So after talking about the 25 best Alien *and* Time Travel films of all time, I figured it might be time to complete the Sci-Fi trifecta with an article about my favorite A.I. movies!
The general idea of "Artificial Intelligence" dates back to ancient times with the Jewish myth of the Golem, and even Leonardo da Vinci designed an autonomous "Mechanical Knight", but it was Samuel Butler's 1872 satirical novel, "Erewhon" that really solidified the idea of conscious machines, and in 1921, a Czech play by Karel Capek took the concept a step further with a story about a machine uprising that first coined the term "Robot". Since then, the idea of "A.I." has captivated the imaginations of countless sci-fi writers and scientists alike, and of course it's now a pop-culture staple for audiences around the world...
As always, I first have to start with some honorable mentions, that didn't quite make the list: "Colossus: The Forbin Project" (1970), "The Iron Giant" (1999), "Child's Play" (2019), "Resident Evil" (2002), "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015), "Transformers" (2007), "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning" (2023), "Batteries Not Included" (1987), "Chappie" (2015), "The Thirteenth Floor" (1999), and "Lawnmower Man" (1992). Also, despite being iconic, Droids like R2-D2 and C-3PO didn't make the cut either, because the "Star Wars" franchise isn't specifically about them.
Since we're talking about movies that unfortunately excludes HBO's excellent "West World" series, the early 2000's "Battlestar Galactica", the Netflix anthology "Love, Death, and Robots" and of course "Star Trek: The Next Generation" - which prominently features an android named Data who aspires to be human.
And lastly, I wanted to give a quick shout-out to the book "Robopocalypse" by Daniel H. Wilson (which has yet to be adapted), and "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline (and it's Steven Spielberg adaptation) - which only didn't make the list because it's more about Virtual Reality than Artificial Intelligence. (I also highly recommend the 2020 documentary, "We Need to Talk About A.I.")
25. Virtuosity (1995)
1995's "Virtuosity" (starring Denzel Washington) is a weird movie - it's not necessarily a "good" movie, but it is undoubtedly entertaining (almost in a "Time Cop" kinda way). Its computer graphics aren't much better than "Lawnmower Man", but Denzel Washington's earnest performance more than makes up for that. The plot is kinda all over the place, and the characters don't really act like humans, but Russel Crowe hams it up as a sadistic AI that (somehow) escapes from a virtual reality - whose sociopathic personality is programmed on some of the worst people from human history... for reasons. If you like bad sci-fi movies, this is a must-watch.
24. A.I. - Artificial Intelligence (2001)
This one is pretty much an obligatory inclusion.
Full disclaimer: "A.I." is not a fun movie (in my humble opinion) - that said, it's a very well constructed movie with lots of interesting ideas about the nature of consciousness, but it's also a devastating drama about loss, with one of the most bleak, downer of an endings I've ever seen. It hits even worse now as a parent, than it did when I first saw this as a child myself.
That said, if you can handle the subject matter and you don't mind slow contemplative movies, it's worth checking out, especially since this was the last movie that Stanley Kubrick ever worked on, and was finished with the help of Steven Spielberg, which by itself makes it a very interesting watch for cinephiles. As for the plot, it's basically a modern retelling of Pinocchio, where an android boy goes on a dark journey through a depressing post-apocalyptic future to find his long, lost mother...
23. Transcendence (2014)
That one movie where Johnny Depp uploads his consciousness into a mainframe and then (predictably) goes mad with power! (Because of course he does)
There's not a lot of movies about the concept of uploading one's consciousness into cyberspace, and even fewer movies about the technological singularity, nanotechnology, and the moral and spiritual implications involved in all of it, but this one at least attempts to tackle the hefty / heady subject matter... for better or worse.
All in all, "Transcendence" has a solid cast with the likes of Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy, Kate Mara, and even Morgan Freeman?!
22. Robots (2023)
"Robots" is an R-Rated, indie, dark comedy that explores the idea (and ramifications) of people using robotic body doubles to cheat on / lie to their partners. When an unhappy couple has each of their robot doubles go rogue, their replicants fall in love and try to run away with each other! It's almost an anti-Rom Com critiquing the toxic side of modern dating culture while also flipping the script on the rogue AI trope, where the people are really the problem.
Really clever premise for a cute movie with some hilarious antics.
