There are many different genres with hundreds of movies. But, perhaps there isn’t any other genre as populated as A.I. over decades, Hollywood has represented humanity’s fascination with Artificial Intelligence. So, let’s take a look at the 15 best movies about artificial intelligence:
15. Automata (2014)
Automata is based in a post-apocalyptic world. In this movie, the robot race is advancing as self-modifying traits put them miles ahead of humanity. The film’s tagline suggests the story in the best way:
“Human race is at the edge of the end. Robot race is at the edge of the beginning.”
The lead character Jacq Vaucan (Antonio Banderas), investigates the report of such robots. This leads him to various dangers and a conspiracy. Before Vaucan can uncover the mystery, he finds himself entangled in a deadly scheme.
14. M3GAN (2022)
M3GAN was one of the highest-rated movies of 2022 and for a good reason. This film is about the advancement of artificial intelligence and how it might affect the lives around us. The titular doll in the movie is an ace of artificial intelligence.
The film begins when Gemma (Allison Williams) designs a doll based on A.I. It could be a teacher, protector, and mentor to kids. So, she gives it to her eight-year-old niece. Soon, things don’t go as planned as A.I. takes command of her consciousness.
13. Chappie (2015)
Chappie may not be a new concept, but it is a unique one. The film tells the story of police robots in the future who protect and serve the city instead of human police. As a result, the crime rates go down drastically.
Soon, a police robot is stolen by a few criminals to use for robberies. So, when the criminals reprogram it, Chappie (Sharlto Copley) becomes the first robot who can feel and think for himself.
12. Upgrade (2018)
Upgrade is another high-rated film about A.I. from 2018 that largely flew under the radar. While you can blame marketing for that, the story is nothing less than stellar. The film begins with Grey Trace (Logan Mashall-Green) involved in a car crash. Soon, four criminals arrive and kill Grey’s wife while paralyzing him by shooting him in the neck.
Grey becomes a quadriplegic, but a tech innovator offers him the ability to walk again—with the help of a chip that’ll upgrade his life and help him get revenge.
11. Ex Machina (2014)
Ex Machina was a groundbreaking movie that started a new trend of robot/A.I. movies in Hollywood. It was the talk of the town back when it was released in late 2014. It begins when Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) joins a program to assist A.I.
He is paired with a female robot with the ability to think, assess, and judge—in other words, mimic human intelligence the closest that A.I. has ever done. Soon, the robot Ava (Alicia Vikander) expresses the desire to express the outside world—and her feelings for Caleb, which throws a domino effect on the project.
10. Her (2013)
Her is one of the best movies from 2013, and that’s why it won the best writing for original screenplay at the 2014 Oscars. The film is about a lonely writer who gets an artificial intelligence system to help him write. But soon, he learns that the robot can do more than just that.
The robot’s ability to learn and adapt to conditions around her makes Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) fall in love with the device. The film does portray the abilities of A.I., but it’s more about the loneliness of the human mind that makes it a great watch.
9. I, Robot (2004)
I, Robot is set in 2035, so we might not be too far away from this future. Jokes aside, the film is about a Chicago PD investigator, Del Spooner (Will Smith), leading the investigation of a suicide scene—which he suspects was a murder committed by none other than a robot.
His suspicions arise from the fact that Spooner was assigned to the case at the behest of Alfred Lanning, the murder victim. On top of that, a robot was seen fleeing from the crime scene. This leads to an investigation that’s not only a threat to people like Spooner but also to the whole of humanity.
8. Archive (2020)
The Archive is one of the recent films about A.I. that had many people wonder if A.I. was truly on a human level. This film is also set in 2038 and begins with George Almore (Theo James) working on a life-like robot with human-level capabilities.
With his prototype nearing completion, Almore must keep his ulterior motive hidden from people around him which is to bring his dead wife’s consciousness into the robot. This leads to a series of complications for the robot and its master scientist.
7. Big Hero 6 (2014)
Big Hero 6 is one of the most popular animated movies of all time. The film is about a 14-year-old high school graduate Hiro Hamada. In his spare time, Hiro goes to underground robot fights and makes a living out of it.
Soon, Hiro’s brother dies in a fire accident. Before that, Hiro met a robot called Baymax at his brother’s facility. He befriends the robot and brings him home to unmask the conspiracy and find the person who set fire to the lab that killed his brother.
6. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence was one of the first movies that made many people shed tears for robots. The film is crawling with human-like robot characters, made to fulfill specific roles in society. From policemen to escorts, robots find their fitting role in this dystopian era.
Amidst all this, David, an advanced robot boy, has his sights set on becoming an actual human child to regain the love of his adoptive mother. Soon, he goes on a journey that leads him through the harsh truths of his life.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most revolutionary films in the history of cinema. This genre-defining movie was released over 55 years ago, and it’s still considered the pioneer of this genre and one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made.
It all begins when an unknown artifact is found buried under the lunar surface. Soon, a spacecraft is assigned to find the origins of this device as two men embark on a journey to Jupiter. They are accompanied by the A.I-based supercomputer H.A.L. 9000 which goes rogue during the journey. Will they survive the journey? Watch the film to find out.
4. Moon (2009)
Moon is one of the best sci-fi films of the modern era. The film is about an astronaut called Sam (Sam Rockwell), who is stationed on the moon for research. His three-year contract is almost near at end when he collides with a deadly occurrence.
Accompanied by nothing but his loyal A.I. computer GERTY. Soon, Sam wakes up and suspects something is wrong. Only to find a doppelganger near the crash site. He continues his quest until it’s revealed that Sam himself is just an A.I. clone of the real Sam.
3. The Matrix Film Series (1999-2021)
The Matrix film series is perhaps the one movie that generated a lot of interest among people in A.I. and virtual reality. So much so that the movie series has made scientists question whether or not we are living in a realistic simulation.
The film is about a computer programmer called Thomas Anderson who learns that he must lead the fight against the machines who have enslaved humans using virtual reality software called the Matrix.
2. Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner is perhaps one of the most interesting and saddest renditions of A.I. in movies. The film also has a star cast, with Harrison Ford leading the pack as Rick Deckard, an ex-policeman turned special agent.
It begins when he is assigned a program to exterminate a group of androids who have developed violent and dangerous tendencies. After that, this Ridley Scott classic from 1982 becomes the movie of a lifetime as it makes Deckard question his reality.
1. Terminator Film Series (1984-2019)
No movie franchise has stirred the pot regarding the dangers of artificial intelligence as much as the Terminator film series. The first film shows a cyborg assassin called the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent from the future by machines to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the mother of the leader of the human resistance.
The second film shows the same concept, except that there are two robots now, one sent to kill the Connors by machines while the other is sent by John Connor himself to protect himself and his mother Sarah Connor. The second installment of the film is considered to be one of the finest action sci-fi movies ever. Despite several decent sequel releases after that, the second installment remains the very best.
Honorable Mentions
- Total Recall (1990)
- Minority Report (2002)
- Ready Player One (2018)
What are your favorite films about artificial intelligence? Share with us in the comments!
