[SciFi-ActionMan]

The SFAM Top 50 Countdown - Cyberpunk Movies

NOTE: This list has been superceded by my website. Go to http://www.cyberpunkreview.com for a full listing of cyberpunk movies.

This has been a long time in the making. For my top 50 lists, I generally try to watch an entire genre and then choose my favorites. While I'm still waiting on one or two out of 80+ potential cyberpunk films, I think I'm ready to do my list. Many different types of movies are represented here, including:

• "Traditional" cyberpunk films
• "Pre-cyberpunk" films, or films that "seem" cyberpunk but were made prior to the 80s when the term first came into being
• Anime (about 25% of all films in my list are 2D or 3D anime)
• Soft core cyberpunk films
• Foreign cyberpunk films
• Virtual reality films
• Surrealistic cyberpunk films
• Cyberpunk films that include aliens (or non-humans)
• "B" movie cyberpunk films
• Action-based cyberpunk films (meaning more action - less cyberpunk)

To be placed in the top 50 films, the movies must be good AND fit into a general criteria I've developed for cyberpunk as a genre. This criteria, which was refined by others in a previous thread, includes:

Negative Impact of technology on humanity: In cyberpunk, technology runs rampant, and usually directs most societal interactions. Dystopian near futures are the norm. Sacred societal boundaries are often crossed in these dystopian societies. Often the earth is severly damaged. Crime and drug use are often key supporting themes.

Fusion of man and machine: In addition to cyborgs, sentient programs and robots, cyberpunk often blurs of what it means to be human. Traits we take for granted as representing humanity disappear via introspective looks brought on by the fusion of man and machine. In some cases, such as in the Japanese cyberpunk films, the fusion is explicitly invasive.

Corporate control over society: Cyberpunk almost always has an ever powerful controlling entity that directs society. Most often this is represented as a corporation. Some times its simply an ever present singular government.

Story focuses on the underground: Cyberpunk almost always focusses on the underground of society. While the story may lead to revolution and toppling the power structure, the perspective is always that of the oppressed or the hero of the oppressed.

Ubiquitous Access to information: Cyberpunk often deals with the continual spread and access to information. Hacker themes and ever-connecting internets are common. Additionally, the connection of humans to this omnipresent information stream leads to the blurring of the virtual with the real.

Cyberpunk visuals and style: Cyberpunk visuals, ideally, are dirty, hyper-realistic “lived in” looks at the near future. Often cyberpunk films will have a single dominating color that permeates the film. We also see patterns of dark motifs contrasted with shocking neon color schemes. And just as important, a sense of slick style often pervades a cyberpunk movie.

Some good movies did not make the cut: Some popular movies that "border" on the cyberpunk did not make the cut. Most prominently, Alien (and its many imitators, such as the "B" movie "Creature") did not really qualify in my mind as a cyberpunk film. As the list goes, we can discuss some of the other omisions (I was sorely tempted to put Star Trek: First Contact in, for instance). Other movies, which are terrific in quality, were rated lower based on my belief that they only partially fit the cyberpunk category.

Again, this list is NOT just the ordered according to the best movies, but also take in account their degree of "cyberpunkness."

1. Blade Runner (Scott, 1982)
2. Metropolis (Lang, 1927)
3. Ghost in the Shell (Oshii, 1995)
4. What is the Matrix?
5. Tetsuo - The Iron Man (Tsukamoto, 1988)
6. The Acorn and the Oak Tree - a complimentary pairing...La Jetée (Marker, 1962)Twelve Monkeys (Gilliam, 1995)
7. Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (Oshii, 2004)
8. Natural City (2003, Min Byeong-Cheon)
9. Wonderful Days (A.K.A. Sky Blue) (Moon-saeng Kim Park Sunmin, 2003)
10. Tron (Lisberger, 1982)
11. Armitage III (Ochi, 1994)
12. Avalon (Oshii, 2001)
13. Hardware (Stanley, 1990)
14. Robocop (Verhoeven, 1987)
15. Casshern (Kiriya, 2004)
16. Thirteenth Floor (Rusnak, 1999)
17. Metropolis (Rintaro, 2001)
18. Immortel (Bilal, 2004)
19. Minority Report (Spielberg, 2002)
20. Terminator (Cameron, 1984)
21. AI (Spielberg, 2001)
22. Texhnolyze (Hamasaki, 2003)
23. Strange Days (Bigelow, 1995)
24. Total Recall (Verhoeven, 1990)
25. Akira (Otomo, 1988)
26. Johnny Mnemonic (Longo, 1995)
27. eXistenZ (Cronenberg, 1999)
28. Serial Experiments Lain (Nakamura, 1998)
29. Dark City (Proyas, 1998)
30. Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex (Kamiyama, 2002)
31. Returner (Yamazaki, 2002) (A)
31. Lawnmower Man (Leonard, 1992) (B)
32. Save the Green Planet (Jun-hwan Jeong)
33. Brazil (Gilliam, 1985)
34. Malice@Doll (Motonaga, 2000)
35. 2009: Lost Memories (Si-myung Lee, 2002)
36. THX-1138 (Lucas, 1971)
37. Appleseed (Katayama, 1988)
38. Hackers (Softley, 1995)
39. Nirvana (Salvatores, 1997)
40. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Cameron, 1991)
41. Automatic (Murlowski, 1994)
42. I, Robot (Proyas, 2004)
43. Tank Girl (Talalay, 1995)
44. I.K.U. (Cheang, 2000)
45. Reboot (1993)
46. Imposter (Fleder, 2002)
47. Bubblegum Crisis (1987)
48. Rubber's Lover (Fukui, 1997)
49. Freejack (Murphy, 1992)
50. f8 (Wen, 2001)

