As we patiently await the impending takeover of AI, we’ve compiled a list of films that tackle artificial intelligence in diverse, fun, scary, and clever ways. AI enthusiasts won’t be disappointed – Spielbergian hero’s journeys riffing on PinocchioFrom deadly girlfriends with built-in robot parts, to reality-layered simulations, to demure grasshopper-shaped cracking prototypes, and cute manipulative androids, these are the best sci-fi movies about artificial intelligence.
Mortal Friend (1986)
by Wes Craven mortal friend (based on Friend by Diana Henstell) was something of a departure from supernatural fare into sci-fi/killer robot territory. Brilliant Paul (Matthew Laborteaux) is a robotics genius and loves showing off his pet robot BB. He’s in love with the girl next door, Samantha (Kristy Swanson). When the miserable neighborhood growls Elvira (Anne Ramsay) destroys BB and Samantha is murdered by her alcoholic father, Paul turns to his robotic expertise. He revives Samantha by integrating BB’s consciousness into her. Samantha/BB begins to get revenge on the neighborhood bullies and wreak havoc.
When mortal friend was first released, the 80s horror market was saturated with masked lunatics like Friday 13Lovecraftian returns like From beyondand macabre movies that unleash nature like Cujo, Food of the gods part 2and slugs, so a film exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on a suburban community was an interesting change of pace for the genre. The film may be campy, overly dramatic, and uneven, but the central relationship between Paul and Samantha is truly sweet. The AI subplot could potentially have been so much more had Craven had the freedom to make whatever movie he wanted, and there are quite a few scary moments throughout. mortal friend make the list for this basketball scene alone, if nothing else.
Short Circuit (1986)
John Badhamthe cult favorite short circuit introduced one of the most sassy cyborgs to ever grace the big screen. One of the many prototypes developed by the US Army – Johnny Five (Tim Blaney) is struck by lightning, which gives him a winning personality and a bit of sentience. He escapes in a truck and goes to bed with Ally Sheedyit is animal lover, Stephanie Speck. Stephanie keeps it out of sight until designer Newton Crosby (Steve Guttenberg) picks up his robot. He’s stunned by Johnny 5’s newfound sentience. However, the military want their property back and are ready to send in the other, meaner prototypes – highlighted by their glowing red eyes.
The most interesting aspect of short circuit This is how the US government is ready to monopolize this technology for militaristic purposes. They examine Johnny Five’s growing conscience and morality when he impersonates a grasshopper and inadvertently kills it. The robot is horrified to have “taken apart” a sentient being, and this is one of its first lessons in respecting all life. It also helps that the robot is hilarious.
Ex Machina (2014)
by Alex Garland First Oscar-winning director Ex-Machina is a modern tale of by Shakespeare Storm with artificial intelligence. Unsurprisingly, it’s a film with a lot in mind – consciousness expansion, human autonomy and AI, as well as biblical and literary overtones. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and science goes spectacularly wrong to Domhnall GleesonCaleb, the programmer wet behind the ears, when taken to a Top Secret hideout. Caleb participates in sessions with a beautiful android named Ava (Alicia Vaikander) to check if she thinks like a human under the observation of misogynistic CEO Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Caleb begins to fall in love with Ava and believes she shares his feelings. But the AI has far more nefarious plans.
Using AI to explore gender wars and women’s autonomy (or lack thereof) is a fascinating premise. Ava has been stripped of her freedom and privacy and must confront the reality of male property and invasive psychological tactics daily to determine if she can think for herself. Ava is a new lifeform and subsequently has no rights or at least that seems to be the consensus among the surrounding male characters. Ava knows how to appeal to machismo by giving the men around her exactly what they want from her, and she secures her own freedom. Ex-Machina takes us deep into darkness for a dark examination of the consequences of transhumanism.
Upgrade (2018)
At Leigh Whannel’s futuristic ultra-violent vigilante movie Upgrade pays homage to the action-oriented, robot-centric movies of the 80s. It follows car mechanic Gray (Logan Marshall-Green), deeply in love with his wife Asha (Melanie Vallejo), who works at Cobolt, a company specializing in cybernetic augmentations. After a mysterious ambush, Gray is left in a wheelchair and Asha is killed. But all is not lost – Cobolt offers him an upgrade and he becomes a lean, mean, revenge-driven machine. Of course, there is conspiracy, betrayal and lots and lots of violence. A LOT. Upgrade is pure pulp fiction with outlandish sci-fi conceit drawn roughly from Robocop. Not a review, Upgrade did something innovative with the trope. Human augmentation is an essential part of science fiction storytelling. Whannel’s inventive approach to this generic story device is therefore welcome.
AI Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Gir on Pinochio, by Steven Spielberg AI Artificial Intelligence is epic and sublime on a grand scale. The harrowing sci-fi fable revolves around David (Haley Joel Osment), a Mecha (or android) capable of activating an imprint allowing it to sense human emotion. Monica (Frances O’Connor) and Henry (Sam Robard) take the AI after their own son is diagnosed with a degenerative disease. Things are going well until Monica and Henry’s son comes back and starts making trouble for the AI. What follows is a non-traditional hero’s journey with David believing that if he locates the Blue Fairy, she may be able to turn him into a real boy. AI is inspired by Pinocchio and the insurmountable odds the classic character faced to survive and one day become something more than himself. The message of this modern tale may seem banal and outdated to the most jaded viewers, but it’s delivered in a thought-provoking way, incorporating identity and self-confidence into a fairytale plot.
The Matrix (1999)
Is it déjà vu do you experience? Apparently, this is a delay in the information processing circuitry, or perhaps just a glimpse of the machinery underlying reality. In other words… a bug in The matrix. The Wachowskis The first entry in the franchise was released in 1999 and is one of the most influential films of all time. Imagine if Skynet won the war against humanity and rather than exterminate us all decided to allow us to exist in a simulation, now add a bad mood Keanu Reevesmartial arts-inspired fight sequences, a scary Laurence Fishburnewith lots of leather, stylish raincoats and industrial strength pomade. The matrix has a convoluted and complicated narrative structure with a broad and (still) evolving mythology. It asks big philosophical questions about reality, identity, and human endurance, all wrapped up in blockbuster packaging.
The Terminator (1984)
Who wouldn’t be flattered if Michael Biehn traveled back in time for you? In james cameronit is The Terminatormodest waitress Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) is about to have a horrible day. A world-dominant Artificial Intelligence (Skynet) of the future has sent Arnold Schwarzeneggerit is Terminator returns to eradicate it before the birth of his son – a leader of the resistance against the machines – even before he is born. The majority of The Terminator is an intense chase movie with Biehn’s resistance fighter Kyle Reese and Connor barely outwitting the brutal and seemingly unstoppable Terminator killing machine at every turn. It’s also a damn good love story with Reese and Connor having instant chemistry and his innocent outlook inspiring more than a little sympathy. Schwarzenegger is a revelation as a stoic, cold-blooded killing machine who pursues the duo relentlessly, destroying anything or anyone who gets in his way.