Now that CyberPunk 2077 has been delayed (AGAIN), we figured it would be a good public service to recommend some cyberpunk and cyberpunk-inspired media for you to consume while you wait. Hopefully this will help keep you excited until the new release date of November 19, 2020.
So, without further ado, here are 9 things you can watch to hold you over until Cyberpunk 2077 finally releases:
Blade Runner (1982)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Why we chose it: For many, this is the quintessential cyberpunk movie. It doesn’t hurt that it still stands up nearly 40 years later. Pro tip: There are a few different versions of this movie, we recommend watching The Final Cut which was released in 2007, supervised entirely by director Ridley Scott.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks
Why we chose it: The natural next step after watching 1982’s Blade Runner. This highly anticipated sequel is arguably even better than the first. We are all very excited for Villeneuve’s next journey to the big screen with his film adaptation of Dune.
Altered Carbon (2018-Present)
Created by: Laeta Kalogridis
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Anthony Mackie, Chris Conner
Why we chose it: The cyberpunk world brought to life in this Netflix series feels exactly as you’d hope it would. Add in the complex and interesting story line and this became an instant favorite of ours. The second season isn’t nearly as strong as the first but it’s still absolutely worth a watch.
The Matrix (1999)
Directed by: The Wachowskis
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Why we chose it: This is one of my favorite films of all time, second only to Terminator 2 (and that’s a high bar). If you’ve somehow not seen it yet, stop what you’re doing and go watch it right now.
Dredd (2012)
Directed by: Pete Travis
Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Wood Harris, Lena Headey
Why we chose it: Sylvester Stalone’s 1995 Judge Dredd was fun and all but Karl Urban’s 2012 outing is everything the character deserved and more. There’s so much badassery crammed into this thing that your heart will still be pounding when it’s all over. We’re still crossing our fingers for a sequel, Urban very much earned one.
Akira (1989)
Directed by: Katsuhiro Otomo
Starring: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Taro Ishida
Why we chose it: You guys are going to kill me in the comments but I’ve never seen Akira. I added it after our very own Tucker Jaxson told me there is no such thing as a cyberpunk list without it. Now that Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed again I think it’s finally time I sit down and watch this one too.
Total Recall (1990)
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside
Why we chose it: As I said before, Terminator 2 is my favorite movie of all time and is my favorite Arnold movie by default. With that being said, Total Recall is easily my second favorite Arnold flick. Memory wiping, trips to Mars, and more make this a cyberpunk adventure to remember. Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick (typically a good sign by itself) this was one of the most expensive movies ever made at the time of its release, and it shows in a very big way.
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Directed by: Mamoru Oshii
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, Iemasa Kayumi
Why we chose it: I’m not a huge anime fan save for Dragon Ball Z but in my opinion this is the best anime movie of all time. It involves augmented cybernetic body parts (an element that I’m really excited for in Cyberpunk 2077) and the concept of uploading your consciousness to this universe’s version of the Internet.
The Fifth Element (1997)
Directed by: Luc Besson
Starring: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker
Why we chose it: Although many would argue this isn’t quite a cyberpunk movie, the overall themes and technology present throughout have inspired me to award it the title of “close enough”. The living breathing advertisement-driven dystopian city complete with flying cars and an insanely high population density give off vibes I’m certain will be comparable to Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City.
Okay, the next one is more high-level sci-fi or space opera than cyberpunk but it absolutely kicks ass and has enough cyberpunk elements weaved in that I couldn’t not mention it.
The Expanse (2015-Present)
While many would argue the Amazon series is pure scifi, the environs on Ceres have a decidedly cyberpunk feel and the show is fantastic in general so I wanted to take this opportunity to plug it.
Are we sad that the game was delayed again? We absolutely are. But we also trust CD Projekt Red and know that this delay is going to lead to a better overall finished game. Remember that The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt was delayed too (by 4 months in 2014) and they delivered one of the best games of the generation. Mark our words, it will be worth the wait!
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