10 Movies & Shows Like Cyborg (1989)

Description: A gritty futuristic action film set in a dystopian Manhattan turned maximum security prison. Features a morally ambiguous protagonist navigating a lawless urban wasteland.

Fact: The film's iconic eyepatch was added because Kurt Russell kept blinking in early takes. New York officials protested the film's depiction of their city as a prison.

Description: A neo-noir sci-fi masterpiece questioning what makes someone human, featuring bioengineered beings with artificial memories. The visual aesthetic of a rain-soaked dystopia became iconic.

Fact: The famous unicorn dream sequence was added in later cuts, fundamentally changing the film's interpretation. All the futuristic cityscapes were miniature models painstakingly photographed.

Description: A cyberpunk thriller about a relentless cyborg assassin sent from the future. The film delves into themes of fate, technology's dangers, and the blurred line between human and machine.

Fact: The Terminator's glowing red eye effect was created using a simple photographic trick with a red LED. The film's budget was so low they had to reuse the same police car explosion footage multiple times.

Description: A body horror masterpiece about a scientist's gradual transformation into an insect-human hybrid. The film explores themes of scientific ambition and the fragility of human biology.

Fact: The famous vomit scene used real food mixed with green dye for authenticity. The transformation sequences took over 12 hours of makeup application per shooting day.

Description: A dystopian sci-fi action film that explores themes of man versus machine, identity, and corporate corruption. The protagonist is a cyborg law enforcer, blending human emotions with mechanical enhancements.

Fact: The film's satirical tone was inspired by the director's frustration with American consumer culture. The iconic ED-209 robot malfunction scene was entirely unscripted.

Description: A satirical take on dystopian entertainment where convicts battle gladiator-style for freedom. Features themes of media manipulation and dehumanization through technology.

Fact: The film's game show set was so massive it required two soundstages. Many of the stalker characters were played by professional wrestlers.

Description: A groundbreaking anime featuring cybernetic enhancements, government conspiracies, and psychic mutations in a sprawling neo-Tokyo. The animation showcases incredible detail in its dystopian world.

Fact: The motorcycle slide was animated with such precision it's still studied today. A single frame of the iconic explosion sequence took over a month to complete.

Description: A mind-bending action film exploring artificial memories and identity crisis on a colonized Mars. Features impressive practical effects for its body horror elements.

Fact: The famous three-breasted woman was played by a porn actress who had to wear a custom prosthetic. The Mars surface scenes used 500 tons of crushed marble for the red sand.

Description: A virtual reality thriller where a simple man gains superintelligence through cybernetic enhancement, leading to dangerous consequences. Early CGI showcases the potential and perils of digital consciousness.

Fact: The film's CGI sequences were groundbreaking at the time, taking months to render. Stephen King sued to have his name removed from the title as it bore little resemblance to his story.

Description: A high-tech thriller about a virtual reality serial killer who escapes into the real world. Explores themes of artificial intelligence, simulation, and the nature of evil.

Fact: The film features one of the earliest uses of motion capture technology for a villain character. The virtual reality sequences were inspired by then-cutting-edge VR research.