Movies To Watch If You Liked ‘The Electric State’ on Netflix: Anthony and Joe Russo have had one of the most fascinating career trajectories of any filmmakers working in Hollywood. Despite having only a few comedy features to their name, the duo was hired to revolutionize the Marvel Cinematic Universe when they crafted “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which was instantly hailed as one of the greatest comic book films ever made. Although the Russo brothers continued to earn praise for their subsequent work on “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame,” their work outside of Marvel Studios has been rather disappointing.
The Russo brothers’ latest film is “The Electric State,” a post-apocalyptic science fiction action comedy that is based on an acclaimed graphic novel of the same name. Although a $320 million budget and the involvement of stars like Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown would suggest great things, critics have tarnished “The Electric State,” and cast doubts about the future of the Russos’ work as directors.
However, those dismayed by the backlash to “The Electric State” should not be dismayed by checking out similar films, as the cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic, and familial action-comedy subgenres of science fiction are often quite exciting when talented filmmakers are involved. Even if “The Electric State” ends up being just as disappointing as previous Russo brothers films, such as “Cherry” and “The Gray Man,” it does theoretically represent a genre that movie fans want to see more of when new science fiction films are so few and far between. Here are six better films to watch that are similar to “The Electric State.”
1. The Fifth Element (1997)
The worst thing that can be said about the Russo brothers’ film, and “The Electric State” in particular, is that they are very visually bland, and tend to not push the limits of how weird the science fiction genre can be. This is something that Luc Besson can never be accused of, as while the French auteur has a relatively mixed track record when it comes to quality, each of his films is singularly stylized, and feature lush, vibrant worlds populated by intriguing characters. Even those that are generally opposed to Besson’s work would find it hard to deny the brilliance of “The Fifth Element,” a science fiction action thriller that combines dark comedy, anti-establishment themes, and noir components into one of the oddest blockbusters of the 1990s.
While comparisons can be drawn with Alejandro Jodorowsky’s work on the graphic novel “The Incal,” “The Fifth Element” is a feat of originality that saw Besson crafting a distinct dystopian universe that is filled with color. Even though he is more of a stylist than a storyteller, “The Fifth Element” features a terrific cast, including Gary Oldman in one of his most ridiculous villain roles, and Bruce Willis as yet another reluctant hero with a heart of gold.
2. Elysium (2013)
Neil Blomkamp is a filmmaker that seems to be the complete opposite of the Russos; while “The Electric State” directors have continued to work on broad, populist blockbusters with peaking budgets, Blomkamp built his reputation on smaller science fiction films that tackled potent political topics. Although he first received recognition when his directorial debut “District 9” became one of the few science fiction films to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, his second project “Elysium” is a thrilling heist adventure that tackles a post-apocalyptic future far better than “The Electric State.”
Set in a world where class divisions have allowed the wealthy to live in a hulking space vessel floating above the surface of the Earth, “Elysium” centers on a group of rebels that attempt to equalize the situation. Although the allusions to current health care controversies are easy to pick up on, Blomkamp is able to ground his vision of the future with creative cyberpunk imagery, including robots that feel far more realized than anything that the Russos added to “The Electric State.” Although its a feat of technicality first and foremost, “Elysium” does have a lot of compassion for those that have been displaced by the system, with Matt Damon giving a very compelling heroic performance.
3. Serenity (2005)
The Russo brothers inherited the “Avengers” franchise from Joss Whedon, who had directed the first two films after serving as the showrunner of television shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel.” Although Whedon’s science fiction western series “Firefly” was cancelled after its first season, it gradually grew a cult audience, similar to the passionate fandom for “The Electric State” mythology. Whedon was eventually given the chance to conclude the “Firefly” story with the cinematic film “Serenity,” which reunited the original cast for a thrilling mission that could determine the fate of the universe.
Whedon and the Russos may be matched in terms of their ability to craft compelling action sequences, but the “Firefly” director is unmatched in his ability to write snarky, distinct characters. While those that followed the many competing storylines on “Firefly” were likely satisfied by the emotional ways that they wrapped up in “Serenity,” the film still tells a standalone adventure story that could be picked up by viewers unfamiliar with the original show. The Russos have been accused of making films that lack stakes, but “Serenity” shows that Whedon is no stranger to making shocking twists, as some surprising deaths both make the film more emotional and heighten the authenticity that make this world feel so unique.
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4. Reign of Fire (2002)
One of the key issues with “The Electric State” is that is plays upon mythology and iconography that is familiar to anyone who has seen a post-apocalyptic film before; robots and overpowered technology has become normalized, and no longer possess the same sense of wonder that it did during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. “Reign of Fire” is a film that was able to work around this issue by treating the future as an extended piece of high fantasy, as the underrated adventure epic takes place in London several years after dragons have returned to wreak havoc upon humanity.
The notion that fairy tale mythology is ancient history was an inventive, creative choice that allowed “Reign of Fire” to take advantage of the audience’s familiarity with the genre, and then challenge it with subtle deviations. Although fantasy is often treated as broad spectacle, “Reign of Fire” is surprisingly gritty, and examines how nomadic cultures prompted by uncertain environmental concerns lead to a fractured vision of humanity. The film also served as a showcase for two terrific actors who would become massive stars in the next decade of their respective careers; Christian Bale is a tough-minded community leader, and Matthew McConaughey is a charismatic swordsman.
5. Children of Men (2006)
If the version of the distant future feels unrealistic and dull in “The Electric State,” then Alfonso Cuaron’s 2006 masterpiece should satisfy anyone looking for something closer to reality. While “Children of Men” was praised at the time of its release for the thoughtful way that it concerned religious extremism, government-sanctioned xenophobia, mob mentality, and environmental hazards, it seemed nearly impossible to imagine that it would end up feeling like such an accurate predictor of what was to come.
Cuaron crafts an ugly, distressed vision of a world that has been let down by failing infrastructures, as the semblance of order has fallen as people choose to own their selfishness. Yet, “Children of Men” is also a hopeful story about a man who is tasked with making a difference, and the performance by Clive Owen is so powerful that it’s easy to look over the overt allusions to Christian mythmaking. There’s certainly a poignance to the calculated way in which Cuaron stages his moments of bleak empathy, but “Children of Men” is also a technical masterwork; the now infamous “one take” car chase sequence is a feat of spectacle that gives classics like “The French Connection” and “The Matrix” a run for their money.
6. The Road (2009)
If the familiar relationships in “The Electric State” felt cold and uninvolving, viewers would be smart to check out John Hillcoat’s riveting adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s powerful science fiction novel “The Road.” Set in the aftermath of a global apocalyptic event, “The Road” isolates its story to that of a father and son, played brilliantly by Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee, respectively. What begins as an observational, leisurely drama about the emotional consequences of survival becomes a powerful reminder of the strength that it takes to be a guardian.
Mortensen is a unique actor who can find components of compassion and warmth within cold, detached characters who aren’t interested in making extended connections. His performance combines the paternal warmth of his titular role in “Captain Fantastic” with the enigmatic bravery of Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings,” which feels like the perfect representation of the source material. “The Road” is a bleak film that deals with serious issues, and may not be for the weak of heart, or anyone put off by graphic violence. However, those interested in a more thought-provoking expose on survivalism that offers more artistry than the empty spectacle of “The Electric State” should make watching “The Road” a priority.
