8 Years Later, This Sci-Fi Cyberpunk Hit With An 88% RT Score Keeps Getting Better Ahead Of Return

A Sci-Fi movie remains an exciting watch eight years later, and ahead of the cyberpunk franchise’s return, it just keeps getting better. Over the last few years, quite a few Sci-Fi movies have been produced with intriguing concepts behind them. Among 2026’s Sci-Fi movies is one of those, Mercy, which sees Chris Pratt’s character argue with an A.I. judge for his freedom.

While major Sci-Fi franchises have taken trips to the theater over the past decade, some of which include Star Wars, Jurassic World, and Dune, the door is still open for smaller releases that explore more niche elements with contained budgets. One of those films was a success in theaters and just keeps getting better as the years pass.

This Sci-Fi Cyberpunk Movie Is A Must-Watch

Upgrade was released in theaters on June 1, 2018. The Sci-Fi cyberpunk movie found success during its theatrical run, ending its time in theaters with a healthy $16.7 million against a reported budget of $3 million. The 2018 Sci-Fi movie was produced by Blumhouse and directed by Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man). The film stars the often-confused-for-Tom Hardy actor Logan Marshall-Green.

Marshall-Green gives life to Grey Trace, an auto mechanic who becomes paralyzed after a violent mugging. That event was initially caused by his self-driving car having issues and suddenly crashing, with the people who severed Grey’s spine also murdering his wife, Asha. The movie’s title refers to STEM, a chip that allows Grey to regain control over his body.

Upgrade Cast & Character Guide

Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, Upgrade features an exciting cast of familiar and new faces, led by Logan Marshall-Green as Grey Trace.

However, the Sci-Fi movie’s real twist is that the upgrade Grey receives also gives him superhuman strength and transforms him into a killing machine. Upgrade follows the character’s tragic quest for revenge against those who murdered his wife, being an action thriller new viewers will easily get lost into. Upgrade has a high 88% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.

How Upgrade Keeps Getting Better 8 Years Later

Logan Marshall-Green screaming as Grey in Upgrade

There are two key ways in which Upgrade keeps getting better close to a decade later. The first one is due to how the movie itself is aging well. While Upgrade had a low budget, the Sci-Fi cyberpunk movie was efficient with it, and its VFX still holds up now. The action is solid, the story has a hard-hitting hook, and Marshall-Green is a worthy lead.

The other way Upgrade has improved is not related to the movie itself, but the surrounding franchise. Initially, an Upgrade sequel was planned at Blumhouse. However, that has since shifted into a TV show set years after the movie. It will focus on a new host and an upgraded version of STEM, allowing the franchise to evolve and dig deeper into Upgrade‘s technological discourse, which is a win.