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| Best Movies Like Klara and the Sun. |
Fans of Klara and the Sun looking for more films that combine artificial intelligence, emotional storytelling and futuristic societies have plenty of options worth exploring. From robots searching for companionship to dystopian worlds questioning the value of human life, these 19 movies explore similar ideas without simply repeating the same story. Taika Waititi's adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's acclaimed novel brings together coming-of-age drama, science fiction and questions about love, loneliness, genetic engineering and technological progress.
Jenna Ortega stars as Klara, a solar-powered Artificial Friend whose unusual perspective challenges how people understand relationships and compassion. The film's retro-inspired vision of the future adds to its distinctive atmosphere, but its emotional questions are what make it particularly appealing to science-fiction fans. If you enjoyed its combination of artificial companions, complicated family relationships and the desire to protect those we love, these films deserve a place on your watchlist.
Movies Like Klara and the Sun
1. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence follows David, an advanced robotic boy programmed to experience love. Adopted by a human family, he longs to become a real child and earn his mother's affection, setting him on a journey that explores the boundaries between artificial intelligence and human emotion.
The similarities to Klara and the Sun are difficult to miss. Both films centre on artificial beings whose devotion challenges the people around them to reconsider what love means. David and Klara are designed to fulfil human needs, yet their experiences become far more complicated than their original purposes suggest.
The films also explore whether artificial beings can experience meaningful relationships, even when society treats them as products rather than individuals. Spielberg's film takes a more expansive, fairy-tale-inspired approach to the subject, but its emotional questions remain relevant. If Klara's determination to protect Josie moved you, David's search for acceptance is well worth watching next.
2. After Yang (2021)
After Yang, directed by Kogonada, follows Jake, a father who attempts to repair Yang, the android his family purchased to serve as a companion for their adopted daughter. When Yang stops functioning, Jake investigates the machine's memories and discovers how much of his own family's life he has overlooked.
This thoughtful science-fiction drama shares Klara and the Sun's interest in artificial companions and the emotional connections they develop with humans. Both films ask whether a machine's value should be measured by its usefulness or by the relationships it helps create. Their storytelling also focuses on small, intimate moments rather than spectacular futuristic technology. After Yang is quieter and more meditative, making it particularly suitable for viewers who appreciate stories that linger on questions of identity, memory and belonging. It also offers a gentle reminder that people can spend so much time trying to understand technology that they forget to understand their own families.
3. Robot & Frank (2012)
Robot & Frank centres on Frank, an ageing former burglar whose family buys him a robot caretaker to help him manage everyday life. Frank initially resents the arrangement, but the unlikely pair gradually develops a relationship that takes an unexpected direction when the robot becomes involved in his old criminal activities.
The film shares Klara and the Sun's exploration of artificial intelligence, companionship and the complicated role technology can play in people's lives. Both stories examine how a machine can become more than a practical tool, particularly when it begins filling an emotional gap. However, Robot & Frank combines its philosophical questions with a playful crime-comedy premise.
Its treatment of ageing, independence and family responsibility also gives it a distinctive emotional foundation. For viewers who want a similar examination of human-machine relationships without an entirely sombre atmosphere, this is an excellent choice. Apparently, even a robot caretaker can end up with a more interesting social life than its owner.
4. Ex Machina (2014)
Alex Garland's Ex Machina follows Caleb, a young programmer invited to evaluate Ava, an advanced humanoid artificial intelligence created by a wealthy technology executive. What begins as a technical assessment becomes an increasingly tense examination of consciousness, manipulation and the relationship between creators and their creations.
The film connects with Klara and the Sun through its questions about artificial intelligence and the assumptions humans make about artificial beings. Both stories challenge the idea that a machine's identity can be reduced to its original programming. However, their approaches differ considerably. Klara's empathy drives her towards compassion, while Ex Machina explores a more unsettling side of machine intelligence and human ambition. Its enclosed setting and psychological tension make it particularly appealing to viewers who enjoy thoughtful science fiction with a darker edge. It is also a useful reminder that creating advanced technology is one thing; understanding the consequences of giving it independence is quite another.
