10 Great Movies That Prove Blockbusters Don't Have To Be Dumb

6. District 9

Genre cinema has often functioned as an analogy for contemporary social and political issues. Science fiction in particular is noted for this dynamic, with many of the classic sci-fi B-movies of the 1950s playing on the Red Scare and anti-Communist paranoia of the time. Neill Blomkamp's directorial debut District 9 strikes you first and foremost with its exceptional production design and visual effects. Blomkamp's background lies in 3D animation and his attention to detail really shines through. But this consideration of detail is more than skin deep - underneath the exciting set pieces lies an allegory for racism under South African apartheid. While Elysium continued Blomkamp's trend of infusing imaginatively conceived science fiction with an undercurrent of social commentary - although his critique of stratified society was certainly more heavy-handed - it looks like he's dropped the ball with Chappie, a sub-par Short Circuit rip-off which can't seem to decide on what tone it wants to be.