6 Best Virtual Reality and Simulated World Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 3, 2026

The line between reality and simulation powers mind-bending science fiction. The Matrix is the benchmark, Ready Player One has a teenager in a global scavenger hunt inside a virtual universe, and The Thirteenth Floor has a murder investigation revealing a simulated world nested inside another. Free Guy, eXistenZ and Tron round out the six.

Free Guy (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A background character in an open-world video game becomes self-aware and reimagines his own story.

Directed by Shawn Levy · 1h 55m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ready Player One (2018)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A teenager competes in a global scavenger hunt inside a vast virtual reality universe to win its creator's fortune.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 20m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A scientist's murder investigation reveals his simulated virtual world is nested inside another.

Directed by Josef Rusnak · 1h 40m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

eXistenZ (1999)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A game designer's new virtual reality system blurs the line between the game world and real life.

Directed by David Cronenberg · 1h 37m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Matrix (1999)

IMDb ★ 8.7 RT 83% Metacritic 73

A hacker discovers reality is a simulation built to keep humanity docile.

Directed by Lana Wachowski & Lilly Wachowski · 2h 16m · Rated R

Won 4 Oscars42 wins & 52 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, VIX · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Tron (1982)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A computer programmer is digitised and pulled inside the mainframe of a sinister software programme.

Directed by Steven Lisberger · 1h 36m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Virtual Reality and Simulated World Movies

Free Guy (2021)

Ready Player One (2018)

The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

eXistenZ (1999)

The Matrix (1999)

Tron (1982)

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