5. The Creator (2023)
Directed by Gareth Edwards, The Creator takes place in a future where humanity is engaged in a conflict with artificial intelligence. Former soldier Joshua is sent on a mission involving a powerful new AI creation, but his understanding of the assignment changes as he forms a connection with the being he encounters.
Like Klara and the Sun, the film questions whether artificial intelligence should automatically be considered inferior or dangerous. Both stories explore empathy, prejudice and the tendency to judge others according to their perceived usefulness. Their futuristic settings also reflect societies divided by technological change and competing ideas about progress. The Creator delivers more action and large-scale spectacle than Waititi's adaptation, but its emotional core makes it a strong recommendation for viewers who want similar themes presented through a more adventurous narrative. It offers a compelling look at what happens when the distinction between human and machine becomes less important than the choices individuals make.
6. Bicentennial Man (1999)
Starring Robin Williams, Bicentennial Man follows Andrew, a household robot who gradually develops creativity, emotional understanding and a desire for greater independence. As the years pass, he seeks recognition as an individual rather than an appliance, challenging the limits society places on artificial beings.
The film shares Klara and the Sun's interest in artificial intelligence, emotional attachment and the meaning of humanity. Both stories suggest that the relationships machines develop with people can challenge established ideas about identity and belonging. Andrew's journey also raises questions about whether a being should be defined by its design or by its experiences. Although Bicentennial Man takes a broader, more traditional approach to science fiction, its emotional focus makes it a natural choice for viewers drawn to Klara's devotion and curiosity. It is ultimately a story about the desire to be understood, which is hardly an ambition exclusive to machines.
7. WALL-E (2008)
Pixar's WALL-E follows a small waste-collecting robot left alone on an abandoned Earth. His routine changes when he encounters EVE, a sophisticated probe sent to investigate the planet. Their developing relationship becomes part of a larger story about environmental neglect, human dependence on technology and the future of civilisation.
Despite its animated format, WALL-E shares several important themes with Klara and the Sun. Both feature artificial beings whose curiosity and attachment give the story its emotional centre. WALL-E's determination to protect what matters to him echoes Klara's commitment to Josie, while both films explore the consequences of human decisions about technology and the environment. The film also questions a society that increasingly relies on machines while losing touch with the world around it. Its lighter presentation makes these ideas accessible to a wide audience without making them any less meaningful. WALL-E proves that a robot does not need an extensive vocabulary to communicate feelings more effectively than some people.
8. I Am Mother (2019)
I Am Mother follows a teenage girl raised inside an underground facility by a robot designed to repopulate the world after a catastrophe. Her carefully controlled existence is disrupted when an unexpected visitor arrives, forcing her to question what she knows about her guardian and the world beyond their home.
The film resembles Klara and the Sun in its examination of artificial intelligence within a family-like environment. Both stories explore the responsibilities of machines entrusted with human wellbeing and the ethical questions that emerge when technology influences a young person's future. However, I Am Mother approaches these themes through suspense and uncertainty rather than Klara's more compassionate perspective. Its central conflict explores the fine line between protection and control, particularly when an artificial caregiver believes it knows what is best for a human child. Viewers interested in the moral responsibilities of advanced AI will find plenty to consider here.
9. Her (2013)
Written and directed by Spike Jonze, Her follows Theodore, a lonely writer who develops a romantic relationship with Samantha, an advanced operating system capable of learning and adapting through conversation. Their connection challenges his understanding of intimacy and raises questions about whether emotional relationships require physical presence.
Although Samantha does not have a humanoid body like Klara, both films explore the emotional bonds people form with artificial intelligence. Their stories examine loneliness, companionship and the possibility that technology could change how people understand love.
They also question whether an artificial companion can fulfil emotional needs without replacing the complexity of human relationships. Her focuses more closely on adult romance and personal isolation, but it offers a compelling counterpart to Klara and the Sun. Its futuristic technology feels particularly believable because the emotional problems at its centre are already familiar. Even the most advanced operating system cannot guarantee that a relationship will be straightforward.
10. Never Let Me Go (2010)
Based on another novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go follows Kathy, Ruth and Tommy as they grow up in a sheltered environment and gradually discover the disturbing circumstances shaping their lives. Their friendships and romantic relationships develop against a background of difficult questions about identity, mortality and social inequality.