[SciFi-ActionMan]

#50: f8 (Wen, 2001)



Overview: f8 is a truly wonderful 13 minute film short that captures almost all the key elements of cyberpunk without using any dialogue! This film, highly recognized in the 2001 best animated film short awards (including the Hollywood Film Festival, the Jury Award, and others). The 3D graphics, while not as high quality as might be found in a large budget movie, are more than adequate. Wen's selection of viewpoints, lighting decisions, movement and shadows are able to emphasize the best qualities of the 3D animation.

f8 is about a nameless lead character in a strange futuristic society who wants to gain individuality. He does this by stealing a "face," and thus, an individual personality. He lives in an oppressive, metropolis-like controlling society, where your fate and role is predetermined. But an underground has developed where individuality appears to be the key for admision.

Unfortunately I cannot devulge too much more of the plot for fear of spoiling it. You can get this movie at Best Buy for about 10 bucks - even though its only 13 minutes, I think its worth it. There are like 5 commentaries, and truly, the story is interesting enough that you'll watch it more than a few times. But instead of a plot, here's some more screen captures of it - these should give you an idea of f8's visual splendor. Like many cyberpunk films, one color tends to dominate f8 - in this case, yellow is the predominate color.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

#49 Freejack (Murphy, 1992)




Overview: No, this is NOT a great movie, but I love the Rolling Stones, so sue me!

In Freejack, the earth's environment has become severely damaged, to the point that most people suffer some form of illness. But technology has advanced to the point that someone's consciousness can be transferred from one person to another. Also, a version of time travel, where a body can be taken forward to the "present" (2009), while risky, has become possible. Now, bounty hunters from the near future raid the past for perfect bodies with flatlined brains to bring forward in time to sell to the highest bidder. Emilio Estevez plays a race car driver who crashes and dies in a spectacular way on live TV back in 1992, but just before he dies, is taken to the future by a shady character played by Mick Jagger.

Freejack loses out incredibly on believability, as does it for its rather fast prediction for both the destruction of the earth and the relatively rapid speed of technology progression. In retrospect, maybe this movie should have taken place in 2049 instead. Still, Jagger is pretty fun in this, as is the rest of the cast. As long as you turn off your brain, you should enjoy some nice cyberpunk visuals here.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

#48: Rubber's Lover (Fukui, 1997)

"Rectal injection for instant effect!"

Overview: Rubber's Lover is one of the truly bizarre Japanese cyberpunk films. Fukui's entire message here is summed up well on his interview on the DVD, "Dominant power comes when mental anguish exceeds physical tolerance." Truly, this is what this movie is about. Chances are, for most of you, this movie will be pretty much completely different from anything you've ever seen - which is reason enough to watch it.

The story concerns three scientists who try to keep their fading research hopes alive by doing all sorts of bizarre torture-type shit to the test subjects, the hope is that they will surpass their mental abilities. After killing all their test subjects, two of them decide to use the third as the test subject and overload him with drugs and bizarre sound torture treatments, and unfortunately for them, are successful. There are various side characters in this including a corporate slimebag, his secretary fiance, who gets captured, raped and mentally manipulated, and an assistant chick who has a penchant for slapping test subjects.

The entire movie takes place in a few rooms, and from this perspective, its pretty amazing how realistic and unique a film can be made on such a small budget. The shots seem very well designed to make maximal use out of very meager special effects. Smoke, blood and screaming make up the bulk of the effects.



