Art, especially film, has always been a messenger and a means for communication for people to get messages or ideas across. The Ethnicities mural done for the 2016 Rio Games by Brazilian artist, Eduardo Kobra. The legendary graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegelman. The song Black & White by the King of Pop, Micheal Jackson. All vastly different pieces of art that speak on the world and the social issues that it goes through year after year.

No other medium of art has ever been used more for social commentary than cinema has. From directors in oppressed countries making a movie with a message against its own government (when it was dangerous to do so), to directors using their platform to inspire new ideas. One of the ideal genres to convey ideas and social commentary is the science fiction genre. With vastly different worlds created, races born, architecture, culture, etc., all being born from the minds of creators; but at its heart, still dealing with and speaking to deeply human troubles and problems. Here are some of the best uses of social commentary in science fiction films.

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7 District 9 (2009)

     Sony Pictures/ Ster-Kinekor

Directed by Neill Blomkamp, District 9 follows the story of a man who, after contracting a mysterious virus, must go to the fabled District 9; where Alien refugees from another planet have been living (allowed by the South African government). But after more than twenty years of the alien’s living conditions being worn down, and xenophobia from the locals, the government has begun to relocate the aliens. Blomkamp based the premise off South Africa’s District 6, in which 60,000 residents were forced to move due to racial segregation laws occurring at the time. Exploring themes of xenophobia, segregation, and race; District 9 has stayed a modern influence on Sci-Fi and social commentary.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

6 Children of Men (2006)

     Universal Pictures

Directed by the great Alfonso Cuarón, and adapted from the novel by P.D. James, Children of Men is dystopian in which the characters Theo Faron (Clive Owen) and Julian Taylor (Julianne Moore) must bring Kee (Clare Ashity), who is the first woman to be pregnant on Earth in two decades. Though it originally flopped upon premiere, Children of Men has been gaining more and more relevance due its commentary on authoritarianism, immigration, and war, all becoming more and more concerning as the years have passed on and the climate of the world gets increasing hostile.

5 Blade Runner (1982)

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Now a cult classic, directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner is the story of Rick Dekard (Harrison Ford), a bounty hunter who is sent to hunt down rogue Replicants (artificial humans created by corporations). One of the earliest cyber-punk sci-fi films, one of the defining traits of the film was its commentary on advancing technology, and how left unchecked could potentially be dangerous to the human race. It also offers commentary on discrimination (how most humans despise the Replicants, because they are bioengineered), and what it means to be human. All of that together leads to one of the best scenes in the film, “Tears in the Rain”, with Batty and Deckard’s dialogue.

4 Ex Machina (2014)

     A24 Studios

One of A24 Studios early films, Ex Machina follows programmer Caleb Smith (Oscar Isaac) as he ventures to the home of inventor Nathan Bateman (Domhnall Gleeson) to help him test out the new artificial intelligence humanoid robot he has created, named Ava (Alicia Vikander). Things go downhill when Bateman goes more and more down the crazy hole, and the AI manipulates Caleb. With a unique take on the advancement of AI, and how eerily similar technology is coming to resemble humanity; Ex Machina has become an all too relevant, and terrifying film to watch in this day and age.

3 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2014)

     Focus Features

A sci-fi film somewhat lighter in tone than others, but still deep with themes, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind follows Joel Barrish (Jim Carrey) as he rescues the memories of him and his girlfriend Clementine’s (Kate Winslett) romantic relationship, that were erased from their minds by an evil law firm. Though the social commentary isn’t as world-threatening as other films, the message surrounding the importance of memories and how they shape each person is one that has allowed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to stand strong over a decade later.

2 Her (2013)

     Warner Bros

Starring the great Joaquin Phoenix, Her is the simple story of a man who falls in love with his AI virtual assistant (voiced by Scarlett Johansson); and tragic consequences and actions occur due to him falling in love with an operating system. The film has brilliant social commentary on what is going to happen to natural human interactions and how they are going to evolve in a world becoming more and more involved with technology. Her went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

1 RoboCop (1987)

     Orion Pictures

One of the biggest hits in pop culture and cinema, RoboCop is a dystopian action movie, in which the corpse of deceased cop Alex Murphy is revived in a robotic suit and called “RoboCop”; a brutal tool of the police in their war on crime. With the idea of the film actually being conceived on the set of Blade Runner, RoboCop has heavy commentary against capitalism running rampant, corrupt politics, and an authoritarian government. Brutally violent in both plot and in social commentary, the messages behind RoboCop are still as strong today as they were back in 1987.