Top 10 Amazing Cyberpunk Movies

Ever get to a point where you believe that the video game you’re playing is real? Hopefully you haven’t, but that is the subject of this David Cronenberg cyberpunk thriller. When a game developer unveils her latest game at a seminar, she is attacked and her game is damaged. Now she must undertake her own test run to see that it still functions, without losing herself to the game. “eXistenZ” shows us a future where reality as we’ve come to know it is no longer the norm. It also presents excellent commentary on how humanity continues to rely on technology to get by, so much so that we can’t survive without it. Don’t people remember that a little fresh air could do them some good?

The argument that man is being swallowed up by technology is taken a bit literally here. When a Japanese businessman accidentally kills a man during a drive, his life begins to take a bizarre turn. He finds his body slowly becoming a chunk of collective metal. What follows is a rapid descent into terror, madness and gruesome imagery. Is this the revenge of the man he killed? Or is this the fate of humanity: to be overtaken by technological advancement to the point that we cease to exist? Made on a small budget, “Tetsuo” gets its point across in a scary but effective fashion. Some of these images, once seen, will haunt you for days.

Set in a future practically choking on crime, this 21st century adaptation of the popular comic strip Judge Dredd sees its titular character taking a rookie partner into one of the most dangerous areas of Mega-City One. Unlike the ‘90s adaptation starring Sylvester Stallone, “Dredd” of 2012 embraces a gritty, cyberpunk feel, giving the movie a darker tone. The action stands out, as Dredd must rely on his own skills, and not the eye in the sky backup of his unit, to survive his mission. Meanwhile, the popular Slo-Mo drug sequences give the film a surreal quality. With a cool and confident performance by Karl Urban, it’s not hard to see why Dredd is judge, jury and executioner. In short, he is “the law”.

This anime classic centers on cyborg cop Motoko Kusanagi and the cyberwarfare and counter-terrorism unit known as Public Security Section 9, as they pursue a hacker known as the Puppet Master. Director Mamoru Oshii brings his signature serene and existential style to the future, producing a film that is as gorgeous as it is thought-provoking. Motoko’s case ends up prompting more questions about her existence than it does answers about the Puppet Master’s motives. Is there more to her than just wires and circuits? Does her humanity even exist anymore? The questions and themes from this film have inspired other sci-fi classics in recent years, including one title we’ll get to later on in this list.

In this techno thriller from director Kathryn Bigelow, a former police officer turned street dealer and his bodyguard get caught up in a conspiracy involving multiple murders and the next generation of cyber entertainment. While “Strange Days” is a work of fiction, part of its appeal is how close to home this future feels. Chaos in the streets and abuse of power are strong themes, sharing the spotlight with the unique SQUID technology that enables people to experience the memories of others – feelings and all. Plus, there’s a fun film noir edge, an alternative rock soundtrack, and a memorable Ralph Fiennes’ performance to add to the film's uniqueness.

Set in a crime-ridden Detroit in the not-so-distant future, this action flick tells the story of Alex Murphy, who is viciously murdered in the line of duty and resurrected as the next generation of law enforcement: Robocop. Not only painting a pretty brutal picture of the United States of the future, “RoboCop” is also a deep tale about what comes after man and machine merge. Murphy’s journey to rediscover his humanity under the metal armor that now makes up his body is just as enticing as the over-the-top action…and man is it bloody. It’s hard-hitting, it’s action-packed and it’s still one of the best films of its kind to come out of the ‘80s.

When a young waitress named Sarah Connor finds herself the target of a seemingly unstoppable killing machine, her survival rests in the hands of a freedom fighter from the future. “The Terminator” may take place in the ‘80s, but it offers a pretty grim outlook on a machine-dominated future. While other entries on this list see society’s downfall brought on by humanity’s deeds, here it is our own technology orchestrating our near-extinction – and that is a very scary thought. Especially if it produces a gigantic, menacing assassin with an Austrian accent. If all Terminators came in his packaging, we’d be pretty screwed.

In the year 2019, a young biker gang stumbles across an escaped test subject for government experiments, and one of the members, Tetsuo, has his latent psychic power awakened. From then on it’s a rush of chaos across the war-torn city of Neo-Tokyo as Tetsuo seeks out the mysterious Akira to learn more about his powers. “Akira” presents a classic cyberpunk dystopia, where the skyline and pretty, lit skyscrapers mask a chaotic and violent underbelly. The story also shows that humanity might be going too far with technology in order to unlock human potential, and that the results could be disastrous. “Akira” is much more than just a visually amazing piece and that’s one of the reasons why it’s considered one of the greatest animated sci-fis of all time.

Are you living in the real world? For hacker extraordinaire Neo, that titillating question leads him to ask another: “What is the Matrix?” - the answer to which leads to a startling revelation that sets him on the path to become a Christ-like savior in a digital world. Booming with revolutionary special effects, spectacular fight choreography and a philosophical storyline about faith and reality, “The Matrix” was a game changer in the world of sci-fi movie making. Since they are both featured on this list, it’s worth mentioning that part of this is thanks to “Ghost in the Shell”, which the “Matrix” filmmakers themselves have cited as a direct influence on their work.

Before we reveal our Top Pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
- “Total Recall” (1990)

- “Tron” (1982)

- “THX 1138” (1971)

“Blade Runner” tells the story of Rick Deckard, a retired cop who’s pulled out of retirement to hunt down four bioengineered or biorobotic androids known as Replicants. One of the most visually arresting visions of the future, Ridley Scott’s classic paints a time and place that doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility. There is just so much detail thrown into this movie, from the beautiful skylines to the dozens of cultures packed into an overly crammed Los Angeles in 2019. You also have human-like robots longing for memories, blurring the lines about their place in society. Strengthened by a brilliant script and a haunting performance from Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty, “Blade Runner” is a cyberpunk legend that must be seen to be believed.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite cyberpunk film? For more genre-spotlighting Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.