Hi SFAM!

You might want to add the japanese animation “Bubblegum Crisis” to your cyberpunk movies of the 80s list (released in Japan in the 1980s/in North America in the 90s).

It was quite popular in the west, had a kick ass soundtrack, and was full of Philip K Dick and Blade Runner themes. Bubblegum Crisis also spawned off other related anime such as Bubblegum Crash and the grittier AD Police Files.

The show was later remade and repackaged in a “2040″ version but nothing beats the first one for screenplay and originality.

You can find out more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubblegum_Crisis

P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was actually pretty impressed by the new Appleseed but more because of the interesting (and successful, I thought) fusion of CG and original animation than it’s chopped up storyline. I love the old Appleseed of course, especially in it’s manga and graphic novel form.

How about Equalibrium which was a decent cyberpunk movie with some nice visuals and lots of matrix style fight scenes.

Also noted that Gunhed, the 1980’s Japanese robot movie has not been listed yet. Not excellent I know, but still worth a mention maybe.

Really like this web site by the way. Keep up the excellent work.

-/\sh72-

Hi Ahs72, Welcome to Cyberpunkreview!

Yeah, Equalibrium is a very fun movie with nice visuals, especially considering that it was done on a 20 million dollar budget. It’s really not all that cyberpunk though from a themes standpoint. Outside of the 1984 type aspect, there really isn’t that much else there. But I agree that it definitely has the visuals, and will definitely get reviewed here eventually.

I still have a good 40 movies or more still to review (many of which I already have reviews completed - I just need to load them), including biggies like Terminator, Robocop, Matrix, etc. I’ve spent a decent amount of time on movies many haven’t heard of, but the thought is I will get to at least one a day, so within two months, I hope to have close to 100 movies up.

As for Gunhed, I haven’t seen it, much less heard about it. Thank you so much for the mention!!! It looks like its well out of production so I’ll see if I can get this on ebay.

BTW, in the next week or so, I’m going to try to put a list of movies up in the meatspace that I’ve seen and plan to review. This will help you all in recommending new ones.

EDIT: Looks like I was looking for the wrong listing - Gunhed is still available.

Love the site. Lots of great films reviewed. Can’t wait to see more.

I know you probably have a lot more films to review, but just wanted to note a recent Chinese film called 2046, by Wong Kar Wai. It’s not really complete cyberpunk, but the story revolves around a writer who is writing a futuristic novel.. and so often times they switch to scenes that are actually supposed to be out of his book. So we get to see some really nice cyberpunk visuals…

http://www.sonyclassics.com/2046/main.html

well if you get a chance check it. It’s out on dvd now in the States.

Hi Jora_Dyn, welcome to cyberpunkreview

I’ve heard terrific things about 2046, and definitely intend to check this out. However, I was going to do so more for its terrific story vice the cyberpunk visuals. I wasn’t aware it had those. I’ll definitely bump this up on my watching now. Thanks!

I was wondering what you’d have to say about the Danish cyberpunk film SKYGGEN (in the states retitled - horribly - WEBMASTER)? I’ve never seen it myself, but I’ve often considered importing it. I imported the Italian version (longer cut, no horrid dubbing) of NIRVANA and was extremely pleased with it. Also, if you’re going to add Gilliam’s BRAZIL (which I agree is extremely cyberpunk in theme), are you also going to add films such as Jenuet and Caro’s DELICATESSEN and THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN? Both of which I would really consider steampunk, instead (which is a genre I’d ask if you’ll ever to a sub-section on).

Hi Case, welcome to cyberpunkreview!

Now I’m totally jealous - where did you find a real copy of Nirvana??? I can’t find this anywhere - ebay never has it, for instance.

Brazil? Definitely on the drawing board (10 stars of course). Both the visuals and the themes in this movie push it towards cyberpunk. Regarding Delivatessen and City of Lost Children, I must confess I haven’t seen either, but had previously ruled them out based on comments from them. I have to revisit both to be sure.

Skygen? I need to see this again - I have this dropped from my list and I’m not sure why (I had it at one time). Thanks for bringing it up!

