Gotta have Freejack on that list.
Does A Scanner Darkly count as cyberpunk?
Yes
Yes. Yes it does.
Some suggestions:
- Johnny Mnemonic
- Strange Days
- Robocop
- Dredd (2012)
- Ghost in the Shell
- Escape From New York
- Upgrade
Depending on how strictly one chooses to define cyberpunk, movies like WarGames might also make the list.
Did someone mention Upgrade? 💯
Oh yeah! And would one call “Redline (2009)” cyberpunk? Or Akira? Thought of them because you mentioned Ghost in the Shell.
It’s a good question. For all that I admire the balls-to-the-wall madness of Redline and the futurism of Akira, I think calling either cyberpunk is a more dubious proposition than even WarGames. Just about the only thing about Redline that I’d consider cyberpunk is that the drivers are largely corp-sponsored IIRC, but I wouldn’t call any strict racing movie that eschews a wider societal perspective cyberpunk. I mean, I wouldn’t count a hypothetical WipeOut movie either, if it was basically just one long “Formula 1 race, but anti gravity with weapons” flick. Akira… Does have some cyberpunk elements initially, but quickly abandons them in favor of completely different considerations. That’s not criticism - I just think its main focus lies elsewhere.
Edit: To follow up on the tangent of borderline cases, I’d personally lean more towards movies that, while not set in a cyberpunk context, nevertheless treat central themes of the genre and has the right “vibe”. Things like Limitless and Pi comes to mind.
Sure, I think I agree, their main focus isn’t ‘cyberpunk’ .
‘edit’ I was gonna leave it there but now I’m interested if you (know of and) think that Aachi & Ssipak 2006 does fit the bill? :)
I’ve seen it once right after it came out. Now, don’t get me wrong - I recall thinking it was great, but it’s sort of the diametrical opposite: Many of the themes and concepts, but entirely the wrong “vibe”. It was quite light on the despair, angst and pervasive existential dread I associate with the genre, and far too heavy on the humor. It’s more like the kind of animated movie for kids you might expect inside a cyberpunk setting, although… Frankly it was too silly for that too. Eleven year old kids in CP2077 would scoff at that sort of kindergarten “edutainment” in favor of the latest cyberpsycho serial-killer XBD, probably while doing gun maintenance.
Memories are supposed to fade, Lenny.
I feel like we did not learn the lessons Strange Days was trying to teach.
Indeed.
Minority Report
The Running Man (1987)
Elysium
Alita Battle Angel
I, Robot
The Matrix
Both Blade Runner movies
Brazil
Maybe Tron?
Code 46
Total Recall (1990)
The Lawnmower Man
The Thirteenth Floor
Virtuosity
Cowboy Bebop : Knock on Heaven Door
PatLabor 2
Blade Runner
