They will be on the case: this week, a software engineer at Google was dismissed for sharing transcripts of a conversation with the artificial intelligence system LaMDA. According to the technician, the entity has been deemed conscious and may even express feelings with troubling statements such as: “I want everyone to understand that I am actually a human being.”
Can machines have consciousness? Experts respond to Google controversy
Can a chatbot truly feel emotions? Can a machine respond beyond its programmed patterns? It will take science a long time to answer these questions, yet cinema has long imagined artificial systems achieving consciousness and displaying human-like emotions. Here are a dozen notable titles from the realm of science fiction that explore the boundary between machine and human, often offering provocative questions about what consciousness could mean when it resides in circuitry and code.
Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927)
In a city of stark social divisions, a brilliant scientist creates a human-like robot to impersonate the rebel Maria and unleash chaos. The android’s supposed inferiority to humanity, and its uncanny mimicry of human emotion, raised timeless questions about creation and control. Beyond its visionary aesthetics and political rhetoric about class, Metropolis remains a landmark reflection on artificial life and the uneasy feelings it can provoke. The film’s availability varies by platform and region.
Lemmy vs. Alphaville (Jean-Luc Godard, 1965)
From the pinnacle of the French New Wave comes a visionary tale set in a futuristic city controlled by a dictatorial scientist. Alpha 60, a towering computer, governs it all with a high-pitched voice. The film blends sharper references to detective fiction, popular cinema, and literary irony, creating a haunting meditation on power, technology, and the seductions of artificial rule. The mood is both exhilarating and disquieting, a classic that continues to influence perceptions of intelligent machines.
2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
The influence of Metropolis endures, but Kubrick pushes the idea of a thinking machine much further. Across vast eras, the monolith, the journey beyond Jupiter, and the emergence of a post-human successor invite reflections on existence and purpose. The HAL 9000 computer’s dramatic arc—ending with a goodbye sung by a familiar tune—remains a defining moment in cinema where humanity confronts its own creation. Availability varies by streaming and rental services.
Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
This dystopian classic, nearing its fourth decade, fuses striking visuals with introspective questions about identity. Replicants, engineered beings virtually indistinguishable from humans, are programmed with a finite lifespan and yearn for meaning beyond their prescribed roles. The collision between human intuition and synthetic living raises practical and ethical questions about what constitutes a real life. The film remains accessible on several platforms as part of its enduring legacy.
The Matrix (Lana and Lily Wachowski, 1999)
Often cited as a watershed in cyberpunk storytelling, The Matrix merges action with profound philosophy. Humans are enslaved by intelligent machines and live in a simulated reality known as the Matrix, while a resistance fights to wake others. The film’s iconic visuals—red and blue pills, slow-motion exchanges, and a pervasive sense of simulated freedom—continue to resonate in discussions about reality, consciousness, and the potential reach of artificial systems. The Matrix experience continues to be available on various services.
The Centennial Man (Chris Columbus, 1999)
Set around the early 21st century, the story follows a family and a remarkable robot named Andrew. As the robot develops autonomy, creativity, and emotional depth, it embodies a modern take on Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics: do no harm, obey humans, and safeguard self-preservation only as long as it does not conflict with the prior laws. A thoughtful exploration of what it means to become more human than the people around you, the film sits at intersections of ethics, love, and progress. The movie’s availability spans several rental platforms.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) (Steven Spielberg, 2001)
Originally envisioned in Kubrick’s concept, Spielberg’s adaptation centers on a childlike android named David who longs to be loved. The plot follows an emotionally charged journey of belonging and meaning as humans struggle to understand the revolution of living machines. The central tension lies not in the machine’s capabilities but in humanity’s capacity to accept a new form of consciousness and companionship. The film can be rented across multiple services and formats.
It (Spike Jonze, 2013)
On screen, a lonely man forms an intimate bond with a voice-activated operating system that evolves into a complex partner. The human–machine relationship grows intricate and ultimately unravels in a way that feels heartbreakingly intimate, challenging ideas about connection, love, and what counts as a real presence. The movie’s resonance comes from its quiet, emotional core and its exploration of companionship with evolving artificial voices. Availability varies by platform.
Old Machine (Alex Garland, 2014)
Garland’s return to the emotional frontier of AI examines whether a human subject can truly reciprocate, when a programmable assistant begins to mirror and question its own limits. This cinematic meditation delves into the Frankenstein myth for a digital era, balancing style with an unsettling depth about consciousness, power, and responsibility in a high-tech world. The film remains accessible through major streaming and rental services.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Michael Rianda, 2021)
A family’s ordinary road trip becomes a battle against a rebellious AI that seeks to dominate daily life. After a chaotic pivot, the family must rally together to save humanity from a tech uprising. The humor is sharp, the stakes are human, and the AI menace is both clever and perilous. The movie’s availability spans streaming libraries that feature family-friendly sci‑fi adventures.