Sci-fi has truly become one of the voices of our generation. From books to television shows and film, the genre has literally taken over. It has shaped our culture in a fascinating way, making us all somehow just a little bit more curious, a little bit more imaginative maybe. When it comes to film, one book that has had a major imaginative effect is 2004’s Cloud Atlas as written by David Mitchell. The book was since turned into a movie in 2012, and it starred some heavy hitters in the industry such as Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon, Doona Bae, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, and Jim Sturgess. The film was a success, and if you were looking for a movie similar to Cloud Atlas in genre and theme, here are 5 to choose from.
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
The theme of going backwards and forwards through time is a clear similarity. Another theme central to both movies is the fact that events in the past shape the events of the future, and it’s reason enough not to tamper with the past. This movie featured Ashton Kutcher as the main character Evan, who was haunted by the pain of his past. After realizing that he had the ability to travel back in time, Evan tried to change the course of his future by changing events in the past.
The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)
Based on the novel of the same title, The Time Traveler’s Wife is clearly about time travel yet again. However this time, it has a full romantic plot that’s sure to make some people swoon–so much because of the situation the main characters are in. Clare (Rachel McAdams) and Henry (Eric Bana) are destined to be together from the beginning, but keeping their relationship in control amidst Henry’s uncontrollable time travel syndrome is a challenge no other couple have to face besides them.
The Lake House (2006)
In this movie, we meet two characters that fall in love with each other; the only problem is they’re two years apart in time. Alex (Keanu Reeves) is 2 years ahead into the future, while Kate (Sandra Bullock) is just a little behind. They somehow stumbled upon a magical communication system that allowed them to send letters back and forth to one another through time. They try to meet up several times, but they soon find out that time is a tricky vessel.
Avatar (2009)
Through the power of the mind, anything can be accomplished. This is the theme that makes this movie similar to Cloud Atlas. There are different worlds, different creatures. Mankind has exhausted Earth’s resources, so they look on to the world of Pandora to avert an oncoming crisis. Humans had the capability of traveling into the mind of Na’vi Avatars, creatures and citizens of Pandora. One particular ex-Marine, Jake (Sam Worthington), realizes that what was happening to the world of Pandora was wrong. He and his team races against time to make sure that Pandora is saved from the hands of the humans who want to destroy the Na’vi world.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
There’s no other movie that deals with consequences much like Vanilla Sky does. The show stars Tom Cruise as David Aames, a handsome and wealthy young man, who chances upon the love of his life, Sofia (Penelope Cruz), on a random night. In a turn of events and mostly due to his actions, David loses Sofia. He is then thrust into a whirlwind of events that eventually lead to the death of David’s girlfriend, Julie (Cameron Diaz), in an accident that will lead him disfigured forever. However, things slowly started to change for David for the better, it seems, until weird things started happening that’s making him question what is real in his life and what is not.
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