Top Five: Dystopian Movies

Wow it's been a while hasn't it? After rewatching the first two Terminator movies last week (the new one doesn't come out until June 4th in Germany), I started thinking about my favorite movie portrayals of dystopian futures. Terminator 1 and 2 don't actually count, since I'm talking about movies taking place in those futures, not like hanging out in the present trying to prevent them. There's a lot of them, so I'm sure I'm forgetting an important one- I feel like maybe something else with robots...? Oh well!

Brazil. Obviously. (1985)
One of my favorite movies ever, and a dystopia that is equal parts hilarious and horrifying. Drawing from Orwell's 1984, Gilliam (along with Tom Stoppard and Charles McKeown) crafts a future Britain completely controlled and watched by an intensely bureaucratic government. Amidst frequent terrorist bombings and a seemingly inescapable system, protagonist Sam Lowry must rationalize his ho-hum government job with his love for a rebellious American who keeps popping up in his dreams. It's just about a perfect movie, really, and an imaginative and beautiful portrayal of a bleak but still funny future.

Delicatessen (1991)
In Marc Caro's and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's black comedic team up, the future is rather silly and severely lacking meat. The landlord of a several-story apartment building makes do by periodically renting out one room to a stranger, whom he quickly butchers and sells to the starving community. When his daughter starts to fall for the newest tenant Louison, a former clown, there's a dramatic uprising planned with an underground movement. It's a cool concept mixed with an excellent cast and gorgeous cinematography.

Dark City (1998)
Not exactly a vision of the future, but I'm putting it up here anyway because I dig this movie so much. Set in an ambiguous city kept away from the sun, filled with the trappings of multiple time periods, this film presents a dystopia created and controlled by a secretive underground society. Each facet of the citizens' lives has been planted there by these pale strangers, including memories. Nothing can be considered real, and there is no way out. Wonderful and thrilling noir that manages to be both futuristic and anachronistic.

Children of Men (2006)
In 2027, no child has been born for 18 years and no one can figure out why. The world is a chaotic and run-down place and humans are on the brink of extinction. It's up to Clive Owen to deliver a mysteriously pregnant woman to a safe place to give birth, with the hope that she is the clue to human salvation. Scary stuff, beautifully directed by Alfonso Cuarón.

Wall-E (2008)
As cute and wonderful and funny as this was, I found the premise wildly disturbing and seemingly quite prescient. The idea of the human race cooped up in a space shuttle, growing more blubbery by the day while some corrupt robotic company promises to clean up earth but really just abandons it is frightening. And I think it made the movie that much more interesting and significant. Also: adorable.


Honorable Mentions
A Clockwork Orange (1971) Book was better, but still a very good futuristic story.
Logan's Run (1976) I like the whole "utopia is secretly dystopia" thing.
Appleseed (1988 and 2004) Different versions of another "utopia is actually dystopia" concept.
Gattaca (1997) Space! Genetics! Science!
Equilibrium (2002) Dig the premise, not so much the execution.
Idiocracy (2006) Probably the most accurate of any dystopic tale.

Any suggestions? What are your favorites? I'm always on the lookout for good dystopian movies (or books). But please don't recommend Blade Runner. I've seen it: Eh.