5 movies like 'The Electric State' but better

Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) , Keats (Chris Pratt) and Dr. Amherst (Ke Huy Quan) in "The Electric State" on Netflix — (Image credit: Paul Abell / Netflix)

An ambitious sci-fi movie called "The Electric State" landed with a thud last week on Netflix.

The thud was like the sound of Roomba vac hitting your dining room table or Alexa playing the wrong song over and over again. While critics seem to hate the movie, fans are warming up to it. As of writing, "The Electric State" has a woeful 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, though its audience score is 76% (as of this writing).

"The Electric State" is set in the '90s in an alternative universe where Walt Disney invents the first robot — and of course, a robot apocalypse ensues. While the wide shots of robots gathering in St. Louis look impressive and there are some intense battle scenes, TG's own Alix Blackburn wrote that it "doesn't quite live up to expectations."

If you’re looking for a more thought-provoking and entertaining sci-fi film, here are some movies like "The Electric" but better.

'The Creator'

The Creator | Final Trailer | 20th Century Studios - YouTube

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It’s a shame "The Creator" didn’t get more attention. Directed by Gareth Edwards who was behind one of the best "Star Wars" movies in recent memory ("Rogue One"), this inventive movie is about an AI that takes the form of a small child named Alphie.

Robots also take center stage, some of them taking the form of augmented humans. A few set pieces seem overly staged and a little hard to follow, but the overall theme is profound: how humans and AI could potentially coexist even after we realize we have lost control over the bots.

Watch on Prime Video

'Ready Player One'

READY PLAYER ONE - Official Trailer 1 [HD] - YouTube

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This well-received 2018 sci-fi thriller directed by Steven Speilberg, has some really interesting ideas about consumer obsession. Similar to "The Electric State," it has a lot to say about pop culture.

A character named Wade Watts finds an Easter egg in a VR simulation that propels him to fame. The movie switches between live-action and animation on a dime. Video game characters pop up everywhere, but themes about living in reality versus a virtual world are even more true today in the age of widespread artificial intelligence.

Rent/buy on Amazon or Apple

'District 9'

District 9 - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube

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Much has been said about this alien-infiltration movie from 2009, but it’s worth watching again. While "The Electric State" mainly shows robot mayhem without a clear reason to keep watching, "District 9" does the opposite — you end up caring about the main character who is dealing with an alien crisis (and some personal drama).

Sci-fi movies are at their best when we see a vision of the future through a relatable character. Plus, "District 9" has some of the coolest weapons, mechs and aliens in any sci-fi movie since "Star Wars."

Rent/buy on Amazon or Apple

'Finch'

"Finch" makes robots more personal. The movie stars Tom Hanks and deals with some thought-provoking themes about longevity, what happens to the human race once we go extinct and whether robots can serve as adequate companions.

Ask anyone who talks to Siri and Alexa and you’ll find there is value in talking to an AI, even if it’s to find a recipe. My favorite part of the film is how the robot, named Jeff, has a personality and feelings.

Watch on Apple TV Plus

'Ex Machina'

Ex Machina | Official Trailer HD | A24 - YouTube

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All sci-fi movies need to learn a thing or two from "Ex Machina." Like "The Electric State," it’s a movie about robots and consciousness. What happens when humans do not possess as much intelligence as the AI we’ve created? If you believe the movie, it’s nothing good.

The main robot character outsmarts its inventor, convincing him that “she” has feelings for him. "The Electric State" never manages to hit those philosophical high notes. The main lesson for science fiction fans is that it’s always about the character, never the technology.

Watch on Paramount Plus

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John Brandon is a technologist, business writer, and book author. He first started writing in 2001 when he was downsized from a corporate job. In the early days of his writing career, he wrote features about biometrics and wrote Wi-Fi router and laptop reviews for LAPTOP magazine. Since 2001, he has published over 15,000 articles and has written business columns for both Inc. magazine and Forbes. He has personally tested over 10,000 gadgets in his career.

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