Regarding steampunk as a subgenre, I definitely agree that it is one, and have thought about buying “steampunkreview” as a domain name, but honestly, I’m pretty tapped out with cyberpunkreview.com. While I generally love steampunk movies, I really don’t see steampunk as being all that similar to cyberpunk, either thematically, visually or in tone - this probably requires an essay though.

Hi SFAM, thanks for the welcome. ‘Glad to be here.

After that horrid edited, dubbed Region 1 disc Buena Vista released, I found my “real” copy of NIRVANA on XploitedCinema.com. I think they still have a few copies left of the Italian Cecchi Gori release of Gabriele Salvatores’ film (the company which also released his brillant DENTI a few years back). They’re used discs, but they’re in pretty good condition (no playing problems with mine, as long as you have a PAL-compatible player). Picture’s not as sharp as the remastered American disc, but…still totally worth it.

Aw, shame on you about DELICATESSEN and CITY OF LOST CHILDREN. Jeunet and Caro are geniuses…but like I said, this is where we enter a gray area. I’ve seen CITY listed as cyberpunk, but it’s only in theme, mostly, if anything at all…dealing with lost dreams and dream recovery, etc. The visuals themselves are straight steampunk if there ever were ones (but, then again, I’d say the same for Gilliam’s TWELVE MONKEYS). Ditto DELICATESSEN, despite the futuristic setting.

SKYGGEN (I refuse to call it WEBMASTER) - by no means a great film, it’s low-budget and trashy, but…100% cyberpunk in theme and visuals. Without a doubt.

Yes, I can imagine it’s tough enough running this site alone. I love steampunk, as well (ditto biopunk and, sometimes, splatterpunk), but…there are considerably less steampunk movies in existence than there are cyberpunk (in my opinion), so filling an entire website could be a chore. Books would be easier (virtually anything by Jules Verne). But, no, they’re nothing alike, really. Strangely enough, however, the ratio of good-to-bad steampunk in film far outshines the same ratio of cyberpunk films, however…so there may be less, but they’re usually of better quality. ‘Just my opinion, of course…

You are a God among men Case! Nirvana will set me back 30 bucks, but hopefully it’s worth it. Thanks!!

As for 12 Monkeys, and La Jetee for that matter, to me these are as cyberpunk as you can get. I’ll have to see City of Lost Children - again, I’ve been cheaping out. I just I’ll have to dump the dough.

As for there being only a few Steampunk, I don’t see this at all. I see TONS of Steampunk movies. I would include things like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow in that category, for instance. The number of animes alone would almost exceed the totall cyberpunk list. This may be worth a thread in the meatspace though.

Oh, you’re quite welcome. Trust me, it’s worth every penny not to hear that annoying dub. It bumps the film up a couple rating notches alone. I own copies of both, myself (mostly just because the Buena Vista release is, as I mentioned, a cleaner print), but the Italian cut is a vastly superior film.

I’ll have to go back and take another look at TWELVE MONKEYS. I always viewed that as simply a sci-fi/time travel film (a great one, at that), but I suppose just thinking about it now some CP themes are definitely coming to mind. The higher-ups in charge of the time travel program alone run it in a very mega-corp fashion. Okay, point taken…but I’m still filing it under “CP-esque” in my head until I have another look at it.

I guess I have strict rules on what I consider true steampunk (as I do with CP), but perhaps you’re right. I never even thought of SKY CAPTAIN, but it definitely fits the mold. I should know better, too, as my second favorite film of all-time (ERASERHEAD) is far and away SP. Steven Soderbergh’s KAFKA is another SP film high up on my list.

To me, Steampunk implies some futuristic technology that occurs in the past - more often than not it seems almost fantasy-like versus the science-based variety we see in cyberpunk movies. 12 Monkeys is a new-future apocalypse where man-made technology destroys society, and more man-made technology (time travel) is destroying a person in an attempt to avert disaster. You have an oppressive, controlling oligarchy, a man overtaken by events, invasive technology, massive cyberpunk visuals, etc. And DEFINITELY see La Jetee if you haven’t already.

