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To refresh its Sci-fi catalog, Netflix dropped Uglies, revolving around Joey King as Tally Youngblood. Based on a young adult novel of the same name, the story follows life in a futuristic society where everyone undergoes mandatory cosmetic surgery at 16 to become “pretty.”
Eagerly waiting her turn, Youngblood soon discovers dark secrets that make her turn completely around. Harsh truths such as the surgeries leading to loss of individuality and one Dr. Cable manning this operation to create an oppressive regime prompt her to be a part of a rebel group called The Smoke.
Directed by McG of Charlie’s Angels and Terminator Salvation fame, the film dives deep into themes of humanity and personal identity while adding drama, twists, action, visuals, and a fateful sacrifice to bring this future closer to reality.
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7 movies that offer a viewing experience like Uglies
An edge-of-the-seat storyline mixed with convincing performances, emotional depth, and engaging themes make Uglies a good watch for a thought-provoking feeling afterwards. Additionally, the film’s end may leave viewers in a state of contemplation thanks to the story.
As such, those who like films that challenge society’s state of progress and set standards may be on the lookout for similar ones after wrapping up this Joey King starrer.
To satiate that thirst, here are seven films that match Uglies, and in no particular order.
- The Maze Runner
- Ready Player One
- Never Let Me Go
- Jupiter Ascending
- THX 1138
- Divergent
- The Creator
1) The Maze Runner (2014) - Apple TV, Prime Video
Uglies and The Maze Runner boast plenty of similarities. Both are set in dystopian futures and are adapted from a novel along with having good character arcs and thoughtful themes. Regardless, the latter, directed by Wes Ball, also spawned two sequels.
Starring the likes of Dylan O’Brien and Will Poulter, the plot takes place in a labyrinth maze known as the Glade. With no memories of their past, O’Brien’s Thomas and a group of boys struggle to find their way out while deadly creatures called Grievers lurk.
Major revelations following Kaya Scodelario’s Teresa’s appearance as the first girl in the maze then set them all on a path of rebellion and gaining identity.
2) Ready Player One (2018) - Hulu
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Ready Player One centers around Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts. Set in 2045, the dystopian future has left humans immersing themselves in a virtual reality video game as their primary way of life.
The story revolves around players competing to complete an Easter egg for the game’s absolute control and the creator’s fortune. Similar to Uglies, it features one James Halliday and his organization of OASIS striving to become the biggest power holder and control the virtual world, and to an extent, the in-movie real-life as well.
The protagonist goes through several near-misses and almost clinches the high honor intending to use it for good. However, he faces a death threat by OASIS and, alongside his friends, stays on the run while alluding to pop culture all the while.
3) Never Let Me Go (2010) - Apple TV, Prime Video
Starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield as the primary characters, Never Let Me Go is set in an alternate timeline where medical advances have made human lifespans last well beyond a century.
Things take a dystopian turn when the trio learns that they are simply clones bred for organ donation. The shock sends them looking for the true meaning of life even as love triangles, plays of fate, and themes of jealousy, betrayal, and friendship take center stage.
Haunting realities of alternate futures, sinister motives, a questioning of existence, and a challenge to everyday life should make Never Let Me Go a just watch for Uglies viewers.
4) Jupiter Ascending (2015) - Apple TV, Prime Video
A space opera, Jupiter Ascending, follows Mila Kunis as Jupiter Jones, an ordinary woman who comes to know of her destiny as the heir to an intergalactic nobility.
The plot lays down an intricate setting where Earth is just one among hundreds of other planets created by alien royalty to produce a youth serum for their elites.
In a dystopia, more complex than Uglies, the narrative then finds her amid a fight over inheritance. Channing Tatum as Caine Wise acts as her shield against these threats as Jupiter tackles her newfound existential crisis.
5) THX 1138 (1971) - Apple TV, Prime Video
Marking his directorial debut, THX 1138 comes right from Star Wars creator, George Lucas, with The Godfather’s Francis Ford Coppola serving as its producer. Apt to its name, the story follows Robert Duvall as a factory worker named THX 1138 in a future where humanoid robots are the police.
Stripped of their emotions through drugs, the movie also showcases a dystopian era where codes have replaced names. Rebelling against the system, Duvall’s character breaks the rules and stops taking the drugs, along with his roommate, Maggie McOmie’s LUH 3417.
Taking note of their romance, which is forbidden in this era, a tale of escape, sacrifice, and freedom plays out, similar to that of Uglies.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.
6) Divergent (2014) - Netflix
Uglies and Divergent both feature dystopian societies where oppression and the struggle for freedom shape the central crux of the story. Additionally, the two films are also young adult novel adaptations, marking another close connection.
In terms of cast and story, Divergent stars Shailene Woodley as the central character of Beatrice Prior. The plot explores a world divided into five factions, with each representing an essential human trait.
Upon taking a test, Beatrice exhibits values from multiple factions, making her a divergent, group being hunted by the ruling Erudites. A tale of struggle and escape follows setting two sequels, Insurgent and Allegiant, each coming a year apart from one another.
7) The Creator (2023) - Hulu
The Creator lies along with Uglies, with its setting and eerie predictions for a future dystopia with a sub-plot of romance. Directed by Gareth Edwards of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story fame, the plot takes place in 2070, where a new world order is in place.
A far between AI and humans rages on, with the former making the East of the globe their refuge. The protagonist is John David Washington as Joshua, a secret agent on the hunt for the creator behind this advanced technology.
A lost love, child, twists, action, and sci-fi drama blur the lines between man and machine while its climax sets off a teary yet suspenseful end.
Uglies is currently moving through its initial period of streaming, having released just about a week ago. Thus, viewers who are already done with the Joey King starrer should find these seven recommendations keeping them busy until a sequel comes by.
