10 Movies That Tragically Wasted Their Genius Premise

3. Transcendence

in time justin timberlake amanda seyfried
Warner Bros.

The Premise: A scientist is working on achieving Transcendence, a technological singularity that would create an ever-improving artificial intelligence that would one day surpass human intelligence. However, when he's targeted by an anti-tech group and almost killed, he has to upload his own consciousness into a machine. 

What Went Wrong: A super high-concept sci-fi movie, with a great cast, and marking the directorial debut of Wally Pfister, Christopher Nolan's longtime cinematographer. This was going to be great, right? 

Wrong. The film promises to raise some big questions about artificial intelligence, our relationship with it, and just where it can go next - and what the consequences of that will be. 

Unfortunately, it never really seems to get a grasp on any of those things, reaching for a level of intelligence it can never attain, and the cast and premise alike go to waste as the movie plods on thanks to plot holes and leaps of logic. 

This is the third (and final) AI film on this list. F**k it, I'm going to go watch Ex Machina again. 

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.