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Thelongestfilm.com – Do you like dystopian films like Divergent, set in a futuristic world where society has adapted to a new normal? Well, Divergent is a sci-fi film about post-apocalyptic Chicago, where individuals are categorized into different factions, each of which has its own dominant traits. Such films usually contain themes such as the differences between various economic classes in society, tyranny, and revolution. Finding movies that suit your needs and interests can be challenging. Therefore, I did the tedious work for you and compiled this list of films similar to Divergent. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Here are the 10 best films with a similar theme to Divergent. Some movies are action movies, while others are dystopian dramas. But one thing is for sure: you can choose any movie from the list, and I guarantee you that you will love it. There are some that are popular and some that are underrated too. Therefore, feel free to watch movies that you have never heard of before. There’s a good chance you’ll love it. Therefore, use the table below to navigate to films that interest you by name only.
1. Dune (2021)
Dune is an epic science fiction film based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. The film is the first of a two-part adaptation consisting of stories from the first half of the novel. The film takes place in a fictional world where different houses are in charge of different planets. The Emperor orders House Atreides to take over a planet called Arrakis. The desert planet has a substance called spice in its sand, which is essential for faster-than-light interstellar travel. However, the emperor has secondary plans due to the increasing control of House Atreides.
Dune is a slow burn with a gradually built-up plot. The action sequences are great, but most of the events aren’t explained, which can feel annoying at times. That said, this film is considered one of the best films released in 2021 and won many awards at the Academy Awards. The most interesting parts of Dune are its visual effects, cinematography, and background score. You can check out our list of the best award-winning movies to find more like them.
2. Chaos Walking (2021)
Chaos Walking is a dystopian science fiction film based on The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. The film is set in the distant future, where the colonists of the planet New World have developed a condition called Nise that helps them hear each other’s thoughts. Plus, the colonists engaged in a war with a native humanoid species called the Spackle and destroyed the entire female population, while half the males survived. Todd, the protagonist, finds a sunken ship but tries to keep the knowledge to himself, to no avail. He meets a girl named Voila, the lone survivor near the crashed ship, and finds her mysterious. It’s Todd’s first time seeing a girl, and they quickly become friends. The rest of the story revolves around the two characters as they discover more about each other.
Despite an award-winning cast and a compelling story, Chaos Walking did not do well at the box office. The film failed miserably and only collected 30% of its budget, leading to the possibility of a sequel. However, if you want to explore unique ideas about a made-up, dystopian world, you should definitely watch this film.
3. Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Alita: Battle Angel is a cyberpunk science fiction film based on Yukito Kishiro’s comic manga Gunnm. The film takes place in the distant future after the catastrophic war known as “The Fall,” which left Earth devastated. A scientist finds an old cyborg with an intact human brain. He took the robot home, gave it a new body, and named it Alita after his late daughter. However, Alita has no previous memories and finds it difficult to cope. With the help of a scientist named Ido, he begins to find his way to a new world and begins to make his own way.
Alita: Battle Angel has a huge following because of its source material. It is considered one of the best animated films based on manga comics with a modern animation style. The film was a box office success and garnered positive reviews from audiences and critics alike. The film has some visually appealing scenes and visual effects, but could be made better with the screenplay.
4. Code 8 (2019)
I hope you love superhero movies from DC and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I find the superpowers inspiring, and it gives us hope that good things happen to good people. However, what if those with superpowers are treated like criminals (read the Sokovia accords)? Code 8 tells this story. It is a science fiction movie about a guy with superpowers who works with criminals to earn money to save his sick mother. This movie is a feature-length version of a Canadian short movie by the same name.
Code 8 found commercial and critical success from users for being a polished gem on a tight budget. Many viewers appreciated the effort to introduce a new genre in the movie industry. Code 8 had close to no budget and relied heavily on fundraising to complete the shooting. You can read the names of over 30,000 contributors in the end credits.