Jora_Dyn mentioned about 2046. I love other Wong Kar Wai movie - Chungking Express ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109424/ ).

Great footage, almost whole movie is set during the night. For me, very Blade Runnerish. IMHO lovers in cyberpunk movies would act like in Chungking Express.

Hi Mattness, I REALLY have to watch 2046 - I’ve heard so much about this movie. I’ve heard ChungKing Express was great too, but never heard a cyberpunk slant. I’ll check that out too.

Dont 4 get about “Demoliton Man”

Say, you ought to also mention the TV mini-series by Oliver Stone, Wild Palms.

I just learned that there was an actual technology company that was possibly named after the Mimecom company in Wild Palms:

http://www.naturalsearchblog.com/archives/2006/07/14/towards-a-new-cyberpunk-reality/

Hi Chris, I have a full listing of the cyberpunk shows and movies in the meatspace, that includes the ones I haven’t gotten to reviewing yet. The “Cyberpunk Movies by Decade” only includes those which have been reviewed so far. You’ll notice that many big name ones are still missing here (Gattaca, Matrix Revolutions, etc.).

I’m definitely aware of Wild Palms, and will try to get this reviewed soon. BTW, great link.

No Max Headroom film review? I speak of the British film, not the american series.

Hi Isamu242, welcome to cyberpunkreview

And yeah, I haven’t reviewed all popular cyberpunk movies yet - many are still outstanding. I could have reviewed all the popular ones first, but then that would leave the rest sort of unbalanced. But, um, I didn’t know that the British version of this was any different. I just checked on IM - is the British version a combination of episodes or is it completely different?

There is an hour and a half long british film that started the Max Headroom Show TV series and the ever popular Max Headroom : 20 Minutes Into the Future that was aired in America . The film covers basically everything the first episode of 20 Minutes Into the Future (American TV series) does, except with a higher budget, a better cast, and a slightly different story (Oh, and it’s still including Mathew Frewer in the cast, of course) The American TV series is absolutley inferior to the original british film. Locating a copy of the original british film may prove to be nearly impossible, so I suggest torrents… perhaps someone should complain or spend that tax check next year and buy the rights

Torrents it is then. Hopefully I can find it there.

I wonder if ‘Millenium’ could be considered cyberpunk…

Although it’s primarily a time-travel movie set in the late 1980s (and featuring Kris Kristofferson and Cheryl Ladd - how could this film NOT be good? :P), it does feature a dyspodic future where the air is toxic to birds, the entire population of the Earth is infertile and features a few cybernetically-enhanced people (though never mentioned, we see a few of them).

The film’s about people from the future abducting people off doomed airliners before they crash to help rebuild their population. Cheesy B-grade, but a lot of fun.

Hi Hugo, someone else mentioned this as well. I was never really able to keep up with that show. It seemed like a shallow knock-off of Xfiles the few times I saw it. Does anyone else have an opinion on Mellenium?

Oi!, if punks still exclaim this, where is Westworld? A robotic amusement park, designed by computers, which, on one arbitrary day, kills all of the inhabitants. This is not included, yet Alien and Dark City are? I do not see how science fiction immediately turns into cyberpunk.

Hi Selftitled (who gave you that name, BTW?), Westworld is certainly an android movie but it doesn’t really come across as cyberpunk. It takes place in the present, has no real futuristic setting, doesn’t have negative technology damaging society (just those people in an amusement part), etc. It’s a terrific movie though!

Here’s an anime for ya………
Dead Leaves!

Reviewing would be great for me as well as other anime cyberpunk fans.

Westworld is an example, a sample of society. If robots are so commonplace and autotomous to exist for days on their own in an envoirnment. It is also not foriegn for the characters to contemplate sex with such toys. The programers understand it and it seems that this is a primary attraction for the park. This could be a sign of sexual frustration with perfect machanical dolls at their work place, which are smooth all over. It forshadows a comming falling out.
I do not recall a date ever being mentioned in Testuo.
You mention the future, when Dark City does not take place in it. Dark City may even take place in the past, with their antique cars. The doctor looked as if he was there from the start, when he was forced to erase his own memories. John (Rufus) could have just been second generation.
At the very least, technology is in the forefront of Westworld; it is a footnote for Alien. The bio-android added to the film, but was not neccessary. He could have been human. A human would have less of an impact and be less creepy, but it still could have been a human role.
I also noticed your missing Galaxy Express 999. There were two movies as an extention of the series. Maybe one should look into that.