But truly, the director seems to have the primary goal of shocking the audience past the normal humdrum of horror and action films. To do this, there are some bizarrely erotic scenes incorporated, including a very realistic and graphic rape scene, a lesbian scene, various scenes involving a rubber suit, and a scene where two people are covered in blood, totally caught up in the "moment" where the guy eventually just rips the girl apart (literally - skin, and chest are removed!). The crazed scientist thing is taken to extremes here, as are the corporate slimebags.

Keep in mind - this film is not for the squeemish. Your milage may vary.

Bonus Movie: 964 Pinocchio (Fukui, 1991)



Fukui has another movie in this vein, probably more popular than Rubber's Lover. This 964 Pinocchio is in color, and supposedly doesn't have the sexual tension that Rubber's Lover does. This is one I'm still awaiting, but I'm guessing from everything I've read, and from another pairing of these movies (B&W japanese cyberpunk movie and a color one from the same director) that I probably will like Rubber's Lover better. But if I get it before the list is complete I'll comment more on this.

Or perhaps the Pup or others who have seen both can also comment on the differences between the two.

[Superdog]

I've always considered myself a big fan of cyber-punk, I never really knew there WAS 50 cyber punk movies! I'm guessing Blade Runner will be at the top somewhere, Dark City maybe... I await the rest of the list

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by Superdog

I've always considered myself a big fan of cyber-punk, I never really knew there WAS 50 cyber punk movies! I'm guessing Blade Runner will be at the top somewhere, Dark City maybe... I await the rest of the list

It's possible I've heard of those two movies.

EDIT: and actually, I'd put the number at closer to 80 Cyberpunk-like films.

[karibou]

You know I'll be checking this thread, my SFAM. Diggin' the pictures so far, too.

*waits patiently for next entry*

[Superdog]

Originally Posted by SciFi-ActionMan

80 Cyberpunk-like films.

damn. I'll probably be adding alot to my see list from here

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by karibou

You know I'll be checking this thread, my SFAM. Diggin' the pictures so far, too.

*waits patiently for next entry*

Your patience is my virtue

#47: Bubblegum Crisis (Akayama et al., 1987)



Overview: Bubblegum Crisis makes this list more due to its historical influence than its actual quality as a cyberpunk series. I'm not a big fan of mecha anime so this may jade me somewhat. While I liked the OAV, I'd imagine those who are in to mecha anime would probably love this.

Bubblegum Crisis involves four hot robot mercenary police chicks (the Knight Sabers) fighting the evil mega-corporation in almost a mecha type fashion. While some absolutely swear by this series, to me its not quite as deep as I'd like it to be. Still, again, this was innovative stuff in the 80s, even though the animation now looks seriously dated. I think its fair to say that most anime afficionadoes would place this, along with a few other titles (some that may even be on this list ) as being important in tracing the evolution of modern japanese anime, especially cyberpunk anime. And again, as long as you're not looking for Oshii-type depth, Bubblegum Crisis is a fun ride that almost feels like a rock video most of the time.

Bonus Anime: Iria - Zeiram the Animation



Overview: For an excellent copy-cat protoge of Bubblegum Crisis, look no further than Iria. Other than being human versus robot, Iria clearly finds its roots in Bubblegum Crisis, and expands on them both in a grittier feel and in moving slightly away from the mecha slant. Iria is a junior bounty hunter who gets wrapped up in trying to stop a corporate plans to release Zeiram, a truly impressive and almost indestructable monster, on society. The visuals are pretty good, and the story is more than passable.

[1niftydude]

Cool idea. I hope this thread gets a following. I for one know little about this genre, although I love the Matrix.

[Shonuff]

It's been a while since I've seen one of your lists, SFAM, but they always seem to turn out great.

Really looking forward to this one.

*subscribed*

[Grand SACHI]

Yay! it has started!!

[Grand SACHI]

Originally Posted by SciFi-ActionMan

#48: Rubber's Lover (Fukui, 1997)

Overview: Rubber's Lover is one of the truly bizarre Japanese cyberpunk films. Fukui's entire message here is summed up well on his interview on the DVD, "Dominant power comes when mental anguish exceeds physical tolerance." Truly, this is what this movie is about. Chances are, for most of you, this movie will be pretty much completely different from anything you've ever seen - which is reason enough to watch it.

The story concerns three scientists who try to keep their fading research hopes alive by doing all sorts of bizarre torture-type shit to the test subjects, the hope is that they will surpass their mental abilities. After killing all their test subjects, two of them decide to use the third as the test subject and overload him with drugs and bizarre sound torture treatments, and unfortunately for them, are successful. There are various side characters in this including a corporate slimebag, his secretary fiance, who gets captured, raped and mentally manipulated, and an assistant chick who has a penchant for slapping test subjects.