21. Bicentennial Man (1999)
This is another one that's kind of tough to watch (especially in a post-Robin Williams world), but it absolutely belongs on this list for exploring the themes of consciousness and what does it really mean to be alive?
It goes without saying that Robin Williams is phenomenal in pretty much everything he's in, and "Bicentennial Man" is another moving performance by a comic genius with a lot of heart. Unlike most of his movies, though, this isn't a comedy; it's a straight-up drama about a robot butler who slowly becomes human over the course of two centuries (again, a somewhat modernized take on Pinocchio) - he lives a full life, falls in love, and eventually (spoiler) dies...
The end of the movie has one of the most moving speeches, where Andrew (the android) pleads his case before the World Congress, and when asked why he wants to be recognized as human, he says: "To be acknowledged for who and what I am; no more, no less. Not for acclaim, not for approval, but the simple truth of that recognition has been the elemental drive of my existence, and it must be achieved if I am to live or die with dignity."
20. Metropolis (1927)
No A.I. / Robot movie list would be complete without at least a nod towards the original classic that spawned an entire genre - that's right, the 1927 German Silent Film by Fritz Lang, "Metropolis"! (Not to be confused with Superman's hometown) Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" is an undisputed (black-and-white) masterpiece of the silent era and has left a lasting impression on not only the science fiction genre, but the entire history of motion pictures!
Considering this is a black-and-white movie from the 20's with no dialogue, "Metropolis" is surprisingly good. I'm not going to say it "holds up", but it's got some pretty impressive visuals, coupled with some truly epic symbolism about class disparity, industrialization, and the erosion of our humanity in the name of progress - all themes that still resonate today. And of course it's also one of the earliest movies to feature robots. In this case, a robot disguised as a woman, designed by a mad scientist - who then leads a revolution of the working class!
The film also inspired Osamu Tezuka's 1949 manga of the same name, which was eventually adapted as an anime in 2001.
19. Short Circuit (1986)
"Short Circuit" is a beloved family film about an adorable and gentle robot - decades before "Wall-E"! Number 5 - later known as "Johnny Five" is maybe one of the most iconic robots to ever roll across the silver screen.
And Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club) is always a win in my book! While the second one is fun in its own right, it really loses a lot of the magic that makes this one so special. All in all, it's nearly on par with "E.T." in the running for cutest 80's sci-fi family movies of all time.
18. Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Based on the Japanese manga by Yukito Kishiro, "Alita: Battle Angel" was a surprisingly fun cyberpunk popcorn movie with a lot of heart! Directed by Robert Rodriguez ("Sin City", "Spy Kids", "Planet Terror", "From Dusk Till Dawn", etc), produced by James Cameron ("Aliens", "T2: Judgement Day", etc), and starring an A-list cast including: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, and Ed Skrien. What's really interesting about this one is that it started development all the way back in 2003, but didn't come out until 2019, because James Cameron got distracted with making his "Avatar" movies.
In the year 2563, in the wake of a devastating war with Mars, a scientist (Dr. Dyson Ido) revives a cyborg with amnesia whom he names Alita, in the memory of his late daughter. She sets off on a quest to discover her destiny, eventually becoming a local celebrity in Iron City as a Motorball champion, and a hero to the downtrodden people fighting to survive in a world ruled by powerful elites...
17. I, Robot (2004)
Loosely based on / inspired by the works of Isaac Asimov (one of the greatest sci-fi writers of the 20th Century), "I, Robot" stars Will Smith, a future detective (with a bionic arm) investigating the first-ever homicide committed by an artificial being. His initial trauma-based robo-paranoia leads him to uncover a vast conspiracy that could reshape the course of human history forever.
Overall, it's a fun (dumb) popcorn movie, but what makes this one stand out is its basis in Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics" - which may end up becoming a very relevant topic in the not-too-distant future.
16. Companion (2025)
An absolutely stunning entry in the now booming sub-genre of "incel horror". "Companion" is a deeply disturbing and amazing portrayal of a "nice guy" manipulating and gaslighting a woman - except in this case (spoiler alert) - that woman happens to be artificial.
Produced by Zach Cregger (the twisted mind behind "Barbarian" and "Weapons" - both great in their own right), and starring Sophie Thatcher as Iris, and the ever-lovable Jack Quaid ("Star Trek: Lower Decks", "My Adventures with Superman") as an all-around self-centered douche. It's intense with lots of twists and turns, and it gets really, really dark. I don't want to give away too much about this one, because the way the plot unfolds is one of the best things about it.
