Gallery: The 10 Most Important Dystopian Books and Films of All Time

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    01

    1984

    *1984* (1948) __Author/Filmmaker:__George Orwell __The Themes:__ Government oppression, state-sponsored surveillance, bureaucracy, the military-industrial complex. (Expand the gallery to fullscreen for the best experience.)
  • The Trial Author Franz Kafka Major Themes Impenetrable bureaucracy the prisonindustrial complex
    02

    the-trial1

    *__The Trial__* (1925) __Author:__ Franz Kafka __Major Themes: __Impenetrable bureaucracy, the prison-industrial complex
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    03

    Huxley 1932 - Brave New World

    __*Brave New World* (1932)__ __Author:__ Aldous Huxley __The Themes:__ Big pharma, eugenics
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    04

    rge

    *__I, Robot__* (1950) __Author:__ Isaac Asimov __The Themes:__ Overreliance on robotics, specifically AI
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    05

    bradbury

    __*Fahrenheit 451* (1953)__ __Author:__ Ray Bradbury __The Themes: __Revisionist history, destruction of knowledge, social complacency
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    06

    doandroids

    __*Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? * (1968) (served as the source material for *Blade Runner*__ __Author:__ Phillip K. Dick __The Themes: __Global warming/environmental degradation, racism/immigration, complacency of the masses
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    07

    poster-terminator-1-1984-schwarzenegger

    __The *Terminator* films (1984-?)__ __Filmmaker:__ James Cameron __The Themes: __Overreliance on technology
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    08

    atwood1

    *__The Handmaid's Tale__* (1985) __Author:__ Margaret Atwood __The Themes:__ Capitalism, the subjugation of women, environmental destruction
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    09

    71jg6gRAKkL

    *__Parable of the Sower__* (1993) __Author:__ Octavia E. Butler __The Themes:__ Class inequality/poverty, racism, capitalism, religion
  • District 9 Filmmaker Neill Blomkamp The Themes Racism class inequality
    10

    district9-1sht

    __*District 9*__ (2009) __Filmmaker: __ Neill Blomkamp __The Themes:__ Racism; class inequality
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