Let’s just call it what it is: things are bleak as hell right now. Here are eight dystopian movies and shows that honestly don’t feel so far-fetched in 2024.
Dystopian Movies
1. 1984 (1984)
“Big Brother is watching you.”
1984 is a grim commentary on what Orwell imagined the year 1984 would be like (he wrote the novel in the lates 1940s). Eventually, a movie adaptation was made.
1984 take places in Oceania, an autocratic hyper-state run by the totalitarian English Socialist Party’s supreme leader Big Brother, an omnipresent ruler who watches Oceania’s citizen’s every move. If any citizen dares disobey the extreme laws set forth by Big Brother, they are condemned to a life of slavery.
It’s in 1984 that we meet Winston Smith, an employee who works at the government’s Ministry of Truth rewriting history. However, as he becomes more and more despondent about the reality of his existence, Winston begins to rebel by writing his thoughts in a secret diary.
Eventually, Winston crosses paths with another citizen, Julia, also desperate for a different life. The two begin a clandestine love affair, a relationship forbidden by the dictatorship. Once discovered, Winston and Julia must pay for the crimes they committed against Big Brother.
2. Civil War (2024)
Given the division in the U.S. today, 2024’s Civil War definitely feels a bit on the nose.
When a future dystopian United States that finds itself in the midst of a civil war, photographer of war Lee Smith (Kristen Dunst) and her partner Joel (Wagner Moura) are covering the carnage in New York City. However, once rebel factions begin approaching The White House, Lee, Joel, and other photojournalists embark on the dangerous trek to D.C. to photograph and interview the president before the he and the government is overthrown. On their journey to the capitol, the photographers bear witness to grueling and war crimes.
3. The Hunger Games (2012)
Based on the popular book series by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games tells the story of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a member of Panem’s District 12, who volunteers herself “as tribute” when her little sister Prim is selected to fight in the autocratic nation’s “Hunger Games,” a televised reality event where contestants fight to the death. The sole survivor of the games goes from tribute to victor, bringing their district home prizes of food, supplies, and money.
4. I, Robot (2004)
I, Robot takes place in the (uh, now-not-so-distant) year of 2035, when megacorporation, U.S. Robotics, creates a fleet of AI robots to stand in for public service roles. However, when the founder of U.S. Robotics, Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), is suddenly found dead by apparent suicide, it’s up to Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) to figure out what actually happened. And, unfortunately but expectedly, the truth ends up being only a little terrifying.
5. Minority Report (2002)
Minority Report, set in 2054, introduces us to a world where crime has been eradicated because of the pre-crime enforcement squad, a group of clairvoyant humans (referred to as Precogs) that can predict crimes before they can be committed. Part dystopian, part utopian, Minority Report is a favorite for sci-fi and action fans.
Dystopian Shows
6. The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-2022)
The Handmaid’s Tale is an original Hulu series based on the Margaret Atwood novel of the same name.
In a truly chilling dystopian future, June Osborne (Elizabeth Moss) and other women are forced to live their lives as concubines under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.
7. Mr. Robot (2015-2019)
Elliot (Rami Malek) is a completely brilliant (but very unstable) cyber-security engineer. He is also a vigilante hacker on a mission, along with his other secretive allies, to bring down a corrupt corporation his employer has been paid to protect.
8. Black Mirror (2011-Present)
Netflix’s Black Mirror is an anthology series that is a modern-day reworked version of The Twilight Zone. Each episode explores techno-paranoia, with stories that can be dramatic, satirical, and sometimes just plain disturbing.