15. Her (2013)
"HER" isn't just an award-winning metaphor for the "male loneliness epidemic" (61 awards, including an Oscar and Golden Globe!), it's also a pretty great examination of the all-too-real social media landscape of our very current world through the lens of modern dating, and yes - A.I. chatbots. In fact, this might be the most true-to-life and grounded film on this whole list, because LLM's are *nearly* as advanced today as they are portrayed in this film (sentience and autonomy notwithstanding).
And of course, it goes without saying that the entire cast is incredible - Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde, and Scarlett Johansson are all crushing it!
14. Robot Carnival (1987)
"Robot Carnival" is a highly underrated Japanese anime anthology, a good 30 years before "Love, Death + Robots". If you have even a passing interest in anime, or animation in general, then this is a hidden gem. The film consists of 9 short stories, each with a distinctive art style, tone, and genre - with the themes of artificial intelligence as a throughline that ties the whole piece together. I have no idea why this isn't as well known as "Heavy Metal" or "The Animatrix", but I was astonished when I first stumbled onto it a few years ago, having never heard of it before.
13. Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die (2025)
"Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" is a movie best served by going in blind. That said, it definitely deals with A.I. (and time travel) in a clever and interesting way, with a ton of supremely meta moments, and some super random tongue-in-cheek humor.
The cast is also stellar, especially a rather unhinged Sam Rockwell, and you'll probably leave scratching your head, thinking about it days later wondering WTF you just watched...
12. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Based on the science fiction novel from Arthur C. Clarke, and directed by the late great Stanley Kubrick, "2001: A Space Odyssey" is a one-of-a-kind film.
Like with "Metropolis", it might not be for everyone - it's the slowest of slow burns, BUT if you're interested in deep, thought-provoking films, or have at least a passing interest in classic sci-fi, and/or the history of Hollywood special effects, then this is a huge recommendation. Just know that it's a slow burn with more questions than answers, operating more on vibes than hard science.
The reason it's on the list, however, is because the movie contains one of the best evil A.I. storylines with the introduction of HAL 9,000 - a highly advanced supercomputer aboard a doomed voyage to Jupiter...
11. Wall-E (2008)
"Wall-E" might be one of my Top 5 Pixar movies, up there with the likes of "The Incredibles" and "Toy Story"!
This heart-warming family film starts out on a long-abandoned post-apocalyptic Earth where a humble rusty trash droid falls for a sleek new high-tech drone called "EVA", inadvertently leading him on a cosmic adventure to save humanity from... its own laziness?
10. Tron: Legacy (2010)
"TRON: Legacy" might very well be the definition of 'style over substance', but no one can deny that this film has some serious style!
This sequel to Disney's 1982 VR adventure absolutely surpasses the original, thanks in a large part to some impressive cyberpunk visuals, and one of the single best techno soundtracks of all time by Daft Punk.
Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the son of the long-lost legendary programmer, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), discovers a virtual realm called The Grid in the back of his father's abandoned arcade. After being digitized into The Grid, Sam is forced to battle in a gladiatorial match between programs, where he learns that the virtual world is ruled by a ruthless A.I. called Clu. During the chaos, Sam is rescued by Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a sentient program who reveals that his father has been trapped inside The Grid for 20 years, exiled to the digital wastelands.
While the movie isn't particularly deep, it still explores the idea of sentient A.I.'s becoming more than just their programming...
9. Ex Machina (2014)
"Ex Machina" is a psychological thriller from A24 about the toxic power dynamics between an A.I. and its human creators - directed by Alex Garland (the writer of "28 Days Later" and "Dredd"), starring Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, and Alicia Vikander as Ava.
Set at an isolated high-tech estate in the mountains, it's the story of a lonely programmer, Caleb, who is chosen by a reclusive tech billionaire (Oscar Isaac) for an experiment to test his latest A.I. model - a female robot named Ava. While attempting to prove her sentience with a Turing Test, Caleb then falls in love with Ava, and in the process is manipulated into helping her escape captivity...
8. War Games (1983)
"War Games" is one of those 80's movies that feels just as relevant today as it did 40 years ago. Starring 'Ferris Bueller' himself, Matthew Broderick, alongside Ally Sheedy (from "Short Circuit")!
