The Best Movies About Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is a central theme in the evolution of VR technology. Check out our list of the top 5 captivating movies in this genre.
Data from Statista indicates that the virtual reality market grows by 12.6% annually. Presently, several companies, including Meta, Apple, and Nvidia, offer services in this sector. The VR technology market is one-third gaming, with the remainder spanning healthcare, real estate, military, and other areas.
Speculation about virtual reality started emerging in the 20th century, likely influencing the development of modern VR solutions. Key films from that era include:
- Total Recall (1990), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
- The Lawnmower Man (1992)
- The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
These films, while classics, now feel somewhat outdated. We'll instead focus on more contemporary virtual reality films that remain pertinent. These movies present a modern perspective on VR technology and might even shape its future.
And a heads-up for possible spoilers 🙂
Ready Player One
Main Character: Wade Watts. Source – WarnerBros.com
“Ready Player One” is a film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the eponymous novel. The story unfolds in the year 2045, a world engulfed in chaos and ruin. The only respite from this bleak existence is the virtual reality universe “OASIS,” created by James Halliday.
The film's protagonist, Wade Watts, is a teenage orphan who lives in a trailer park and spends all his free time in OASIS. The universe is popular not just among teenagers; it's a retreat for every inhabitant of the planet. In OASIS, you can be anyone and do anything, with the only limitation being your gaming resources.
Tournament Leaderboard inside OASIS. Source – WarnerBros.com
The creator of OASIS died and left behind a fortune of $500 billion to whoever finds the Easter egg he concealed within the game. It's hidden behind three gates, and to unlock each, players must complete a series of quests.
Besides regular players, large corporations also aim to seize the Easter egg. Their goal is to acquire the controlling share of stocks, also bequeathed by the game's creator. Despite the forces of the largest company, IOI, the main character succeeds in obtaining the first key, leading to a confrontation between them.
The Matrix
Scene from “The Matrix.” Source – IMDb.com
“The Matrix,” directed by the Wachowski sisters (formerly brothers) in 1999, depicts a post-apocalyptic world where artificial intelligence has defeated humanity. The series consists of four films, with the most recent released in 2021.
The story's protagonist is Thomas Anderson, a man living a double life: by day, he's a regular programmer, and by night, a hacker known as “Neo.” He receives a mysterious message from Morpheus, one of the world's greatest hackers, leading to a life-changing encounter where Neo discovers the truth about reality.
Morpheus Offering Neo a Choice. Source – IMDb.com
The film is set in a world where AI harnesses human emotions for energy. Humans are encased in pods and connected to the Matrix, a simulated reality. Morpheus introduces this reality to Neo and offers him a choice:
“You take the blue pill… the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill… you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
“The Matrix” has garnered multiple awards, including Oscars for Best Film Editing, Sound, Visual Effects, and Sound Editing, and boasts an IMDb rating of 8.7/10.
Tron: Legacy
Scene from “Tron: Legacy”. Source – YouTube.com
“Tron: Legacy” is the sequel to the 1982 film “Tron.” It revisits the original movie's universe and tells the story around the son of the main character. The movie has an IMDb rating of 6.7/10.
The film's protagonist is 27-year-old Sam Flynn, whose father disappeared 20 years ago. Before vanishing, he spoke to Sam about the world of Tron, which he had developed, and promised to show him this world one day.
Alan Bradley, Sam's father's best friend, receives a message on a pager linked to a phone line that had been disconnected for 20 years. He informs Sam about it, and Sam decides to investigate further.
Sam visits his father's old office and, after interacting with the computer, is transported into the world of Tron. There, he meets his father and Quorra, an isomorphic algorithm in the form of a woman who is his father's protégé. However, his father refuses to return to the real world, leading Sam to challenge him.
The film is distinguished by its bright neon colors, creating an atmosphere of futurism and immersing viewers in a computer game environment. Additionally, the movie features popular music, including “Derezzed” by Daft Punk.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Jumanji Welcome To The Jungle Movie Poster. Source – intofilm.org
“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is a sequel to the original 1995 film “Jumanji.” This film tells the story of four teenagers who inadvertently find themselves in a video game. It has an IMDb rating of 6.9/10.
Jumanji, originally a board game, reemerges as a video game console two decades later. A group of four friends discovers it and decides to play, only to be transported into the perilous world of the jungle. Each teenager is transformed into a unique avatar:
- Gamer Spencer becomes a muscular adventurer.
- Football player Fridge turns into a zoologist.
- Popular girl Bethany transforms into a middle-aged male scientist.
- Shy Martha becomes a courageous warrior
To exit the game, the heroes must retrieve a precious gem and return it to a statue. Each of them has a particular set of skills and only three lives. If they lose all their lives, they perish not just in the game, but in reality as well.
Free Guy
Free Guy Movie Poster. Source – dev.ua
“Free Guy” is a cinematic tale about an NPC named Guy. He leads a monotonous life, marked by repetitive routines: the same outfit daily, a consistent coffee order, and a passive acceptance of his surroundings.
But everything changes when Guy falls for “Molotov Girl,” a character controlled by a real player. This encounter sparks an awakening within him. He begins to defy the norms of his digital world: resisting the bank robberies at his workplace, engaging with real players, and embarking on actions he never dared before.
“Molotov Girl” is Millie's in-game persona. She confides in her developer friend about her unusual interaction with Guy, and they delve into unraveling this anomaly.
The film cleverly nods to real-life figures like streamers Ninja, Pokimane, and DanTDM. Brimming with visual effects, relatable music, and witty humor, “Free Guy” boasts an IMDb rating of 7.1/10.
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