Science-fiction films have been capturing the hearts and minds of many audiences for decades and decades now. Every year, we get more and more great sci-fi films that range from post-apocalyptic dystopias to mysterious neo-noirs. Of course, there are both good and bad sci-fi movies, but there are definitely more great ones.
Technology has always been an integral part of science-fiction movies. From robots to weapons and tools, there have been many ways in which this aspect has been used. However, robots remain the most unique one, so here are 10 Most Terrifying Robots In Sci-Fi Movie History.
Ultron (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps on expanding, we get more and more interesting movies with decent (and sometimes not) villains. Ultron might not be the most remarkable of them, but he is still one of the best MCU villains we got to see.
The reason why Ultron is so terrifying is that he is very similar to his creator, Tony Stark. He was meant to be good, but after analyzing humankind, he came to the conclusion that he had to exterminate everyone to make things right again. He wants to protect the Earth and its inhabitants by creating a new order.
Megatron (Transformers)
Transformers has undoubtedly been a huge media franchise for quite a while now. Despite the movies mostly being huge action-packed blockbusters nowadays, they are still entertaining to watch if you like explosions and massive battles.
Megatron is the ultimate villain in these movies. Like many villains, he has a special connection to the protagonist - Megatron used to be Optimus Prime’s mentor. But what makes him so powerful is that he is extremely goal-driven and will do anything to achieve his aim.
Mechagodzilla (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla)
Just like Megatron, Mechagodzilla is an insanely huge robot. Basically, it is a robotic clone of Godzilla that first appeared in a 1974 film title Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. Perhaps it is one of the coolest monsters (or robots, in this case) in the Godzilla franchise.
Mechagodzilla has been fighting both on the side of good and evil, but its first version was that of an antagonist. Mechagodzilla’s aim was to destroy Godzilla and conquer Earth which seemed quite possible considering that Mechagodzilla is a giant menacing robot that looks like a dinosaur.
The Sentinels (X-Men: Days of Future Past)
Even though the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Marvel’s main movie universe, there is also the X-Men Cinematic Universe that is just as entertaining (though sometimes confusing in terms of timeline). Still, it brought us X-Men: Days of Future Past that featured some of the most terrifying robots.
The Sentinels were created specifically to get rid of the mutants, both good and evil. They can adapt very quickly to whatever powers a certain mutant has and then use a superpower that will be able to defeat them. For example, the Sentinels would usually use fire against Iceman. This made them virtually unbeatable.
Roy Batty (Blade Runner)
One of the reasons why 1982’s Blade Runner is so petrifying is that it features immediate and brutal violence. Of course, you will only know about this by viewing a certain cut of the film, but nevertheless, this is still a fact that holds true to this day. Another reason is the main antagonist - Roy Batty.
This replicant (a synthetic bio-robotic being) has gone rogue along with his fellow replicants that decide to return to Earth and demand longer lifespans. Roy is willing to do anything to achieve his goal, and even goes as far as killing his own creator by crushing his head with his bare hands.
The Sentinels (The Matrix)
There is another group of robots called the Sentinels, but they originate from a completely different franchise. First appearing in 1999’s The Matrix, these robotic beings are among the many antagonists the main characters of the movie have to face.
But unlike other robots in this film, the Sentinels possess some qualities that make them quite terrifying indeed. They are very fast and pose and immediate threat to whoever they detect. If you aren’t careful enough, they will instantly kill you.
T-800 (The Terminator)
The Terminator franchise might have transformed into a blockbuster action movie rather than a slow thriller, but there are two characters from the first two movies that will still make your blood curl if you decide to sit down and watch the films.
T-800 first appeared in 1984’s The Terminator and was a new kind of horror icon that kept viewers on the edges of their seats the entire time. The cyborg-like being was so menacing because of his appearance and because, just like The Matrix’s Sentinels, he posed an immediate threat to our heroes.
Ash (Alien)
Alien is definitely as scary as The Terminator if not more so. Set in space, this 1979 classic explores such themes as alienation, fear, humanity, teamwork, and many others. But despite the fact that it features an awfully horrifying alien monster, the real danger comes from someone who looks like a human.
Ash is a synthetic being that was a part of the spaceship’s crew that encountered the new Xenomorph race. But despite the protagonists being convinced that he is protecting them, Ash was actually programmed to bring the alien to their employer even at the cost of human lives.
T-1000 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)
Introduced in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, T-1000 is probably an even scarier Terminator than T-800 thanks to his ability to shapeshift into the object or being that it wants to mimic. This feature makes it a much bigger menace than its predecessor ever was.
In addition to that, T-1000 can also speak in the voice of the person it turned into. Of course, T-800 could also do that, but it is still one of the reasons why both Terminators are so dangerous. Killing T-1000 is also much harder as the protagonists only manage to do it after throwing him into molten metal.
HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)
The most terrifying of all robots you could ever see on screen is definitely HAL 9000 from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. As the film progresses, we slowly start realizing what his true nature is and what his intentions supposedly are.
HAL 9000 is still considered one of the best villains in movie history. This is because prior to 2001: A Space Odyssey, computers gone rogue weren’t very believable, but Kubrick managed to change this with HAL 9000 and the way this character acted.