Hi Selftitled. I guess we disagree on this. There are certainly many other sites on the internet that has this and other movies (like Mad Max for instance) listed as cyberpunk. I have to have some rationale for inclusion or removal - to make this call, I am going with what I have in the “What is Cyberpunk” list. This is what I use for my determination. In watching this movie, there is no corporate control of society - we do have a technology gone awry, but again, its done for random reasons in a small park setting. And technology is not in the forefront, it is merely a device to get a monster movie going - only this time the monster is an android. There are no cyberpunk visuals whatsoever - everything is straight 70s polyester - nor are there any interesting themes. All we really have is an android gone wild. If Westworld counts, then so does literally every other android movie.

Dark City has detailed invasion (very negative impact) of technology on humanity - memories are changed in people every night. The cyberpunk visuals are there in spades, as is something akin to a corporate control of society. The story has a complete focus on an underground resistance. Whether we can define a time for Dark City or not, it clearly belongs as a cyberpunk movie.

you totally forgot the movie REPO MAN

I agree with another commentator in that I am surprised that you have not included Equilibrium (which I thought was pretty damn good). Would also consider Gattaca to fall within the genre and possibly Donnie Darko. More importantly have you seen any of the Korean new wave of films such as 2046 or Oldboy which are absolutely brilliant. Like the site though so apologies if I seem hyper critical

Hi Nadim, as I mention above, the total list of cyberpunk movies is in a thread in the meatspace forum. Equilibrium is certainly on the list. The list above is just the movies that have been reviewed so far. There are still MANY I need to get to. Unfortunately, September has turned out to be a wash for me as far as that concerns…hopefully October will be better.

Dawn - Make a case for Repo Man. I love the movie, but I’m not seeing “Cyberpunk” there. Punk? Definitely, but where’s the cyber?

You really must take a look at “Kin Dza Dza”…
A very interesting “cyberpunk” movie of the soviet era

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091341/

The Millenium film that was mentioned waaay far above is not to be confused with the Chris Carter X-files spinoff series ‘Millenium’ starring Lance Henrickson as TVs best Deadzone ripoff. The film mentioned is a scif-fi time travel flick that did horrible in the box office and tried it’s best to make its money through the new market (at the time) of video rental. It was a fairly entertaining, though as stated above, a sometime cheeeesey scifi flick.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097883/

Oh hey, what about Code 46? It kind of a 2003 THX-1138 meets Gattaca, directed by the brilliant director Michael Winterbottom of 24 Hour Party People fame.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345061/

I just thought i would point out, V for Vendetta is pretty cyberpunk, didn’t see it on the list. Also, you might want to rethink some of these movies - not really cyberpunk. War Games? Robocop? Terminator? Bicentennial man??

Isnt “Universal Sodier” a cyberpunk movie??

How can you miss movies like Equilibrium dude?????!!! Stop watching kiddy-movies (eg. cartoons)

Hi WTF, For the 40th time, I haven’t “missed” these movies, I just haven’t reviewed them yet.

Would you consider reviewing Serenity or Firefly by Joss Whedon on your site?

Your site rocks man! Definitely put a review up for “The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai: Across The 8Th Dimension” whenever you can buy some time. Again, amazing site, keep up the awesome work spreading the word of this sacred culture! You’re amazing, and the effort put in is much appreciated!

I’d consider “Scanners” (1981) since there is a scene where Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) uses his mind to hack in an old computer system over the phone lines.

Pretty decent Cyberpunk Movies list; even had some titles I was unfamiliar with and will now seek out. But I’m surprised that “Renaissance 2054″ is omitted from list

“Prayer of the Rollerboys” 1996 ish, Corey Haim in a post- Apocalyptic USA that’s all but been carved up by the nations we’re in debt to, A gang/Business of Teeneged Inline Skaters rule the streets and distribute their own designer drug.

