On the heels of the upcoming movie, its obvious that a best of the best sci-fi with social commentary list wouldnt be complete without the original Robocop. John Kenneth Muir, of the blog Reflections on Film and Television, skillfully points out one of the films most poignant criticisms. RoboCop also accurately predicted the right-wing push towards the privatization of municipal and government programs, the dismantling of the social safety net, such as President George W. Bush's (now stalled...) desire to privatize Social Security. Particularly, much of RoboCop involved OCP's funding and running of the Detroit Police Department "as a business" - designed to make money and worried only about the bottom line. The place of Robocop within this society also speaks to our heroes and the value we place on flesh and blood cops and the sacrifices they make every day. These seven sci-fi films are nothing if not socially conscious. They each tell their own tales of greed, government, and technology by artfully melding fantasy and reality. Whats your favorite sci-fi film with social commentary? Did yours make the list? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Miles Young is a freelance writer who specializes in tech, sports and pop-culture. When he's not busy finishing up his next article, he's walking his dog or catching up on Game of Thrones.