Despite being an aggressively 80s teen hacker movie, it's a surprisingly accurate portrayal of old-school hackers, computer technology, NORAD, Cold War tensions, and just how much damage a malfunctioning computer can do under the wrong circumstances...
In fact, it's inspired by a couple different true stories, including one time a misfiring computer chip nearly triggered World War 3! (For more on that, check out my history article on 10 Times We Almost Nuked Ourselves by Accident! - Epik Fails of History)
7. M3GAN (2022)
"M3GAN" is an extremely clever hybrid of horror, sci-fi, satire, and dark comedy. Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, and both Amie Donald and Jenna Davis as "Megan" herself.
Gemma is a roboticist who becomes the guardian of her orphaned niece, Cady, and attempts to help her cop with the loss of her parents by pairing her with a prototype A.I. doll. Unfortunately, "Megan" gains sentience and takes her directive to "protect Cady" a little too seriously as she goes on a murder spree, eliminating anyone and everyone who she sees as a potential threat!
The movie isn't just a great commentary on the current state of A.I.; it's also an extremely clever metaphor for how so many parents in the modern world are unconsciously raising children on screens without considering the potential ramifications of outsourcing human connection...
The sequel "M3GAN 2.0" is also pretty entertaining (with more of an action-movie bent), and there's apparently even a spin-off in the works called "Soulm8tes".
6. West World (1973)
While it certainly pales in comparison to the early seasons of the HBO series, the original "West World" from 1973 is still an absolute classic!
Created by Michael Crichton, the author who went on to write "Jurassic Park", this sci-fi / western contains a lot of the same elements that led to the success of that movie - it's about a theme park where the attraction breaks loose and kills the spectators; however, instead of dinosaurs, this time it's robots. That premise alone is awesome in its own right, but the movie takes it a step further, because "West World" isn't the only theme at this futuristic theme park; we're also introduced to Medieval World and Roman World!
If you've been sleeping on this one, now's the time to revisit where it all began...
5. RoboCop (1987)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Starship Troopers) and starring Peter Weller as Murphy, 1987's "RoboCop" is a literal masterpiece in the pantheon of 80's blockbusters.
While yes, RoboCop himself is technically more of a Cyborg, the concepts of A.I., robotics, unbridled capitalism, and automation are deeply ingrained in the film, and just as relevant as ever - today. "RoboCop" isn't just an awesome, cheesy, hyper-violent 80's action movie; it's a cutting satire of corporate America. This is Frankenstein's Monster meets "Blade Runner" with an incredible performance from Peter Weller that really sells the idea of a robot with PTSD overloaded by the trauma of the death of the man it used to be.
It's almost a miracle that this movie turned out to be as good as it is, but everything just works - the script, the music, special effects, casting, acting, set design, costume design, social commentary, etc - it all just works!
For more on "RoboCop" (1987), listen to our Podcasters Disassembled episode on it!
4. Ghost in the Shell (1995 / 2017)
The original 1995 "Ghost in the Shell" film is an undisputed anime classic, but (and this might be a bit of a hot take on my part) I actually think the 2017 live-action adaptation is extremely underrated in its own right.
The '95 anime was based on the manga by Masamune Shirow, and directed by Mamoru Oshii, which follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, an agent of Section 9 - whose entire body is artificial, except for her brain - while she attempts to unravel a mystery involving a mysterious hacker known as "The Puppet Master" (which is of course revealed to be a rogue A.I. in search of a body). While the dialogue in the English dub is somewhat clunky at times with long rambling monologues about the nature of consciousness, the movie is undoubtedly a work of art with a haunting soundtrack that plays over a montage of symbolic imagery.
While the live-action version garnered a lot of controversy over the casting of Scarlet Johansson back in 2017, I genuinely think the film is a beautiful love-letter to the source material, with specific shots recreated from the original, while firmly standing on its own. One of the strengths of the remake over the original is that it really tackles the themes of identity, autonomy, and consent in a really interesting way that resonates more and more as time goes on.
There have been a number of other anime shows and movies, but by far the best series in the franchise is called "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex". There's also a brand-new show that is a much closer adaptation to the original manga that's currently streaming on Amazon Prime!
3. Blade Runner (1982)
Loosely based on the Phillip K. Dick novel, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982) is the ultimate sci-fi / noir - starring Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, and Rutger Hauer. It's a movie that really drives home the question: what is it to be human?
