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List of dystopian films

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This is a list of films commonly regarded as dystopian.

Many of the listed works are not controversial, in the sense that their dystopian character is generally acknowledged. However, some are not universally classified as dystopias. Critics do not always agree whether a particular work is genuinely dystopian or whether - despite the more menacing and dehumanising elements in the society it portrays - it is really an attempt to depict a heterotopia, a society that is neither utopian nor entirely bad, but different from our own.

Such debates frequently surround literary and cinematic works that do not show the classic characteristics of dystopian fiction, such as a government like entity that seeks total control of individuals' lives.

In addition, the following movie list is broken down into categories: those which display an obvious dystopia theme, post-apocalyptic (i.e. Hobbesian), those which ultimately follow a more cyberpunk theme, and those which are more miscellaneously categorized, being that they are in between dystopia/cyberpunk and something else, as previously noted, "not like our society." While the movies appearing under the miscellaneous theme may have dystopia-like qualities they do not focus on a dystopian society in their plot. Dystopian films usually display pivotal traits that most utopian societies would avoid. One common trait is mass dehumanization. Where nearly all individuals are required, voluntarily or by force, to eliminate some "natural" emotional, physical, or free will quality as to conform to a society's “unnatural" greater good goals. Movies like A Clockwork Orange may seem dystopian, but may not qualify since it is only one criminal individual who is voluntarily dehumanized and not the whole of society. This film then becomes a heterotopia. Fight Club originally appeared on this list, but has been thus removed as it does not fit into any of the categories or a definition of dystopia. In Blade Runner, it is rather ambiguous whether Los Angeles in 2019 is depicted in that film to be a dystopia, or a utopia, however evidence from the film suggests that it was a dystopia, due to the climate, pollution and over-population of the featured LA. Many of the movies under the miscellaneous heading are subjective and up for more careful scrutiny when considering the definition of dystopia.

Dystopia (governmental/societal)

Cyberpunk/techno

Post-apocalyptic

Corporate based dystopias (nongovernmental)

Alien controlled dystopias (both governmental and societal)

Miscellaneous

Disputed Dystopias

See also

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