The Sci-Fi Biotechnology Film subgenre often includes other microgenres such as Films About Cloning, Films About Genetic Engineering, Films About Human Augmentation and Films About Cryogenics. This subgenre also typically resides under the Science Fiction, Thriller and Horror genres but has recently also shown up in the Romance and Comedy genres. Films about biotechnology have been based on many forms of classic literature over the years and these subgenres films have increased in popularity as technologies once thought of as science fiction have inched closer to reality.
The most popular film about biotechnology also happens to be based on a classic Sci-Fi and Horror novel – Frankenstein (1931). As the film industry was still in its infancy, other famous Sci-Fi and Horror novels were appealing for the new film format such as H.G. Wells The Invisible Man (1933). Frankenstein proved to be so popular at the time that he was soon given a companion in the sequel The Bride of Frankenstein (1935).
The 1950’s and 1960’s saw an explosion is Biotechnology films starting with the classic film The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957). A few other classic films of this period also included The Fly (1958), X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963), Fantastic Voyage (1966) and The Illustrated Man (1969). Remaining films from this period tended to be lower quality Sci-Fi and Horror films that used biotechnology themes for shock value. The Manster (1959), The Head (1959), The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962) and The War of the Gargantuas (1966) are examples of these B-movie Sci-Fi and Horror camp films.
The 1970’s saw Films About Genetic Engineering become a more popular topic within the subgenre with many films merging human and human, human and beast and in one weird instance, human and plants. While The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) is a classic film within this Films About Genetic Engineering microgenre, there were other notable films including The Thing with Two Heads (1972), Sssssss (1973), The Mutations (1974) and Curse of the Black Widow (1977). Films About Cloning also started to gain in popularity with the classic film, The Boys from Brazil (1978) and other notable Films About Cloning with Embryo (1976), Shock Waves (1977) and The Brood (1979). A few other notable subgenre films from the 1970’s included The Six Million Dollar Man (1973), Futureworld (1976) and Demon Seed (1977).
The 1980’s saw three different trends emerge within the Biotechnology subgenre. Films about Invisibility became popular with The Man Who Wasn’t There (1983) and The Invisible Kid (1988). Films About Psychic Powers also used themes found in the Biotechnology subgenre with Scanners (1981), Zapped! (1982), Firestarter (1984) and Dreamscape (1984). And Comedies became popular in the Biotechnology subgenre with The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), Modern Problems (1981), Weird Science (1985), Innerspace (1987) and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989). Other classic subgenre films from this decade included Altered States (1980), Swamp Thing (1982), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), The Fly (1986) and Monkey Shines (1988).
The 1990’s would be defined by a few classic films of the subgenre. Jurassic Park (1993) would become the most popular film about genetic engineering and revitalize interest in Films About Dinosaurs. It would become the premiere franchise in the Sci-Fi Biotechnology subgenre and the franchise would release films for the next 3 decades. On the other end was a futuristic film about genetic engineering in humans that would become a classic and defining film of the subgenre – Gattaca (1997). Other classic films of the subgenre from this decade included Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), Universal Soldier (1992), Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992), Forever Young (1992), Cronos (1993), Memories (1995), The Nutty Professor (1996), Multiplicity (1996), Face/Off (1997), Mimic (1997), Soldier (1998) and Deep Blue Sea (1999).
As the Superhero and Comic Book subgenre became popular in the 2000’s, they often featured characters that gained superpowers through genetic engineering or mutation. These popular characters (and franchises) that utilized themes within the Sci-Fi Biotechnology subgenre included X-Men (2000), Blade II (2002), Spider-Man (2002) and Hulk (2003). Cloning also continued to be a popular theme of the subgenre with films including The 6th Day (2000), Impostor (2001), The Island (2005), The Prestige (2006) and Moon (2009). Other classic films of the subgenre from this decade included Hollow Man (2000), Unbreakable (2000), The One (2001), Cypher (2002), Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), Paycheck (2003), Æon Flux (2005), A Scanner Darkly (2006), Push (2009), Daybreakers (2009) and Avatar (2009).
The 2010’s saw an expansion of themes within the Biotechnology Film subgenre that included more advanced scientific concepts (and some that were closer to becoming reality). Repo Men (2010) featured the concept of rental ‘artificial organs’ that could be repossessed for lack of payment, Elysium (2013) featured a human merged to an exoskeleton, and Anon (2018) featured Augmented Reality technology embedded within humans for an advanced visual interface. Cloning also continued to be a popular theme in the subgenre with Womb (2010), Never Let Me Go (2010), Oblivion (2013), Elizabeth Harvest (2018) and Gemini Man (2019). This decade produced many classic films of the subgenre including Limitless (2011), In Time (2011), Cloud Atlas (2012), The Signal (2014), Self/less (2015), 24 Hours to Live (2017), The Titan (2018), Rampage (2018), Upgrade (2018), Overlord (2018), Alita: Battle Angel (2019), Us (2019) and Freaks (2019).
The 2020’s has shown that the Sci-Fi Biotechnology Film subgenre is only growing in popularity with a few great films in the decade’s first 2 years: The Invisible Man (2020), Bloodshot (2020), Possessor (2020), Spontaneous (2020) and Swan Song (2021).
