Stranger than fiction?

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

Based on a series of stories by Arthur C Clarke, Stanley Kubrick’s classic film tracks a manned mission to Jupiter – oveseen by sentient computer HAL. The computer, remembered for its emotionless monotone, controls most of the space craft – but then attempts to kill the crew.

STAR WARS (1977)

The George Lucas classic featured iconic robots C3P0 and R2D2. Both appear capable of human feelings and each plays a key part throughout the series.

BLADE RUNNER (1982)

Ridley Scott’s sci fi classic, based on a Philip K Dick novel, is set in a dystopian Los Angeles in 2019. Replicants – bioengineered androids – have been banned after going rogue. Replicants have false memories and even believe themselve to be human, so Harrison Ford is sent in to clean up the mess.

THE TERMINATOR (1984):

The cyborg of the title, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been sent back in time from 2029 on a mission to kill Sarah Connor before she becomes a mother. In the film’s future world, articficial intelligence company Skynet has gained self awarness and triggers a nuclear war. Sarah’s son leads the resistance against the machines in an uncertain future.

AI: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (2001)

Originally a Stanely Kubrick project, this was passed to Steven Spielberg and features advanced humanoids, called Mechas. One prototype, David, is capable of love. He is abandoned when viewed as a danger and yearns to become a real boy.

I, ROBOT (2004):

Inspired by a short story collection by Isaac Asimov, humanoid machines are advanced enough to take key roles in civic society. But Will Smith is called in to investigate after a suspicious suicide triggers concerns that the machines have turned against their makers.

M3GHAN (2022):

This science fiction film has an artificially intelligent doll who is paired with Cady, a nine year old orphan. Although they initially bond M3GAN becomes self aware with deadly consequences for anyone who steps between her and her human companion.