8 cyberpunk movies to watch before the premiere of the series `Blade Runner 2099`

"Blade Runner 2099" is not just a continuation of the legendary story. It is a return to a world where neon is brighter than the sun, and technology peers into the darkest corners of the soul. I have compiled a selection of films and series that breathe the same cold air of techno-nightmare.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Let's start with the obvious — the direct successor of the original Ridley Scott. On the "menu" — neon advertisements, endless rains, a pensive Ryan Gosling, and the quest to answer what makes a human human.

2049 is often called one of the most beautiful films of the decade. And rightly so: some frames make you want to print them and hang them above your bed. Interestingly, Denis Villeneuve's film flopped at the box office because it was too smart for a blockbuster — yet critics immediately included it in the golden collection of cyberpunk.

Ryan Gosling in a leather jacket in a scene from the movie "Blade Runner 2049" — Scene from the movie "Blade Runner 2049"

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

This anime is the sacred book of cyberpunk. The film is haunting in its silence, but every pause here is more important than any action.

In 2024, Time Out included "Ghost in the Shell" in the list of the 100 best sci-fi movies of all time. And yes, it was from this anime that the Wachowskis took the idea of the "digital rain" for "The Matrix," and the scenes of connecting to the network through a neck port have already become visual classics.

White android in wires against green lights in a frame from the anime "Ghost in the Shell" — Frame from the anime "Ghost in the Shell"

Network Runners (1995)

The little-known sci-fi thriller by Andrew Stevens (one of the directors of "Walker, Texas Ranger") can confidently be considered one of the best examples of 90s cyberpunk. The plot follows a policeman who gets involved in a dangerous game with a virtual warrior who has managed to break into reality.

The film turned out to be surprisingly prophetic. For example, it depicts a virtual environment integrated into everyday life. Today, such concepts seem quite real: metaverses, online avatars, and virtual workspaces are no longer something fantastical.

Interestingly, the film was released almost simultaneously with "Johnny Mnemonic" and "Strange Days," but unlike them, it went unnoticed by a wide audience. Meanwhile, the atmosphere and aesthetics of "Network Runners" still look very stylish.

A red-haired woman with a bob hairstyle is holding her temples in a scene from the movie "Network Runners" — A scene from the movie "Network Runners"

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)

Looking for something more explosive and wild? Here's a gift for you — an animated series that resembles both a neon nightmare and a teenage tragedy. Here, blood flows through the wires, and in the characters' eyes, there is that very despair when you realize you are just a cog in the corporate machine.

The series received a 100% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes — a rare occurrence for animation, especially one this intense. And if you're familiar with the game Cyberpunk 2077, this series will perfectly complement your collection of experiences.

A girl with lavender hair and a guy in a yellow jacket drawn in anime style in a frame from the cartoon 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' — A frame from the cartoon 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners'

Altered Carbon (2018-2020)

If a soul can be transferred to a new body and death is just a technical glitch, how can you even understand who you are? This series poses the same questions that torment the characters of "Blade Runner".

Add to this a stunning visual, detective intrigue, and a breathtaking atmosphere—according to users of the platform IMDb, such a perfect combo deserves almost 8 points.

A man in a red shirt looks at the huge night city dotted with lights and neon signs in a scene from the series 'Altered Carbon' — Scene from the series 'Altered Carbon'

Equilibrium (2002)

«Эквилибриум» is not quite cyberpunk, but its dystopian themes create an atmosphere similar to the genre. The plot is based on the ideas of Orwell's "1984" and Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451": the system controls emotions, and dissent is punished. Pills and sterile order decide everything. But at some point, someone stops taking them — and that's when things get interesting.

The film popularized the striking combat style "gun kata," combining acrobatics, shooting, and hand-to-hand combat. And Christian Bale in the lead role is always a strong point.

Roger Ebert awarded the film three out of four stars. The film doesn't offer deep reflections, but unlike many futuristic 'stews' of science fiction and special effects, it makes a statement: freedom of opinion is a threat to totalitarian systems, notes the famous film critic.

Christian Bale in black against the backdrop of a glowing globe in a scene from the film 'Equilibrium' — Scene from the film 'Equilibrium'

Snowpiercer (2020-2023)

A massive train cutting through the frozen Earth is a closed system where social classes collide literally. Although "Snowpiercer" is not classic cyberpunk, it offers a similar perspective on a world where technology controls people, and social classes are forced to survive in an enclosed system.

By the way, the series is based on the Korean film "Snowpiercer" (2013), directed by Bong Joon-ho, the director of the Oscar-winning "Parasite."

A man with dreadlocks walks down a corridor bathed in red light — Scene from the series 'Snowpiercer'

Upgrade (2018)

Upgrade is like putting The Matrix and John Wick under a cyberpunk dome. The main character gets a new chance after a tragedy—his paralyzed body is taken over by an implant.

The film is dynamic and gritty, with quality dark humor and well-crafted fight scenes. "It's a great, dark sci-fi action film, the kind they don't make anymore, and one that Carpenter and Cameron could be proud of," writes screenwriter Emily Yoshida in a review for Vulture.

Melanie Vallejo and Logan Marshall-Green stand next to a futuristic car in a scene from the movie 'Upgrade' — Scene from the movie 'Upgrade'

These movies and series are not just stories about the future, but a full-fledged dark world where technology intertwines with personal tragedies. What films would you add to this list?