Babbage from The Economist (subscriber edition) Film club: our sci-fi favourites
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Dec 24, 2025 
Join Alex Hern, a tech journalist, as he explores the cyberpunk allure of 'Ghost in the Shell', questioning AI consciousness. Natasha Loder, a health editor, reflects on 'Blade Runner' and its profound ethical dilemmas surrounding replicants. Ainslie Johnstone, a data correspondent, shares insights on 'The Martian', celebrating scientific problem-solving. Tom Standage, a deputy editor, defends the eccentric brilliance of the 1984 'Dune', while Jan Piotrowski discusses 'Tenet's' intriguing philosophical take on time. A perfect blend of analysis and nostalgia!
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Cyberpunk's Visual And Thematic Origin
- Ghost in the Shell pioneered the cyberpunk aesthetic and themes later seen in Western films like The Matrix.
- It foresees networked individuals and visuals that now echo our connected daily life.
Eternal Online Lives Predicted
- Ghost in the Shell imagined a world of always-connected humans rather than physical terminals, predicting modern ubiquitous computing.
- Its depiction of networked augmentation still reads as a plausible near-future rather than dated futurism.
Blade Runner's Moral And Visual Legacy
- Blade Runner established the grungy, neon-lit dystopian aesthetic that defines much of modern sci-fi worldbuilding.
- It uses replicants to probe what it means to be human and to question moral lines in technological creation.