Movies like Tears of Steel (2012)
The best movies like Tears of Steel (2012) are Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010), The Second Renaissance Part I (2003) and Final Flight of the Osiris (2003). If Tears of Steel hooked you with its science fiction and animation, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe Matrix (1999)8.3/10 from 29,237 votes
- NewestThe Electric State (2025)Released 2025
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
A heroic version of Lex Luthor from an alternate universe appears to recruit the Justice League to help save his Earth from the Crime Syndicate, an evil version of the League. What ensues is the ultimate battle of good versus evil in a war that threatens both planets and, through a devious plan launched by Batman's counterpart Owlman, puts the balance of all existence in peril.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Second Renaissance Part I (2003)
Tells the early history of how conflict began between the humans and machines. Part 1 of 2.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFinal Flight of the Osiris (2003)
Immediately before the events of The Matrix Reloaded, the crew of the hovercraft Osiris discovers a quarter of a million sentinels drilling through the surface of the earth towards the last human city of Zion. But can the Osiris survive long enough to warn Zion?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Second Renaissance Part II (2003)
The battle for Earth turns against the humans, despite their infamous desperate act of blackening the skies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTerminator Salvation (2009)
All grown up in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor must lead the resistance of humans against the increasingly dominating militaristic robots. But when Marcus Wright appears, his existence confuses the mission as Connor tries to determine whether Wright has come from the future or the past -- and whether he's friend or foe.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTerminator Genisys (2015)
The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past and future, and will ultimately change warfare forever.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Matrix Revolutions (2003)
The human city of Zion defends itself against the massive invasion of the machines as Neo fights to end the war at another front while also opposing the rogue Agent Smith.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
It's been 10 years since John Connor saved Earth from Judgment Day, and he's now living under the radar, steering clear of using anything Skynet can trace. That is, until he encounters T-X, a robotic assassin ordered to finish what T-1000 started. Good thing Connor's former nemesis, the Terminator, is back to aid the now-adult Connor … just like he promised.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Terminator (1984)
In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Matrix Reloaded (2003)
The Resistance builds in numbers as humans are freed from the Matrix and brought to the city of Zion. Neo discovers his superpowers, including the ability to see the code inside the Matrix. With machine sentinels digging to Zion in 72 hours, Neo, Morpheus and Trinity must find the Keymaker to ultimately reach the Source.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Matrix (1999)
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisMonsters of Man (2020)
A robotics company vying to win a lucrative military contract team up with a corrupt CIA agent to conduct an illegal live field test. They deploy four weaponized prototype robots into a suspected drug manufacturing camp in the Golden Triangle, assuming they'd be killing drug runners that no one would miss. Six doctors on a humanitarian mission witness the brutal slaughter and become prime targets.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChappie (2015)
Every child comes into the world full of promise, and none more so than Chappie: he is gifted, special, a prodigy. Like any child, Chappie will come under the influence of his surroundings—some good, some bad—and he will rely on his heart and soul to find his way in the world and become his own man. But there's one thing that makes Chappie different from any one else: he is a robot.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWestworld (1973)
Delos is a futuristic amusement park that features themed worlds populated by human-like androids. After two patrons have a run-in with a menacing gunslinger in West World, the androids at Delos all begin to malfunction, causing havoc throughout the park.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Earth Dies Screaming (1964)
A crack test pilot lands to find the planet has been devastated by unknown forces. There are a few survivors, so he organizes them in a plan to ward off control by a group of killer robots.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
When gigantic robots attack New York City, "Sky Captain" uses his private air force to fight them off. His ex-girlfriend, reporter Polly Perkins, has been investigating the recent disappearance of prominent scientists. Suspecting a link between the global robot attacks and missing men, Sky Captain and Polly decide to work together. They fly to the Himalayas in pursuit of the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf, the mastermind behind the robots.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisAutomata (2014)
Jacq Vaucan, an insurance agent of ROC robotics corporation, routinely investigates the case of manipulating a robot. What he discovers will have profound consequences for the future of humanity.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Electric State (2025)
An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisScreamers (1995)
SIRIUS 6B, Year 2078. On a distant mining planet ravaged by a decade of war, scientists have created the perfect weapon: a blade-wielding, self-replicating race of killing devices known as Screamers designed for one purpose only -- to hunt down and destroy all enemy life forms.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRhea Gall Force (1989)
The last remaining human soldiers of a devastated Earth fight against the machines for one last chance for their species to escape and survive.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction & animation
Family Guy Presents: It's a Trap! (2010)
With the Griffins stuck again at home during a blackout, Peter tells the story of “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.”
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFuturama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009)
Leela becomes an outlaw when she and a group of ecologically-minded feminists attempt to save an asteroid of primitive life forms and the Violet Dwarf star from being destroyed, while Fry joins a secret society and attempts to stop a mysterious species known as the "Dark Ones" from destroying all life in the universe.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Hot Choc-late Soldiers (1934)
A group of confectionary soldiers go to war against a neighboring cookie castle.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Night (1930)
The moon and two owls sing to the Blue Danube Waltz, celebrating the night. Moths dance around a candle flame, fireflies glow, frogs chorus, and so forth.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Cactus Kid (1930)
Mickey walks into the tavern where Minnie is dancing, and begins to dance and play piano himself. Pegleg Pete comes in and treats Minnie badly. Mickey tries to defend her, but Pete steals her away. Mickey, riding Horace Horsecollar, gives chase. He manages to throw Pete off a cliff.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Unico: Black Cloud and White Feathers (1979)
The Goddess Venus is jealous of the beautiful human girl Psyche and blames her pet unicorn, Unico, as Psyche's source of good luck that keeps her from the harm of the goddess' cruel intentions. Unico has the amazing power to make anyone he meets happy. Whether it's because of his personality or the powers of his horn, no one knows. Venus has Unico banished, and the West Wind now takes Unico from one place and time to the next. Taken to a heavily polluted city, Unico meets a sickly girl named Chiko who is suffering because of the pollution of a nearby factory that darkens the entire sky. Unico then is determined to cheer her up, cure her, and destroy the nearby factory.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Stubborn Donkey (2008)
When the old fisherman tries to convince his donkey to climb the steep winding road of their Greek island, he finds Mariza to be one suborn ass. But the old man knows that no one can resist Zorba's dance.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Little & Big (1966)
A competitive game of one-upsmanship between two men, one small and one tall.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Mask of the Red Death (1970)
An animated adaptation of Poe's famous short story.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Tears of Steel?
The closest matches to Tears of Steel are Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010), The Second Renaissance Part I (2003) and Final Flight of the Osiris (2003). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Tears of Steel?
Start with Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010), the closest match to Tears of Steel.
What is the highest-rated movie like Tears of Steel?
The Matrix (1999), rated 8.3/10 by 29,237 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Tears of Steel?
The Electric State (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Tears of Steel?
Yes: Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010), The Second Renaissance Part I (2003) and Final Flight of the Osiris (2003).
How are movies similar to Tears of Steel chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Tears of Steel, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.