Hi realgoneman, the list above is not all inclusive…yet. It only includes those which I’ve reviewed so far, so there are a number of clear cyberpunk movies that aren’t there yet. That said, I just got done reviewing Renaissance so…:)

Hi Chylde Orchid, I haven’t heard of Prayer of the Rollerboys, but I’ll look into it.

Consider “Cold Lazarus”

Excellent site!

If you would like more tips for movies, you could try and get a hold of Lies Inc. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459443/ (if you don’t own it already…)

Awesome Ynk! I’ve never heard of this movie, but this definitely looks cyberpunk. Thanks!

BTW, do you know a place I can pick this up at. Lies, Inc. as a DVD doesn’t even show up on Ebay.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459443/board/nest/61497160

Check out those links. Unfortunatly it is no longer in print, so it might be hard to find.

[…] link Bookmark to: (Be the first to rate this article!)  Loading … By cmind, March 5, 2007. […]

And what about Tarkovsky’s Stalker?

Hi Mir, the list above is only the films that have currently been reviewed. Stalker is definitely on my list.

Hello!
I think a review of “Jin-Roh”,a Japanese Anime,would be good!

Hi Cyberpunk Lover, I do like Jin-Roh a lot and own it, but am not sure this should be considered cyberpunk. Going to the “What is cyberpunk” page, could you give me a reason for including it?

Hi. I left a comment a while ago but it doesn’t appear to be here. What about the film “Until The End Of The World” by Wim Wenders? I consider it to be a Cyberpunk classic but I don’t see it on your list? Thanks. Howard
–

Hi Howard, yes, I consider this cyberpunk as well. I still need to review it. The only movies that show above are those I’ve already reviewed. I have a larger list in the forums which I need to transfer to the Wiki that has all those I identified.

even though it’s not pure cyberpunk (only focusing on the low life aspect) you should consider adding a review for district b-13, as it deals with quite some familiar cyberpunk issues.

anyway it’s just an awesome movie, which can be partly considered cyberpunk. even though there is no digital reality, the picture of an extreme multi class society is one of the main aspect of cyberpunk.

Has anyone seen the Albert Pyun movie Nemesis? I would think that would almost be an completely cyberpunk themed movie.

Mihaly, take a look at the list above - you’ll see Nemesis listed.

I am new to this and was wondering if 1987’s The Running Man (Arnold Schwarzenegger) fits in the cyberpunk category.

Great site! Since discovering this page I have rented and watched many of the films you have listed here that I had never even heard of. I enjoy reading the reviews, and appreciate the time put into each one.

I don’t mean to turn the comments section into a “What about xxxx movie?” section, but I just watched “Cyber Wars” and I think you might enjoy it. It matches the genre themes and visuals, and even has a spot of decent action. Even though the movie as a whole didn’t make a huge impression it was worth watching if you’re a cyberpunk fan.

hi SFAM. i didnt really know how else to get in contact with you so i’d figure i’d leave a comment. i think youre running a great site here with loads of excellent info on all things cyberpunk. i just recently discovered this site a few weeks ago and i’ve been visiting frequently since then. i was always very intrigued by the world of cyberpunk but never knew how to indulge myself in it until i found this site. i just wanted to thank you for making a difference in my life and i hope you continue to inspire.
ONI

“what is it that constitutes the quality of reality?” - the twilight zone

Hello, John. Welcome to Cyberpunk Review! Sorry about the late response, we’ve been busy checking movies and all that.

We do have a Cyber Wars, listed by its international name “Avatar.”

This post might contain some spoilers about Demon seed.

Am I the only one who would possibly consider “Demon Seed” (1977) a somewhat cyberpunky movie? It got networked computers, “smart houses” and an HAL kind of AI that becomes self-aware and discoverss that mankind is destroying the enviroment of the planet and decides that it must create a human child (or is it a cyborg, I don’t remember if the movie was clear about that?) that would take the role of a messiah to lead mankind onto the right path … by capturing the AI creator’s wife and raping her.

