Mecha movies have been around since the 1950s, essentially originating from Japanese mainstream media where giant fighting robots and human-made machines are common themes. In simple terms, mecha refers to the scientific ideas and fiction genres that center on robots and machines. These mecha films, sometimes containing kaiju, usually depict humanoid mobile robots.
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The usual themes of the movies are either futuristic, post-apocalyptic, or simply, advanced military weaponry. They can be controlled using human pilots, wireless tethers, or as exoskeletons.Pacific Rimhelped bring mecha to the mainstream, and fans may want recommendations for similar movies.
Pacific Rim (2013)
A Western homage to the kaiju genre,Pacific Rimfeatures giant piloted mecha known as Jaegers that fight kaiju. Jaegers are too strong for one human to control, thus demanding two pilots locked in a drift called the neural bridge. The world is collapsing under the destruction of these monsters and the salvation of mankind lies in the hands of an ex-pilot and a trainee.
Starring Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, and Rinko Kikuchi,Pacific Rimis a feast for the eyes with its captivating storyline and stunning visual effects. The first movie released in 2013 was a blockbuster hit, while the 2018 sequel did quite a good job despite mixed reviews.
The TransformersFranchise
One of the top-grossing robot movies in popular culture,Transformersis a leading name for all fans of Michael Bay’s films and the mecha genre. Two races of alien robots at war, the Autobots and the Decepticons, have brought their war to Earth. A high schooler, Sam Witwicky, becomes an ally to Optimus Prime and his disciples, and together they fight against the evil Megatron to save Earth.
The franchise has garnered millions of fans around the world, especially young children who grew up with the movies until adulthood. It is the type of movie that the audience tends to shun but will still go on to watch when a sequel comes out.
RoboCop (2014)
The perfect example of a human cyborg,RoboCoptells the story of an ex-police officer who got badly injured during an encounter. His body, amputated yet still functioning, became the test subject for the multinational conglomerate OmniCorp’s robotic advancement plans where they transformed Alex Murphy’s body into a cyborg.
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While drones can be completely manipulated, cyborgs still have residual emotions or subconscious memories even after brainwashing or neurological indoctrination procedures. In this film, theRoboCopdiscovers his humanity is still intact despite being transformed into a killing machine.
Iron Man (2008)
The movie that set offMarvel Studios’ claim to fame,Iron Manis a superhero action movie that fans of all ages have loved since the beginning of its journey. Tony Stark became a household name, not only in theMarvel Cinematic Universebut in the entirety of Hollywood films.
This smash-hit film tells the story of a genius billionaire who was kidnapped and forced to create a destructive weapon. Instead of complying, he built his own prototypeIron Mansuit to escape. Upon returning home, Stark uses his newly furnishedIron Mansuit to combat terrorism.
Power Rangers (2017)
There are several adaptations of thePower Rangersfranchise and the latest 2017 movie tells the same plot but with a fresher take and a higher budget. A group of five high-school students, all outcasts and misfits in some way, discover an alien ship where they acquired each of their unique abilities. They later teamed up to stop the evil Rita Repulsa from conquering the Earth.
As a whole, Power Rangersis based on the long-time running mechafranchisein Japan known asSuper Sentai. Its popularity has gained it several Western adaptations, video game series, and fans who have supported the franchise since its first launch.
Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
An officer (played by Tom Cruise) who has never been in combat was forced to participate in a suicide mission involving fighting with invincible aliens. Soon he finds himself in a time loop, repeatedly going through the same encounters every time he dies. His fighting has improved over a period of time and later on, he’s joined by a comradeplayed by Emily Blunt.
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InEdge of Tomorrow, Emily Blunt’s and Tom Cruise’s characters come face to face with technologically-advanced space aliens while wearing their prominent exoskeletons called ExoSuits. The suits took five months to build, according to director Doug Liman.
The Terminator Franchise
TheTerminatorfranchise has a long-standing reputation for making science fiction films. From its earliest version, released in 1984, up to the latest adaptation,Terminator: Dark Fate, the whole saga never fails to give its audience the thrill of a hardcore robotic-themed movie. While Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the cyborg assassin, there are also giant robots featured such as Harvester fromTerminator Salvation.
It was this franchise that helped launched director James Cameron’s career in the film industry and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s status as Hollywood’s leading man.Terminator 2: Judgment Daystill remains the highest-grossing film of the franchise.
Chappie (2015)
In a city where the crime rate is skyrocketing, mechanized police droids roam the streets to patrol. When one droid was stolen, it was given new programming that enables it to think and feel like a human. This cyber droid calledChappieis now seen as a threat to humankind.
This cyberpunk film received generally good reviews because of its gritty and political themes. Hugh Jackman proved that he can star in other movies outside of what he is well-known for. This is a great movie for fans who want to see artificial intelligence and sentience combined.
Mortal Engines (2018)
Mortal Engines is known for its stunning visual effects and apocalyptic-dystopian storyline, but the most notable of it all is its ‘cities on wheels’ theme. Instead of gigantic robots, the audience is met with colossal pieces of machinery made of cities that can transform themselves into roving vehicles.
The biggest city, London, preys on small cities and devours them for survival. The film is quite enjoyable, especially if you are into steampunk styles mixed with cyborgs in flesh. Overall,Mortal Enginesdelivers a fresh take on science fiction that fans have never seen before.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Alita: Battle Angelis one of the most successful movies of 2019. The film is oozing with stunning special effects and a strong plot to match with. The story is set in a futuristic period where the main character, Alita, is found in a scrapyard. She receives a new body and a new life as well, and she tries to navigate into the world without any memories of who she was.
The film, based on a manga later turned into an anime, features several types of robots that varied in size and came with unique abilities. While Alita remains to look like an ordinary human, her counterparts are designed as cyborgs in huge mechanical suits.
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