Bong Joon-ho is not facing his first by-the-storm-taking of the cinematic world. He has done so plenty of times before. Still, he has remained under the sheets, buried under the glorification of Western-produced flicks with their regular sci-fi premises, probably just taken out of a blueprint that another glorified production. With his upcoming Mickey 17, with a jaded-looking, Robert Pattinson being the ironic center of the film's gravity, that has already generated a significant amount of buzz around the actor's and filmmakers' residences online. 

One eager to explore themes of identity, mortality, and the future of humanity is bound to be intrigued even more after this experience for which, here is this list offering 10 compelling science fiction films that delve into these complex concepts.

Okja, directed by Bong Joon-ho and standing among one of the iconic Netflix originals, presents a poignant narrative about a young girl named Mija, and her genetically engineered "super pig" companion, Okja. The story follows Mijas' embarkment on a daring mission to uncover the dark underbelly of the food industry when it threatens to take away her companion. Okja raises ethical questions about corporate swindling and the value of life. Both films feature protagonists fighting against powerful entities with questionable morals, highlighting the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement.    

Duncan Jones' Moon offers a gripping psychological exploration of isolation and identity. Sam Bell is shown to be grappling with his last days at work outside Earth, meanwhile uncovering his true nature of existence, directly mirroring the themes of duplicity and expendability explored in Mickey 17. Like Mickey 17, Moon features protagonists who are in a crisis of identifying the purpose of their own existence.

While it is not strictly sci-fi, Bong Joon-ho's Parasite presents a dystopian vision of societal inequality that could resonate with many sci-fi themes. The film follows the Kim family as they infiltrate the wealthy Park household, first through a genuine need of income generation and eventually succumbing to the gluttony they are faced with. With its gritty and stomach-churning visuals, Parasite sets a benchmark for all psychological thrillers to come in the near future. 

While both movies are pieces crafted by Bong Joon-ho's very own hands and mind, both pieces are quintessential to provide food for thought regarding the concepts of identity, morality, and the future of humanity, offering a diverse range of perspectives. 

Again with Bong Joon-ho's as the maker-man, Snowpiercer sets off with the establishing of dystopian sci-fi scenarios, set entirely on a perpetually moving train in an iceage. Following the director's niche theme, Snowpiercer takes off through class clashes that are failed by the self-sustaining train, Snowpiercer's rigid compartmentalization system. Like Mickey 17, it explores themes of expendability, power structures, and survival, maintaining Bong's signature blend of action and satire. 

Edge of Tomorrow stars Tom Cruise in a time loop, reliving the same battle against an alien invasion. This film shares Mickey 17's exploration of repetition, identity, and learning from past failures, blending intense action with sharp humor. Edge of Tomorrow is available to rent and purchase on various platforms. 

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  A land-marker as Hollywood's very own, George Clooney's second collaboration with film-writer Steven Soderbergh. With a new millennia to impress at hand, Solaris exists on this list with its premise of the question and discovering the meaning of human existence, similar to one of the founding points of Mickey17 as well. This very identity is what Kris Kelvin is set up to question when he is compelled to form a connection with an alien on the mysterious planet of Solaris that he is sent to for investigation.   

With a spine-chilling and on-the-border-of-a-disturbing world of visuals, Brazil makes way for a blueprint of dystopian satire. The bureaucratic society markedly draws parallels from George Orwell's book titled just one short of a year 1984. The film follows a low-ranking bureaucrat, Sam Lowry, in bureaucracy as he gets entangled in an allegedly brewing scheme that leads to a marked death, leading Sam to try and rectify what had happened because of him. Sam's struggle against bureaucracy to hold his own is a theme similar to what is shown in Mickey 17, where the character is challenged with the question of who exactly he is amidst the violent turbulence of change. 

With its primary themes similar to the sub-themes of existence and change explored in Mickey 17, Annihilation is a cerebral sci-fi thriller that explores self-destruction and transformation within a mysterious zone known as The Shimmer. Alex Garland creates a thought-provoking sci-fi thriller where, through the characters, we raise questions about existence and change within ourselves.

Ad Astra offers visuals that could make a cinephile's day better in the flick of two fingers. It follows Clifford McBride's (Brad Pitt) mission to uncover the truth about his missing father, who is known to have led an ill-fated project in the extra-terrain in search of life outside planet Earth. It shares with Mickey17 themes of loneliness and existential dread, all cooked together on a slow-burning stove with every delicious bit of it marinated to excellence. 

The Prestige uses cloning as a metaphor for obsession and reinvention that aptly echoes Mickey 17's explorations and identity duplication instead of simply physically. Dotted with tasteful twists and turns across one's palette, it follows the rivalry of two Victorian magicians. With Christopher Nolan's mention being mandatory in conversations of sci-fi, who recently is a top-choice for the James Bond franchise, The Prestige sits atop the throne of one of his bests through his usual intricate storytelling and psychological jump-scaring. 

From corporate swindling to existential crises, these movies challenge the spectator to question their assumptions and contemplate the implications of technological progress. Whether you are a seasoned sci-fi enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, these films are sure to spark your imagination and leave you pondering the possibilities and perils of the world to come.

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Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.