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There's no denying that Hollywood producers, directors, writers, and actors can sometimes get it right, especially when it's ahead of our time. Our curiosity about how technology will advance from flying cars to robots taking over mankind has always fascinated us. The infusing of technology and science has us on the edges of our seats of anticipation about the future of the world we live in as we continue to grace this earth.
Let's look at 7 of the best past and present movies that show how innovative, advanced, and sometimes scary the world could be if technology became this real.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
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Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, and Douglas Rain star in this Stanley Kubrick-directed masterpiece. This movie was released four years after the Twilight Zone series ended. 2001: A Space Odyssey follows a group of astronauts on a voyage and the supercomputer HAL 9000. This movie not only explores mankind beyond Earth but also the conflict that can occur between AI and mankind.
Fifth Element (1997)
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Bruce Willis, Millie Jovovich, Gary Oldman and Chris Tucker star in "The Fifth Element" directed by Luc Besson. The Fifth Element is set in the fictional 23rd century; the plot is to recover four stones: fire, air, water, and earth, to fight against evil. The technology elements introduced in this film include flying taxi cabs, 3D bioprinting machines, robot bartenders, all-in-one cards similar to how we use our cellphones and alien popstars.
The Matrix (1999)
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Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano star in one of the most amazing trilogies of this century, directed by the Wachowskis. From elements of a simulated reality to super-intelligent machines. This movie follows a crew led by Morpheus (played by Fishburne), who not only tries to uncover the Matrix but free themselves and others from its enslavement. This movie has incredible mind-bending martial arts effects and stellar cinematography; no wonder it generated over $3B in revenue.
Minority Report (2002)
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Tom Cruise, "Mr. Mission Impossible," Collin Farrell, Samantha Morton, and Max von Sydow star in this 2002 drama directed by Steven Spielberg set in 2054. Tom Cruise stars as Precrime Chief John Anderton, who is accused of committing a crime in which he becomes a fugitive. This movie features a lot of themes, but what stands out the most is the "precogs," who happen to be mutants that possess precognitive abilities that can see crimes happening before they do, which enables them to apprehend the "potential" criminal before the crime occurs. Minority Report was one of the most successful movies in 2002. The television series "Person of Interest" has a similar plot if you prefer to binge-watch a plot over seasons.
i, Robot (2004)
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Will Smith, Bridget Monahan, James Cromwell, Chi McBride, and many others star in this 2004 drama directed by Alex Proyas set in 2035. This movie is one of my favorites; I thought the storyline was well-written and consistent from start to finish. Some Sci-Fi movies often confuse you about what is happening, but I thought the story developed well. This movie was a testament to how robots can be brilliant, but even though they may be intended to do good, they could potentially cause more harm.
Inception (2010)
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Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, and many others star in this 2010 drama directed by Christopher Nolan. If you aren't familiar with Christopher Nolan, let me help jog your memory: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Interstellar, and this year's Oppenheimer. Do you remember him now? Good because his movies are worth watching. Leonardo DiCaprio's character is a thief who can steal another's information by infiltrating their dreams using experimental dream-sharing technology. The plot is to use this technology to implant an idea into a competitor's mind in hopes for them to lose their business. The catch is a son wanting this done to their father. This movie was wild at every turn but tethers the mind's and technology's ambition.
Honorable Mention:
The Truman Show (1998)
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Jim Carrey, Lauren Linney, and Ed Harris star in the fictitious reality show-based movie directed by Peter Weir. The plot centers around Truman (Carrey) having numerous cameras spotlighted on him, capturing his every waking move. Who would've known roughly five years later, we would begin tuning into shows centered around people's personal lives, such as CBS Big Brother, MTV's True Life, and many others.
Technology is steadily evolving, and what better way to live in this virtual reality than by watching it on the big screen? It's the closest many will get to understanding and visualizing the potential conception of this advancement.