If You Enjoyed VisionQuest, There’s Another Movie You Definitely Need to Watch.
Marvel’s forays into television have had mixed success, but the real hits have been WandVision and Agatha All Along , which, with genuine pathos, explored the kind of unconventional ideas that comic book fans love (and lay the groundwork for larger-scale film stories). This trend continues in VisionQuest , where White Vision (Paul Bettany) struggles to understand his existence after his death at the hands of Thanos and his resurrection by the magic of the Scarlet Witch, while evading evil androids and assassins and dealing with the multitude of artificial intelligences trapped within his mindscape (including a gloriously battered version of Ultron, played by James Spader).
If you like this show (and you’ve already watched other shows set in the same genre), then it’s time to change gears and watch (or re-watch) The Matrix .
Why The Matrix Is the Best Movie to Watch After VisionQuest
The Matrix is undoubtedly one of the most famous science fiction films of all time, but it remains incredibly fresh and captivating nearly thirty years after its release. Along with its sequels , The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions , and The Matrix Resurrection , the Matrix universe offers a story that will appeal to fans of VisionQuest , a story that includes richly imagined virtual worlds, questions about existence and consciousness, and the ultimate question of our responsibility as sentient beings (whether we are organic, programmed, or magically summoned).
You know the basics, basically: at some point in the future, artificially intelligent machines rebel against their creators, win the war, and transform humans into a power source, keeping them obedient by implanting their consciousness into a virtual world called the Matrix, reminiscent of 1990s Chicago. One such person, Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), is prophesied to become the Chosen One, the person who will turn the Matrix against its creators and free humanity. Within the virtual world, Anderson becomes Neo, gradually gaining incredible abilities as he learns to hack the artificial environment around him.
The Matrix is heavier, more action-packed, and more action-oriented than Visionquest (it was, after all, the film that invented time dilation), but its sequels explore similar themes and offer equally impressive visuals. The questions of whether a machine (or artificial intelligence) can be sentient and truly care about others are essentially the same, and the agents Neo and his allies are forced to fight in The Matrix pose just as much of a threat as Vision’s enemies Jocasta (T’Nia Miller) and Paladin (Todd Stashwick). Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith also conveys the same air of cold, uncaring superiority as Spader’s Ultron.
The Matrix has a larger budget and invests a significant portion of it in spectacular action sequences and special effects that VisionQuest can’t match. But both stories share an exploration of identity, questioning reality, and the nature of artificial intelligence within a clever sci-fi setting. In short, The Matrix is the perfect follow-up after watching the entire series. Rent The Matrix on Prime Video .
More movies like VisionQuest
Looking for more films exploring virtual worlds, artificial beings, and deep existential questions? Look no further—here are a few more films that might suit your needs.
Her (2013)
Brimming with existential questions about sentience and devoid of sci-fi action scenes, Her is a mumblecore sci-fi masterpiece. In a near future not unlike our present, Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely man on the brink of divorce, begins using (and training) an artificial intelligence he names Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). Samantha has the ability to evolve and grow, and as their relationship deepens, she becomes increasingly complex, independent, and powerful, eventually evolving into something entirely new. Like Vision, Samantha is a sentient artificial being who is discovering the meaning of her existence as we watch. Watch Her on Prime Video .
Ex Machina (2014)
If you’re drawn to the idea of androids fighting for sovereignty in VisionQuest , be sure to check out Ex Machina . Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives at the remote lab of his company’s CEO (Oscar Isaac) to determine whether the humanoid robot he created, Ava (Alicia Vikander), passes the Turing test for true consciousness. Things move quickly, but before that happens, the film delves into many of the same philosophical questions explored in VisionQuest as Ava manipulates Caleb into helping her escape. It’s a darker and more violent story than VisionQuest , but fans of the series will love it. Watch Ex Machina on the Roku Channel or Hulu , or rent it on Prime Video .
The Creator (2023)
If the ambiguous parent-child relationship between Vision and Tommy appeals to VisionQuest , watch “Maker.” After a rogue AI detonates a nuclear weapon over Los Angeles, much of the world bans artificial intelligence, and Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) goes undercover in the AI’s architect’s base. He eventually finds himself on the run with a powerful “simulator” in the form of a young child named Alfie (Madeline Yuna Voyles). The strange bond between Taylor and Alfie, forged through their search for what is right and what is necessary, is exactly what fans of the series will love. Watch “Maker” on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video .
After Young (2021)
In VisionQuest, White Vision has all his memories—but as data, not as lived emotional events. This makes his struggle to understand his existence and his responsibility to a boy who might be a version of his son (it’s complicated) touching and moving. Those two words certainly describe After Young , the story of a family fighting to save the artificial companion purchased for their adopted daughter when it malfunctions. Throughout the film, the inhuman Young is defined by the memories embedded in his core, and the question of whether artificial intelligence can truly make a difference to humans is answered with a resounding yes. Watch After Young on the Roku Channel or Kanopy , or rent it on Prime Video .
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
No discussion of artificial life and sentience would be complete without mentioning Blade Runner . While the original 1982 film is a classic, the 2017 sequel better matches Visionquest in both thematic and visual design. Officer K (Ryan Gosling) is a replicant, an artificial being with built-in limitations who longs to be recognized as an individual, a being with a soul. Like Vision, he has implanted memories that provide him with solace and context for his life, but he’s unsure if he can accept them as his own. Plus, the film offers gorgeous visuals and Harrison Ford, reprising his role from the original, so you can’t go wrong. Rent Blade Runner 2049 on Prime Video .