Science fiction doesn’t just predict the future – it helps us imagine what’s possible. Since Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927), science fiction has explored how technology, society and humanity might change. The genre gives us visions of the future while asking questions about ethics, identity and equality.
In Things to Come (1936) and Alphaville (1965), we see dreams of perfect worlds clashing with harsh realities, while Big Hero Six (2014) offers a hopeful take on technology being used for good. Movies like Blade Runner (1982) and Ghost in the Shell (1995) explore the line between human and machine, raising questions about identity and what it means to be alive. Even in the chaotic world of Terminator 2 (1991) or the frosted dystopia of Snowpiercer (2013), these films suggest we have the power to change the future.
Screen culture dares us to dream of what we can achieve, challenging us to make sure that progress brings hope, inclusion, and a future where humanity can thrive alongside technology.
The AI voice in this visual essay echoes the sensationalist voice-overs common on early sci-fi trailers, while the voice distortion pays tribute to the genre’s often-villainous android characters like HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey) and Ava in Ex Machina (2014).
Featured films and games
Alphaville (1965), Jean-Luc Godard, StudioCanal, Chaumiane Production
Things To Come (1965), William Cameron Menzies, London Film Productions
Metropolis (1927), Fritz Lang, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation
Logan's Run (1976), Michael Anderson, MGM
Blade Runner (1982), Ridley Scott, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
Minority Report (2002), Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks, LLC, and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Elysium (2013), Neill Blomkamp, MRC
Akira (1988), Katsuhiro Ôtomo, Akira Committee
Ghost in the Shell (1995), Mamoru Oshii, Kodansha, Shirow Masamune, Bandai Visual, Manga Entertainment
The Fifth Element (1997), Luc Besson, Gaumont, Pinewood Studios
The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Lilly and Lana Wachowski, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc, Village Roadshow Films
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Steven Spielberg, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc and DreamWorks, LLC
Strange Days (1995), Katherine Bigelow, Lightstorm Entertainment Inc, Universal Pictures The Matrix (1999), Lilly and Lana Wachowski, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc, Village Roadshow Films
Total Recall (1990), Paul Verhoeven, Carolco Pictures
Upgrade (2018), Leigh Whannell, Universal Pictures
eXistenZ (1999), David Cronenberg, Miramax
Big Hero 6 (2014), Don Hall, Chris Williams, Disney Enterprises, Inc
Her (2013), Spike Jonze, Annapurna Pictures
Ex Machina (2014), Alex Garland, A24, Universal Pictures
Escape from L.A. (1996), John Carpenter, Paramount Pictures
The Road (2009), John Hillcoat, 2929 Productions
Fallout 4 (2015), Todd Howard, Bethesda Game Studios
Metro 2033 (2010), Andrew Prokhorov, 4A Games
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), James Cameron, Carolco Pictures
Snowpiercer (2013), Bong Joon-ho, Moho Films
1984 (1984), Michael Radford, Orion Pictures
Equilibrium (2002), Kurt Wimmer, Miramax
The Handmaid’s Tale (1990), Volker Schlöndorff, MGM
The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Roland Emmerich, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Planet of the Apes (1968), Franklin J. Schaffner, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
The Hunger Games (2012), Gary Ross, Lionsgate Films, Inc
Fantastic Voyage (1966), Richard Fleischer, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Sleeper (1973), Woody Allen, United Artists
THX 1138 (1971), George Lucas, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
Previously on display
27 April 2025
ACMI: Gallery 4
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
P197167
Curatorial section
The Future & Other Fictions → Onboarding: Establishing the Narrative → Video Essay: Establishing the narrative
Object Types
Moving image file/Digital