Cyberpunk and martial arts are two facets of movie genres that might not have a lot in common on the surface. However, they make for an incredible combination.Juxtaposing the technological and virtual realities of cyberpunk with the physical discipline and technique of martial artsis always engaging. Many of the bestcyberpunk sci-fi movies are from the 1980sand 1990s, as this was when the internet was taking hold, and both filmmakers and audiences were beginning to fear what this meant for society. However, there are just as many memorable modern additions to the genre.
These action films within the cyberpunk genre range fromcampy martial arts moviesto serious explorations of fighting techniques with deep social and cultural messages.Many of these projects blur the line between action, sci-fi, cyberpunk, and martial arts,using the features of each of these topics interchangeably. The futuristic worlds the characters belong to have seen a breakdown of cultural barriers and differences since cyberspace has connected everyone. This makes learning ways of defending oneself a critical part of the story since, so often, the seemingly equal worlds are a veneer hiding a dystopian government.
Nicolas Cage stars in the 2020 movieJiu Jitsu,a film named after a classification of martial arts. However, the warriors in the film who study the fighting style don’t just have to prove themselves to other masters but must hone their skills in order to stave off alien invasion. Though aliens don’t typically make an appearance in cyberpunk narratives, with technology playing the role of antagonist more often than not,Jiu Jitsumanages to make the science fiction element blend seamlessly into the plot.
Jiu Jitsuis well aware that it will never be remembered as the best of the genre and never intends to compete with the serious movies that inspire it.
ThoughJiu Jitsuwasn’t a smash hit with critics and audiences,it’s an ambitious project that prioritizes fast-paced action and spectacle above all else.Jiu Jitsuis well aware that it will never be remembered as the best of the genre and never intends to compete with the serious movies that inspire it. Instead,Jiu Jitsuwillingly pokes fun at itself with a genial sense of humor. Unfortunately, it was overlooked due to its 2020 release.
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Ready Player One
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Adapted from Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name, Ready Player One follows Wade Watts, an orphan who desperately wants to win a seemingly-impossible video game competition that would see him win ownership of the OASIS, a sophisticated virtual reality game that had revolutionized modern life. Helped by his friends and racing against time to find the hidden clues before the OASIS is claimed by an evil conglomerate, Wade’s love of the game is put to the test.
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation ofReady Player Oneby Ernest Cline isn’t his best-received film in recent years, but it did help usher in a new age of bringing video games to the forefront of media.The prevalence of video games in movies and TV shows has only become more popular in recent years,and Cline skillfully incorporated virtual reality and pop culture references into his book, which Spielberg takes advantage of. One of the best parts ofReady Player Oneis how well the nostalgia for the past bleeds into the virtual landscape of the future.
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Most of the martial arts and action sequences take place within the virtual reality of the gamethe protagonist, Wade (Tye Sheridan), is wrapped up in. Attempting to find a legendary treasure and rescue his family from their difficult circumstances, Wade delves into the game and enters many competitions of strength and skill to beat it. Unlike other cyberpunk narratives,Ready Player Onehas a hopeful message and gives its audience something positive to engage with.
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After being genetically modified by a secret government organization into a vampire-like creature,Violet (Milla Jovovich) fights against the corrupt and violent government using her incredible skills.Though the virus has separated her from humanity and made her hunted, it also gives Violet unprecedented strength, speed, and agility, making her the perfect weapon. However, this is why she and others like her are so feared by humanity, who are working to eradicate her kind forever.
Visually,Ultravioletis very of its time, as its special effects are dated, andthe aesthetics are simultaneously futuristic while looking straight out of the early 2000s.Its poor critical reception has ledUltravioletto be overwhelmingly forgotten, despite its promising premise and Jovovich’s great work as a fighter and emotional anchor. ThoughUltravioletisn’t the most original project, it’s still fun thanks to the performances and the unique martial arts style that the director, Kurt Wimmer, is known for.
