12. Dark City (1998)
Dark Cityis a cult classic fromThe Crowdirector Alex Proyas, which depicts a distinct kind of cyberpunk world that’s draped in noir shades and steeped in ideas of nihilism and existential crises.
At the center of it is amnesiac John Murdoch (played by Rufus Sewell), who’s accused of murder. The situation takes him on the run and prompts him to discover what his true identity is.
Proyas owes much to classic noir films—like Terry Gilliam’sBraziland Michael Anderson’sLogan’s Run—for his world where the walls close in on almost everyone. With its gothic aspects, dreamlike aesthetics, and sleek action sequences,Dark Cityshines.
Related:The Best Dystopian Movies of All Time
11. Upgrade (2018)
From Blumhouse prodigy Leigh Whannell comesUpgrade, a cyberpunk horror film about a car mechanic named Grey (played by Logan Marshall-Green) who, after becoming paralyzed, agrees to install a microchip in his body that gives him a lethal upgrade.
Upgradeoffers a taste of a cyberpunk-inspired future with the STEM microchip that enhances the human body but also corrupts it.
The theme of humanity versus technology is the central conflict here, and it leads to nonstop action from the killing machine that is Grey. It’s a seriously underrated, pulse-pounding, terrifying sci-fi horror.
Related:The Best Revenge Movies
10. eXistenZ (1999)
One common trope in cyberpunk movies is the simulation of the real world in a dystopian reality, driven by a sprawling conspiracy that threatens the existence of everyone and everything.
David Cronenberg’seXistenZdives headfirst into this idea while taking different paths that show off his twisted sensibilities.
The story follows game designer Allegra Geller (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh), who becomes the target of a group of terrorists. She joins forces with security guard Ted Pikul (played by Jude Law) to uncover the people attempting to sabotage her creation.
Released in the same year,eXistenZis a good companion film toThe Matrixif you’re looking for a cyberpunk take with body horror.
Related:The Best Conspiracy Movies
9. Strange Days (1995)
Kathryn Bigelow is one of the most flexible directors out there. She can direct almost any genre, from cheesy action flicks to tension-filled real-life dramas full of pathos.
But Bigelow’s most underrated release is a sci-fi story about a black marketer who uses a device that accesses and experiences the memories of people to solve a criminal conspiracy.
Strange Daysis set in an unkempt dystopia where morality is absent and order is defined by crime. The violence hits hard from the first scene, and you’ll be challenged by its racial, social, and anti-tech undertones.
However, if you can stomach and endure all of that,Strange Dayspresents an immersive and grounded world that’s brimming with possibilities.
Related:The Best Movies About Memories and Memory Loss
8. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Anime has consistently delivered all kinds of unique interpretations of cyberpunk, most notably in one of the pioneers of the genre:Ghost in the Shell, based on the manga by Masamune Shirow.
The film centers on Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg public-security agent who constantly finds herself in the middle of a citywide conspiracy that defines the advances of cutting-edge technology.
Motoko gets her first taste of nihilistic terror when she tries to stop a hacker known as the Puppet Master. What follows is a groundbreaking blend of worldbuilding, sleek action, and stunning animation. The bleak, relevant story still resonates to this day.
7. Dredd (2012)
Dreddis the second cinematic adaptation to come from the2000 ADcomic strip. Beneath the helmet is Karl Urban, who’s tasked with leading a dangerous raid on an apartment complex and apprehending the ruthless drug lord Ma-Ma (played by Lena Headey).
The world of Mega-City One shows a cyberpunk world where technology is vast but regularly abused, leading to the decay of society.
Granted,Dredddidn’t really explore the tongue-in-cheek absurdity of its source comic, but the film adaptation does provide pathos for the titular enforcer who sees his own morality tested.
Related:The Best Die Hard Clones and Ripoffs
6. RoboCop (1987)
One of the most famous cops in movie history is RoboCop, who’s fused with robotic enhancements to become a new and improved law enforcer.
Tech aside, RoboCop is an iconic character in the cyberpunk genre for his no-holds-barred approach to the law. He’s very efficient in thwarting criminals and spitting memorable one-liners.
But RoboCop is also up against the egomaniacal corporate overlords that gave him his robotic suit. They themselves define the landscape of this utopian Detroit, where brands dictate the lives of citizens and the advancements of the future only benefit the rich.
Related:The Best Movies About Robots and Artificial Intelligence
5. Total Recall (1990)
Paul Verhoeven has crafted several timeless masterpieces. We’ve already mentionedRoboCop, but here’s another one:Total Recall, which is an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story.
Total Recallshowcases a world where technology and innovation are exploited to keep totalitarian leaders and figures in power. In this world is Douglas Quaid (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger), who inadvertently receives a memory of him as an agent stopping the tyrannical regime.
This Arnie action movie has more substance than you might expect, which isn’t a surprise given Verhoeven’s knack for inserting subtle commentary into his films. It’s one of his best and one of the most thrilling cyberpunk films ever made.
4. Metropolis (1927)
One of the most defining examples of German Expressionist cinema isMetropolis, a breakthrough sci-fi film of its time.
Directed by surrealist filmmaker Fritz Lang, the 1927 classic shows a dystopian world where industrial workers are kept underground while the affluent stay at the top to enjoy the riches of the world.
However, a forbidden romance between one worker and a lord’s son threatens the continuation of the entire system.
Metropolisis memorable for its production design, a mix of Gothic and Expressionist styles that fit the core conflict. Its depiction of an advanced technological society was innovative, and it paved the way for cyberpunk art through the cyborg Maria.
Related:The Best Classic Old Movies Everyone Should See
3. Akira (1988)
Another groundbreaking cyberpunk anime,Akirafeatures a dystopian future defined by anarchy—but most threatening is Tetsuo Shima, who gains telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident.
This motivates Capsules leader Shōtarō Kaneda to stop him, who feels responsible for Shima’s sudden rampage that threatens everything.
Akirais proof that anime is perfectly suitable for deep science fiction that deals with philosophical issues, and it’s complemented by gorgeous and sweeping animation, even during Shima’s body horror scenes. And how could anyone forget Kaneda’s iconic motorcycle drift?
Related:The Best Movies Set in Tokyo
2. The Matrix (1999)
One common theme in cyberpunk is a choice between reality and fantasy, and that’s explored in the classic sci-fi filmThe Matrix.
Through Neo (played by Keanu Reeves), we’re left to contemplate two choices: supporting the advancements of a simulated reality or breaking free and tearing down the system. Encompassing all of this is a glimpse of a wary and realistic dystopian future.
The Matrixis one of the most definitive cyberpunk films of all time. From Neo’s wardrobe to the computer metaphors, no one can deny that the Wachowskis broke new ground for the subgenre.
It’s no wonder why so many sci-fi blockbusters followed in its example, which goes to show thatThe Matrixis more than just bullet time.
Related:The Best Movies About Hackers
1. Blade Runner (1982)
It’s impossible to talk about cyberpunk cinema—or even dystopian sci-fi cinema as a whole—without paying respect to the important work that is Ridley Scott’sBlade Runner.
In this elaborate world, societal advancements are only possible at the cost of human life, and two great characters exist at the center of this story: Roy Batty (played by Rutger Hauer) is trying to stop it while burned-out cop Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford) is assigned to stop him.
The scuffle between Batty and Deckard raises all kinds of questions about the nature of technology and the meaning of humanity.
Rising from the ashes of its lukewarm reception and complicated release, this masterpiece stood the test of time and resonated with future audiences, eventually becoming a defining piece of cyberpunk.
Related:The Best Neo-Noir Movies of All Time
