masterclass in how to make an excellent slow-burning sci-fi film.
Indeed, Stalker is definitely not designed for those who prefer their science fiction dystopias action-packed and fast-paced. But for people into arthouse gems that take their time to build their stories and take a philosophically-charged approach to their thematic layers, Stalker is essential viewing. The way it deals with ideas revolving around hope and faith makes it one of the most complex and thought-provoking dystopian masterpieces in the history of cinema.
1
‘Metropolis’ (1927)
It has been 99 years since Fritz Lang released his silent sci-fi epic Metropolis, yet it feels like the movie hasn’t aged a day. This German landmark in the history of science fiction is not only one of the most groundbreaking and influential sci-fi films ever made, but also a testament to the tremendous heights that dystopian cinema is capable of reaching.
It is, plain and simple, one of the most perfectly-directed sci-fi epics in history. It’s visually striking, with special effects that have aged like fine wine; its performances, though highly theatrical, are still hugely effective nowadays; and Lang’s story about the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and mass production just as tragically relevant and timely today as they were back in the ’20s. This is a true timeless masterpiece, and undobutedly the best dystopian movie of the last 100 years.
Metropolis
- Release Date
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February 6, 1927
- Runtime
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114 minutes
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