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7Shin Kamen Rider (2023)
Directed by Hideaki Anno
Also referred to asShin Masked Riderin English, the recent movie iteration of theKamen RiderTV series and its franchise is a great mix of superhero and cyberpunk.Using fun costuming to bring a nostalgic aesthetic to the characters and atmosphere,Shin Kamen Rideris appreciative of the story’s 1970s roots and imbues this vintage feel into the narrative. Using classic martial arts techniques and using the camera and fight choreography to work in harmony,Shin Kamen Rideris a lot of fun.
The director, Hideaki Anno, also worked onShin GodzillaandShin Ultraman, and the influence of these two films is evident throughoutShin Kamen Rider.
The director, Hideaki Anno, also worked onShin GodzillaandShin Ultraman, and the influence of these two films is evident throughoutShin Kamen Rider. Though there are plenty of campy moments inShin Kamen Rider, all of these scenes are self-aware, as this humor and referential style is essential to theKamen Riderfranchise.Shin Kamen Riderisn’t as high-tech as other cyberpunk projects,but this grounds the otherworldly story and makes the audience care about the characters.
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Directed by Karyn Kusama
Aeon Flux
Aeon Flux is set in a fictional future where a skilled assassin teams up with a group of rebels to overthrow the government, but things get complicated when she starts to question her mission. The 2005 sci-fi movie, starring Charlize Theron as the titular hero, is based on the MTV animated show of the same name.
Starring Charlize Theron as the titular character,Æon Fluxexplores a dystopian society of the last humans on Earthand the rebel group that seeks to overthrow the government. Æon Flux is one of the rebels, and on her journey to uncover the conspiracy, the audience takes in her incredible fighting skills, as Æon Flux has trained her body into a weapon. However, some of the evils done by the people in power can’t simply be fought by physical combat, forcing Æon Flux to build a group to fight back.
The director, Karyn Kusama, has directed other underrated campy cult films likeJennifer’s Body,thoughÆon Fluxlacked the vision of its source material. Based on the animated series from the early 1990s,Æon Fluxshould have leaned further into its cyberpunk roots and heavy stylization. However, this doesn’t change the fact thatÆon Fluxis an interesting and overlooked part of cyberpunk and martial arts history, with Theron giving her all to the fight choreography.
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Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is an anime film directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. Set between episodes 22 and 23 of the Cowboy Bebop series, the crew of the spaceship Bebop hunts a terrorist planning to use a biological weapon on Mars. Featuring the voices of Beau Billingslea, Wendee Lee, and Melissa Fahn, the film blends science fiction with noir and western elements.
Though not as well received as the smash hit TV show it’s based on,Cowboy Bebop: The Movieis an excellent addition to a wide variety of genres, not just cyberpunk or martial arts.TheCowboy Bebopfranchise is also well-known for its roots in the Western and Noir genres, creating a unique blend that makesCowboy Bebopunlike anything else. The protagonist, the bounty hunter Spike, is a formidable opponent thanks to his resourcefulness and fighting skills, which are on full display inCowboy Bebop: The Movie.
Cowboy Bebop: The Moviefeatures some of the best fight scenes between Spike and the many antagonists he chases across the galaxy.
It’s universally accepted that theCowboy Beboplive-action show was a mistakesince the anime doesn’t have a look or feel that can be easily translated from animation.The gorgeous character design, far-flung worlds, and easy balance between retro and futuristic makeCowboy Bebopimpossible to replicatebut heavily influential.Cowboy Bebop: The Moviefeatures some of the best fight scenes between Spike and the many antagonists he chases across the galaxy.
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Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell explores the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg public-security agent in 2029 Japan, assigned to track down a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. As she delves deeper into the case, she confronts questions of identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human. The film is directed by Mamoru Oshii and is based on the manga by Masamune Shirow.
ThoughGhost in the Shellreferences older works of cyberpunk,the 1995 anime has inspired many iconic works of cinema, such asThe Matrixmovies andEx Machina.Frequently compared toBlade Runner, one of the prototypical examples of the aesthetics and themes that cyberpunk uses today,Ghost in the Shellis considered a must-watch addition to the sci-fi and action genres. Not only because it’s one of the most beautifully animated movies of the 1990s but also because it asks such pressing questions about the nature of what it means to be human.
