Anthony Mackiehasbeen involved in some of the most interesting movies of the past decades, with projects likeThe Hurt Lockerand8 Milestill talked about with huge reverence today. However, the actor has also starred in plenty of sci-fi films that push the boundaries of filmmaking with creative ideas, wild concepts, and unconventional storytelling.He’s consistently been involved in the most singular and unique storiesin the genre, ranging from independent pictures to big-budget Hollywood blockbusters - and many of these rank amongAnthony Mackie’s best moviesever.
Sci-fi movies are often among the most polarizing and controversial movies released, mostly due to their bold storytelling and ambitious risks. This genre has always been one of trial and experimentation - andAnthony Mackie has never been afraid to test the waterswith these creative ideas. AlthoughMackie is the future of the MCU, this hasn’t prevented him from dedicating his time to several other, lesser-known projects that have benefited just as much from his skills and attention.
Eagle Eye
Cast
Eagle Eye is a 2008 thriller directed by D.J. Caruso. Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan star as two strangers who are manipulated by a mysterious voice. They must follow a series of dangerous tasks while being pursued by the authorities. As they try to unravel the high-stakes plot against them, they uncover a larger conspiracy with potentially catastrophic consequences.
Eagle Eyetells the story of an American couple who receive a mysterious call from an unknown number that sets off a chain of events they never would have expected. The woman on the other end of the call instructs them to carry out a dangerous terrorist mission, controlling their every move and forcing them into situations that put their lives in danger.It’s a thrilling adventure of crime, espionage, and anxietythat keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with countless mysteries that don’t get solved until the very end.
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However,Eagle Eyeremains one of Anthony Mackie’s least interesting projects to date.The idea is interesting, but the execution falters at almost every step. It fails to create the high stakes and tension that’s needed to get the audience involved, but rather assumes that they’re already along for this wild ride that doesn’t really make much sense when the truth comes to light.
Outside the Wire
Outside the Wire is a Netflix original movie starring Anthony Mackie and Damson Idris. The action sci-fi film centers on a drone pilot in 2036 who is forced to team up with an android officer to prevent a nuclear attack. Released in 2021, Outside the Wire got mixed reviews at best.
Outside the WireisNetflix’s take on the Super Soldier storythat became so popular in the MCU. It’s the narrative of a world where androids have been employed by the military to help fight against nuclear warfare, andMackie’s character Leo finds himself in the middle of a dangerous conflictbetween his nation and his morals. When he’s sent outside the safe ‘wire’ camp into a deadly warzone, he’s forced to work alongside an undercover android to ease tensions and prevent a nuclear strike that could destroy his country.
WhileOutside the Wirehas many strengths in its storytelling and creative world-building, it’s ultimately too unoriginal to really stand out from the crowd. Despite the fun sci-fi concepts, there’s nothing to separate this from any of the other dystopian war thrillers that exist in the same vein. Admittedly, it’s one of Anthony Mackie’s strongest performances and most engaging roles, but it’s wasted on a story that doesn’t take many risks.
8IO (2019)
Directed By Jonathan Helpert
IOis another Netflix original that thrusts Anthony Mackie into a post-apocalyptic world, this time in an alternate universe where Earth has become uninhabitable and humanity has set out for the stars to colonize Jupiter’s moons.The story follows a scientist named Sam, played by Margaret Qualley, who stays behind on Earth and encounters Mackie’s character Micah as he sets out to board the last shuttle to Io.
It’s reminiscent of projects likeInterstellarorOblivionwith its blend of immense scope and astute social commentary, which culminate in an extremely powerful third act.
Despite a few hiccups along the way,Io’s shocking endingjustifies much of the rocky storytelling with a philosophical, meaningful exploration of humanity and our purpose within the universe.It’s reminiscent of projects likeInterstellarorOblivionwith its blend of immense scope and astute social commentary, which culminate in an extremely powerful third act. The road there is slightly messy, and it doesn’t always hold the audience’s attention, but at least there’s a clear message that sticks the landing.
Real Steel
Based on a short story that also served as inspiration for a Twilight Zone episode, Real Steel imagines a world in which the sport of boxing has been taken over by fighting robots. Former boxer Charlie builds a boxing robot with his son Max, in an attempt to regain glory in his sport.
Real Steelwas arguably Mackie’s first mainstream sci-fi movie, and despite a few aspects that haven’t aged perfectly, it’s mostly lived up to its reputation. The story centers around a world where humans have been replaced by large, powerful robots in the boxing ring who fight for competition. Mackie’s role is only a supporting one, butthis remains one of the most interesting projects that first put him on the sci-fi map.
Real Steelis a hugely fun movie; it’s directed byDeadpool and Wolverine’s Shawn Levy, and he brings his signature style to every frame of the film. It has family drama, interesting sci-fi mechanics, and consistent comedy that makes the project accessible to all audiences. AlthoughReal Steel 2unfortunately never happened, the original still cemented itself asan undisputed classic in the family sci-fi genrewhose legacy has continued to live on in the years since its release.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron, released in 2015, follows Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man and Captain America, as they contend with Ultron, a rogue AI with plans for global annihilation. This Marvel sequel sees The Avengers form uneasy alliances and embark on a perilous global adventure to thwart Ultron’s schemes.
In spite of all the great projects that came before it, the MCU is ultimately what turned Anthony Mackie into a huge star.Sam Wilson is an excellent character who’s managed to stick around for several years, slowly becoming one of the MCU’s most permanent fixtures and longest-running characters.Avengers: Age of Ultronwas his second appearance in the franchise, and while it’s far from the strongest entry, there’s still plenty to enjoy about the film.
