Top 11 Movies That Best Explain the Metaverse | Dive Into Virtual Worlds

Although some find it scary and others find it interesting, it’s a fact that the metaverse concept includes many exciting ideas. The days when we roam freely in virtual worlds and have multiple lives may be just around the corner. In fact, let’s put it this way: those with money have already bought their land…

The lands have been purchased, but how well have we understood the metaverse concept is questionable. After all, we have to admit that when we say “metaverse,” we still don’t have a clear image in our minds. According to the “Metaverse Digital Life Survey” conducted by Twentify for Metaverse Planet, only 21 percent of respondents said they could confidently explain the metaverse…

So, what kind of experience might really await us in the metaverse? What kind of world are we actually entering? Here are 11 movies that may answer these questions and push the boundaries of our imagination…

NOTE: If you are interested in this kind of movies, you should definitely take a look at the movies about Artificial Intelligence

1.Matrix

One of the first and most famous examples of its kind is Matrix… It’s about a hacker who discovers shocking truths about the world he lives in. The hacker named Neo follows the white rabbit after a beautiful stranger named Trinity knocks on his door, and he begins to discover the difference between reality and fiction. If we put aside the underlying philosophical themes, we can say that the movie simply portrays a metaverse experience.

Let’s not give away any spoilers, but it’s fair to say that Matrix is the “willing version” of the metaverse.

2.Virtuosity

Virtuosity is a 1995 American science fiction action film directed by Brett Leonard and starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. In short, a group of scientists develop a dangerously unnecessary technology and, of course, lose control of it. It’s up to an American man to fight the terrorizing technology and save the world.

To go into a bit more detail: A virtual reality simulation composed of the personalities of multiple serial killers escapes from its digital environment and enters the real world. It’s the job of a former cop to stop and neutralize it.

3.Her

Her, directed and written by Spike Jonze, is a romantic drama and science fiction story. Theodore, who lives alone in an apartment, has his life changed when he encounters a new operating system featuring a perfect artificial intelligence. Samantha, the AI behind the system, introduces Theodore to a completely different reality through philosophical questions about life and the world. As Theodore slowly rediscovers the joys of life amid a deep depression, his relationship with the AI becomes increasingly strange.

There’s no metaverse in this story, yes. But it’s definitely worth watching for its exploration of AI and human-technology relationships.

4.Avatar

James Cameron’s epic sci-fi movie Avatar not only became the highest-grossing film of all time, but also gives us a glimpse into what a metaverse experience might look like. Technically, the story doesn’t take place in a virtual world but on an alien planet.

Jake Sully, a paralyzed former soldier, is sent to the distant planet Pandora to study its native inhabitants, the Na’vi. Thanks to the “Avatar” program launched by a military company, Jake’s consciousness is linked to an artificial Na’vi body — an avatar. As Jake explores this new world through his avatar, he essentially opens the door to a second life.

5.Free Guy

Free Guy answers the question: “What would life be like if we lived in a game world?” — with a lot of action.

It tells the extraordinary story of a bank teller who realizes he is a background character in an open-world game called Free City. Guy is a young man living a routine life, working as a bank clerk. One day, he discovers that he’s a non-playable character in the brutal game Free City. This realization changes everything for him. Deciding to become the hero of his own story, Guy embarks on a tough battle to survive and save the other characters in this boundless world.

6.Wreck-It Ralph

This is actually the opposite of the metaverse. This time, game characters go beyond their boundaries. Ralph, the “bad guy” of an arcade game who demolishes buildings, is tired of doing the same job for years and living in the shadow of the game’s hero, Fix-It Felix. Since Felix gets all the praise, Ralph wants to become a good guy and starts jumping between different video games. But in the process, he accidentally unleashes a villain. Now, Ralph must truly become a hero.

7.The Thirteenth Floor

Through a simulator, Douglas travels to 1930s Los Angeles and experiences a unique adventure; however, upon returning, he finds out his partner and mentor Hannon Fuller has been murdered. Moreover, Douglas becomes the prime suspect due to memory gaps. Then appears a mysterious woman named Jane who claims to be Hannon’s daughter. As the boundary between the virtual environment, strange events, and real life starts to blur, Douglas begins to face something he wouldn’t even dream of in his worst nightmare…

8.TRON

The movie TRON also takes viewers into a digital universe. Sam, curious about technology, uncovers the doors of a digital world while investigating his father’s death. In this world full of glowing LED suits, Sam must survive and win certain games.

9.Ready Player One

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Ready Player One takes us to a time where VR headsets are as common as smartphones. The story revolves around a young man named Wade Watts, who has lost his family, and a billionaire virtual game designer who captivates millions.

The game’s creator hides a key inside the virtual universe and promises his fortune and the game’s control to whoever finds it. Wade sets out on this treasure hunt full of adventure. Soon, things stop being just a game as ruthless competition begins. Corporate shareholders and greedy players are willing to do anything to reach the treasure first… This film, blending both the real and metaverse worlds, is one of the best portrayals of the metaverse.

10.Social Dilemma

Have you ever wondered who gets the data you leave behind while surfing the internet and how much it’s worth? That’s exactly what The Social Dilemma explores. And we hear it from former executives of tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Instagram. While the movie doesn’t directly refer to the metaverse, understanding the value of data helps us grasp how it might be handled in the metaverse.

11.Bonus: Black Mirror

Even though it’s not a movie, we couldn’t leave out Netflix’s iconic series Black Mirror. Each episode offers a unique, eerie scenario showing a future where technology merges with human life. In this 5-season anthology series, metaverse and virtual reality themes are explored multiple times from different perspectives.

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