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The protagonist, Motoko Kusanagi, is a cyborg who grapples with her identity and place in the world as she searches for the Puppet Master, a mysterious hacker who takes control of cybernetic bodies. Not all the action inGhost in the Shellis strictly martial arts, as guns and other weaponry play a crucial part in the conflicts, as well as mental confrontations. However,it’s clear that Kusanagi’s character design and abilities were influenced by the aesthetics of martial artsand that her fighting techniques are in conversation with this.
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
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Alita: Battle Angel
Produced by James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez, Alita: Battle Angel adapts the manga Gunnm to live-action, featuring Rosa Salazar as the titular cyborg who quests to rebuild her identity as she faces the dark forces that plague Iron City. With the help of Christoph Waltz’s Dr. Ido and Keean Johnson’s Hugo, Alita learns to play the futuristic game of Motorball, which could be her ticket to enter the floating city of Zalem. Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems in the year 2563.
Based on the manga seriesBattle Angel Alita,Alita: Battle Angeluses motion capture technology to bring its cyborg protagonist to life. Blending harsh technology advancements and upgrades with the soft and vulnerable parts of the human body makes for gory but compelling moments inAlita, which revolves around the titular character’s attempts to find out who she is and how to escape her circumstances. Featuring an all-star cast who fully commit to the dystopian world,Alita: Battle Angelis a fun and wild ride.
The fighting style that Alita uses, Panzer-Kunst, is unique to cyborgs and is part of her deeply recessed memories,mixing different martial arts techniques as well as a variety of other styles.Using her physical prowess and the advantages her mechanical body gives her, Alita is virtually unstoppable in battle. However, this doesn’t mean that she can save everyone. ThoughAlita: Battle Angelreceived mixed reviews, its distinctive look, and Alita’s emotional journey make it more complex than it gets credit for.
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Upgrade
Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, Upgrade is a Sci-Fi, Action, and Cyberpunk film starring Betty Gabriel, Logan Marshall-Green, and Harrison Gilbertson. The plot sees a man suffering a tragic accident and becoming paralyzed as a result. He soon accepts a STEM implant that gives him back his body and much more.
Audiences familiar with the 1994 movieThe Crowwill recognize the initial premise ofUpgrade, which sees the protagonist, Grey, witness his wife’s murder. However, Grey isn’t brought back to life but is implanted with an artificial intelligence system that connects to his brain and nervous system. Of course, it’s clear to the audience from the beginning that STEM, the AI, is suspicious, but Grey’s circumstances make it all too tempting to receive the amazing fighting skills and intelligence from STEM.
Like many films within the cyberpunk genre,Upgradehas a rather bleak ending and serves as a warning about the dangers of revenge and AI in equal measure.
Like many films within the cyberpunk genre,Upgradehas a rather bleak ending and serves as a warning about the dangers of revenge and AI in equal measure. SinceUpgradetakes place in the near future, it retains some of the look and feel of the present day but with small tweaks that ensure the viewer remembers how much technology has evolved. Though it’s eerie to watch STEM take control of Grey’s body,there’s no denying that his fighting abilities become incredible to witness.
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The Matrix
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
Over twenty years later,The Matrixhas not been forgotten or become less popular within the sci-fi genre.There are many reasons to love the originalMatrix, as well as its sequels, as it was the film that kickstarted Keanu Reeves' career in the action genre. Additionally, it has inspired countless contemporary movies that grapple with the emergence of artificial intelligence.The Matrixhas such a cohesive and immersive visual aesthetic that it’s easy for the viewer to forget what world they’re in alongside the characters.
Though there areparts ofThe Matrixmovies that don’t make sense, this hasn’t stopped the film franchise from becoming an enduring action-sci-fi classic. From watching Neo first learning to control the Matrix and use it to help him fight to the incredible action sequences when he battles Agent Smith,there’s no moment whenThe Matrixdoesn’t take advantage of its format and style.Both a paragon of cyberpunk and modern martial arts,The Matrixis beloved for a reason.
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