Since the 1950s, mecha movies are a very popular genre originating from the Japanese mainstream media. These movies feature giant robots and man-made machines designed for fighting. Mecha simply refers to the concept of science fiction that makes use of machines and robotics. Also known as kaiju films, most mecha movies portray cyborgs or humanoid robots.
Many mecha movies center around futuristic themes. Some popular films are quite apocalyptic or just plain military war films. In this type of movie, they are mainly used as human support or weapons. Here’s a list of the 10 most popular mecha movies that robot fans would love!
Power Rangers
The 2017 live-action adaptation of the hit Japanese anime show gave it a modern twist. A group of five outcast students teams up to fight and stop evil from destroying Earth. They discovered an alien ship that exposed them to a power source. They must use their newly found unique abilities to defeat the one and only Rita Repulsa.
Power Rangers was so popular in Japan because it is one of the longest-running shows with several movie adaptations, video games, and merchandise. Most fans who grew up watching anime series have known this show since childhood.
Edge Of Tomorrow
For an officer who has never been in a fight, it is a surprise that he is going on a suicide mission to fight aliens. To make the matter worse, he finds himself on a loop, repeating everything that has happened whenever he dies. The purpose of this loop is to train him and once he’s ready, he will be joined by his other comrades.
Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt paired up to fight technology-possessed space aliens in their exoskeletons called ExoSuits. This basically acts as an extension of themselves so they will be able to have a higher chance of survival. According to the director, Doug Liman, the suit took five months to build.
Mortal Engines
The post-apocalyptic dystopian film features stunning cinematography and a unique story with its city on wheels theme. Each city can convert itself into a giant automobile that could move locations whenever the inhabitants decide to.
The biggest city, London, feeds on small cities and devours them to survive. The movie is quite entertaining and a feast for the eyes. Its heroine, Hester Shaw, is a great character with a compelling background story that fans could easily relate to.
Alita: Battle Angel
One of the best-animated movies of 2019, Alita: Battle Angel does not fall short on stunning special effects and visual imagery. The plot features Alita, a cyborg, as she tries to coexist with other people in a dystopian setting. She receives a new body and a new life as well after she was discovered in a scrapyard.
The movie’s success encouraged rumors of a sequel right after its premiere. The great reviews and success on the box office must be enough reason to produce a second movie.
Transformers
The most well-known film on this list is one of the top-grossing blockbusters of all time. The fight between the Autobots and the Decepticons has been going on for years and they have decided to take the fight to Earth. A young man, Sam Witwicky, becomes an important element in saving the planet from destruction.
There is no doubt about the remarkable graphics and cinematography of this franchise. Fans could just delight in its visual glory and appreciate how the robots were intricately designed. If you fancy lots of explosions with a little side of war theme, then this film is for you.
Chappie
Chappie is a heartwarming film about a mechanized police droid that was stolen and given new programming. These droids were designed to patrol the streets but some evil minds want to take advantage of them. Now, this droid called Chappie has become a threat to everyone.
The film received great reviews because of its well-written story and gripping scenes. It is a film that tackled both the power of the mind and emotion. Hugh Jackman did a great job portraying his role.
RoboCop
RoboCop talks about the story of an ex-police officer turned cyborg. Alex Murphy injured himself during an encounter. It was so severe that they needed to amputate him. He became a test subject for OmniCorp, a multinational conglomerate developing robotic advancement plans. That’s when they experimented on him.
The thing about cyborgs is that they still possess emotions or repressed memories that could resurface anytime. This indoctrination did not stop Murphy from remembering who he was. Instead of becoming a killing machine, he was able to find the humanity inside him.
Iron Man
Marvel’s Iron Man gave the studio its biggest break. This superhero action movie brought us Tony Stark, the genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist that fans of all ages loved. In this smash-hit blockbuster, Tony Stark created a prototype of his Iron Man suit in a cave using scrap metals. Fans saw the evident evolution of his suits in all of his movie appearances.
There is no actor better suited for the role of Tony Stark other than Robert Downey Jr. He made the character his own persona and fans all over the world recognize him as such. The film was a major success and it continued thriving up to his last appearance in Avengers: Endgame.
Terminator
As a household title for action science fiction movies, the Terminator franchise has been on the market since 1984. It has a reputation that long-time fans have known. Even up to its latest installment, Terminator: Dark Fate, it never fails to give its loyal fans the entertainment they deserve.
Aside from cyborgs like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character, there were also giant machines in the film. The franchise catapulted James Cameron’s career as a filmmaker. To this day, Terminator: Judgment Day remains to be the highest-grossing installment.
Pacific Rim
This is a western take on the famed Japanese kaiju genre. Pacific Rim features Jaegers – giant robots designed to fight against the monsters lurking in the Pacific region. Jaegers are controlled by two pilots, usually connected through a drift. It is the neural bridge that connects the pilots with the Jaeger.
The movie has two installments, with Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, and Rinko Kikuchi starring in the 2013 version. John Boyega and Cailee Spaney headed the 2018 version. The movie features stunning visual effects and a compelling storyline that fans would love to watch.
