15 best films in the genre of cyberpunk, from "Blade Runner" to "The Matrix"
Educational Program Cinema / / December 19, 2019
The term "cyberpunk" appeared in 1983, and since then many fantastic works, in particular films mean just that word. There is no specific genre boundaries and borders, but because it can get a completely different picture. Most often it is the history in which technological development is accompanied by a decline of mankind, the power grab large corporations, the machine comes into conflict with people in the real or virtual world, and the media more and more influence consciousness.
Layfhaker collected the most interesting films that will meet with cyberpunk.
1. Blade Runner
Blade Runner
- USA, 1982.
- Fiction, drama, thriller.
- Duration: 117 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,1.
People have created indistinguishable from human replicants to perform the most difficult work in hazardous areas. But some androids escape, and then sent on their search for "Blade Runner" - an employee of a special police department. Rick Deckard - one of the "running", he had wanted to retire, but he will have one final task.
This picture - a free interpretation of the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" writer
Philip K. Dick, Which is considered one of the founders of the cyberpunk genre. Initially, the audience did not appreciate the complex idea of Ridley Scott and the film flopped at the box office. But over time, the picture has become a cult, and the director of its repeatedly refined.View in iTunes →
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2. Throne
Tron
- USA, 1982.
- Fantasy, action.
- Duration: 96 minutes.
- IMDb: 6,8.
Kevin Flynn runs the corporation ENCOM. It creates an unusual game, but assigns them to the authorities themselves. After the sudden dismissal of Kevin decides to get into the lab and take back what belongs to him. But it falls under the digital ray and the result appears in the virtual space, where there is totalitarian order.
In this picture, we gathered many of the central ideas of cyberpunk: a powerful corporation, artificial intelligence, despising its creator, a totalitarian society in the virtual world. But much more important than that "Tron" strongly influenced the development of special effects in a movie. About 20 minutes this is completely created on the computer, here is the first to apply transparency and facial animation.
Shooting with live actors, too, have been very difficult. Each frame of the film was increased, was applied to a semi-transparent sheet was placed in front of the light source and camera for shooting with filter certain color. As a result, the materials were transported to the tape intact minibuses.
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3. Videodrome
Videodrome
- Canada, 1983.
- Fantasy, Horror, Thriller.
- Duration: 84 minutes.
- IMDb: 7,3.
The director of a small cable channel Max Rennes accidentally catches unknown TV show, which show the torture and killing. Trying to find the source of the program, he falls under its influence. Now Max appeared in the abdomen hole where strange videotape is inserted. But perhaps all this - only hallucinations.
Directed by David Cronenberg - master of intricate stories and body horror genre, which show a mutation of the human body. But though "Videodrome" and performed his unusual manner, a picture is often referred to the early cyberpunk. It fared capitalism that controls the company through the media, references to virtual reality and even closer militarism and consumer society.
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4. Robocop
RoboCop
- United States, 1987.
- Fantasy, action.
- Duration: 102 minutes.
- IMDb: 7,5.
During clashes with the criminal group killed one of the best police officers Alex Murphy. But scientists turn it into a cyborg by aligning the brain and the remaining part of Alex's body with metal parts. He becomes a real storm of crime and at the same time trying to maintain their human memories.
In this picture, director Paul Verhoeven is important not only to the idea of creating a cyborg and balance the search between emotion and logic machines. No less interesting is the decline and in a world where everything is controlled media companies, and sheer chaos going on in the streets.
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5. Akira
Akira
- Japan, 1988.
- Fantasy, action, thriller.
- Duration: 124 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,1.
After the Third World War and the nuclear bombings in Japan are building a new capital of New Tokyo. Now the country is almost the Nazi regime, and all attempts at resistance was brutally suppressed. In opposition to the center is mysterious teenager Tetsuo Shima, which has strong psychic.
"Akira" is considered not only a milestone in the development of anime. Largely due to the film work of Japanese cartoonists become popular in Western countries.
6. Johnny Mnemonic
johnny Mnemonic
- USA, Canada, 1995.
- Fantasy, action, thriller.
- Duration: 100 minutes.
- IMDb: 5,7.
Mnemonic - courier who carries important information in a special chip implanted directly into the brain. The only problem is that because of this, the carrier loses a part of its own memory. That is why the main character Johnny does not remember his childhood. But once in his head was charged with too much information, and now he faces death. Besides Johnny Yakuza prey, wanting to get the chip.
A screen adaptation of the works of one of the founders of the cyberpunk William Gibson was to begin a series of films. But, unfortunately, the picture fell into the hands of producers who want to make it more youth. As a result, the main role was invited to star teen movie Keanu ReevesAnd a plot greatly simplified. Tape failed, putting an end to the transfer of the screens "Neuromancer" - one of the major works of Gibson.
7. Ghost in armor
Ghost in the Shell
- Japan, 1995.
- Fantasy, action, thriller.
- Duration: 83 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,0.
