Significant innovations and new possibilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) constantly make it one of the most exciting areas of technology today. Yes, AI has made incredible strides in the past decade. Things we had imagined and several ideas beyond our imagination in the 1990s have become a reality today!
And well, the innovators at Hollywood have been ahead of their times on numerous occasions. For nearly a century, movies have depicted intelligent computers, cyborgs with human-like behavior, & rogue high-tech machines.
Unsurprisingly, films about sentient machines have become more popular with the continued growth of AI. At Opporture we are not all just business- we are fun too! So, we have scoured the film canon to select the top AI films that everyone should watch at least once.
Without further ado, let us take a look at our top picks!
List of the Best Artificial Intelligence Movies- Our Picks
1. The Matrix (1999)
It’s been over two decades since The Matrix urged viewers to “take the red pill” and reevaluate their understanding of reality. Set in a not-too-distant future, this cyberpunk masterpiece depicts a world where an automated computer program has enslaved humans. And we, humankind, are unaware that we are living in a virtual reality.
As a result of its innovative AI, groundbreaking graphic effects, and incredible action sequences,
you can’t be told just what Matrix is- you must experience it yourself. There’s no denying that, despite all these years, The Matrix movies are still fantastic!
Director(s): Lana & Lilly Wachowski
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Joe Pantoliano, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Anne Moss.
Critical Ratings: IMDb- 8.7/10 & Rotten Tomatoes- 80%
2. The Terminator (1984)
Many of us may be wary of AI because of this Arnie action flick, which has become one of the most successful science fiction films ever. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a cyborg hitman sent back in time from 2029 by Skynet, a sentient machine, to eliminate the mother of the future hero who will save humanity from an army of robot invaders. In James Cameron’s dystopian film about machines taking over, artificial intelligence, superintelligence, and technology ethics are all examined.
Director(s): James Cameron
Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn & Linda Hamilton.
Critical Ratings: IMDb- 8.1/10 & Rotten Tomatoes- 100%
3. Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner is arguably the best science fiction film ever made. The 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick inspired this classic cyberpunk film immersing its audience in a dystopian future from which they may not emerge unscathed. Harrison Ford stars as a weary police officer whose job is to track down and kill replicants.
Over the years, fans have spent countless hours debating whether or not Deckard is, in fact, a replicant. An excellent film that deftly investigates the “uncanny valley” between humans and machines. Warning: potential spoilers!
Director(s): Stanley Kubrick
Actors: Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer, Edward James.
Critical Ratings: IMDb- 7.7/10 & Rotten Tomatoes- 89%
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1964)
This futuristic epic from Stanley Kubrick will have you thinking of red lights in a… let’s say a very different way than you did before. We won’t give away too much of the plot’s motivation, but the cult classic explores what happens when artificially intelligent robots rise and overthrow humanity. Kubrick intended to investigate the possibility of human coexistence with sentient computers in interstellar space.
It’s a scary idea, especially when you see how HAL said, “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that”. HAL’s calm objectivity in the face of astronaut Dr. David Bowman’s mounting panic is the perfect encapsulation of people’s fears about AI.
Director(s): Stanley Kubrick
Actors: Keir Dullea, William Sylvester, Gary Lockwood, Douglas Rain.
Critical Ratings: IMDb- 8.3/10 & Rotten Tomatoes- 92%
5. “The Star Wars” (Film Series)
Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and their companions are some of the most recognizable and beloved characters from the Star Wars film series. They’re trying to rescue Leia and bring down an oppressive regime. This show, set in a galaxy far, far away, became an instant phenomenon.
It eventually became one of the top film franchises ever, with over $10 billion in worldwide ticket sales. The story, characters, and sound design in “Star Wars” are all worth your time, and the film’s groundbreaking sound design and special effects have influenced the film industry. It took home ten Oscars, a dozen Saturns, a Grammy for best original score, and two Annies.
Director(s): George Lucas
Actors: Liam Neeson, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and numerous others in the series
Critical Ratings: IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Also Read: Putting Humans First: Best Practices for Responsible AI
6. I, Robot (2004)
In the near future, when robots are fairly common and take on various societal roles, I Robot is partially inspired by Isaac Asimov’s 1950 short-story anthology. Will Smith stars as a detective who believes a servant robot has gone rogue and murdered its owner in the dystopian neo-noir film.
The film is set in 2035 when humanoid robots serve humans, and it chronicles a full rise of machines against humans. This occurs after the robots violate the “Three Laws of Robotics,” which state that robots must not harm humans, must obey any instructions provided to them by humans, and must avoid situations in which they could be harmed.
Although it has all the hallmarks of science fiction, it also has elements of a murder mystery, with Will Smith playing a detective who must determine who killed a prominent scientist and whether or not it was the super sophisticated cyborg who was the sole witness.
Director(s): Alex Proyas
Actors: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood.
Critic’s rating: 56% Rotten Tomatoes, 6.8/10 IMDb
7. WALL-E (2008)
Pixar Animation Studios created the American computer-animated science fiction film WALL-E about artificial intelligence. This computer-generated film chronicles the exploits of WALL-E, a lonely little robot that collects trash all over the planet. The planet is now uninhabitable due to pollution, and its responsibility is to clean up after humanity.
It turns out that, of all the robot garbage collectors sent to Earth to fix things up, Wall-E is the only one who can do his job. His luck changes when he meets a second robot, EVE, who monitors the cleaning process.
WALL-E is the only film on this list that doesn’t feature any interaction between humans and machines. Still, it does investigate how robots might interact with one another if they were endowed with human intelligence. It’s a new way of thinking about AI and other forms of technology, and it’ll make you feel warm and fuzzy!
Director(s): Andrew Stanton
Actors: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight and Andrew Stanton
Critical Ratings: IMDb- 8.4/10 & Rotten Tomatoes- 95%
8. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
This ‘The Manga’ adaptation by Mamoru Oshii deserves the first place for many different reasons. To begin, its impact cannot be denied, and it still serves to inspire new works within the genre today. The Matrix, an obvious frontrunner, wouldn’t exist without Ghost in the Shell.
We can’t think of a better artificial intelligence film than this one. Directors spend their careers trying to achieve that ideal blend of seriousness and visual flair.
Director(s): Mamoru Oshii
Actors: Atsuko Tanaka & Lemasa Kayumi
Critical Ratings: IMDb- 7.9/10 & Rotten Tomatoes- 95%
Conclusion- The AI & Hollywood Romance is Everlasting!
Without a shred of doubt, Hollywood will continue creating cinematic marvels with AI and Sci Fi as its theme. In the times to come, the focus of story writers and directors on AI-themed movies will be even more because of the increasing potency of AI along with enhanced tech awareness of the public at large.
The other factor that we need to consider is that the increased capabilities of AI will help filmmakers create more realistic and impactful movies in the near future. As movielovers- we can not really ask for too much more!
We at Opporture are eagerly waiting for what Hollywood serves next!
What about you?
