Shubhabrata Dutta
While technology is a means to make life easier and better, there is no telling what shape it can take in the future. From weaponization to hacking, technology can be used in all sorts of nefarious ways. And just like an infinite number of futures underscored by technology, there’s an (almost) endless number of artificial intelligence movies available across OTT platforms. In this article, we bring you the best AI movies on Amazon Prime that show the different ways in which it can affect humanity and the consequences it can lead to.
8. Eva (2011)
Directed by Kike Maíllo, this compelling sci-fi film is set in 2041. It follows Alex (Daniel Bruhl), a robotics expert, who arrives at his hometown after ten years at the request of his former colleague Julia (Anne Canovas) to help her develop a new child robot, SI-9, that will have emotional intelligence. While searching for a reference, Alex finds a young girl named Eva, later revealed to be the daughter of his brother David (Alberto Ammann) and his wife Lana (Marta Etura), Alex’s former lover. But what Alex doesn’t know is that Eva’s behavioral patterns, similar to those of the SI-9 prototype he is working on, carry a secret that he might have trouble accepting. You can watch ‘Eva’ here to discover that secret.
7. Ghost Source Zero (2017)
A low-budget take on AI, ‘Ghost Source Zero’ is directed by Mark Cheng and is set in an America of the future where the debate over civil rights for sentient robots has reached a whole new level. As the unrest keeps growing, we follow a cyber crimes unit led by Jon Warnock (Joe Barbagallo), tasked with looking into the functioning of the multi-national crime syndicate Oon Tong. Hacked and weaponized robots, twisted experiments, virtual slaves, and more, the team has to face all of these and more while searching for answers, unbeknownst to an unknown entity that is stalking them. To participate in the investigation, you can watch ‘Ghost Source Zero’ here.
6. 2.0 (2018)
The second installment of the Tamil (Indian language) film series ‘Enthiran,’ ‘2.0’ is a standalone sequel to ‘Enthiran’ (2010). Directed by S. Shankar, it follows Dr. Vaseegaran (Rajinikanth), who reactivates Chitti (an artificially intelligence humanoid who was dismantled in the first movie; also played by Rajinikanth) after a new villain threatens to destroy the city and its inhabitants. Who is this villain? An ornithologist named Pakshi Rajan (Akshay Kumar) killed himself after being unable to save his birds, who died due to the extreme use of cellphones that produce electromagnetic radiation. His aura has merged with those of the dead birds, and he can now control the phones, using the smart devices as a weapon. How Chitti defeats Pakshi Rajan using his artificial intelligence is what we see in this large-scale movie, which is considered one of the most expensive Indian movies ever. You can watch it here.
5. Zoe (2018)
Starring Léa Seydoux and Ewan McGregor, ‘Zoe’ is set in a world where technology has allowed two to take a computerized test and find out how compatible they are with each other as romantic partners. There is also the technology of synthetics and humanoids, which are made to be the ideal partners. In such a world, we have Zoe (Seydoux) and Cole (McGregor) working together to develop synthetic tech. But when Zoe, who has started to like Cole, takes the test only to find out that she has zero compatibility with him, Cole tells her a truth that alters their feelings and how they perceive each other. Soon after, she finds more women like her in the lab. Is Cole cloning her? Is she never meant to be with him? To find out, you can watch ‘Zoe’ here.
4. M3GAN (2022)
A sci-fi horror directed by Gerard Johnstone, this movie centers on an AI-powered humanoid young-looking doll named M3GAN (pronounced ‘Megan’; acted by Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) that serves as a kid’s best friend and the perfect helping hand for any parent. After its creator, Gemma (Allison Williams), gifts it to her eight-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), the girl and M3GAN develop a bond that soon starts taking a toll on those whom M3GAN finds as potential threats to Cady, which includes the neighbor’s dog, the neighbor, a young boy who bullies Cady, and even Gemma herself. Whether Gemma can save Cady from her own creation is what we see in this movie. You can watch it here.
3. Archive (2020)
Directed by Gavin Rothery, ‘Archive’ is a thriller that follows George (Theo James), who decides to put his dead wife Jules’ (Stacy Martin) consciousness within a robot he is developing. This is against the policies of the company he works for, i.e., Archive. All this while, he had been having simulated conversations with her but decided to take it to the next step. But when he receives a call from Jules along with a little girl who turns out to be their daughter, George realizes that the reality is entirely different. To be a part of the truth, you can stream ‘Archive’ here.
2. 2036 Origin Unknown (2018)
Directed by Hasraf Dulull, this mind-bending movie revolves around an AI called ARTI (voiced by Steven Cree) that is accompanying Mackenzie “Mack” Wilson (Katee Sackhoff) to Mars to look into a previous disappearance of a shuttle. Mack encounters a mysterious cube of alien origin, which seems to be connected with ARTI’s very existence and dark nature, making it execute a plan to blow up Earth. Will Mack be able to save Earth? You can find out by watching ‘2036 Origin Unknown’ here.
1. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
An adult animated cyberpunk thriller, ‘Ghost in the Shell’ is set in the future where AI and cybernetics have prevailed. Based on the manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow, the movie follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg officer at Section 9, a police division aimed at preventing cases of cybercrime. Motoko is after the mysterious Puppet Master who has been responsible for countless ghost-hackings into the brains of cyborgs and humans with cyber-brains as well as cyber terrorism. But an encounter with the Puppet Master makes her question her identity and existence, making her decide to change her inside out forever. As always, there’s more to being conscious than we know, and ‘Ghost in the Shell’ looks at it in a whole new way, having garnered a cult following for the same. Directed by Mamoru Oshii, ‘Ghost in the Shell’ can be streamed here.
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