In the distant future, the boundary between humans and robots is becoming increasingly blurred. However, technologies carry with them the danger experienced hacker nicknamed Puppeteer hacks into other people's minds and subordinates. On his capture sent Major Motoko Kusanagi.
Obeying the universal fashion, classic, which is often compared to "Blade Runner", adapted in 2017 as a Hollywood film. The plot in the film passed quite close, and played a major role Scarlett Johansson. Yet the very atmosphere of the original lost.
8. strange days
Strange Days
- USA, 1995.
- Fantasy, action, thriller.
- Duration: 145 minutes.
- IMDb: 7,2.
In the late nineties, the security services have learned to write to media human memories. But this has led to the development of the black market, where one can with certainty to survive the treachery of others or participate in the robbery. Lenny Nero once worked as a police officer, and now he became a merchant memories. One day he finds a record girl friend's death. So he decides to look into the matter.
To create a hand in the famous paintings James Cameron. He wrote the script for the film, for which he later even won the "Saturn".
9. Nirvana
Nirvana
- Italy, France, 1997.
- Fiction, drama.
- Duration: 113 minutes.
- IMDb: 6,1.
In the future, where the power in the world took a huge corporation, Jimi programmer creates an intelligent computer game event where close to reality. But after the virus enters the game the main character Solo begins to remember his previous life. Then he asks Jimmy to erase the game with him. But for this programmer will have to wade through corporate security.
The shell purely cyberpunk stories dedicated to the virtual world and the power of money, the authors actually talk about the meaninglessness of life itself in today's society. Person over and over again to repeat the same action, and to break out of this cycle, the strength is not for everyone.
10. Dark City
Dark City
- USA, Australia, 1998.
- Fiction, thriller, detective.
- Duration: 100 minutes.
- IMDb: 7,6.
The protagonist wakes up in a hotel room. He does not remember his name, but in the next room is a dead woman. For men, living in the eternal city at night, begin to hunt strange pale people with supernatural abilities. And then he had any doubts about the reality itself.
This picture is not gained great popularity at the box office, though the idea of it is very interesting. This is an attempt to understand what makes us human and that allows him to stay even an artificial world.
And last but not least, the scenery of "Dark City", built in Sydney, used the duo Wachowski at work on his major films - "matrix».
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11. Matrix
The Matrix
- USA, Australia, 1999.
- Fantasy, action.
- Duration: 136 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,7.
Thomas Anderson the day working in the usual office, and at night turns into a legendary hacker named Neo. But once he finds out that all the familiar world - a computer simulation, and that he will be the chosen that will save people from the power of machines.
After the movie was released Wachowski accused, that the idea of "The Matrix" is secondary too. But they do not hide the fact that many people use iconic scenes stories, including "Ghost in the Shell". But this picture is due to the reconciliation of cyberpunk themes and cutting-edge special effects has become a truly iconic and revolutionary.
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12. opacity
A Scanner Darkly
- United States, 2006.
- Fiction, thriller, drama.
- Duration: 100 minutes.
- IMDb: 7,1.
Robert Arktor - Police are embedded in the environment under the guise of drug addicts. It excludes any personal contacts with connected. Gradually, he himself becomes a victim of drug addiction and begins to suspect himself of treason.
When director Richard Linklater took the adaptation of Philip K. Dick novel, not an easy task I stood before him. In the book, the hero wears a special suit, which every second change its appearance, and suffers from hallucinations. Translate it on the screen allow a very labor-intensive process: Each frame of the captured film and then hand painted, adding unusual details.
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13. sleep Dealer
Sleep Dealer
- USA, Mexico, 2008.
- Fiction, thriller, drama.
- Duration: 90 minutes.
- IMDb: 6,0.
In the future, where developed countries have captured all of the resources, migrants from Mexico are no longer come to the United States. They are remotely controlled robots, which have become waiters or maids. But the young man Memo Cruz gets access to private communication channels, and possibly able to change the situation.
The creation of this low-budget film's prompted plans to build a wall between the US and Mexico, as well as the development of remote work via the Internet. Thus the theme of cyberpunk is already part of the everyday life.
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14. Tron: Legacy
Tron
- United States, 2010.
- Fantasy, action.
- Duration: 125 minutes.
- IMDb: 6,8.
Many years after the movie "Tron" events the son of the protagonist goes to find his father. He also falls in the virtual world and discovers that the evil Kevin Flynn's double invasion plans into reality.
In the era of special effects and popularity of sequels legendary story just could not go back to the screens. In the continuation of the race to light motorcycles became more plausible, and the virtual world even brighter. But the idea of a totalitarian society has remained the same.
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15. Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049
- US, UK, Canada, 2017.
- Fiction, drama, thriller.
- Duration: 164 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,0.
After years of "Blade Runner" replicant Kay tries to investigate complicated cases, and at the same time to understand his past. And help him in this can only be missing a lot of years ago, Rick Deckard.
Producer Denis Villeneuve well-developed idea of Ridley Scott, with the support of the author. The new "Blade Runner" depressive, and in addition there is also a replicant hologram with artificial intelligence, which makes the company even more separation.
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