The entire movie takes place in a few rooms, and from this perspective, its pretty amazing how realistic and unique a film can be made on such a small budget. The shots seem very well designed to make maximal use out of very meager special effects. Smoke, blood and screaming make up the bulk of the effects.

But truly, the director seems to have the primary goal of shocking the audience past the normal humdrum of horror and action films. To do this, there are some bizarrely erotic scenes incorporated, including a very realistic and graphic rape scene, a lesbian scene, various scenes involving a rubber suit, and a scene where two people are covered in blood, totally caught up in the "moment" where the guy eventually just rips the girl apart (literally - skin, and chest are removed!). The crazed scientist thing is taken to extremes here, as are the corporate slimebags.

Keep in mind - this film is not for the squeemish. Your milage may vary.

Hmmm!

*add Rubber's Lover to ziplist!*

[RitterRed]

Yes, yes! We've been waiting for this Sci-Fi. Glad to see you finally posting it. I look forward to reading about the list as well as straightening you out from time to time.

[Acapelli05]

Even though I've probably have only seen 5 cyberpunk films in my lifetime (and that's stretching it), this list intrigues me.

Color me subscribed.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

#46: Imposter (Fleder, 2002)



Overview: While the cinematography is definitely subpar in this Philip K. Dick story, the movie itself still works. Imposter got bashed for having bizarre cut aways, too many slow motion scenes, and generally wierd and herky-jerky cinematography decisions. While all true, I truly like both the story (basically the Fugitive, done in a near future setting) and the acting, especially by Gary Sinise and Madeleine Stowe.

Imposter is set in the year 2079, where Aliens are attempting to invade the earth. Sinise plays a weapons scientist who has been accused of being replaced by a DNA-based replicant, not unlike those in the new Battlestar Galactica. Sinise escapes and tries to prove his innocence. While the "Fugitive-like" movie has lots of interesting scenes, its the ending that I truly love - definitely a cool twist.

Bonus Movie: Andriod (Lipstadt, 1983)



Overview: OK, so why do I have a movie that takes place entirely in space on a rather clean spaceship on a cyberpunk list? Because of Max 404's performance. Max 404 (Played by Don Keith Opper) is an android lab assistant who wants to be seen as a living being. Unfortunately, his creator, Dr. Daniel (played by Klaus Kinski) is only interested in creating the perfect prolotariat class - androids who are sentient but who have no freewill of their own. As Max is really a prototype, Kinski is interested in replacing Max with a newer model he's just developed - a woman android. When a ship taken over by three criminals - one of them a woman - docks on their research ship, Max has a chance to interact with a woman, and Dr. Daniel has a chance to bring his android woman to life.
Overall, Android starts off slowly, but gets better. Also, the ending, like Imposter has a pretty cool twist.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by RitterRed

Yes, yes! We've been waiting for this Sci-Fi. Glad to see you finally posting it. I look forward to reading about the list as well as straightening you out from time to time.

And believe you me! After watching some of these selections, I could USE some straightening out!

Talk about a continual 2-month long mind fuck!

[Mr-X 629]

Originally Posted by SciFi-ActionMan

#50: f8 (Wen, 2001)

Man . . . I've been wanting to see f8 for such a long time. And now I know where to get it. Thanks.

[Mr-X 629]

Originally Posted by Superdog

I'm guessing Blade Runner will be at the top somewhere, Dark City maybe... I await the rest of the list

I don't think Dark City counts as cyberpunk. More like sci-fi/film noir.

[Superdog]

Originally Posted by Mr-X 629

I don't think Dark City counts as cyberpunk. More like sci-fi/film noir.

Yeah, that's probably more correct. For the record, I've always kinda considered Cyberpunk to be the hip grandchild of film noir.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by Mr-X 629

Man . . . I've been wanting to see f8 for such a long time. And now I know where to get it. Thanks.

Here's a few more visuals for you

[curr0001]

As someone said before, I didn't know there were 50 cyberpunk moives! I'll have to check out some I haven't seen on this list like Imposter. I almost complely forgotten about Freejack. Have to find a copy again.

Ever seen the live action Iria? Most of a monster hunting story.. the anime came after the live action moive.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by Mr-X 629

I don't think Dark City counts as cyberpunk. More like sci-fi/film noir.

There's a whole bunch of films that fall somewhere in the nexus between what we might call cyberpunk or not. Alien is one I put on the other side of the line. Dark City is one I do consider close enough to consider it cyberpunk - although it certainly drops down a bit because it doesn't have all the elements. I'll explain my reasoning when we get to it.

