Science fiction is a great genre for hiding critiques of social issues and posing big questions that extend beyond the mere speculation of whether aliens exist. And through the medium of movies, there’s an opportunity to use imagery to further convey those questions and, hopefully, offer a solution or answer.
As someone who frequently watches sci-fi movies, I want to be moved by these ideas and twisted into a philosophical pretzel. I’m not necessarily looking for a feel-good movie, either. When I walk away questioning my existence or seeing a fresh point of view, I know that the movie did something right.
6
Mickey 17
Watch Mickey 17 on HBO Max
What is a soul? Is it even real? When you have two copies of the same person, with the same memories, are they two different people? And if you could clone people, to what extent would the power be abused when in the wrong hands? Mickey 17 asks a lot of questions that keep me awake at night (and inspire me to write my own short stories, too).
The same way Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite had me grappling with wealth disparity and class divides in real life, Mickey 17 had me wrestling with the concept of disposability. I felt a lot of empathy and anxiety watching Mickey get abused and die over and over again for the sake of his job. There’s a kinship there that hits a little too close to home.
5
Blade Runner
Watch Blade Runner on Amazon Prime Video
Blade Runner is a bit of a unique case among my picks, and it comes down to which version of Blade Runner you watch. Both versions—the Final Cut or the original—have distinct differences that offer their own existential crisis. I won’t argue which is better because I like both for different reasons.
In the original cut, in whatever form that is, the movie highlights Roy and the question of whether or not he’s a “real boy,” despite being an android. What does it mean to be human? Is it even possible for a machine with enough advancements in technology to reach consciousness? In the other version—the director’s cut, essentially—adds to the discussion of Deckard possibly being an android as well.
4
Interstellar
Watch Interstellar on Paramount+
Most of my entries are dark, somewhat brooding stories, but Interstellar is unique in that it’s a more hopeful story. Sure, the planet becoming uninhabitable is a bummer, but the movie focuses on the strengths of humanity and how we can overcome our weaknesses through love. What Interstellar does best is take real scientific knowledge and facts (with just a dash of science fiction) to create a mind-bending story.
It’s one thing to know black holes bend space and time, but it’s another to see how you’ll be affected in a real-world scenario, like Cooper experiencing time dilation on a planet close to a black hole. Once you realize a lot of the science checks out—thanks to theoretical physicist Kip Thorne being involved—it completely shatters your reality.
3
Annihilation
Watch Annihilation on Paramount+
Not only did Annihilation freak me out because of its story, the nature of the Shimmer was kaledioscopic—alien, and yet familiar. It had me feeling like I was on a completely different planet, especially with the strange and bizarre ambient music that would definitely have a place on a list of movies with the most underrated soundtracks. The Shimmer was freaky in its own right, but what had me questioning my own reality was the characters and their self-destructive tendencies.
You want to imagine yourself making the right decision in these scenarios, but they’re so painfully human, you wonder if it’s simply in our nature to implode. And of course, the nature of consciousness on display here is the kind of existential crisis I like to chew on, especially when we’re dealing with alien life. I like to imagine humanity’s flavor of consciousness may not apply to life on other worlds.
2
Blade Runner 2049
Watch Blade Runner 2049 on Amazon Prime Video
You’d think Blade Runner has said everything it could on consciousness and identity, or that a sequel would only tread the same ground, but Blade Runner 2049 has a whole new kind of philosophy to grapple with. Now we follow the life of a replicant, who is also a blade runner, following clues that point to another replicant somehow giving birth.
Once again, Blade Runner 2049 contends with what it means to be human, the tricky nature of memories, free will, and the line between man and machine becoming almost indistinguishable. Despite being a replicant, K experiences human emotion, and because of that, I’d have a hard time arguing against him being conscious.
1
Crimes of the Future
Watch Crimes of the Future on Disney+
With its constant use of body horror, Crimes of the Future is not for the squeamish, I can tell you that much. In a future where humans are experiencing rapid evolution, no matter how minor the transformations are, the movie had me wondering what the future of human evolution would look like. After all, we may think ourselves static now, but in a few thousand years, it’s impossible to imagine how we’d behave or even look.
What’s most fascinating about the film is how the strange machines humans use to merely function, like the chair Saul sits in to help him digest, are merely tools of conformity. In a sense, the chair is a detriment to Saul’s identity and prevents him from truly evolving. Once the credits rolled, Crimes of the Future had me wondering what technology was stunting my own growth.
I adore movies that challenge reality and conventional thinking, like an exercise in philosophy and critical thinking. Often, they’re the most emotionally powerful movies too, and who doesn’t love a good cry? If and when you do check these movies out, bring a friend or two. They’re perfect for discussions!
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