Dystopian movies have been a popular genre in the film industry for decades. They portray a dark, oppressive future where humanity faces its own downfall. In the 2020s, dystopian movies have gained a renewed interest as the world faces various challenges such as climate change, political turmoil, and the pandemic. These movies offer a glimpse into a world that could be if we fail to address these issues.
This article highlights some of the best dystopian movies of the 2020s so far. It showcases movies that explore themes such as environmental collapse, social inequality, and authoritarian regimes. From the bleak and terrifying landscape of The Platform to the disturbing society of Prisoners of the Ghostland, this article presents a diverse selection of films that will leave viewers contemplating the future of humanity.
10 The Midnight Sky
The Midnight Sky was directed by George Clooney, and it is based on the novel Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton. The movie is set in a dystopian world where a global catastrophe has occurred, making the Earth uninhabitable. George Clooney plays the role of Augustine, a scientist stationed in the Arctic who discovers a spacecraft returning from a mission.
The Midnight Sky is visually stunning, with excellent production design and special effects. The acting is also superb, with strong performances from George Clooney and the rest of the cast. At the same time the movie's development is slow-paced, allowing the audience to experience completely Augustine's difficult reality. Moreover, the exploration of the human condition in this post-apocalyptic world offers the possibility to reflect on the themes of human connection, redemption, and sacrifice. The Midnight Sky might not be for everyone for its slow development, but it should.
9 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time was co-directed, written and produced by Hideaki Anno, and it's the last installment of the Rebuild of Evangelion series, part of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. The movie picks up where the previous installment left off, following the story of Shinji Ikari and his friends as they seek refuge in what is left of Tokyo-3. Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time is esthetically pleasing and emotionally impactful.
The animation in the movie is stunning, with beautiful and intricate designs that describe the dystopian future. The action scenes are intense and well choreographed, with a mix of traditional animation and CGI. However, the film's plot can be confusing for viewers who are not familiar with the franchise. However, for fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the film offers a satisfying conclusion to the story that is both emotional and exciting.
8 Archive
Archive was written and directed by Gavin Rothery, and it tells the story of George Almore (Theo James), a scientist who is working on developing a machine that can bring back the dead. The story is set in a futuristic world where technology has advanced to a level where human-like robots have become common. Archive is thought-provoking and engaging, exploring themes such as loss, grief, and the ethics of creating artificial intelligence.
Archive is well-crafted and its slow-paced rhythm allows the audience to fully immerse themselves in the world and the characters. The movie also benefits from a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack by Steven Price that adds to the overall ambiance. At the same time, the well-done screenplay does a good job of keeping the audience engaged and invested in the characters. Even if it may not be the most action-packed or fast-paced movie out there, Archive is definitely worth watching.
7 Prisoners of the Ghostland
Prisoners of the Ghostland was directed by Sion Sono, and it stars Nicolas Cage as Hero, a well-known criminal who is tasked with rescuing a young woman named Bernice (Sofia Boutella) from a surreal and dangerous alternate dimension known as the Ghostland. Hero is commanded to do so by the Governor of Samurai Town (Bill Moseley). The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world.
Prisoners of the Ghostland has to be praised for its over-the-top visuals, creative world-building, and Nicolas Cage's typically unhinged performance. Sion Sono has been a master for over 25 years and this movie is no difference. The film is undeniably visually striking, with vivid colors, elaborate costumes, and surreal set pieces. Nicolas Cage's performance is marked by his trademark intensity and unpredictability, that he brings to the role of Hero. The action sequences are also well-executed, with some inventive and brutal fight scenes.
6 Vesper
Co-written and directed by Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper, Vesper sees Raffiella Chapman playing the role of Vesper, a 13 years old with great abilities of biohacking. After Earth collapses into a dystopian landscape, Vesper and her disabled father will struggle to survive. The movie also features Richard Brake as Vesper's father, Rosy McEwen as Camellia, and Eddie Marsan as Jonas, a ruthless leader of survivors.
