Historical Timeline of Dystopian films
1927 – Metropolis was the first dystopian
film made. The film is about a futuristic
urban dystopia, and it follows a young man
and women. The man is from a wealthy
background, and the lady is from a poorer
background. The film explores the
separation between the two classes.
Metropolis was the first film to play on the
idea of an alternative reality and made
people think about what they were watching.
The film can be seen as a Marxist critique of
futuristic society.
1920’s to 1930’s
1936 – Modern Times is a film set in a
future industrialised city. It follows a
little tramp like character who
struggles to make it in this modern
world. It critiques the quickly
industrialising world as well as the
great depression. It uses the idea of the
‘American dream’ and the ‘pursuit of
happiness’, as a way of driving the film
on.
1951 – The day the earth stood still is
a film about a humanoid alien that
arrives on earth to give an important
message to the people. The message is
that other planets are worried about
earths atomic power, this is a clear
critique of the war, fighting and
nuclear power. The humanoid alien
gives earth an ultimatum which is that
if earth continue the violence, and it
goes into space then earth will be
obliterated. This is basically intending
that the future of the world is in our
hands.
1950’s to 1960’s
1968 – Planet of The Apes is a
futuristic science fiction film
about a alternate planet where
apes have evolved into
creatures with human like
intelligence and speech. The
brutality of the apes parallels
the 60’s issues of racism,
evolution, intolerance, and
possible nuclear warfare.
Planet of the Apes
serves more than a Dystopian
world, but as a warning for a
Cold War era against the
atrocities of war. The film can
also be seen as a critique of
how humans treat animals.
1970 – No Blade Of Grass is a film about
a new virus that has appeared in the
country, the virus attacks strains of grass
such as wheat and rice. This causes mass
chaos and famine throughout the country.
The film follows a man trying to take his
family to a farm in Scotland, they
encounter hostile soldiers, gangs and any
type of person ready to take advantage of
them for some food. These groups of
people trying to take advantage of them
for their own benefit is very typical of
dystopian films. This film clearly critiques
society and how much humans only think
about themselves, and will do anything to
survive if that means hurt another human.
1970’s to 1980’s
1987 – The Running Man is a film
about a cop called Ben, who was
convicted for a crime he never did.
When he is in prison he escapes
with some inmates, but one of the
inmates turns him into the police.
The Running Man is a game show
wherein convicted felons are given
the chance to run to freedom but
have to elude people who are
trying to kill them. Ben decides to
go on the game show, not realising
that the inmates he escaped with
are on the show too. This is a
critique of society because this
show is one of the most popular
shows around and that shows how
much humans enjoy violence.
1995 – Twelve Monkeys is a film about a
dystopian future where a disease has
devastated most of the world. The film
follows a man who goes back in time to try
and find a cure for the disease and bring it
back. The film looks at the idea of a world
rocked by economic dislocation, rapidly
shifting capital, wild swings in the market,
and a sense of uncertainty and chaos. It
could be seen as challenging meta narratives
the way the film uses the past present and
future, and at times they are interchangeable.
The future is devolution. Man has become
animal, and film seems to indicate that man
has lost all control of the world we live in and
the animals may as well be in charge because
man is incapable of doing so.
1990’s to 2000’s
2002 – Equilibrium is a film
about a fascist future where
all forms of feeling are
illegal. But one of the
enforcers of this law, makes
a plan to over through the
government. The film goes
with the idea of a fascist
world. This could be seen as
critique of where society is
heading in the future.
Additionally, it shows what
a fascist world would be like.
Elysium is a film about the year
2154. It takes place on a ravaged
earth and a luxurious planet
called Elysium. Wealthy people
live in Elysium, and poor people
are left on an overpopulated and
devastated earth. The film deals
with over population, equality ,
exploitation, the justice system,
class issues and immigration. All
these issues are genuine issues
amongst humanity and this film
brings these fears to life and
looks at what it could be like in
the future. There is a clear divide
between rich and poor and that
has been a problem in the world
for eternity, but this film
highlights what it could turn into
if this divide stays the same.
Recent Dystopian Films
The Purge is a film about a
wealthy family trying to survive
the purge. The purge is one day
a year where all crime is legal
and all emergency services are
suspended. The purge is used by
the government and helps to
control crime rates and
unemployment. When the
audience watch the film they
would get a real sense of what it
would be like without a justice
system, police etc. and will make
you appreciate them more.