10 Dystopian Themed Movies Like Uglies To Watch Next
Netflix‘s latest film is the YA sci-fi, dystopian film Uglies, based on the popular 2005 book by Scott Westerfeld. It stars Joey King (A Family Affair, We Were the Lucky Ones), Chase Stokes (Outer Banks, Tell Me Your Secrets), Keith Powers (Before I Fall, The Tomorrow War), Brianne Tju (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Gone in the Night), Jan Luis Castellanos (13 Reasons Why, Tall Girl 2), Charmin Lee (The 5th Wave, Palmer), and Laverne Cox (Inventing Anna, Orange Is the New Black).
Directed by McG (Family Switch, The Babysitter: Killer Queen), the film is set in a futuristic world that imposes a cosmetic surgery at age 16. Tally (King) is eager for her turn to join the rest of society, but when her friend runs away, Tally embarks on a journey to save her that upends everything she thought she wanted.
Uglies is centered around questioning society and futurism and if you’re looking for more movies that tackle these themes, we have several recommendations. Below are 10 dystopian themed movies like Uglies to watch next.
The 5th Wave (2016)
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Alex Roe, Nick Robinson, Ron Livingston, Maika Monroe, Zackary Arthur, Maggie Siff, Tony Revolori, Maria Bello, Liev Schreiber, Talitha Bateman
Synopsis: “The human race stands on the brink of extinction as a series of alien attacks decimate the planet, causing earthquakes, tsunamis and disease. Separated from her family, Ohio teenager Cassie Sullivan (Chloë Grace Moretz) will do whatever it takes to reunite with her brother Sam. Fate leads her to form an alliance with Evan Walker (Alex Roe), a mysterious young man who may be her last hope. Forced to trust each other, Cassie and Evan fight for survival during the fifth assault from the invaders.”
Where to watch: Starz
The Darkest Minds (2018)
Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Harris Dickinson, Mandy Moore, Bradley Whitford, Patrick Gibson, Gwendoline Christie, Miya Cech, Skylan Brooks, Wade Williams, Mark O’Brien
Synopsis: “When teens mysteriously develop powerful new abilities, they are declared a threat by the government and detained. Sixteen-year-old Ruby, one of the most powerful young people anyone has encountered, escapes her camp and joins a group of runaway teens seeking safe haven. Soon this newfound family realizes that, in a world in which the adults in power have betrayed them, running is not enough and they must wage a resistance, using their collective power to take back control of their future.”
Where to watch: Apple TV, Prime Video
Divergent (2014)
Cast: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Zoë Kravitz, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Ashley Judd, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer
Synopsis: “Beatrice Prior, a teenager with a special mind, finds her life threatened when an authoritarian leader seeks to exterminate her kind in her effort to seize control of their divided society.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Ender’s Game (2013)
Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Moisés Arias, Aramis Knight, Nonso Anozie, Khylin Rhambo
Synopsis: “When hostile aliens called the Formics attack Earth, only the legendary heroics of Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley) manage to attain a victory. To prepare for the next attack, Col. Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) and his cohorts initiate a military program to find the next Mazer. Recruit Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) exhibits an unusual gift for the training, easily mastering all of the challenges thrown at him. Mazer Rackham, himself, takes Ender as a protege to prepare him for the oncoming war.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Equals (2015)
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart, Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver, Kate Lyn Sheil, David Selby, Scott Lawrence
Synopsis: “Nia (Kristen Stewart) and Silas work together in a futuristic society known as the Collective. A seemingly utopian world, the Collective has ended crime and violence by genetically eliminating all human emotions. Despite this, Nia and Silas develop a growing attraction that leads to a forbidden and passionate romance. As suspicion begins to mount among their superiors, the couple must choose between going back to the safety of their lives or risking it all to try and pull off a daring escape.”
Where to watch: Kanopy
The Giver (2014)
Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Odeya Rush, Jeff Bridges, Cameron Monaghan, Katie Holmes, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgård, Taylor Swift, Emma Tremblay, Thabo Rametsi
Synopsis: “In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the “real” world.”
Where to watch: Hulu, Max
The Hunger Games (2012)
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Wes Bentley, Alexander Ludwig
Synopsis: “Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.”
Where to watch: Apple TV, Prime Video, Starz
The Maze Runner (2014)
Cast: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Aml Ameen, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, Ki Hong Lee, Patricia Clarkson, Dexter Darden, Jacob Latimore
Synopsis: “When Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape. Based on the best-selling novel by James Dashner.”
Where to watch: Apple TV
Never Let Me Go (2010)
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Sally Hawkins, Charlotte Rampling, Andrea Riseborough, Ella Purnell
Synopsis: “Friends Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) grow up together at a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave the school and the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them, they must simultaneously confront deep-seated feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to tear their friendship asunder.”
Where to watch: Apple TV, Prime Video
Paradise (2023)
Cast: Kostja Ullmann, Corinna Kirchhoff, Marlene Tanczik, Lisa-Marie Koroll
Synopsis: “Trade your life for money: In the not-too-distant future, a method of transferring years of your life from one person to another has changed the world forever and turned biotech start-up AEON into a billion-dollar pharmaceutical company.”
Where to watch: Netflix
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