Vesper is a sci-fi movie that shines for its ability of going beyond its low-budget production, creating an amazing world thanks to the sapient use of special effects and Feliksas Abrukauskas's impressive cinematography. At the same time, Raffiella Chapman is extremely convincing in the role of Vesper, being able to carry forward the movie on her own and proving to be a great lead actress. Vesper is another example of the power and beauty of dystopian movies and their ability to capture the imagination of the audience.
5 The Platform
The Platform was directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia and it is set in a futuristic prison called "The Pit." The prison is made up of several levels, with two prisoners per level. Each day, a platform carrying a lavish banquet of food descends from the top level, stopping for a few minutes at each level before continuing its descent. However, the number of dishes on the platform decreases with each level, leaving prisoners on the lower levels with little to no food.
The Platform features an impressive production design and visual effects that are used effectively to create a grim and claustrophobic atmosphere. At the same time, the performances of the actors in the film are exceptional, especially Iván Massagué, who played the protagonist, Goreng. This Spanish science fiction movie also shines for its thought-provoking screenplay and dark and violent scenes that completely convey the dystopian scenario. A future cult.
4 The Matrix Resurrections
The Matrix Resurrections is the fourth installment of the Matrix franchise, and it was co-written and directed by Lana Wachowski. The film features Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss again in the roles of Neo and Trinity, alongside new cast members that include Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, and Neil Patrick Harris. Taking place 60 years after the events of The Matrix Revolutions, the movie sees Neo living comfortably as a game developer. But nothing is like it seems.
The film features stunning visuals, with impressive action sequences and special effects that amazing like in the other movies. Furthermore, the performances are also strong, with Keanu Reeves delivering another excellent performance as Neo. At the same time, the movie's storyline is complex and requires some knowledge of the previous films to fully understand. The Matrix Resurrections is a visually stunning and action-packed sci-fi film that will appeal to fans of the franchise.
3 Dune
Dune was co-written, co-produced and directed by Denis Villeneuve, and it's based on the homonymous novel by Frank Herbert. It stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, and Zendaya as Chani. The film also features a star-studded cast including Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. House Atreides takes control of the planet Arrakis, where the valuable substance called melange can be found.
The film is a visually stunning and epic adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel, with breathtaking landscapes, incredible special effects, and an epic orchestral score by Hans Zimmer. The extraordinary cinematography by Greig Fraser leaves you speechless, while the all cast stands out for their powerful and intriguing performances. Lastly, Denis Villeneuve is the perfect director for the movie, given his astonishing attention to detail and his refined ability to construct complex stories.
2 After Yang
Written and directed by Kogonada and released in 2021, After Yang stars Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Justin H. Min and Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja. The movie is set in a near-future world where androids called "synths" are an integral part of society, performing various tasks for humans. The story follows a family who owns a synth named Yang, who begins to malfunction, prompting the family to seek out a specialist to fix him.
The performances of the cast, especially Farrell and Turner-Smith, are impressive and effective in conveying the dramatic and science fiction vibes of the screenplay. Another great praise has to be made for the cinematography designed by Benjamin Loeb: it captures the film's futuristic setting extremely well and gives the movie a unique color palette. After Yang is an introspective and visually stunning movie that will appeal to fans of hard science fiction and art house dramas.
1 Crimes of the Future
Written and directed by David Cronenberg, Crimes of the Future features a stellar cast, including Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, and Scott Speedman.The movie takes place in a not-so-distant future where human evolution has reached a critical point, leading to a range of strange and dangerous mutations. Mortensen plays the role of Saul Tenser, a performance artist who has new organs growing in him. Challenging and unconventional, Crimes of the Future is 100% Cronenberg.
The movie's Greek settings are impressive in their dystopian esthetic, and they are complemented by the dark and eerie cinematography by Douglas Koch. At the same time, the film's unique premise and themes of evolution, identity, and mortality are not only extremely creative, but also a perfect evolution of Cronenberg's body horror cinematic vision. Crimes of the Future is an instant masterpiece and another amazing add to the Canadian director's filmography.