5. The Platform (2019)
The Platform is a social science fiction movie originally created in Spanish. The plot revolves around a large vertical self-management center with residents on each level. The residents are shuffled between the floors every 30 days. Now, for the thrilling part, everyone in the building can eat from a platform that starts from the top floor and stops for a fixed amount of time on each floor. People at the top get to eat with full bellies. However, those at the bottom only get leftovers from the floor above them. The fight for survival brings out the madman in people. This is one of the best movies, like Divergent.
The movie premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Later, Netflix bought the streaming rights for the movie in 2020. You can check out other great movies on Netflix in our dedicated article to find more such gems.
6. Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One is a dystopian sci-fi film set in the year 2045. The film features individuals who use a virtual reality entertainment universe called the OASIS to get away from the real world. However, chaos begins when the company’s founder dies and leaves clues about a contest for control of the virtual reality world. The winner will gain complete control of the OASIS, which quickly catches the interest of many players and the company’s current CEO, who wants it for himself.
This film explores some interesting ideas regarding the future of virtual reality. Apart from that, the plot is interesting and keeps you hooked. Overall, Ready Player One proves to be an entertainment package with a thought-provoking story. A must-watch if you want to find films similar to Divergent.
7. Mortal Engines (2018)
Mortal Engines is a 2018 steampunk film based on Philip Reeve’s 2001 novel of the same name. The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world a thousand years from now. Earth is in a critical state, and the normal world order is shattered after a great conflict known as the Sixty Minute War. The remaining people now live by the philosophy of “urban Darwinism”. They have mobilized entire cities, and the larger predators are hunting the smaller towns and absorbing the smaller settlements in The Hunting Ground. The story intensifies as larger cities continue to absorb resources from smaller ones and tensions arise between their citizens.
Despite its big budget and stunning visuals, the film did not do well at the box office, causing a heavy loss for the studio. However, those who have read the novels find them brilliantly executed, with several elements that differ from the source material. This film is similar to Divergent in thematic value, where people with minimal power try to overthrow the ruler.
8. Upgrade (2018)
Upgrade is an Australian cyberpunk action film about a man who fears technology. The plot revolves around a technophobe named Grey, who gets a chip implant after an attack leaves him paralyzed. The chip, called STEM, helps him regain control of his motor functions. However, the chip has its own intelligence and talks to Grey, helping him exact revenge on the attackers who killed his wife and left him paralyzed. The rest of the movie shows the efforts as Grey tries to do the better thing and the chip wants something more. Upgrade was highly appreciated for its action sequences and dark humor.
9. What Happened to Monday (2017)
What Happened to Monday is a dystopian action thriller film. The plot takes place in a world where each family is allowed to have only one child due to overpopulation. The family we follow consists of seven identical sisters (named Monday to Sunday) who assume a single identity in the outer world and can only go out on the same day of the week as their name. The story intensifies when one of the seven sisters goes missing, and the other six start looking for her. However, they must do so without anyone knowing, or it can be a danger to all of their lives.
The movie has a twisted story and one of the freshest and most original ideas you might have seen. The sci-fi part of the movie isn’t really appealing, but the action and plot are ludicrous and violent. The critics don’t much like the movie, but it has the potential to become a cult film.
10. The 5th Wave (2016)
The 5th Wave is a science fiction action film that explores the concept of an alien invasion from a new angle. You’ve probably seen survival movies like that before, which makes the plot easy to guess. Still, it is worth watching for the acting and action performances in the film. The plot starts with a spaceship hovering over the planet, followed by several attacks. The aliens plan and carry out attacks in waves, causing a different phenomenon each time.
The first wave knocked out all electronic and electrical devices, causing the plane to crash mid-air; the second wave caused an earthquake and tsunami, causing mass devastation. The third wave causes deadly diseases, and in the fourth wave, aliens possess humans to kill each other. As the name suggests, this film shows people preparing for the fifth wave. Meanwhile, the protagonist of the film is trying to save his brother.
The 5th Wave performed moderately at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. This film is based on a novel of the same name, which has two more parts. However, there are no current plans for any sequels due to the film’s underrated performance.
