Science fiction can be a genre that holds up a mirror to the present, past, and future simultaneously. Other genres of movies and television can do this, of course, and some have even accidentally predicted the future. But sci-fi can really capture the societal mood, or even predict it in ways viewers don’t see coming. For me, the best entries in this genre not only have biting commentary on society, but they remain relevant long after their release date.
But not all predictions are created equal, and not everything that eventually comes to pass is a good thing. Sometimes I find myself disturbed by how accurate sci-fi can be when it serves as a sort of prophet of a depressing or eerie future or event. I guess it can’t all be sunshine and cool future tech.
Children of Men
Watch Children of Men on Amazon Prime Video
Lots of dystopian or apocalyptic fiction likes to imagine a world where the end is preceded by a lot of action or explosions. A world where humanity really just fights it out, or some large, terrible event leads to the end of it all. And while Children of Men‘s premise—that humanity stops procreating—is a big one, it doesn’t depict a world quickly approaching the end.
No, I’m not saying that we live in a world where pregnancy no longer happens, but it’s looking at how those in power react to a world slowly decaying that Children of Men gets so much right. Infrastructure crumbles, and bureaucratic institutions begin to fail or simply stop caring, and everyone just looks so tired and devoid of hope. I think it’s safe to say that we have witnessed much of that in the modern era, and it’s only made Children of Men age like a fine, if bitter, wine.
Contagion
Rent or buy Contagion on Amazon Prime Video
If you wanted to argue that Contagion is only science fiction in the loosest way, I would be hard-pressed to argue with you. The film, which was made in 2011, depicts a fictional worldwide pandemic that completely decimates our way of life. Naturally, the film became extremely popular during the early parts of the COVID pandemic, and for good reason.
Director Steven Soderbergh consulted with real-life health officials during the making of the film, and it shows. Lots of little details are presented in a scarily accurate fashion, and honestly, it’s hard to watch Contagion nowadays without thinking of the early days of the actual pandemic. There’s nothing like a little too realistic fiction to bring traumatic memories of times before.
Black Mirror
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We would have to spend several entries on this list discussing exactly what Black Mirror gets right about the future—or even the present. In fact, there aren’t many shows that ruin your brain quite like Black Mirror, and that’s precisely why it has continued to resonate with its loyal fanbase. From dystopian depictions of artificial intelligence to commentary on the perils of greedy corporations ruining the lives of ordinary people, it’s kind of amazing how much the show gets right.
Of course, it’s all done in its trademark style, a balancing act between realism and complete absurdity. But when viewed purely thematically, Black Mirror is a show that pays attention to the signs of where our future is heading. Who knows what horrors it will continue to predict during its incredible run?
The Lone Gunmen
The truth is out there, and it hits a little close to home
I’m annoyed to this day that The Lone Gunmen isn’t as fondly remembered as its parent series, The X-Files. Sure, it only had one season before it was canceled, but it was every bit as compelling. And yet, it’s just so difficult to watch nowadays. You can’t even stream it or buy it online. It’s as if it doesn’t exist, which I think is a conspiracy that the eponymous characters would lunge at the opportunity to expose.
And while many parts of The Lone Gunmen could be construed as prophetic, it’s the pilot episode that is truly astounding. In that episode, the main characters discover a plot to crash a plane into the World Trade Center. I’m sure this all sounds very familiar to many of you, and it should. But the wild thing is that this episode aired six months before 9/11 actually happened. And yes, you could argue that the World Trade Center was the target of more than a few terrorist plots over the years, but the timing of the episode still remains eerily somber.
Elysium
Watch Elysium on Netflix
Elysium was one of those films that didn’t really resonate with me when it first came out. As a follow-up to District 9, it felt like a step down for director Neill Blomkamp. Yet with each passing year, I find Elysium to be more and more relevant. A film that is essentially about the growing divide between the ultra-wealthy and everyone else, Elysium really captures that divide in a realistic way.
Of course, we don’t (currently) live in this particular version of a dystopian society, but I’m starting to wonder if we’re not barreling headfirst into such a world eventually. Either way, I’ve come to appreciate Blomkamp’s sophomore effort a lot more than I did when it released in 2013.
The future is hard to predict, but not impossible
Lots of these movies and shows didn’t just get lucky when it comes to predicting the future. History repeats itself, and it does so often, like a chorus to a particularly catchy pop song. But still, these entries are impressive because of just how well some of them truly dropped knowledge on events that were yet to come, or at least events that were about to repeat so soon.
When you’re done looking to the future, though, check out these classic Hitchcock films that helped define modern suspense conventions.
