14 Best Movies Like Divergent That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies Like Divergent

Veronica Roth wrote the books that inspired the “Divergent” film series. For the series, humanity is separated into several groups, which can be monitored and controlled, in a post-apocalyptic future. A “Divergent,” played by Shailene Woodley, is a character with a wide range of interests and abilities, and is considered a threat by the government because of this.

Tris and her supporters have laid the groundwork for an unprecedented insurrection to expose the regime’s authoritarian tendencies to the world. One of the most popular franchises of all time, “Divergent” was followed by two additional films that included new characters and backstory.

A number of films in the “Young Adult” genre have dealt with disillusioned youngsters rising up against a system that requires unquestioning obedience, much to Tris’ struggle to bring down an oppressive regime in a gloomy future setting. “Divergent” is a dystopian civilization where the “one” is pitted against the “many” in a battle for morality.

1. The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

With good cause, “Divergent” films have been likened to “The Hunger Games” movies. There is a lot of crossover between the two series, and readers of “Divergent” would recognize a lot of the themes in “The Hunger Games” and its sequels.

“The Hunger Games,” like “Divergent,” is full with societal critique. Filmmaker Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), an outspoken young woman who must fight for her life in an oppressive dystopian society where freedom is an extremely rare and valuable commodity. One of the 13 “districts” of Panem, where the annual Hunger Games extravaganza is held, and home to Katniss Everdeen. There are two “tributes” from each district that have to compete in the games in order to win.

In the beginning of the series, Katniss is a reluctant tribute, but she rapidly rises to prominence as a winner of the Games and as a symbol of rebellion against Panem’s tyrannical government. Katniss’ determination as a combatant is put to the test along the way by her love for Peeta and Gale, her companions. In the wake of the success of “The Hunger Games,” Lawrence became a household name in Hollywood.

2. Dune (1984)

Dune (1984)

It’s not just on Earth that tyrannical regimes and attractive young protagonists attempt to topple them exist, but on other planets as well. One of science fiction’s most influential works, Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” features a bleak world and a young man who is predicted to save it from its perils.

David Lynch attempted to adapt Herbert’s novel “Dune” in 1984, and the results were interesting, despite the story’s complex mythology. Paul Atreides, heir to House Atreides, one of the most powerful houses in the known cosmos, is the film’s protagonist. Even the galaxy’s emperor is terrified of House Atreides’ might and has vowed to eliminate every member of the Atreides family before they can pose a danger to his dominion.

It’s much more difficult to take down Paul. A new kind of intelligence known as the “Kwisatz Haderach” is predicted to lead the universe to enlightenment. At some point, Paul realizes that the world he is intended to preserve is riddled with depravity, and that he must do something about it.

3. The 5th Wave (2016)

The 5th Wave (2016)

Not all dictatorships are manned by human beings. It’s not uncommon for aliens to arrive to Earth and try to establish themselves as the planet’s new dominant species. Based on Rick Yancey’s novel, “The 5th Wave,” this is what happens.

Cassie Sullivan, a high school student in Ohio, tells the story. Alien craft piloted by a species known as “The Others” enters our atmosphere one day. The aliens invade the planet in four massive waves, weakening humanity’s resources and transforming the civilization into a dystopian nightmare.

There are few survivors in this new world, and Cassie is one of them. Keeping her small brother safe is the only way they can go to one of the few remaining human communities that provides some level of security. This time, the Others have a horrific new strategy in place: they intend to bring mankind to its knees in the fifth and last wave of attacks, bringing an end to all life on Earth. Cassie is now responsible for alerting the others of the impending “fifth wave” in order to avert a disaster.

4. The Host (2013)

The Host (2013)

“The Host” is Stephenie Meyer’s first foray into the sci-fi genre, yet she is best known for her “Twilight” series. Saoirse Ronan was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the film adaptation of the book, which was released in 2013.

An alien parasitic species known as “Souls” has arrived on Earth, and the story of “The Host” examines this reality. Enslaving humanity has been achieved by inserting themselves into the bodies and gaining control of people’ physical bodies. Even though most people are slaves, there are still some free men and women plotting to topple the alien regime.

A person with a Soul parasite named Melanie Stryder is truly sympathetic to the suffering of humanity. Melanie and her Soul come to an understanding and go on a mission to return to a human settlement before a group of militant Souls discovers their escape. “Twilight”-style romance and teen angst are sprinkled throughout the sci-fi storyline, and the love triangle has more than a few echoes of “Twilight.”