The connection to Klara and the Sun is especially strong because both films adapt Ishiguro's distinctive approach to speculative fiction. Rather than relying on elaborate explanations of futuristic technology, they use personal relationships to examine societies built on morally troubling assumptions.
Both stories ask what happens when certain individuals are treated as resources rather than people whose lives have independent value. Never Let Me Go is more restrained and melancholy, but its emotional depth makes it an excellent choice for viewers who appreciate science fiction that quietly challenges their assumptions. It is a reminder that a seemingly civilised society can still have some deeply uncomfortable ideas about human worth.
11. Moon (2009)
Directed by Duncan Jones, Moon follows Sam Bell, an astronaut approaching the end of a lengthy solo assignment at a lunar mining station. With little human contact, Sam relies on the station's computer assistant while increasingly strange developments lead him to question the reality of his mission.
Like Klara and the Sun, Moon examines isolation, technological dependence and the consequences of treating individuals as parts of a larger system. Both films place their characters in futuristic environments while keeping the emotional stakes firmly personal.
However, Moon adopts a more mysterious approach, using its confined setting to explore identity, corporate responsibility and the limits of human knowledge. Its thoughtful storytelling makes it particularly suitable for viewers who enjoy science fiction that raises ethical questions without explaining everything immediately. It also demonstrates that an isolated lunar station can provide plenty of drama without requiring a galaxy full of explosions.
12. Chappie (2015)
Chappie follows a police robot that gains the ability to think and learn independently. As he develops a personality, his experiences with the people around him begin shaping his understanding of morality, responsibility and the world he inhabits.
The film shares Klara and the Sun's interest in artificial beings learning about humanity through observation and personal relationships. Both stories challenge the assumption that a machine's original purpose determines everything it can become.
However, Chappie takes a considerably more energetic route, mixing its exploration of consciousness with action and crime. Its emphasis on upbringing also creates an interesting contrast with Klara, whose understanding of people develops through her own careful observations. Viewers who want similar philosophical questions wrapped in a less restrained science-fiction adventure should find this film an entertaining option.
13. The Wild Robot (2024)
DreamWorks' The Wild Robot follows Roz, a robot stranded on an island who must learn to survive in an unfamiliar natural environment. After becoming responsible for an orphaned gosling, she develops an understanding of care, belonging and the responsibilities that come with protecting another living being.
The film has a strong connection to Klara and the Sun through its portrayal of artificial intelligence learning from relationships rather than simply following instructions. Both stories suggest that empathy and devotion can emerge in ways that challenge people's expectations of machines.
Roz's relationship with the young gosling also reflects Klara's commitment to Josie, with both characters discovering that caring for someone can transform their understanding of the world. Although The Wild Robot is an animated family adventure, its themes of sacrifice, adaptation and compassion give it considerable emotional depth. It is a particularly good choice for viewers who want a more hopeful take on the relationship between technology and life.
14. The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain explores the life of British artist Louis Wain, whose distinctive illustrations of cats became widely recognised. The biographical drama examines his personal relationships, creative outlook and unusual way of interpreting the world.
Unlike Klara and the Sun, this film has no artificial intelligence or dystopian society. Its connection is thematic, focusing on empathy, individuality and the ability to see meaning where others might overlook it. Wain's deep affection for animals also reflects the broader idea that emotional connections can challenge conventional expectations.
For viewers who appreciated Klara's attentive curiosity and distinctive perspective, the film offers a different kind of character study. It is less about futuristic technology and more about how an unusual outlook can reveal something important about human relationships. Sometimes the most interesting person in the room is simply the one looking at everything from a different angle.
15. The Iron Giant (1999)
Set during the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows a young boy named Hogarth who discovers a gigantic robot and develops an unlikely friendship with it. When government authorities become concerned about the mysterious machine, Hogarth tries to protect his companion from people who see it as a threat.
The film shares Klara and the Sun's interest in the gap between what artificial beings are capable of and how humans perceive them. Both stories challenge the idea that machines should be judged solely by their design or intended function.