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Avengers: Age of Ultronfollows the titular superhero team as they’re drawn into a battle against Ultron, an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark who turns rogue and sets out on a quest to conquer the world with his army of Iron Man clones.While the story isn’t as gripping as some other MCU fixtures,Age of Ultronshines thanks to the chemistry between the huge cast. Despite being thelowest-grossingAvengersmovie, this sequel was crucial for building the rapport among these beloved characters.
If You Were the Last
If You Were the Last is a sci-fi romantic-comedy from director Kristian Mercado that stars two astronauts on a mission gone wrong. When Adam and Jane find themselves stranded between Jupiter and Saturn, the two begin to pick up various hobbies, believing no one is coming to save them. But when the question is posited, “what if we were more than friends?” the two begin to wonder if they should cross that line for their supposed last days.
If You Were The Lastfeatures one of Anthony Mackie’s few lead roles in a sci-fi project, and it immediately raises the question of why he doesn’t have more. The film follows two NASA scientists whose shuttle has drifted off-course between Jupiter and Saturn, leaving them stranded with no way to communicate with mission control.Their inevitable boredom leads to a blossoming romance between the scientists, who find themselves drawn to each other in the face of complete isolation.
The unique blend of sci-fi and romance is exactly what makesIf You Were The Lastsuch an interesting project. The basic synopsis of two astronauts stranded in space might sound frightening on the surface, but the film manages to transform it into something tender and intimate, which not many sci-fi films are able to do. The on-screen chemistry between Mackie and Zoe Chao is also brilliant, making these characters truly feel real and authentic.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, concludes the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. It follows the remaining Avengers as they attempt to reverse the destruction caused by Thanos, navigating complex dynamics and forging alliances to restore balance to the universe.
In addition to being one of thehighest-grossing movies of all time,Avengers: Endgameis a great film in its own right. The culmination of the MCU’s Infinity Saga isa sweeping, sprawling epic that pulls together loose threads from over fifteen years of storytelling, tying them nearly together with a sci-fi adventure that pays off each character’s individual journey with care and respect.
It’s a very by-the-book time travel heist, but it’s the long-awaited payoffs that really makeAvengers: Endgamesuch a phenomenal experience for long-term fans of this franchise.
The story follows the Avengers’ attempts to bring back the 50% of the universe that was eliminated during the dramatic conclusion of the previous film, using time travel to retrieve the Infinity Stones before Thanos destroyed them.It’s a very by-the-book time travel heist, but it’s the long-awaited payoffs that really makeAvengers: Endgamesuch a phenomenal experience for long-term fans of this franchise.
Synchronic
Synchronic is a 2020 science fiction horror film directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. It stars Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan as two paramedics in New Orleans whose lives are upended after encountering a series of bizarre, drug-related deaths linked to a mysterious new designer drug. As they delve deeper, they confront the drug’s otherworldly effects, blurring the lines between reality and perception.
Synchronictells the story of two successful paramedics who start an investigation into a string of seemingly connected deaths that are happening in a small American town. Their trail leads them to a dangerous new drug that has mind-bending qualities, turning their lives upside-down and making them obsessed with solving the mystery of these suspicious deaths.
WhatSynchronicdoes so effortlessly iscombining the familiar storytelling of detective thrillers with a more cerebral, experimental sci-fi atmospherethat constantly keeps the audience at a distance. There’s a strong argument to be made thatSynchronicis Mackie’s best non-MCU movie, simply because it’s so ambitious and bold in everything that it does.Synchronichas an incredible endingthat nobody could predict, pulling all these ideas together in a way that makes complete sense.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
Avengers: Infinity Waris the precursor toAvengers: Endgame, but it’s actually a much stronger piece of storytelling on its own. The film follows the Avengers’ attempts to prevent Thanos from collecting the Infinity Stones and using them to destroy 50% of all life in the universe. It’s a very simple story, but this simplicity allows the writers to streamline this narrative and include all the character beats that are necessary to set up the culmination of their journeys in the next film.
It can’t have been easy to pull all these characters together after fifteen years of world-building and interconnected storytelling, but the Russo brothers make it look effortless. With such a lean script, impressive visuals, and so many beloved characters,it’s hard to imagine any other way this franchise could’ve (kind of) come to an endin a more satisfying way.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, follows Steve Rogers as he adapts to contemporary life while confronting a new adversary, the mysterious Winter Soldier, amidst internal threats to S.H.I.E.L.D. The film explores themes of trust and loyalty as Rogers teams up with allies to uncover hidden conspiracies.
While the two most recentAvengersmovies are widely considered to be the high-point of the MCU, it’sCaptain America: The Winter Soldierthat truly deserves recognition for being thebest individual movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s also Mackie’s first appearance in the franchise, and the story where he plays the most important role.The narrative follows Captain America’s attempts to overthrow the corruption that festers within S.H.I.E.L.Dwhile simultaneously battling a dangerous threat from Rogers’ own past.
WhileThe Winter Soldiermay not be as strictly sci-fi as some of Mackie’s other projects, this film introduces several grounded sci-fi concepts into a more holistic, politically-charged thriller that merely uses these superheroes as a backdrop to explore governmental corruption, military trauma, and the power of loyalty and friendship. It’s easily the MCU’s most relevant and important story to date, andAnthony Mackie’sinvolvement truly enhances the film to another level.