Sorry if I am spoiling too much, but I don’t know how else to describe this film.

m596k

Hi SFAM, I just feel miss of Cowboy Bebop in your list of review, and I think so “Flashback - A quest for Identidy” could be an Cyberpunk game.

You might want to take a look at “Fortress” from 1993 when you get a chance.

Hey SFAM, ever heard of the flick “Ghost in the Machine”? It’s a 90s horror movie where a serial killer gets trapped in a city’s electrical grid after he dies in a cat-scanner, and continues killing people with his new ability to possess machinery. Some awesome scenes include the killer strolling around inside a virtual reality game circa 1993 and messing with kids, or, better yet, killing a man with his microwave!

Maybe this movie really isn’t TERRIBLY cyberpunk in its themes, but I’d say it is more in adherence to the themes than Clockwork Orange, which got a spot here. Unfortunately it’s not as good of a movie as Clockwork Orange. Check it out if you wish.

Good to see we’re keeping Lawnmower Man I & II off this list!

oh my dear this movie is called E Q U I L I B R I UM and not equalibrium, and this land where it acts is called líbria, not liberia.

the word equilibrium is latin and means imbalance, as the word libria means balance.

go for it you big bad real cyberpunks !

..sorry for gettin my panties in a twist

great list. i’m sure you’re backlogged with movies to watch/review/consider adding to your page, thought i’d mention two flicks by vincenzo natali; i’d put them on the borderline of cyberpunk— definitely cyber, i dunno about the punk part: cube, http://imdb.com/title/tt0123755/ and cypher: http://imdb.com/title/tt0284978/

keep up the good work

hi, it’s just an idea that popped into my mind. would you like to comment or make short reviews on videos that relate to this theme? http://youtube.com/watch?v=8DWXDb5hGpU
I’m sure you know lots more and it would be great if we could share some of our favs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexmission perhaps this movie would be worth to review Not a porn, as name would suggest.

circuitry Man
Bubblegum Crisis
Max Headroom

I’m surprised there’s no review for the 1995 French film City of Lost Children. Some serious cyberpunk in this one. Check it out if you haven’t already.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_lost_children

What about the Cyberpunk and scifi pioneer TV series “Doctor Who”? I see no mention in the whole site at all…
There have been numerous episodes of cyberpunk theming that led the way for the 80ies cult cyberpunk movies such as Blade runner, and even later films like Equilibrium and Matrix. Also, it influenced many characters and technologies in the “Warhammer 40000″ scifi wargame.

Example episodes are: Robot, Genesis of the Daleks, The Sunmakers, The Deadly Assassin, and generally all Cybermen and Dalek themed episode.

Also the “Cyber” term as we use it, was introduced in the Doctor Who series in 1966 (yes, 1966! beat that!) on the first Cyborgs ever shown on TV, the Cybermen.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-#History)

How about a review on Meatball Machine? It’s like a more-recent more-over-the-top version of Tetsuo. Hah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1WsJRHKiGg

just a fan msg to say GREAT SITE! - thanx!

i discovered some films on your list i have not seen.
curious, why no mention of:
MAX HEADROOM, WILD PALMS, LOGAN’S RUN (for visuals anyway)

btw- what was that bizarre lo-budget series on MTV (i think) that
seemed like Max Headroom spin-off? lots of TV sets in the dystopic streets and some skateboard kid was the lead i think. i think it was on around same time as Aeon Flux. anybody know?

It may sound like an odd suggestion but surely Stepford Wives from 2000’s, you have to think about it but it has more cyberpunk elements than some of the films on the list, and some others have suggested such as Vforvendetta (not cyberpunk)

What about Douglas Trumbull’s Brainstorm and the indipendent documentary Cyberpunk Educator?

just thought you might want to add the anime Mezzo Forte and the film Narcosys.

and wow, roadwarrior isn’t on the list?

as much as I love road warrior, it just isn’t cyberpunk IMHO. There’s not technology - in fact it’s almost the anti-cyberpunk because it’s post apocalyptic.