5. The Circle (2017)

Pop culture’s depiction of an oppressive societal machinery has evolved over the past few decades, shifting from government institutions to private corporations. The Circle is a great illustration of this new style. Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Ellar Coltrane, Patton Oswalt, Glenne Headly, and Bill Paxton all star in this adaptation of Dave Eggers’ novel of the same name.

She is delighted to learn that she has been hired by The Circle, the world’s leading social networking company, as a call center intern. As Mae progresses through the ranks of the organization, she learns of The Circle’s ambitions for a world of “full transparency”—where every element of your life is recorded and can be viewed by everyone else. Despite the skepticism of her friends and family.

Mae’s revolution against The Circle begins when she realizes that total transparency requires a complete lack of privacy. As a result, her warnings may be too late, as the world prepares to adopt the company’s technology to build a world in which computers see everyone, everything, and all the time.

6. City of Ember (2008)

City of Ember (2008)

“City of Ember” is a science fiction film that doubles as a dystopian metaphor about the risks of blindly believing leaders in a time of crisis. As a bonus, it’s a kid-friendly frolic that adults can enjoy as well.

When an unknown worldwide calamity is on the verge of eradicating all life on Earth, work begins to build Ember, a subterranean city. He has a unique box with instructions for the next generation of Emberites in it. The box is passed down from mayor to mayor until an unanticipated break in the chain occurs.

Ember’s mayor’s ancestor Lina Mayfleet, a teenager, finds the box after it has been missing for some years. On her journey to learn the meaning of the box’s contents, Lina is forced to confront a conniving new mayor of the city, who plans to use the box’s contents to his own advantage.

7. Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Alita Battle Angel (2019)

Young, female protagonists who must fight against unimaginable odds using only their minds and the help of their companions are numerous on this list of movies. For the first time in recent memory, “Alita: Battle Angel” has a female protagonist who is more than capable of defeating her rivals entirely on her own.

Following the events of the manga and anime series, “The Fall” follows the narrative of an Earth destroyed by a terrible war. Iron City is home to a scavenging doctor who finds a female cyborg with complete human brains while digging through the scrapyard for spare parts. He named his new creation Alita after the brain he transplanted into a new metal body.

Even as she attempts to reclaim her memories, Alita discovers the restrictions and expectations that come with being a cyborg in Iron City. Even though she had no idea who she was before meeting the doctor, Alita’s impressive athletic abilities make her a popular choice for the Motorball racing tournament. It becomes clear to Alita that her future may lie elsewhere, possibly in the floating metropolis of Zalem that hovers amid the clouds.

8. Battle Royale (2000)

Ever wondered what “The Hunger Games” would be like if it didn’t bother with the romance between Katniss and Gale or the commentary on reality television, but instead focused just on the “children killing each other” component of the story? Look no further than “Battle Royale,” the gory and divisive film by Japanese auteurKinji Fukasaku.

The movie’s plot is straightforward. A totalitarian government in the future has instituted a new custom to combat juvenile delinquency following a severe recession. They are taken to a remote, deserted island via ship. A random weapon and three days of rations are provided to each competitor, and they are told to fight each other to the death until one emerges victorious.

If you don’t follow through, you’ll die. However, a large number of kids actively participate in the torment and murder of their fellow students with a recklessness that is reminiscent of “Lord of the Flies”. Even though the film was banned and censored in various countries, all of which contributed to the picture’s cult appeal and mystique, the DVD release in the United States didn’t come until over a decade after it premiered.

9. Chaos Walking (2021)

Chaos Walking (2021)

A sci-fi film based on the first part of PatrickNess’ popular book trilogy “Chaos Walking” is on the horizon. “Chaos Walking,” starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, imagines a bleak future in which women have been eradicated from the planet.

Several hundred years into the future, Todd Hewitt is a young man living on a planet known as New World in a community where there are no female residents. Their absence is being attributed to a revolution engineered by the native aliens who have occupied the planet for millennia, killing half the male and all the female human colonists.

The remaining males all suffer from a condition known as “The Noise,” which prevents them from keeping their thoughts to themselves. Todd’s home is in danger of collapsing under the weight of a young woman named Viola. Because of this, even though he knows better, Todd decides to help Viola escape town’s wrath by escorting her to a place where she won’t be harassed by other residents.

