Dystopian Futures On Film
Classic and recent films about dismal, dystopian future societies, some adapted from novels and some not.
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- DirectorRamin BahraniStarsMichael B. JordanAaron DavisCindy KatzIn a terrifying care-free future, a young man, Guy Montag, whose job as a fireman is to burn all books, questions his actions after meeting a young woman - and begins to rebel against society.The newest film version of Ray Bradbury's signature work.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.The film that made a young Brit named Malcolm McDowell a star. If you haven't read the novel on which it was based, you should.
- DirectorBurt BrinckerhoffStarsJulie CobbBud CortKeir DulleaA man who grew up in a primitive society educating himself by reading Shakespeare is allowed to join the futuristic society where his parents are from. However, he cannot adapt to their repressive ways.The most original-text-faithful filmed version of Aldous Huxley's prescient novel yet—and yes, that includes the recent Peacock streamed series.
- DirectorMichael AndersonStarsMichael YorkJenny AgutterRichard JordanA police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships youth.This film is far better remembered than the novel on which it was based...and that's a damned shame.
- DirectorMichael RadfordStarsJohn HurtRichard BurtonSuzanna HamiltonIn a totalitarian future society, a man, whose daily work is re-writing history, tries to rebel by falling in love.The best adaptation of George Orwell's signature novel yet made, featuring the late Sir Richard Burton in a vastly underrated performance.
- DirectorJames McTeigueStarsHugo WeavingNatalie PortmanRupert GravesIn a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical government - with the help of a young woman.
- DirectorFrançois TruffautStarsOskar WernerJulie ChristieCyril CusackIn an oppressive future, a fireman whose duty is to destroy all books begins to question his task.
- DirectorJohn HillcoatStarsViggo MortensenCharlize TheronKodi Smit-McPheeIn a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, an ailing father defends his son as they slowly travel to the sea.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJonathan PryceKim GreistRobert De NiroA bureaucrat in a dystopic society becomes an enemy of the state as he pursues the woman of his dreams.Terry Gilliam (of Monty Python fame) made his bones as a filmmaker with this gentle mockery of dystopian-future films. Bob Hoskins is a hoot of a scene-stealer as the guerrilla repairman, and Michael Palin makes it all hang together with his performance in the lead. Also watch for Katherine Helmond as the lead character's plastic-surgery-obsessed mother.
- DirectorJoseph KosinskiStarsTom CruiseMorgan FreemanAndrea RiseboroughA veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself.
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsJulianne MooreClive OwenChiwetel EjioforIn 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have somehow become infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.
- DirectorFritz LangStarsBrigitte HelmAlfred AbelGustav FröhlichIn a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a working-class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.Fritz Lang's most famous work...and his most abused, whacked down to what the studio felt was an audience-tolerable length and decades in being reconstructed. The 148-min. 2010 release is probably the most complete version we're ever going to see...and it's still missing about 5% of the original footage. The 1984 cut by Giorgio Moroder is still worth seeing for the songs, though.
- DirectorWilliam Cameron MenziesStarsRaymond MasseyEdward ChapmanRalph RichardsonThe story of a century: a decades-long second World War leaves plague and anarchy, then a rational state rebuilds civilization and attempts space travel.
- DirectorLeslie LibmanLarry WilliamsStarsPeter GallagherLeonard NimoyTim GuineeIn a futuristic totalitarian utopian society, babies are created through genetic engineering, everyone has a predestined place in society and their minds are conditioned to follow the rules. A tragic outsider jeopardizes the status quo.
- DirectorMichael AndersonStarsEdmond O'BrienMichael RedgraveJan SterlingIn a totalitarian future society, Winston Smith, whose daily work is re-writing history, tries to rebel by falling in love.
- DirectorJohn BoormanStarsSean ConneryCharlotte RamplingSara KestelmanIn the late 23rd century, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements.Poor Sean Connery spent a decade or more living down his choice to star in this colossal, muddled stinker (and that ridonkulous diaper-like costume!) before finally getting decent roles again.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTye SheridanOlivia CookeBen MendelsohnWhen the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune and control of his world.