Our list of Sci-Fi Biotechnology Films includes over 329+ movies from 1931 – 2021. The list includes Films About Cloning, Films About Genetic Engineering and Films About Human Augmentation. There is crossover within our list with many other popular subgenres including Films About Psychic Powers, Films About Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Technology and Techno Thriller Films. For our list of Top Sci-Fi Biotechnology Films You Haven’t Seen, we couldn’t fit the following honorable mentions on the list: The Thing with Two Heads (1972), Spontaneous Combustion (1990), Unforgettable (1996), Cypher (2002), Blueprint (2003), Silk (2006), TiMER (2009), Moon (2009), Frequencies (2013), The Signal (2014) and Upgrade (2018).
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Sci-Fi Biotech Films You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
#10
Sssssss
Plot: College student working as a lab student is changed into a ‘man-snake’ by the doctor he is working with.
KBZ’s Take: This film has a very hokey premise but is actually quite good. It’s one of the better ‘shlock’ films about the merging of humans and animals in the 1970’s. It stars a young Dirk Benedict before he would go on to star in Battlestar Galactica (1978). The makeup and effects are also above average for a film of this type, and it’s recommended for fans of the subgenre.
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Plot: A mad scientist crosses people with plants to horrifying effect.
KBZ’s Take: Another ‘best of the worst’ of these 1970’s campy Sci-Fi and Horror hybrids, The Mutations (aka The Freakmaker) is a cross between Freaks (1932) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1978). While it has a somewhat original premise, it’s not a great film by any means. Donald Pleasance as the mad scientist gives a passable performance, but it’s his deformed assistant Lynch (played by Tom Baker) who has more of the emotional arc within the film.
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#8
Womb
Plot: Woman’s husband dies, and she decides to give birth to his clone.
KBZ’s Take: We’re not sure where to start with this film. For starters, it’s very controversial as you can probably piece together what might happen when a woman clones her dead husband, gives birth to him and then becomes his ‘mother’. Second, the pacing in this film is slooooooow. And we mean slower than Terence Malick slow. There are great performances in this film by Eva Green and Matt Smith and the concept is intriguing despite the execution. But, despite the pacing, it’s a film that will stick with you long after you’ve seen it.
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#7
Repo Men
Plot: In the future, people can buy artificial lungs, but the company that owns them can repossess them for non-payment.
KBZ’s Take: There are a lot of scientific concepts in this film that are now closer to being reality than when the film debuted in 2010. GPS tracking of the artificial organs for repo men to track them down and the artificial organs themselves which will likely become more commonplace during this decade. But the most realistic aspect of this film is the shady company that puts profits over lives which, unfortunately, is a reality that won’t go away any time soon. Highly recommended film of the subgenre and not to be confused with the Emilio Estevez film Repo Man (1984).
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#6
Threshold
Plot: Heart surgeon decides to perform the first artificial heart transplant.
KBZ’s Take: This is one of the films of the subgenre where while it was science fiction when it was released, it became actual science just a year later (with the first artificial heart transplant). It’s an obscure film despite having some premiere actors of the decade with Donald Sutherland, John Marley, Jeff Goldblum and Mare Winningham. This film resides more in the Drama Films About Medical Issues subgenre but it does have some interesting science fiction concepts and discussions as to how an artificial heart should operate before it become a reality.
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#5
Freaks
Plot: 7-year old kept secluded in a house by her father, starts to question the reality of the outside world.
KBZ’s Take: This is a recent film that somehow flew under the radar. It’s a Sci-Fi / Horror hybrid film that includes a lot of action, suspense and terrific performances by Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Grace Park and Lexy Kolker. We’re being a bit vague on the plot of this film as it’s best to go in without knowing much about it. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
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Plot: Man exposed to a radioactive cloud begins shrinking with no cure in sight.
KBZ’s Take: Written by the great Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), this is a film that has stood the test of time. Even the special effects used over 64 years ago are still a wonder to watch and don’t take away from the film (like older and dated films will tend to do). If you still haven’t seen this classic film, it’s one of the best of the subgenre and it’s worth watching (even for a film in black and white).
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Plot: Quadriplegic is given a trained monkey to assist him until the monkey develops feelings and goes on a rampage.
KBZ’s Take: This is one of George A. Romero’s lesser-known films but it’s one of his best. On its surface, it’s a slasher horror film when the genetically altered monkey bonds with her wheelchair bound ‘master’ and acts on his rage. However, it’s underlying message is about animal cruelty and experimentation gone wrong. Very engaging and suspenseful thriller especially once you get past the setup of the first 2 acts.
Additional Lists: Top Animals Attack Films You Haven’t Seen #1
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Plot: A research scientist uses sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic mixtures to ‘devolve’ into a primal state.
KBZ’s Take: This film was quite popular in the early 1980’s but has become forgotten over time. It’s still one of the best films of the Sci-Fi Biotechnology Film subgenre and has intriguing philosophical concepts that are debated in the film and still relevant today. Though some of the special effects are a bit dated by today’s standards, this is still a highly recommended film of the subgenre for younger generations.
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Plot: Nazi hunter discovers a sinister plot to clone Hitler.
KBZ’s Take: Another popular film of the 1970’s that we’re listing as #1 and recommending for younger generations to check out. It’s a great film led by acting greats Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck and James Mason. Steve Guttenberg even gives a great performance. While the film isn’t heavy on the scientific or technical details of cloning, it more than makes up for it with a thrilling and suspenseful film throughout. It also raises ethical questions about cloning that we are still grappling with today. Finally, while Laurence Olivier is often regarded as one of the greatest actors of all-time, all you need to do is watch his role in this film as a heroic figure vs. his role as a villain in Marathon Man (1976) to see how effortlessly he transitions between roles and why he’s one of the best. Highly recommended and must watch film of the subgenre.
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