Ready Player One is a controversial film because readers preferred the book to the adaptation. Director Steven Spielberg took a break from dramas to make this film, and it felt like he returned to his roots with this one. The film is about the creator who developed OASIS (the virtual reality system) and what the world does after his death. The films on this list all have to do with simulation and video games in general and are like this particular movie. They all utilized different programming in different genres to create some pretty unique films.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
A deactivated cyborg is revived but can’t remember anything of her past, so she goes on a quest to find out who she is. After Avatar, James Cameron was pretty quiet, and it’s because he was developing this awesome female-led film.
The Matrix (1999)
When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth–the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence. The Matrix has become such a massive part of pop culture, and it’s because of the concept of the pills opening up a different side of our minds.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
In a magically realistic version of Toronto, a young man must defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes one by one in order to win her heart. The concept is the most unique aspect of Scott Pilgrim, apart from the young cast being a joy to watch.
Tron: Legacy (2010)
The son of a virtual world designer goes looking for his father and ends up inside the digital world that his father designed. By far, this is one of the most under-appreciated Disney films that came out in the 2010s.
Pacific Rim (2013)
As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon to save the world. Director Guillermo del Toro is someone who is able to bring a level of humanity to any creature, and in this case, he made audiences connect with a robot.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Four teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game. Even though this is a remake of a Robin Williams classic, the idea to reverse the swap modernized the story.
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives. This Disney film transports audiences directly into an arcade game, and we find that Ralph has a heart and dreams beyond his square.
Ender’s Game (2013)
The International Military recruits young Ender Wiggin to lead the fight against the Formics, an insectoid alien race who had previously tried to invade Earth.
The Cabin the Woods (2011)
Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for, discovering the truth behind the cabin in the woods. What’s so great about stories involving simulations is that they can go with any genre. To have this in a horror film made this pretty unique because of the twist.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth’s greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe.
Do you have any other recommendations for Movies like Ready Player One? Let us know in the comments below.