10. The Giver (2014)

The Giver (2014)

“TheGiver,” a film adaptation of Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel of the same name, stars Meryl Streep. “The Giver” depicts a dystopian future in which freedom of choice is viewed as a threat that must be reined in, like many other dystopian fiction.

After a catastrophic occurrence known as “The Ruin,” Jonas, an 18-year-old who has grown up in the rebuilt world, is the protagonist of the film. Emotions and memories are suppressed and erased by a council of elders in this new civilization, led by The Chief Elder (Streep).

Receiver of Memories is the name given to the individual who is responsible with preserving all of humanity’s memories for future generations. It becomes clear to Jonas that he has been chosen as the new Receiver. Jonas realizes the value of emotions and how people need to be able to make their own judgments, good or bad, as a result of a flood of memories. Jonas, despite the Council of Elders’ disapproval, will eventually have to take up arms against them and remind society of the memories that have been sealed away from them.

11. Ender’s Game (2013)

The 2013 film version of Orson Scott Card’s 1985 Hugo-winning novel “Ender’s Game” was excellent. Though at first reticent, Card finally succumbed, and even worked on a half-dozen drafts before the picture was picked up by writer/director Gavin Hood.

Formics, a species of aliens, are at war with humans in a cosmic conflict that takes place many years in the future. Millions of people were killed in a previous onslaught by the Formics on Earth. They’ve been training fresh recruits in the art of space warfare in preparation for a last assault on the Formic homeworld.

In particular, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin has been singled out for his exceptional ability to devise unique strategies for winning virtual conflicts. In the course of Ender’s training, he discovers that the military’s top brass is keeping a close eye on his progress. However, even as Ender’s work gets harder and he struggles to understand his relationships with his fellow students, he finds out that things are not as they appear in the fight between humanity and the Formic.

12. Mortal Engines (2018)

Mortal Engines (2018)

Steampunk is an underappreciated subgenre of dystopian science fiction. “Mortal Engines,” a live-action adaptation of Philip Reeve’s 2001 novel of the same name, was released in 2018 in an attempt to change that. Like many dystopian stories, “Mortal Engines” takes place some time after the Sixty Minute War, a cataclysmic conflict.

As a result of World War II, the continents of the world have been reconfigured into new landmasses. Across the continent that was once Europe, cities have been erected on mobile platforms that allow them to be relocated to new locations over long distances. Across vast plains of the continent known as the “Great Hunting Ground,” larger towns deplete the resources of smaller ones.

This massive power struggle between cities is being fought by an assassin named Hester Shaw, who plans to kill Guild of Historians head Thaddeus Valentine for killing her mother after discovering a truth that could permanently upset the equilibrium between cities. With time running out, Hester and her allies strive to save the world from the second, even more catastrophic great war that might doom the entire globe.

13. Never Let Me Go (2010)

When a medical breakthrough permits humans to live beyond 100 years, “Never Let Me Go” imagines a world where that is possible. Tommy, Kathy, and Ruth are boarders at Hailsham, a boarding school dedicated to encouraging its students to express themselves creatively.

Their feelings for one another begin to grow stronger as they mature. To Tommy’s dismay, Kathy is already in love with Ruth. There are additional revelations about their upbringing, such as the fact that they were all raised to be organ donors when they grow up, so that others can live longer.

As the three main protagonists grow older, they are forced to take drastic measures to save their own lives. Tommy and Kathy’s quest to prove they are worth rescuing is fueled by a rumor that some donors will be spared from military service if they can prove they are truly in love. In contrast to the customary Y.A. offerings recognized for their action-packed nature, “Never Let Me Go” offers substantial variety and a fascinating fresh take on the themes of loss and love.

14. The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner

This series, like the Divergent and the Hunger Games, is a popular Young Adult fiction that blends dystopian sci-fi with action and adventure. The “Maze Runner” trilogy, based on James Dashner’s novel series, presents a new perspective on the Greek tale of the Minotaur in the labyrinth.

In an underground elevator, a nameless teen wakes up from a deep sleep. A big grassy area dubbed “The Glade” awaits him, where he meets other young guys who are in the same situation. In the Glade, the unidentified young man discovers that he is encircled by a complex maze filled with half-cyborg creatures known as Grievers, who are lethal.

Thomas is the only name the young people can recall; they have no other recollections. Following their victory in a grueling maze combat, Thomas (along with the rest of the group) and the rest of the survivors find themselves stuck in a dystopian world where the fate of humanity is in their hands.