If you loved the gripping sci-fi adventure of Planet of the Apes (1968), you're in for a treat. This article explores 10 movies and shows that share its themes of dystopian futures, societal collapse, and thought-provoking commentary on humanity. Whether you're a fan of the original or just crave more mind-bending stories, these picks will satisfy your appetite for intelligent sci-fi.

Metropolis (1927)
Description: A pioneering sci-fi silent film that presents a stark class divide in a futuristic city, with themes of rebellion and the human cost of industrialization.
Fact: The film's restoration in 2008 incorporated nearly 25 minutes of previously lost footage discovered in Argentina.


The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Description: A seminal sci-fi film that uses an alien visitation to comment on Cold War tensions and humanity's propensity for violence.
Fact: The iconic robot Gort was played by a 7'7" actor, Lock Martin, who was actually a doorman at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.


The Time Machine (1960)
Description: A classic sci-fi adventure that explores societal evolution and the potential dark futures of humanity through time travel.
Fact: The time-lapse photography used to show the rapid passage of time was groundbreaking for its era and won an Academy Award for special effects.


THX 1138 (1971)
Description: A stark, minimalist sci-fi film depicting a dehumanized future society where emotions are suppressed and individuality is erased.
Fact: George Lucas's first feature film, originally expanded from his student short film 'Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB'.


The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Description: A tense sci-fi thriller about a team of scientists racing to contain a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism, exploring themes of scientific responsibility and survival.
Fact: The film's high-tech laboratory set was so convincing that real scientists asked to tour it, thinking it was an actual research facility.


A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Description: A disturbing exploration of free will, violence, and societal control set in a stylized, dystopian future.
Fact: The film's unique slang, 'Nadsat,' was a mix of Russian, Cockney rhyming slang, and invented words by author Anthony Burgess.


Silent Running (1972)
Description: An ecological sci-fi film set in a future where Earth's last forests are preserved in space, dealing with themes of environmentalism and isolation.
Fact: The film's drone robots were operated by double amputees, who used their specially designed harnesses to control the machines' movements.


Soylent Green (1973)
Description: A bleak vision of the future where overpopulation and environmental degradation lead to a horrifying societal secret, touching on themes of survival and human ethics.
Fact: This was Charlton Heston's last film under his contract with MGM, marking the end of an era for the actor with the studio.


Logan's Run (1976)
Description: A dystopian sci-fi film set in a future society where life is strictly controlled, and individuals are terminated at a certain age, exploring themes of rebellion and the search for truth.
Fact: The film's futuristic city was shot in a shopping mall in Dallas, Texas, which was still under construction at the time.


Blade Runner (1982)
Description: A neo-noir sci-fi film that delves into questions of humanity, identity, and morality within a visually stunning dystopian landscape.
Fact: The iconic Tyrell Corporation pyramid was inspired by the architecture of ancient Aztec and Mayan temples.
