These 19 Movies Will Help You Get Your AI Fix After Watching "M3GAN"
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Artificial intelligence has been explored in cinema since its realization was a mere fever dream. These days, the concept of human-like machines feels more real than ever... and it's just as disturbing as filmmakers of yore thought it would be.
M3GAN is 2023's first film icon, but your AI journey doesn't have to end there. Here are 19 films — old and new — you can add to your watchlist if this killer robot left you thirsting for more sci-fi.
1.Ex Machina
A coder named Caleb wins a competition to spend a week with Nathan, his company's CEO. After arriving at Nathan's private mountain home, Caleb is made to interact with an unnerving artificial intelligence robot. Ex Machina is one of the most popular and well-received sci-fi films in recent history. Visually stunning, well-acted, and suspenseful, this one is a must-see for fans of the genre.
2.Her
Her is the perfect movie for people who prefer a little romance with their AI stories. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore, a lonely man who falls in love with an operating system. It's unconventional, emotional, and aesthetically pleasing all at once.
3.Upgrade
Grey Trace's life was ruined when a vicious mugging killed his wife and left him paralyzed. When a billionaire inventor offers him an AI implant called STEM, he's granted superhuman abilities that he uses for vengeance. This action-packed hidden gem flew under the radar in 2018, but it's certainly worth a watch.
4.The Terminator films
This one goes without saying, but The Terminator franchise is as iconic as AI films can get. Everyone is familiar with James Cameron's timeless masterpiece, but a rewatch never hurt anybody.
5.I, Robot
In the year 2035, a technophobic cop (played by Will Smith) suspects that a robot may be responsible for a death that he's investigating. Whether this film aged well or not is up for debate, but it was one of the best sci-fi projects of the early 2000s.
6.2001: A Space Odyssey
When humanity discovers a mysterious monolith, astronauts are sent to find its origins with the aid of HAL 9000, the world’s most advanced AI. Kubrick's sensational space drama was ahead of its time in every facet. While it leans heavily on visual storytelling rather than dialogue, HAL 9000 becomes a terrifying force of technology throughout the film.
7.Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Don't be fooled by the disastrous 2017 Scarlett Johansson remake. The original Ghost in the Shell film, based on a manga of the same name, is widely regarded as a masterpiece. In this influential cyberpunk classic, Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg, hunts "The Puppet Master," who illegally hacks into the minds of cyborg-human hybrids.
8.Alita: Battle Angel
Robert Rodriguez's AI adventure Alita: Battle Angel is also based on a renowned manga series. When the titular character is found by a scientist named Dr. Ido, she awakens with no memory of her past. Getting past Alita's disturbing robot face with massive eyes is a journey all on its own.
9.After Yang
When his daughter’s companion android (the titular Yang) malfunctions, Jake desperately searches for a way to repair him. What follows is a tender family drama that explores love, loss, and memories. It's a bit of a slow burn, but a beautiful narrative nonetheless.
10.RoboCop (1987)
Part man. Part machine. 100% legendary. RoboCop is from The Terminator's era of classic sci-fi AI narratives, and he's still a well-known pop culture figure that requires no introduction.
11.A.I. Artificial Intelligence
In this Steven Spielberg drama, a robotic boy named David embarks on a journey to discover who he truly is and where he belongs after he's adopted. This film was originally meant to be a Stanley Kubrick project, and he worked on it for decades before giving the reins to Spielberg.
12.Bicentennial Man
Bicentennial Man follows the life of Andrew, a robot that was purchased as a household appliance for the Martin family. The plot unfolds as Andrew begins to experience human emotions and thoughts. If anything, this film is worth watching for robotic Robin Williams alone.
13.Kimi
Kimi takes a unique approach to artificial intelligence and virtual assistants akin to Alexa or Siri. This assistant is monitored by people instead of an algorithm, which means it slowly learns and adapts from real interpreters. Angela Childs (played by Zoe Kravitz), who works with Kimi, overhears what sounds like a murder and faces trials and tribulations while trying to report it.
14.Zoe
Zoe tells a story of real humans falling in love with artificial intelligence in the same vein as Her. These "synthetic humans" can feel a spectrum of emotions, including love, and they explore this concept alongside their human partners.
15.Morgan
Lee Weathers, a "risk-management specialist" consultant, observes an artificial being named Morgan, who used a pen to stab a scientist. Weathers is tasked with determining if Morgan's "life" should be terminated as a precaution against future incidents.
16.S1m0ne
This is one of Al Pacino's lesser-known films, and with good reason. It's not quite a masterpiece, but it's interesting in concept. When an actress walks off set in the middle of filming, a producer digitally creates another "actress" as a substitute. The AI (named Simone) becomes a sensation with the general public, and no one knows she's not a real person.
17.The Machine (2013)
This AI film takes the war approach as Britain’s Ministry of Defense scouts for robots as game-changing weapons. When a programming bug causes problems within a prototype, the AI becomes even more powerful and self-aware than imagined.
18.Archive
The resurrection of dead loved ones is often explored in sci-fi projects, though it's always incredibly unsettling. George (played by Theo James) is working on a human-equivalent AI. He intends to use it to reunite with his dead wife — a goal he needs to hide at all costs.
19.I Am Mother
In the wake of humanity's extinction, a teenage girl is raised underground by a robot called “Mother.” The girl's purpose is to repopulate the earth, but her bond with "Mother" is threatened when an unforeseen stranger arrives with alarming news. Though the concept may feel overly familiar, it's still an entertaining watch for those craving a sci-fi fix.
