10 films that were way ahead of their time

Many films ahead of their time challenged existing filmmaking norms, introducing new ways to convey their messages or depict them on-screen for audiences.

Movies like Jurassic Park, E.T., or The Matrix have created their own place and have become pop culture phenomena for their unique narratives and novel style of filmmaking. Some of these films introduced us to terrifying dinosaurs, showed us unique friendship between a human and an alien, or introduced new ways of filming, which inspired numerous filmmakers to come.

In this article, we have listed 10 such films that were way ahead of their time.

Please note the entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

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10) Night of the Living Dead

In the list of films that were way ahead of their time, the next film is Night of the Living Dead, a cult classic and also a genre-defining movie.

It is one of the first movies that introduced zombies and follows the story of a group of people stuck in a farmhouse as they are attacked by the undead. The film inspired many filmmakers and also introduced a new genre of zombie-horror movies.

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9) Akira

The Japanese sci-fi anime film Akira follows Shōtarō Kaneda, whose childhood friend gains telekinetic powers after an accident, becoming a dangerous force in the already chaotic and rebellious dystopian Tokyo.

It was way ahead of its time due to its impact on the animation industry of today and also for being one of the landmark films in the Japanese cyberpunk genre.

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8) 12 Angry Men

Regarded as one of the greatest courtroom dramas, 12 Angry Men follows a jury of 12 men as they deliberate on the fate of a young man charged with murder.

The film compellingly examines human morality through its intense courtroom setting. It highlights the significance of reasonable doubt and the power of discussion in resolving conflicts. With a young man's fate hanging in the balance, the jurors’ decision carries immense weight.

Due to its exploration of justice, morality, and the complexities of human nature, 12 Angry Men is regarded as a film far ahead of its time.

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7) Blade Runner

Set in a dystopian future, Blade Runner follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford). Deckard is tasked to track down a group of advanced replicants who have fled the space colonies and have come back to Earth.

The movie was praised for its innovative set designs that depicted an advanced but dying dystopian future. It is also regarded as one of the early films that introduced the genre of cyberpunk, making it one of the films that were way ahead of its time.

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6) Alien

Ridley Scott’s epic sci-fi horror film, starring Sigourney Weaver, should be in the list owing to its genre-bending theme. Following its plot, it shows a space crew whose lives are threatened by a dangerous species of alien while they are investigating an abandoned spaceship.

The film perfectly blends two of the most loved genres of sci-fi and horror, making it a new experience for the viewers. Also, it is loved by viewers all around the world.

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5) The Truman Show

The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, was one of the first films to depict an Orwellian-inspired commentary on television and reality. It follows the story of Truman Burbank, played by Carrey, who is unaware that his entire life is being broadcast to millions as part of a reality TV show.

What made The Truman Show ahead of its time was its unique and thought-provoking theme, which was masterfully executed. The film brilliantly captures society's obsession with reality television and the lengths taken to maintain its illusion of authenticity.

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4) 2001: Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece is a film that follows a group of scientists and astronauts who go to investigate an alien monolith in Jupiter.

Kubrick did so many new things, like depicting the spaceflight in a scientifically accurate way. It introduced never-before-used special effects, and also ignored the conventional narrative techniques of movies by minimizing the usage of dialogues and using music in the long sequences instead.

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3) Jurassic Park

Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was very advanced in terms of its narrative, science fiction elements, and action scenes. Even the music score by John Williams paved the way for the success of the franchise.

The film follows a group of people who are stuck in Jurassic Park after a power failure that damages the security system, threatening their lives amid de-extinct dinosaurs.

The use of computer-generated imagery in the film has become one of the common practices for visual effects in the field of cinema now.

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2) Memento

Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed psychological thriller gave us an early glimpse of the director’s unusual and exceptional narrative techniques. The movie follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), who is suffering from short-term memory loss after the tragic event that killed his wife.

It is one of the films that were way ahead of their time as it incorporated a non-linear narrative technique. It consisted of two sequences: one which is shown in black-and-white and follows the chronological order, and the other which is shown in colour and follows the reverse order. As a result, it gave the audience a view of how Leonard’s struggles in storing memories.

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1) The Matrix

The Matrix is one of the films that were way ahead of its time owing to many factors. Set in a dystopian future, it follows Keanu Reeves’s Neo, who is chosen to fight intelligent machines that have trapped humanity.

The film introduced innovative filmmaking techniques, such as bullet time. It has also become a significant part of pop culture, inspiring various theories and expanding its own lore. Additionally, it popularized terms like 'red pill,' which are still widely used today.

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