Virtual reality has been a popular trope in movies and TV shows since the 1990s. The technology showed up in several movies, playing an important role in the plot. That until 2018, when it finally became the protagonist in a blockbuster. Let’s review some of the movies where virtual reality plays a (more or less) important role.
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
This 1992 movie shouldn’t be mistaken for Stephen King’s 1975 short story with the same title. The writer had his name removed from the credits as the story was completely different from the source material. The movie was bad… but had some impressive visuals for its time. The plot revolves around an intellectually disabled gardener who turns into a veritable CyberGod (the working title of the film) after being subjected to a combination of VR and drugs. The story was heavily lacking, so the filmmakers made up for its shortcomings with some impressive CGI and VR sequences.
Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
Canadian science fiction writer William Gibson wrote the script of the 1995 cyberpunk flick Johnny Mnemonic that was, for lack of a better word, a bust. The movie failed to impress the critics and the audiences and didn’t do too well at the box office either. Still, its depiction of cyberspace turned it into an unforgettable piece of cinematic… erm, art… that is referenced in pop culture to this day.
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix is a movie inspired by many previous works – among them, William Gibson’s “Neuromancer”, the granddaddy of all cyberpunk. As such, no list about VR and cyberspace movies would be complete without it.
The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
The Thirteenth Floor was not a resounding success – not a surprise for a hard science fiction story turned into a Hollywood movie. Based on Simulacron-3, a 1964 novel about simulated reality.
eXistenZ (1999)
David Cronenberg’s movies are… an acquired taste, not for the average moviegoer. eXistenZ is not an exception. The story depicts a world where electronic gaming consoles were replaced by organic ones, so-called “game pods” that connect to a port implanted into the users’ spine through an umbilical cord. The protagonists, Ted (Jude Law) and Allegra (Jennifer Jason Leigh) are tasked to test a new VR game called eXistenZ. But, as you might expect, the layers of reality are more numerous than they think. The movie uses practical effects as opposed to CGI, which makes it perhaps the most realistic VR movie to date.
Ready Player One (2018)
At the end of the 1990s, VR went out of style – both in the movies and in real life. But after it re-emerged, it was time for the most epic movie about virtual reality. The movie, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Ernest Cline’s novel with the same title, takes its viewers on a treasure hunt across OASIS, a massive – and massively popular – virtual reality simulation. The movie has acid social criticism hidden under its impressive visuals that are filled to the brim with pop culture references. I’m sure the movie convinced many people – young and older alike – to consider buying a VR headset for themselves. Contribute Hire me
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