The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (2025)

Artificial intelligence used to be something authors and creatives mused about throughout their novels and films. Many people didn’t expect to actually live to see AI take such a prominent position in our daily lives. From Google using AI to answer simple questions to large companies making robots run by it (such as Tesla), it seems that the future has finally arrived.

Movies about AI have always been some of the most fascinating, scary, and ambitious in Hollywood. Incredible directors from Stanley Kubrick to actors like Will Smith have participated in these famous films about the future of humanity and robotics and how the two entities can co-exist or cease to exist. We have the ultimate list of movies about AI that were scarily accurate.

Recommended Videos

I, Robot (2004)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (1)

115m

Genre

Action, Science Fiction

Stars

Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk

Directed by

Alex Proyas

Watch on Tubi

Filmed during the height of Will Smith’s career, I, Robot follows a pretty generic but ominous storyline about a future in which robots have started to take over for humans in everyday life and a rebellion might be on the horizon. The aesthetics of the machines in the film look a lot like some of the robots being tested in real life right now, such as the Tesla Bot. Smith’s character is tasked with tracking down the leader of the robot rebellion and saving humanity in the process.

Related

  • The 16 best Christmas movies to watch this year
  • ‘Stranger Things’ season 5 is basically ‘eight movies’ according to one of the stars
  • 2024 action movies: A guide to the year’s most explosive releases (and where to stream them)

Blade Runner (1982)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (2)

118m

Genre

Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller

Stars

Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young

Directed by

Ridley Scott

Watch on Amazon

Ridley Scott’s most famous science-fiction effort outside of Alien is probably Blade Runner. Harrison Ford has never been better than as the daring ex-cop who must fight back against the artificial intelligence that has returned to Earth to wreak havoc on its creators. Another film that warns us about the risks of creating robots that can blend in and eventually take over humanity, Blade Runner makes us hope there is a hero as strong as Rick Deckard. A sequel titled Blade Runner 2049 with Ford and Ryan Gosling was also a success.

Her (2013)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (3)

126m

Genre

Romance, Science Fiction, Drama

Stars

Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Lynn Adrianna

Directed by

Spike Jonze

Watch on Amazon

Her is a genre mashup that understands how romance and artificial intelligence could one day mix in unexpected ways to create a comforting, yet confusing dating world. Joaquin Phoenix portrays a lonely man who falls in love with an AI similar to Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. Humans are constantly looking for affection from any corner of the universe, and Her tries to debate the ethics and authenticity of falling for something that seems real but isn’t.

Robot & Frank (2012)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (4)

85m

Genre

Science Fiction, Comedy, Drama, Crime

Stars

Frank Langella, Liv Tyler, James Marsden

Directed by

Jake Schreier

Watch on Amazon

Robot & Frank is a meditative and often light-hearted look at the ways AI might be able to assist older people as they become unable to take care of themselves. Left without any immediate family in his vicinity, Frank is given a robot by his children that will look after him. When the pair become like long-lost friends, Frank is able to manipulate the machine into doing things for him that are sometimes illegal. A good sense of humor and sentimentality at its core allows this tiny yet mighty film to shine bright.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (5)

149m

Genre

Science Fiction, Mystery, Adventure

Stars

Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester

Directed by

Stanley Kubrick

Watch on max

2001: A Space Odyssey is still one of the science-fiction films that all others look up to over 50 years after its release. Following astronauts and an AI on a quest through the solar system to find aliens, the movie is much more than just this basic premise of space exploration. Stanley Kubrick’s contemplative script takes the time to resonate with viewers on a deeper level as they glean what they want from the futuristic themes and the potential of sentience outside of human existence.

The Terminator (1984)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (6)

108m

Genre

Action, Thriller, Science Fiction

Stars

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton

Directed by

James Cameron

Watch on Amazon

It’s hard to say The Terminator is foreboding yet, but it must always be included in any list about artificial intelligence and machines. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the title character as he’s sent back in time to prevent the birth of humanity’s savior by killing his mother. James Cameron’s thrilling and horrifying sci-fi classic harkens back to a time before too much CGI took over the genre.

Ex Machina (2015)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (7)

108m

Genre

Drama, Science Fiction

Stars

Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac

Directed by

Alex Garland

Watch on Amazon

Domhnall Gleeson stars as a human protagonist who gets in way over his head as he tests the intelligence of a robot that’s capable of so much more than your typical AI. Much like many of the other movies on this list, Ex Machina warns people about the limits of human strength in the face of artificial intelligence becoming sentient. Oscar Isaac is one of the other standout actors here at the height of his career (he would go on to appear in the Star Wars sequel trilogy later in the decade.)

Transcendence (2014)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (8)

119m

Genre

Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama, Mystery

Stars

Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany

Directed by

Wally Pfister

Watch on Amazon

Trascendence thrusts Johnny Depp into the spotlight as a scientist who becomes one with AI after his consciousness is uploaded into a supercomputer. It becomes hard to tell the difference between the robot’s personality and Depp’s character’s in an eerie story about the similarities and contradictions of computer intellect and human emotion.

The Creator (2023)

The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (9)

134m

Genre

Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

Stars

John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan

Directed by

Gareth Edwards

Watch on Hulu

The Creator doesn’t waste any time getting to the point. It’s set in the midst of a massive conflict between humans and AI, as one man has the chance to end the war by destroying the source of the intelligence. That source is inside a vessel in the form of a child, making the quest all the more controversial.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • The best British shows on Netflix: Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, and more
  • Did the AFI just reveal the films that will be nominated for Best Picture?
  • Seth Rogen takes on Hollywood in Apple TV+’s The Studio: Everything you need to know
  • Glen Powell is giving a family member of the winner of his lookalike contest a cameo in one of his movies
  • If you love Gladiator (and its sequel), these movies will keep you hooked
The best AI movies: How Hollywood predicted the rise of robots (2025)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5465

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Birthday: 2001-07-17

Address: Suite 794 53887 Geri Spring, West Cristentown, KY 54855

Phone: +5934435460663

Job: Central Hospitality Director

Hobby: Yoga, Electronics, Rafting, Lockpicking, Inline skating, Puzzles, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Clemencia Bogisich Ret, I am a super, outstanding, graceful, friendly, vast, comfortable, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.