Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was released in 1982 which depicted a dystopian world set in 2019. The neo-noir sci-fi film is helmed as a classic and was loosely based on Philip K. Dick’s novel titled ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ The film starred the very well-known Harrison Ford in the lead along with Sean Young, Rutger Hauer, Brian James, and William Sanderson, among others.
It introduced us to a futuristic world where genetically manufactured beings, replicants, were used for dangerous work in Earth’s off-world colonies. Tyrell Corporation’s Nexus-6 generation ends up causing havoc on Earth which demands the need for specialised police units called the Blade Runners. Now, if this is something that sounds right up your alley, we’ve got a list of 10 more similar movie recommendations for you!
Must-Watch Movies If You Liked Blade Runner
10. Children of Men (2006)
Children of Men is set in a dystopian future where humanity is facing extinction due to infertility in women. The sci-fi/action thriller is directed by Alfonso Cuaron and is based on a book by P.D. James of the same name. A bureaucrat named Theo Faron, who has lost all hope is sprung back into action as the protector of the dying world. Theo is faced with the responsibility of saving a pregnant woman’s life who could be the answer to reviving the future of mankind.
9. Akira (1988)
Japanese anime, Akira was released in 1988 but it wonderfully captured a sci-fi futuristic dystopian world. The film is set in Neo-Tokyo in 2019, the same year as Blade Runner’s dystopian world. It takes you through a vivid visualisation of Kaneda’s world. Kaneda is a biker and gang leader whose friend, Tetsuo, is held hostage by the government. The anime is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and is based on Otomo’s AKIRA manga.
8. Total Recall (1990)
Another sci-fi thriller based on a short story by Philip K. Dick which is worth your time is Total Recall. The movie is based on the book written by the same author whose book Blade Runner is based on. The book is titled ‘We Can Remember It For You Wholesale’ and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger playing the role of Doug Quaid. Things take a turn when Doug, a construction worker, opts for a memory implant service ‘Rekal’ which goes wrong.
7. Ghost In The Shell (1995)
The exceptional portrayal of the dystopian world in Ridley Scott’s 1982 Blade Runner has influenced many sci-fi movies and animes. This 1995 anime was well-received by audiences for its philosophical themes. Ghost In The Shell revolves around the story of a cyborg public security agent named Major Motoko Kusanagi, who is hunting the Puppet Master. The anime filmmaker Mamoru Oshii said in a 2004 interview,
“When you create a film dealing with humans and cyborgs, you have no choice but to refer back to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.”
6. Gattaca (1997)
Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca tells a tale of a world where people face discrimination based on the quality of their genetic code. Ethan Hawke brilliantly plays the role of Vincent who wishes to be an astronaut. It takes us through a world where people rely on genetic manipulation to conceive children who will be superior to those conceived naturally. Vincent is one among those conceived naturally and faces genetic discrimination. Both Gattaca and Blade Runner pose the question of humanity.
5. Blade Runner 2049 (2019)
We have to mention Denis Villaneuve’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? While the announcement of Blade Runner 2049 was met with suspicion, the release of the film did all the talking. Villaneuve’s adaptation was released in 2019, the year its predecessor was set in. It depicted the same story but as a sequel where a new LAPD cop, K, took over the responsibilities of retiring the replicants. Officer K, played by Ryan Gosling, is also on a mission to find Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard who has been missing for 30 years.
4. The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix is touted to be one of the most successful sci-fi action thrillers of all time. Directors Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski have credited authors Philip K. Dick and William Gibson to be the influence behind their idea of the movie. One of the lead characters, Neo is played by Keanu Reeves who deals with living in the simulated reality. This theme is similarly depicted in Blade Runner, where it’s hard to distinguish between humans and replicants.
3. Strange Days (1995)
This cyberpunk thriller is set during the final days of 1999. The movie features Ralph Fiennes in the lead role who plays Lenny, an ex-cop involved in illegal dealings of electronic devices that record memories and lived-in experiences. You will find many visual similarities between Blade Runner and Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days. Both movies show a similar futuristic view of Los Angeles filled with neon-lit streets. One day, Lenny stumbles upon a memory of a murder which leads him to uncover a bigger mystery.
2. Minority Report (2002)
Philip K. Dick is a great inspiration for many sci-fi thrillers movies. Minority Report is based on his novel of the same name, and the movie is directed by none other than Steven Spielberg. Like Blade Runner, Spielberg’s Minority Report also portrays a dystopian future run by a giant corporation that leads a cop to a case which makes him question his beliefs. The film is set in the year 2054.
1. Ex Machina (2014)
Alex Garland’s directorial debut is a delightful watch. Ex-Machina tells a story about a programmer, Caleb, who wins a contest to work with the company’s CEO, Nathan, on his private mountain estate. Nathan uses Caleb to interact with his AI, Ava, to analyze the Turing Test method. Both Caleb’s and Nathan’s understanding of AI is way less than they could imagine. It is a great insight into the futuristic world of AI and how it could deceive humans for its own good.
