Film

Uglies

Name: Uglies
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Action
Released: 2024
Cast: Joey King, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, Laverne Cox

Dystopian sci-fi

A sleek sci-fi adventure set in a world where everyone gets mandatory facial reconstruction at sixteen. Tally rebels against the system, searches for her friend, and discovers the ugly truth behind society's obsession with conformity. Stylish, propulsive, and genuinely fun—a crowd-pleasing dystopia that doesn't pretend to be more profound than it is.

TMDb rating

2.8

If you liked this

The Hunger Games2012

A teen protagonist defies an oppressive system and ignites rebellion. The same propulsive narrative drive, high stakes, and a heroine who refuses to play by society's rules. Equally committed to entertaining you while it thinks.

But The first film is genuinely excellent, but the sequels feel increasingly uneven. If you've already seen them, there's less novelty here.

Divergent2014

Another YA dystopia with a similar structure: conformity enforced by the state, a girl who doesn't fit, faction-based identity crisis. It has the same slick production design and that addictive 'what's the twist?' momentum.

But It's trying to be deeper than it is, and that self-seriousness can feel hollow. Some of the exposition is clunky.

The Maze Runner2014

Teens trapped in a system they don't understand, forced to figure out the rules to survive. Same energy of discovery and rebellion, with genuinely inventive action sequences and real stakes that land.

But It prioritizes mystery over character development early on. Some viewers find the pacing slow in the middle third.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Uglies

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Never Let Me Go2010

Both follow young people who discover the system they're part of is designed to harm them, but one chooses rage and one chooses dignity.

A quiet British sci-fi about teens in a dystopian system where their purpose is predetermined and horrifying. Carey Mulligan carries the same quiet defiance as Tally, but the film is contemplative rather than action-driven. Devastating and perfect.

But It's slow, sad, and offers no action or rebellion—only acceptance and grace. Some find it bleak to the point of bleakness-for-its-own-sake.

Ready Player One2018

A visual spectacle about escaping a dystopian world into a more appealing one. Spielberg brings warmth and invention to a similar premise about systemic control and the power of choosing your own reality.

But It's more interested in nostalgia and Easter eggs than character depth. The emotional beats can feel manipulative.

Scythe

YA sci-fi about teens navigating a society with strict rules about mortality and control. Like Uglies, it's visually polished, asks ethical questions through adventure, and commits fully to its premise without winking at the camera.

But It's a limited series that hasn't continued, so there's no sequel. The pacing in the middle is deliberate to the point of slow.

The 5th Wave2016

Alien invasion as a vehicle for paranoia and control. A young woman trying to survive a system designed to eliminate her. Tense, kinetic, and surprisingly effective at making you care about the characters.

But The twist is visible from miles away. The tone can be uneven, lurching between teen romance and military drama.

Elysium2013

Inequality made literal and visual: the rich live in a space station, the poor on a dying Earth. Matt Damon fights against systemic oppression with real stakes and action that matters. Uglies with an R rating and harder edges.

But It's preachy about its theme and doesn't trust you to draw conclusions. The secondary characters are thin.

Mirror Mirror2012

A revisionist fairy tale about enforced beauty standards and a girl who refuses them. Tarsem's visual imagination is enormous, and Julia Roberts is having tremendous fun as the villain. Surreal and energetic.

But It's a family film that some adults find tonally scattered. The whimsy won't appeal to everyone.

The Giver2014

A monochromatic world where emotions and choice are controlled. A young protagonist discovers the truth and must decide whether to accept the system or burn it down. Quiet and thoughtful, with real moral weight.

But It's slow and contemplative where Uglies is propulsive. The cinematography can feel flat even when it's intentional. Some find it ponderous.

Jem1985

A story about a girl who refuses to be what society expects her to be, using creativity and found family to stay true to herself. Uglies in sequins and synthesizers.

An animated series from the 1980s where beauty, image, and identity are everything—and the protagonist uses music, creativity, and friendship to resist conformity. Campy, earnest, and genuinely invested in its themes. Pure joy.

But It's very of its era and very silly. The animation is bright and occasionally janky. Modern viewers often find it too earnest.