Do you appreciate works of the cyberpunk genre? In cinema there are several prominent productions that explore this dystopian universe, full of technological advances, megacorporations and questions about the human essence.
For those unfamiliar, cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction that presents futuristic scenarios in which technology deeply permeates society, often highlighting social inequalities and ethical dilemmas resulting from technological progress.
In this context, we have compiled a list of the 10 best cyberpunk movies for you to check out!
The best cyberpunk films
Directed by cult favorite Paul Verhoeven, “RoboCop” is a sci-fi action film set in a futuristic, dystopian Detroit.
In the plot, the city was dominated by privatizations, with large corporations taking control. The police department is run by the megacorporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP).
The film revolves around Alex Murphy (Peter Weller), a police officer who is brutally murdered by criminals. However, the OCP resurrects him as a police cyborg programmed to fight crime.
Directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner is one of the most influential and revered works of cyberpunk cinema. The feature film is based on the novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick.
Set in the dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, the film follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former police officer tasked with hunting down escaped replicants, who are androids created to work in colonies outside of Earth.
The film has a sequel: Blade Runner 2049 (2017), directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Based on the “Judge Dredd” comic books, created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, “Dredd” is a science fiction and action film very well received by critics.
In the plot, Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is a law enforcement officer who holds the power to judge citizens in a vast dystopian metropolis called Mega-City One.
He and his new partner (Olivia Thirlby) face the challenge of restoring order to a colossal 200-story building controlled by a ruthless drug lord (Lena Headey).
The Japanese animation “Akira” is one of the leading and most influential examples of cyberpunk work in history. The film is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, based on his manga series of the same name.
The film is set in a dystopian future and follows Kaneda, leader of a motorcycle gang, and his friend Tetsuo, who acquires telekinetic powers after meeting a child with powers who escaped from the hospital where he was kept as a guinea pig.
Cyberpunk action film, “Upgrade” is directed by Leigh Whannel. The feature film was well received by specialized critics.
In the plot, set in the near future, a car mechanic (Logan Marshall-Green) becomes quadriplegic after a mysterious attack that also causes the death of his wife.
Devastated by his new condition and the loss of his loved one, he is convinced by one of his clients, a technological scientist (Harrison Gilbertson), to receive a chip he developed that restores his movements. However, this upgrade gives him superhuman abilities.
Written and directed by Richard Stanley, “Hardware” is a cult science fiction and cyberpunk horror film. The film is set in a dystopian future, where the Earth is ravaged by nuclear wars and much of the world is a barren wasteland.
In the plot, an artist who lives locked in her apartment receives a robot skull as a gift from her boyfriend. However, the present is a military machine designed to destroy enemies in war zones. When the robot regenerates, she is ready to carry out her mission: to destroy all humans.
This film is an adaptation of a short story of the same name written by William Gibson, a renowned author in the field of science fiction literature, particularly known for his contributions to the cyberpunk subgenre. Gibson also wrote the screenplay.
The film is set in a dystopian future dominated by mega-corporations and plagued by a technology-induced disease.
Keanu Reeves plays Johnny, a human data messenger who stores sensitive information in his brain via a storage device implanted in his head.
Another William Gibson adaptation for the list. Directed by cult favorite Abel Ferrara, “New Rose Hotel” is based on a short story of the same name written by Gibson. The film stars Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe and Asia Argento.
The plot takes place in an indeterminate future, following the adventures of two corporate spies hired to convince a scientist to defect from the megacorporation he works for.
To achieve their goal they use the services of a call girl (Silver). From that moment on, an intricate game of intrigue and betrayal will question reality itself.
Mass film director Albert Pyun’s most beloved work, “Nemesis,” is a cyberpunk action feature film featuring themes of androids and cyborgs.
Set in a near future where humans and androids coexist, the plot follows a cyborg mercenary who was once a former police officer (Olivier Gruner).
His former employers have tasked him with capturing his former partner, an android who has stolen vital classified information that could result in a huge conflict.
Another Paul Verhoeven-directed film for the list, “The Future Avenger” is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick.
Set in 2048, the film follows Quaid (Schwarzenegger), a seemingly normal man. Bored, he decides to visit the Rekall company, which offers fake memory implants, to experience an imaginary trip to Mars as a super spy.
However, he soon realizes that his reality is made up and that he may actually be a spy. From that moment on he begins to be persecuted.
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Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
