The Electric State is the latest blockbuster from Joe & Anthony Russo, the filmmakers who made their names thanks to MCU projects like Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. This new project stays with their bold, maximalist style and tells the entertaining story of an orphaned teenager who teams up with an experienced scavenger in a post-apocalyptic America to find her lost brother. Although The Electric State opened to poor reviews, there are still some redeeming features.

Those who enjoyed The Electric State’s clear commentary on the state of technology and machinery in modern society (particularly regarding how humanity can coexist with artificial intelligence) will be glad to learn that there are countless other movies out there with similar themes and ideas. This is something that’s been explored in the sci-fi genre since its very conception, and continues to be a key idea in today’s sci-fi climate. And those who merely enjoyed the huge budget of the Netflix movie can also find similar strengths in some other recent blockbusters.

10

I, Robot (2004)

Directed By Alex Proyas

Much of The Electric State centers around the symbiotic relationship between humans and machines, which is also the central issue in Alex Proyas’ subversive sci-fi thriller I, Robot. The film is adapted from Isaac Asimov’s novel of the same name, telling the story of an American detective who’s tasked with figuring out whether a robot unlawfully killed a scientist working on a project at US Robotics. It’s a fascinating story about the role that artificial intelligence plays in humanity’s future, and it reaches many of the same important conclusions as The Electric State.

9

Finch (2021)

Directed By Miguel Sapochnik

Tom Hanks’ starring role in Finch is one of his most endearing characters in recent memory, and the film itself is just as powerful. Sapochnik’s story chronicles the budding friendship between a human survivor on a post-apocalyptic Earth whose only company is a robot that was designed to protect his dying dog in this dusty wasteland. Not only was Finch one of the best sci-fi movies of 2021, but it’s also an incredibly human story that’s stood the test of time and only gets more and more relevant as robotics and artificial intelligence grow increasingly present in our daily lives.

8

Tales From The Loop (2020)

Created By Nathaniel Halpern

Prime Video’s Tales From The Loop is an excellent show that centers around a dystopian city that’s built on the foundations of the тιтular “loop”, a high-tech machine with groundbreaking capabilities to bend reality and unlock the mysteries of the universe. The ensemble series follows several characters and the metaphysical disturbances that cause them to question the laws of physics and our role in the universe. Halpern’s show is a brilliant example of how to weave real-world commentary (here, about scientific progression and exploration) into a compelling narrative that places its characters first.

7

Oblivion (2013)

Directed By Joseph Kosinski

Kosinski’s Oblivion has become somewhat of a foundational sci-fi movie over the past decade, influencing the genre in subtle ways that can be seen in plenty of modern blockbusters – The Electric State included. Although it was met with plenty of criticism upon release, Oblivion is a hugely underrated movie about the perseverance of the human spirit in a world that’s been totally destroyed beyond repair. It has the same dystopian atmosphere of The Electric State, albeit with a darker and grittier tone, and is bolstered by a fierce lead performance from Tom Cruise.

6

The Gray Man (2022)

Directed By Anthony & Joe Russo

The Gray Man is the previous movie from Anthony & Joe Russo, the filmmakers behind The Electric State. While this project is much more interested in individual character dynamics and global conspiracies than a metatextual commentary on the state of modern technology, there’s still a lot of similarities between the two. The Russos’ directorial style is very distinct, with slick editing decisions and bright cinematography that pairs nicely with the big-budget special effects. The Gray Man also has the star power that likely drew many viewers to The Electric State, with bold and eccentric performances from Ryan Gosling and Chris Pratt.

5

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Directed By Chris McKay

While there aren’t too many similarities in the stories of The Electric State and The Tomorrow War, both films have a very distinct style that feels both very modern and very reminiscent of other action blockbusters from the ‘80s and ‘90s. This project follows a team of time-traveling soldiers who arrive from the future to deliver an important message and warn humanity of the alien conflict that looms on the horizon. It seems like The Tomorrow War 2 is in development at Amazon Studios, and this sequel could definitely build on the themes of robots and technology from The Electric State.

4

Ready Player One (2018)

Directed By Steven Spielberg

Adapted from Ernest Cline’s acclaimed sci-fi novel of the same name, Spielberg’s Ready Player One is a boundary-defying action film that remains severely underrated within the director’s filmography. It’s clearly not an all-time classic like some of Spielberg’s earlier movies, but it certainly deserves more recognition for its gorgeous visuals and topical themes. The story follows a young boy named Wade, who travels deep into a virtual reality world in search of the Easter eggs left behind by the technology’s founder. The film is not only a must-watch for video game fans, but also for those observing the development of the sci-fi genre.

3

The Midnight Sky (2020)

Directed By George Clooney

With George Clooney in both the lead role and the director’s chair, The Midnight Sky is a powerful drama about survival and determination in the face of the end of the world. The story follows a scientist named Augustine who’s stationed remotely in the Arctic Circle when he receives word that a group of astronauts will be returning back to Earth, leaving him in a race against time to contact them before it’s too late. The film is essentially fuelled by Clooney’s lead performance, though supporting turns from Felicity Jones and Caoilinn Springal also deserve equal praise.

2

The Creator (2023)

Directed By Gareth Edwards

The Creator has frequently been compared to The Electric State, but despite their obvious thematic similarities, the two films adopt completely different approaches to navigating these socially relevant issues. Edwards’ film is a much darker and mature narrative about creating a world where humans and machines can live in harmony, which is something that only lies under the surface of The Electric State. The Creator’s brilliant ending does a great job of combining gripping storytelling with pointed, purposeful commentary on the direction that our society is heading regarding its treatment of technology and machinery.

1

District 9 (2009)

Directed By Neil Blomkamp

Another film that’s very aesthetically different from The Electric State but has very similar themes at its core, District 9 is the story of a quarantined sector in South Africa where an alien species has been captured and placed under surveillance. The narrative centers around one government official whose professional misconduct makes him a public enemy and sparks a dangerous conflict between the humans and the aliens. It’s a darkly comedic film that displays just how volatile the concept of cohabitation with another species (or technology, in The Electric State’s case) could be.