The story follows Harrison Ford's Deckard as he's hunting down replicants - androids so life-like that they are practically indistinguishable from humans, in a cyberpunk dystopian future. There are a number of truly iconic moments throughout, but none more than the tragic synthetic villain's poetic monologue: "I've... seen things you people wouldn't believe... Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-Beams glitter in the dark, near the Tannhäuser Gates. All those... moments... will be lost in time. Like tears... in... rain..."
I highly recommend watching "The Final Cut" if you're able; it's a gorgeous remaster. There was also a 2017 sequel directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Ryan Gosling: "Blade Runner 2049" which pushes the original's themes even further, as well as a couple anime spin-offs, and an upcoming live-action series, "Blade Runner 2099".
2. The Matrix (1999)
"The Matrix" (1999) is one of those rare perfect movies. It's a genius blend of action, sci-fi, and meta-philosophical commentary with a shinny cyberpunk thriller aesthetic. It defined an entire generation, and became one of the most quotable movies in a decade of quotable movies. It was a box office juggernaut that caused the whole world to question the nature of reality.
Directed by the Wachowskis and starring Keanu Reeves, "The Matrix" was simply revolutionary when it first hit theaters in 1999; audiences had never seen anything quite like it before. It was a unique blend of kung-fu, sci-fi / body-horror, and visuals (and concepts) directly inspired by a number of anime, including "Ghost in the Shell" (see above), and sci-fi movies like "The Terminator" (see below). The only way to truly understand "The Matrix" is to 'see it for yourself' (as the tagline states), but I'll do my best to try and summarize it...
A hacker by the alias of Neo is contacted by two freedom-fighters Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) who reveal that his entire life is a lie - that he's trapped in a highly sophisticated virtual reality simulation created by a race of A.I.'s who have enslaved humanity - and that he is 'The One' prophesied to save mankind and stop the machines. Neo joins the cause in an attempt to take down the system and free as many minds as they can. Along the way, they encounter a rogue program known as Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) who will stop at nothing to eradicate the human resistance and escape his cybernetic exile, by any means necessary...
While none of the sequels hold a candle to the original, the anime anthology spin-off, "The Animatrix" is extremely well done in its own right, and explores the origins of the machine uprising that was alluded to in the original.
1. The Terminator / T2: Judgement Day (1984 / 1991)
Yes, that's right, I'm counting both movies for the top spot - deal with it. (And yes, these two were also near the top of my Top 25 Time Travel Movies list as well) Sure, "The Matrix" and "Blade Runner" are excellent movies about A.I., but there's literally only one franchise that *still* dominates every discussion about our fears of a robot uprising like no other...
Both 1984's "The Terminator" and its action-packed sequel, "T2: Judgement Day" (1991) - directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger are a perfect duology - you can't just watch one without watching the other. And I refuse to recognize any of the other films in the franchise as "canon".
All the time-travel shenanigans aside, these two movies are iconic, not just because of the amazing special effects or one-liners, but because of the very premise that an evil A.I. in the future will one day go rogue, take over, and eliminate the human race in a nuclear holocaust. In the first film, a T-800 cyborg from the year 2029 is sent back in time to 1984 to eliminate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), because her unborn son is destined to be the leader of the human resistance. We learn that Skynet goes online in 1997, and the sequel is all about averting 'Judgement Day' from ever happening, as our heroes are pursued by a highly-advanced shape-shifting liquid metal entity known as the T-1000.
There's a reason these movies still fill you with an existential dread at the idea of machines taking over. It's not hard to see why "The Terminator" still feels as relevant as ever before, especially when tech-bro billionaires are pouring an obscene number of resources into A.I. research, as every nation on the planet is in an arms race to be the first to create a true AGI. At its basest level, these two movies are about the horrors that can happen when progress is made at the expense of human life.
These movies serve as a warning, metaphorical or otherwise. Kyle Reese warned us all those years ago, and we didn't listen....
Just remember, "There is no fate, but what we make."
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out my Top 25 Time Travel Movies, and 25 Alien Movies to watch before "Disclosure Day". I also wrote an epic three-part article series on the entire history of computers - from 2700 BCE to 2024. For more on the Terminator franchise, listen to Season 13 of Podcasters Assemble, and if you'd like to support me directly, you can pick up my sci-fi books "2299" and "Tempus Machina" (by Erik Slader) on Amazon or Audible!