Their emotional power also comes from the loyalty that develops between a young person and an artificial companion. While The Iron Giant has a more adventurous, family-friendly tone, its themes of compassion, prejudice and selflessness make it a natural recommendation. It offers a powerful reminder that the ability to make meaningful choices matters more than the label society assigns to someone.
16. Marjorie Prime (2017)
Marjorie Prime explores a future in which holographic recreations of deceased people can be generated using artificial intelligence. An elderly woman spends time with a digital version of her late husband, while her family confronts the complicated emotional consequences of using technology to revisit the past.
The film connects with Klara and the Sun through its examination of artificial intelligence and the emotional needs people hope it can satisfy. Both stories consider whether technology can provide meaningful companionship without fully reproducing the complexities of human relationships. They also explore how people project their hopes and expectations onto artificial beings. Rather than relying on action or elaborate futuristic world-building, Marjorie Prime concentrates on memory, family and grief. It is an excellent choice for viewers who prefer quieter science fiction that explores the consequences of technological progress through intimate personal stories.
17. I'm Your Man (2021)
This German science-fiction romantic comedy follows Alma, an academic who agrees to live with a humanoid robot designed to be her ideal romantic partner. The arrangement forms part of a research project, but the experiment becomes more complicated as Alma questions what love means and whether a programmed companion can satisfy her emotional needs.
The film shares Klara and the Sun's interest in artificial companions and the boundaries between programmed behaviour and emotional connection. Both stories explore how people assign meaning to relationships with machines, even when those machines have been designed to fulfil specific roles.
However, I'm Your Man approaches the subject through dry humour and adult romantic dilemmas rather than a coming-of-age narrative. It is a good option for viewers who want thoughtful science fiction with a lighter touch. Finding the perfect partner is already difficult enough without wondering whether their personality has been carefully assembled by a development team.
18. Finch (2021)
Starring Tom Hanks, Finch follows a robotics engineer surviving in a devastated world who builds an intelligent robot to protect his beloved dog. As the trio travels through dangerous surroundings, the robot begins learning about loyalty, responsibility and the unpredictable nature of relationships.
The similarities to Klara and the Sun lie in the importance both films place on artificial intelligence, devotion and protecting someone vulnerable. Their central characters learn about the world through their connections with living beings, gradually developing an understanding that extends beyond their original functions.
Finch takes a more direct survival-adventure approach, but its emotional focus makes it a strong choice for viewers who appreciate science fiction with a compassionate outlook. Both stories also explore what happens when technology becomes part of a deeply personal attempt to preserve life. It is a moving reminder that caring for someone is rarely as simple as following a set of instructions.
19. Replicas (2018)
Replicas stars Keanu Reeves as a neuroscientist who attempts to bring his family back after a devastating accident by transferring human consciousness into artificial bodies. His determination to reverse an irreversible event leads him into increasingly complicated ethical territory, forcing him to confront the consequences of pushing scientific progress too far.
The film connects with Klara and the Sun through its exploration of family bonds, technological intervention and the lengths people may go to protect those they love. Both stories examine whether scientific innovation can address emotional problems rooted in human vulnerability.
However, Replicas leans more heavily into thriller territory, while Klara's story focuses on empathy, devotion and faith. Its treatment of artificial bodies and the preservation of human identity makes it a relevant choice for viewers interested in the ethical implications of advanced technology. It also raises an uncomfortable question: just because science can do something, does that necessarily mean it should?
In my opinion, Klara and the Sun belongs to one of the most compelling corners of science fiction because it uses futuristic technology to examine familiar human problems. The best films in this genre understand that artificial intelligence is only part of the story; loneliness, love, prejudice and the desire to protect someone matter just as much. I'd recommend starting with After Yang for its emotional subtlety, watching Never Let Me Go for its thought-provoking dystopian themes, and choosing Ex Machina if you prefer a darker examination of artificial intelligence.
The Wild Robot is another strong pick if you want something more hopeful without sacrificing emotional depth. Of course, the best choice depends on whether you fancy a quiet drama or a tense thriller that leaves you questioning the future of technology. Which of these 19 movies would you watch first? Have we missed a film that deserves a place on this list? Share your recommendations and let other Klara and the Sun fans know what they should watch next.