If you’re in the mood for a dystopian movie night, then look no further than Netflix! There are tons of great options to choose from, and we’ve compiled a list of our favorites for you here.
From post-apocalyptic tales to dark stories about the future of humanity, these movies will keep you entertained all night long. So pop some popcorn and get ready for a cinematic experience like no other!
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1. The Platform (2019)
Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s social sci-fi horror film is a powerful and genuinely frightening experience. It has a great concept and insight into society, class systems, and human nature, making it a dystopian nightmare with an excellent premise.
Inmates are chained together and locked in a towering prison-like building with multiple floors. They are fed by a food delivery system that drops from the top floor to the bottom. The amount of food decreases as you go down each floor.
The film depicts a stark depiction of a class hierarchy. The idea that the ranks in the hierarchy vary, but people don’t, is brilliant.
In the midst of a world that has become increasingly snooty and savage, The Clouded Mirror is a darkly funny examination of contemporary society. This jarring film about the perils of society’s mistakes may be too violent for some viewers, but it delivers an important message.
2. Okja (2017)
Bong Joon-ho’s action-adventure film is a touching story about a young girl and her friendship with a super pig. However, it’s also a searing indictment of the meat industry.
The film follows Mija, a young Korean girl who risks everything to prevent her best friend Okja from being slaughtered by the multinational Mirando Corporation.
Okja is a great film with an important message, and it’s also one of the most visually stunning films on this list.
3. The Maze Runner (2014)
Wes Ball’s dystopian thriller is the first in a trilogy of films based on James Dashner’s young adult novel series.
The film follows Thomas, a young man who wakes up in a strange place with no memories of his past. He’s soon thrust into a deadly game where he must work with other boys to solve a maze and escape.
The Maze Runner is an exciting film with great action and suspense. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
4. Snowpiercer (2013)
Bong Joon-ho’s English-language debut is a science fiction thriller set in a post-apocalyptic ice age.
The film follows the passengers of the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe and is powered by a perpetual motion engine.
The Snowpiercer is a visually stunning film with great action and suspense. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
5. Divergent (2014)
Neil Burger’s dystopian thriller is based on Veronica Roth’s young adult novel series.
The film follows Beatrice Prior, a young woman who lives in a society where people are divided into factions based on their personalities. When she discovers she is Divergent, she must hide her true self or risk being killed.
Divergent is an exciting film with great action and suspense. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
6. The Purge (2013)
James DeMonaco’s dystopian horror film is set in a future America where all crime is legal for one night each year.
The Purge is a suspenseful and terrifying film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
7. The Hunger Games (2012)
Gary Ross’ dystopian adventure film is based on Suzanne Collins’ young adult novel series.
The film follows Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who is thrust into the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death where only one person can survive.
The Hunger Games is an exciting film with great action and suspense. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
8. Watchmen (2009)
Zack Snyder’s superhero film is based on the graphic novel of the same name.
The film takes place in an alternate 1985 America where costumed heroes are outlawed and former superheroes must investigate the murder of one of their own.
Watchmen is a dark and atmospheric film that is sure to please fans of the graphic novel. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
9. Space Sweepers (2021)
Space Sweepers is a visually stunning film with great action and suspense. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
The first space blockbuster in South Korea, according to some. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic future when the Earth has nearly become unhabitable. The planet is now virtually uninhabitable and is controlled by a mega-corporation named UTS.
The rest live miserable existences and work as Space Sweepers, collecting space trash. When a motley crew of Sweepers comes across a humanoid robot sought by the UTS, dark secrets are revealed, and their lives are altered.
10. Time to Hunt (2020)
The Netflix film is a South Korean dystopian action thriller set in a near-future South Korea where the economy has disintegrated completely, leaving a severely dystopian society in its wake.
A group of friends go on a heist to get away from this awful scenario and start over. They, however, end up taking from some dangerous mobsters who dispatch a bloodthirsty killer after them. A violent chase ensues between a murderous, unstoppable assassin and lots of flying bullets.
11. Oxygen (2021)
The newest film on this list is Netflix’s The Babadook, which was directed by Alexandre Aja. It’s a high-concept dystopian sci-fi thriller with a unique feature: only one real person and one distinct location. A woman (portrayed by Melanie Laurent) is awakened in a cryogenic chamber with no recollection of who she is or how she arrived there.
Now she must discover how to escape before her oxygen runs out. She is alone in the world, with only an advanced computer named MILO (voiced by Mathieu Amalric) for company. However, if she asks the correct questions, MILO can assist her.
12. Bird Box (2018)
Directed by Susanne Bier, Bird Box is a post-apocalyptic horror film based on the novel of the same name.
The film stars Sandra Bullock as Malorie, a woman who must blindfold herself and her two children as they travel down a river to safety.
They are pursued by unseen creatures that drive people to madness and suicide, so they must rely on their other senses to survive.
Bird Box is a suspenseful and terrifying film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
13. The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)
The Girl with All the Gifts is a British dystopian horror film based on the novel of the same name.
The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a fungal infection has turned most of humanity into zombies.
A group of scientists are studying a group of children who are immune to the infection in hopes of finding a cure.
The Girl with All the Gifts is a dark and disturbing film that is sure to leave you thinking long after the credits roll. It’s also one of the few Dystopian films on this list that isn’t too dark or depressing.
Have you seen any of these Dystopian films on Netflix? What did you think of them? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out our list of the 13 best dystopian movies on Netflix for more great films to watch. Thanks for reading! Dystopian films are some of the most visually stunning, exciting
