HBO Max. The film from 2015 quickly evolved into a cult favorite, a sci-fi thriller that might be more chilling than other films focused on AI. In the “Terminator” and “Matrix” films, you already experience a battle with forms of sentient AI against humanity. “Ex Machina” stands out as it presents the early phases of a catastrophic narrative involving AI that could spark a conflict. “Ex Machina” illustrates the rise of sentient AI and how humanity responds to AI gaining consciousness.
“Ex Machina” debuted to rave reviews in 2015, boasting a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb as of now. The film garnered nearly $37 million at the box office on a $15 million budget, winning an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, and receiving a nomination for its screenplay. While Garland did not clinch the Oscar for the story, “Ex Machina” is regarded as a crucial turning point in the writer/director’s journey. Garland proceeded to create other well-received films and series following this, including “Annihilation” (2018), “Devs” (2020), and “Civil War” (2024). He has also written for several notable horror films, such as “28 Days Later” (2002) and “28 Years Later” (2025).
The cast of “Ex Machina” is equally remarkable: Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl,” “Tomb Raider”), Domhnall Gleeson (“Harry Potter,” “Star Wars”), Oscar Isaac (“Star Wars,” “Dune”), and Sonoya Mizuno (“Maniac,” “Annihilation”) portray the key roles of Ava, Caleb, Nathan, and Kyoko, respectively. The iconic “Ex Machina” dance sequence, depicted below, ranks among the film’s standout moments, featuring an extraordinary dance performance shared by Nathan and Ky.