It says something about the natural state of mankind that the overwhelming majority of popular science fiction paints the years to come as a dystopian nightmare. It seems to take some special imagination to consider the possibility that generations of human development and worlds of new technology could improve things somewhat.
Utopian sci-fi is best represented by Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek, which takes place in a largely scarcity-free society made up of eager space explorers. The current state of that franchise, dipping it into a world of militaristic violence and chaotic nonsense demonstrates how hard it is to keep a fictional utopia going.
Meet the Robinsons
The primary place fans of utopian sci-fi can find the sub-genre represented on the big screen is in kids' media. Sci-fi intended for the entire family is allowed to make the future look whimsical and thrilling. Criminally underrated Disney classic Meet the Robinsons takes that opportunity and runs with it. The film centers on a brilliant young lad named Lewis who longs desperately for a family he can't seem to find. Lewis is whisked away to the future by a mysterious kid who claims to be a time-hopping cop. Once there, he's introduced to a world of fantastical technology and joyous retro-futurist aesthetics. The stated year of the film is 2037, which imagines a lot of incredible leaps forward over the next decade and change. Meet the Robinsons is a charming and emotionally powerful journey that suggests a bright world is only a short time in the future.
Bill & Ted Face the Music
This long-awaited conclusion to the Bill & Ted trilogy represents one incredible thing about the real-world future. In a world of constant retreads of things that were popular decades ago, this film defies convention by actually being good. The film follows on the heel of Bogus Journey, which revealed that its heroes would write the sound that would save the world. Over the 30-year gap, Bill and Ted have resolutely failed to do so, and the rest of their life has fallen apart. Forces from seven hundred years in the future arrive to force the Wyld Stallyns' hands. The journey takes the heroes from the distant future to the depths of Hell and beyond. It's a great version of the original franchise's message, adapted for the cynicism of the new era. It ends with one of the most uplifting and powerful messages of hope in recent memory. The new film was one of the most savage victims of the ongoing pandemic, making it feel a bit too optimistic for its own good.
Big Hero 6
Another underrated Disney property that demonstrates what could be great about the future, this time with a particular focus on technology. This is a film that glorifies the pursuit of scientific knowledge so well it could be an advertisement for high school STEM programs. There isn't a specific year in which Big Hero 6 takes place, but the gloriously realized city of San Fransokyo is clearly futuristic. The main characters are all dedicated intelligent kids, and they become heroes through their unique scientific disciplines. The central face of the film is Baymax, a lovable artificial intelligence set to revolutionize medical care. There are no evil machines in Big Hero 6, only machines being used for bad things. The film manages one of the best depictions of AI ever put to the screen, and it demonstrates the risks of advanced technology alongside the solution. It's an extremely charming film and if it even remotely predicts the real future then things are looking up.
Her
The movie about a sad lonely man falling deeply in love with his phone's AI assistant doesn't exactly suggest the most upbeat depiction of the near future. Spike Jonze's tale about mankind's relationship with technology and the difficulties in personal intimacy is challenging and often very sad. It is not, however, dystopian in its presentation. Even the darkest moments of personal grief aren't the fault of the futuristic AI technology. Theodore's relationship with Samantha is edifying for him, and though it's a sad moment for the character, it's a period of learning about himself. Those who finished the film will also discover that the ending suggests a vague and fascinating reality ahead.
Tomorrowland
Though it's far from a perfect movie, this 2015 sci-fi oddity didn't deserve the complete lack of interest and near-immediate abandonment that it received despite its star. Brad Bird's Tomorrowland isn't a utopian vision of the future, it's a moving journey about making the future a better place. It's a living argument about hope in conflict with cynicism. It's a message to the all-too-common feeling that all hope is lost, and the world has already ended. Fans of optimism in modern film should go back and check out this unique feature. It may not be the perfect example, but it could be the inspiration point for a new generation of optimistic sci-fi.