And for the record - yes, I fully agree that cyberpunk takes a lot of its style and visuals from Noir.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by curr0001

As someone said before, I didn't know there were 50 cyberpunk moives! I'll have to check out some I haven't seen on this list like Imposter. I almost complely forgotten about Freejack. Have to find a copy again.

Ever seen the live action Iria? Most of a monster hunting story.. the anime came after the live action moive.

Nope, I'd be interested though. Is it good? Come to think of it, Iria the anime is mostly a monster hunting story as well, although there's other stuff going on.

[Mr-X 629]

Originally Posted by Superdog

For the record, I've always kinda considered Cyberpunk to be the hip grandchild of film noir.

Hmmm . . . never thought of it like that, but now that I think of it, it really kinda is.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

#45: Reboot (Best, et al., 1994)



Overview: This is one of those shows that TOTALLY addicted me to it when it came out. This was the first 3D animation I ever saw, and I must say, I completely fell in love with it. Reboot is a wonderfully intelligent kids show, that for techies, seemed to have all the inside-tech jokes just right. All the characters are inside a computer world - the mainframe, and the good guys are trying to stop the evil virus, Megabyte from infecting the rest of the mainframe.

While the first two seasons were fun, season 3 was the bomb! After ABC dropped this Canadian production, they were able to go adult-like, with much darker themes and a really cool sword and sorcery bent. Truly, Reboot is one of those just great productions.

[Kimble Justice]

Fuck me, you've picked an old childhood favourite there. They used to show Reboot in England too.

[Acapelli05]

Originally Posted by SciFi-ActionMan

#45: Reboot (Best, et al., 1994)

How did this show end?

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by Detective John Kimble

Fuck me, you've picked an old childhood favourite there. They used to show Reboot in England too.

Here's another great kids flick

#44: I.K.U. (Cheang, 2000)



Overview: If you've been hankerin for a nice quality surrealistic soft-core porn japanese cyberpunk flick, then look no further than I.K.U. Truly, Japanese cyberpunk movies are all about no boundaries - I.K.U. takes this notion to heart. For the soft-core goods, you get a bit of everything here - guy-on-girl, guy-on-guy, girl-on-girl, girl-on-transgender, sex through a fish tank, sex in a spider-web, well, you get the idea. And while it definitely delivers the soft-core (some cases its pixeled out, and others its definitely NOT pixeled out, even when you wish it is...), this is NOT a very appropriate one-hand movie. This is a strange, but well-done mind-fuck, pure and simple.

I.K.U. follows a day in the life of a sex-droid from the GENOM corporation, who has the ability to change her outside shape to mimic different female body types. Her job is to collect "sexual experiences" by engaging in sexual acts with various people. The experiences are collected in order to produce virtual reality-like I.K.U. chips that are then sold in vending machines. Basically, people can "wire in" the sexual encounter. Unfortunately, a rival corporation has developed rival androids who's job is to insert a virus into the sex-droids and steal their "experiences" so that it can make its own rival chips.

Truly, the story is not the reason you get this. In fact, the visuals distract you so much from the story that I advocate reading the "story" bits on the extras prior to watching this film. The reason you watch this is for the truly incredible set designs and cinematography. Every "vignette" offers some truly interesting cyberpunk visuals. Shocking neon is the order of the day here. If you're interested in something truly off the beaten path, give I.K.U. a try.

PS - one word of caution - the guy-on-guy oral sex scene is one that is NOT pixelated out. It only lasts for a second or two, but is QUITE graphic if you get my drift...

Bonus Movie: Virtual Girl (Gabai, 1998)



Overview: This is one of the many cheesy softcore porns where a woman in a VR simulation becomes "real" and falls in love with the VR system creator. I would go through the plot, but I'm guessing you can figure most of it out (she bugs the wife, causes him work troubles, etc.). Truly, there's nothing all that great here - there are a few interesting scenes though.

Virtual Vegas (2001) is another one by Gabai - only this follows the work of two game designers who create a very realistic sex simulation. There's a little more plot here, but unfortunately, quite a few more plot holes as well.

[SciFi-ActionMan]

Originally Posted by Acapelli05

How did this show end?

From a most excellent Reboot site:

Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text

Bob convinces Matrix to allow Mainframe to crash, hoping that it will restart. After a game cube leaves, the city undergoes a complete system crash. The User does a restart, and Mainframe is totally reborn. Megabyte's viral binomes are emancipated and his Tor deleted. Bob and Dot kiss (finally!), and "boy" Enzo reappears