The Darkest Minds is a dystopian science fiction film based on a young adult novel by Alexandra Bracken. The film was directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and stars Amandla Stenberg, Harris Dickinson, and Skylan Brooks. The story takes place in a world where a pandemic has wiped out the majority of the children in the United States. The few remaining children are given special abilities, but they are feared and hunted down by the government.
The primary themes of the movie include identity, self-discovery, and empowerment. The film explores the struggle of the main character, Ruby, to understand and control her newfound abilities, and the challenge of finding a sense of belonging and purpose in a world that rejects her.
People love The Darkest Minds for its engaging storyline, strong performances, and themes of empowerment and self-discovery. The movie has also gained popularity among fans of the young adult dystopian genre, who enjoy the film’s exploration of society and its impact on young people.
Other interesting facts about The Darkest Minds include that it was Jennifer Yuh Nelson’s first live-action film, as she had previously directed the Kung Fu Panda animated movies. The film was also produced by Shawn Levy, known for his work on Stranger Things and Arrival. Despite being a modest box office success, the movie has gained a cult following and has inspired fans to read the source material.
Here are some movies that are similar to The Darkest Minds in terms of their themes and dystopian settings:
- The Hunger Games (2012) – Based on the popular book series by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where teenagers are forced to compete in a brutal fight to the death as punishment for a past rebellion.
- Divergent (2014) – Set in a future world where people are divided into factions based on their personality traits, Divergent follows the story of a young girl who discovers she is a “divergent,” someone who does not fit into any one faction and must fight to survive.
- Maze Runner (2014) – In this action-packed film, a group of teenagers are trapped in a giant maze and must navigate its deadly twists and turns to find a way out and uncover the truth behind their imprisonment.
- Ender’s Game (2013) – Based on the classic science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game follows the story of a brilliant young boy who is recruited to train for a future war against an alien race.
- The Giver (2014) – Set in a seemingly perfect utopian society, The Giver tells the story of a young boy who discovers the dark truth behind his community’s seemingly idyllic existence.
- The 5th Wave (2016) – In this post-apocalyptic thriller, Earth is attacked by aliens who use a series of deadly waves to wipe out most of humanity, leaving a group of teenagers to fight for survival.
- The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) – The second installment of the Maze Runner series, The Scorch Trials follows the same group of teens as they navigate a harsh new environment and face new challenges.
All of these films explore similar themes of survival, identity, and self-discovery in a dystopian world, making them great options for fans of The Darkest Minds.
1. The Hunger Games (2012)
The Hunger Games is a dystopian science fiction film based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. The film, directed by Gary Ross, takes place in a future where teenagers are forced to compete in a televised fight to the death as punishment for a past rebellion. The story follows the journey of Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl from District 12, who volunteers to take her sister’s place in the Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games is similar to The Darkest Minds in that both films explore the themes of identity, self-discovery, and empowerment in a dystopian setting. Both movies feature young protagonists who must fight against a corrupt government and find their place in the world.
2. Divergent (2014)
Divergent is a science fiction film directed by Neil Burger and based on the novel by Veronica Roth. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where society is divided into factions based on personality traits. The protagonist, Tris, is a “divergent,” someone who does not fit into any one faction and must fight to survive in a society that fears and rejects her.
Divergent is similar to The Darkest Minds in that both films explore the themes of identity, self-discovery, and empowerment in a dystopian world. Both movies feature young protagonists who must navigate a complex society and fight against the government’s attempts to control them.
3. Maze Runner (2014)
Maze Runner is a science fiction film directed by Wes Ball and based on the novel by James Dashner. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a group of teenage boys are trapped in a maze and must find a way to escape. The protagonist, Thomas, is the newest member of the group and must navigate the maze and fight against dangerous creatures in order to uncover the truth behind their imprisonment.
Maze Runner is similar to The Darkest Minds in that both films explore the themes of survival, identity, and self-discovery in a dystopian world. Both movies feature young protagonists who must navigate a dangerous environment and fight against a corrupt government in order to find their place in the world.
4. Ender’s Game (2013)
Ender’s Game is a science fiction film based on the novel by Orson Scott Card. The film, directed by Gavin Hood, takes place in a future where humanity is at war with an alien race. The story follows Ender Wiggin, a brilliant young boy who is recruited by the military to train for a future war against the aliens.
Ender’s Game is similar to The Darkest Minds in that both films explore the themes of personal growth, self-discovery, and the challenges of living in a world at war. Both movies feature young protagonists who must navigate a complex and dangerous environment and find their place in the world.
5. The Giver (2014)
The Giver is a science fiction film based on the novel by Lois Lowry. The film, directed by Phillip Noyce, takes place in a seemingly perfect utopian society where emotions and memories have been eliminated. The story follows Jonas, a young boy who is chosen to be the new “Receiver of Memory” and discovers the dark truth behind his community’s seemingly idyllic existence.
The Giver is similar to The Darkest Minds in that both films explore the themes of personal growth, self-discovery, and the challenges of living in a society that suppresses individuality and emotion. Both movies feature young protagonists who must fight against a corrupt system and find their place in the world.
6. The 5th Wave (2016)
The 5th Wave is a science fiction film based on the novel by Rick Yancey. The film, directed by J Blakeson, takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where Earth is attacked by aliens who use a series of deadly waves to wipe out most of humanity. The story follows a group of teenagers who must fight for survival and uncover the truth behind the alien invasion.
The 5th Wave is similar to The Darkest Minds in that both films explore the themes of survival, identity, and self-discovery in a dystopian world. Both movies feature young protagonists who must navigate a dangerous environment and fight against a corrupt government in order to find their place in the world.
7. The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is a science fiction film based on the novel by James Dashner. The film, directed by Wes Ball, is the second installment of the Maze Runner series and follows the same group of teenagers as they navigate a harsh new environment and face new challenges.
The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is similar to The Darkest Minds in that both films explore the themes of survival, identity, and self-discovery in a dystopian world. Both movies feature young protagonists who must navigate a dangerous environment and fight against a corrupt government in order to find their place in the world.
In conclusion, all these movies share similarities with The Darkest Minds in terms of their exploration of personal growth, self-discovery, and the challenges of living in a dystopian society. Each film offers a unique perspective on the human experience and provides a thrilling and engaging story.