Dystopian Movies and Series That Speak Truth About the Grim Future
Dear Diary,
I often find myself lost in fictional worlds that look so real. I have realised that dystopian movies and series have this haunting effect on me. After every movie I watch, I feel that humanity is cracking and diminishing in slow motion.
They are entertaining, eye-opening, and whisper truths, but they can also be disturbing and provoking. Thus, with this thought, I felt like penning down such movies and series that have left an impact on me. Instead, they have taught me a lesson that if we are not careful, things can take an absurd turn.
Dystopian Movies and Series That Intend to Warn Us
Put on your seatbelts as you are all set to glimpse the cruel future.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
Every time I watch this film, my heart is literally in my throat. I must highlight that this movie is not for the faint-hearted. It is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland ruled by tyrants who oppress people for food and water.
While watching every scene, you will definitely feel an adrenaline rush because of the heart-thumping music, crazy cinematography, and brilliant action sequences. Amidst this are the two prime characters—Max (Tom Hardy) and Furiosa (Charlize Theron), and their struggle for survival is terrifying yet fascinating.
2. Westworld
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here and it is all set to rule us, and that’s exactly what Westworld is all about. The series revolves around a fictional and technologically advanced themed amusement park populated by android “hosts.”
The park is meant for high-paying guests who can indulge in their wildest fantasies without getting harmed by the hosts – because they are programmed in that way.
Later on, the series takes a massive turn, and the conflict between the creators and the creation, the fight between freedom and control, starts. It is a heart-wrenching tale, especially watching it in the world of AI.
3. The Last of Us
What if the world is grappled with a deadly fungal infection, and very few humans are left to survive? Sounds creepy, right? I had exactly the same feeling while watching this series.
The cities have crumbled, and there’s no life left, but amidst all the darkness is the bond of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), which brought tears to my eyes. The second season of this series was recently released, and I am all geared up to watch it.
4. A Quiet Place
This movie is a stark reminder that silence can have loud repercussions. A Quiet Place revolves around a world where the aliens have captured Earth and are sensitive to sound, which can lead to death.
Hence, the movie’s name because even a whisper is equivalent to death. Thus, watching the family’s silent struggle to survive, I realised how we ignore the power of sound and connection. Imagine living in a world where a monster cannot see but hear you. Â
5. The Island
This movie made me awestruck, literally. It revolves around a place where residents have to live under strict rules. They are told that the outside world is highly contaminated and they are safe only in the facility.
However, there is a lottery every week, and whoever wins gets a chance to step out of the facility – the island. Gradually, you get to know the dark secrets of these residents and the island. I cannot reveal much because there’s no fun in it. You gotta watch it to know all about it.
6. Dune Movie Series
I just cannot miss having this name on the list of dystopian movies and series. The start of this movie seems slow, but later, when it catches pace, it’s thrilling to watch the happenings. The Dune saga is set thousands of years in the future of the human race.
The film revolves around the endless desert of the planet Arrakis, where a rare substance called “spice” is gold. This substance is so powerful that it fuels space travel and extends life. The person who controls spice has control over the universe.
At the heart of this battle is Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who is pulled into the world of war, betrayal, and prophecy. As great houses fight for power, Paul uncovers his destiny, which can either make or break the universe.
7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
What if humans were not at the top of the pyramid? Planet of the Apes movie series showcases a world where apes have evolved and taken over the human race. In this, I especially love the premise of Rise of the Planet of the Apes starring James Franco and Frieda Pinto.
The film revolves around a young ape named Caesar who inherits his mother’s intelligence. The reason is that a drug meant to cure Alzheimer’s is tested on her, which increases her intelligence.
As Caesar grows, he becomes highly intelligent, but he is taken to an animal shelter, where he meets other apes. What happens next, and what’s in the next series? To know this, you must watch the movie series.
But let me tell you, the film series highlights that humans are outsiders, and power can corrupt any species—not just humans.
8. In Time
Imagine stopping ageing at 25 and having a timer on your forearm that highlights how much time you have left to live. As soon as the timer reaches zero, time out, and you are dead. Scary, isn’t it?
That’s the premise of In Time, where time is the currency and New Greenwich is the wealthiest area where the residents are immortal. In order to safeguard time, the rich keep increasing the prices for the poor to die.
Fortunately, Will Salas (Justin Timberlake), a factory worker from the poorest time zone Dayton, gains more time than he ever imagined. But soon, he faces the cruelty of the system and becomes a rebel to expose it.
While watching this film, I literally felt how harsh the world is to the oppressed and how poorly we value our lives. The world is an unfair place where survival is sold to the highest bidder. Â
9. WALL-E
In this, Earth has gone silent, uninhabited, forgotten by humans and covered in trash. And in these ruins lives a tiny robot named WALL-E, who cleans up the mess one at a time and has lost hope in loneliness.
However, one day, a robot named EVE lands on Earth and WALL-E’s life changes. Thereafter, the journey begins to save the human race. Interestingly, the movie highlights some crucial topics like sedentary lifestyle, adverse human-environmental impact, waste management, etc.
10. Z for Zachariah
Last but not least in the dystopian movies and series is Z for Zachariah. The film revolves around only three characters: Ann Burden (Margot Robbie), John Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and Caleb (Chris Pine).
Ann survives a nuclear apocalypse and thinks she is the sole survivor. However, she meets another survivor, John, and they quickly bond. Soon, a third survivor – Caleb enters, and what begins as hope quickly turns into jealousy, mistrust, and survival.
The film is not about rebuilding the world but holding onto the last pieces of the human race. This film taught me how bonding is important along with survival. Â
Over to you…
One thing that these dystopian movies and series have taught me is the grim future. These movies aren’t about escapism; they are warnings in disguise, which can become a strange kind of hope if we decide to look at it that way. Because though the world ends, love, loyalty, and the fight for survival stay forever.
