This is part of the DCF-84 series in where we explore the themes in WTF IS THE METAVERSE? in greater detail.
The virtual double feature at the heart of the research project is two films, both from 1995:
- Johnny Mnemonic
- Strange Days
…but these are not the only cyberpunk films from 1995. Here’s some more context on just what the fuck was going on with cinema and cyberpunk in 1995.
Cyberpunk films in 1995
| Film | Director | Notes |
| Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Mamoru Oshii | Started a whole franchise |
| Judge Dredd (1995) | Danny Cannon | Had a reboot just called Dredd |
| Tank Girl (1995) | Rachel Talalay | John Waters officiated her wedding! |
All three of these other cyberpunk films were based on earlier comics. Judge Dredd and Tank Girl both British in origin, and Ghost in the Shell from Japan.
Dredd and GitS have been popular since 1995, and became even more rooted in our cultural collective unconsciousness with follow on films (Dredd – 2012) and for GitS a sequel, a live action remake, and several tv series.
Tank Girl however seemed to fall off a cliff and hit its peak in 1996, though has returned in fits and spurts since 2007.
Rise of the Hacker and Box Office takers
And 1995 had a few of the “youth and computers are scary” or “the dangers of hackers” films, including Hackers (nothing like a title directly to the point) and The Net (with Sandra Bullock). Everyone that has consumed media in the last 20 years will be familiar with these types of techno-thrillers (or disaster movies) involving some sort of hacking to save the day.
Of course there were the big box office takers in 1995, including Toy Story, Apollo 13, Batman Forever (Kilmer!), GoldenEye (Brosnan!), and Die Hard with a Vengeance.
Interestingly Se7en, Waterworld, Species, and 12 Monkeys came out as well that year, with strong dystopian vibes.
Other interesting films from 1995 for more context:
| Film |
| The Basketball Diaries |
| Before Sunrise |
| Dead Man |
| Kids |
| Showgirls |
| The Usual Suspects |
| Welcome to the Dollhouse |