Intriguing Sci-Fi movies and TV series with human clones

Human cloning has long been a thought-provoking subject within the realm of science fiction. Sci-Fi movies and TV series with human clones exploring themes of identity, ethics, mortality, and the boundaries of humanity, narratives featuring human clones offer a fascinating lens through which to examine the potential consequences and moral implications of scientific advancements.

In both Sci-Fi TV series and films, the portrayal of human cloning ranges from dystopian nightmares to philosophical inquiries, reflecting societal anxieties, ethical dilemmas, and technological possibilities. From action-packed thrillers to introspective dramas, storytellers have crafted compelling narratives that challenge audiences to confront the complexities of cloning technology and its impact on society.

Some of the best movies on the subject of human cloning

Replicas

Release Year: 2018, Rating: PG-13, Score: 5.4/10 (IMDb), Studio: Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures, Directed by: Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alice Eve, Thomas Middleditch

After a tragic accident takes the lives of his family, a neuroscientist becomes obsessed with bringing them back using cloning technology. As he delves deeper into the ethical and scientific implications of his actions, he faces unexpected challenges and consequences that threaten to unravel his world. 

The Congress

Release Year: 2013, Rating: PG-13, Score: 6.5/10 (IMDb), Studio: Drafthouse Films, Directed by: Ari Folman, Starring: Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm

In a dystopian future where actors sell their digital likenesses to studios, an aging actress agrees to a radical procedure that allows her to live on as a forever-young digital avatar. However, as she navigates this surreal world of illusion and reality, she discovers the true cost of immortality in a future where clones and digital avatars dominate society.

Never Let Me Go

Release Year: 2010, Rating: R, Score: 7.1/10 (IMDb), Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures, Directed by: Mark Romanek, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley

Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, this haunting drama follows three friends who grow up in a boarding school where they discover they are clones raised for organ donation. As they come to terms with their fate, they grapple with love, loss, and the search for meaning in a world that sees them as expendable.

Womb

Release Year: 2010, Rating: NR, Score: 6.4/10 (IMDb), Studio: The Match Factory, Directed by: Benedek Fliegauf, Starring: Eva Green, Matt Smith, Lesley Manville

After her lover dies in a tragic accident, a woman decides to clone him and raise the clone as her own child. As the clone grows up, their bond becomes increasingly complex, blurring the lines between parent and lover in this emotionally charged exploration of grief and obsession.

Gamer

Release Year: 2009, Rating: R, Score: 5.8/10 (IMDb), Studio: Lionsgate, Directed by: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Starring: Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Ludacris

Set in a dystopian future where humans control other humans in a real-life video game scenario, a wrongly convicted prisoner must fight for his freedom while uncovering the dark truth behind the game’s creators and their use of cloning technology.

While not solely focused on cloning, this action thriller involves a futuristic society where humans can control other humans in a real-life video game scenario, with cloning technology playing a significant role.

Moon

Release Year: 2009, Rating: R, Score: 7.9/10 (IMDb), Studio: Sony Pictures Classics, Directed by: Duncan Jones, Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey (voice)

Alone on a lunar mining base, a man discovers he is a clone created to work on the moon. As he grapples with the implications of his existence and confronts the mysteries surrounding the mission, he begins to question his own identity and purpose.

Splice

Release Year: 2009, Rating: R, Score: 5.7/10 (IMDb), Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures, Directed by: Vincenzo Natali, Starring: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac

In this sci-fi horror film, two scientists create a hybrid creature using human and animal DNA, only to see their experiment spiral out of control as the creature exhibits unexpected and dangerous behavior. As they grapple with the consequences of their actions, they must confront their own ethical boundaries and the nature of humanity.

The Prestige

Release Year: 2006, Rating: PG-13, Score: 8.5/10 (IMDb), Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures, Directed by: Christopher Nolan, Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson

In this twisty thriller about rival magicians in Victorian-era London, the pursuit of perfection leads to obsession and sacrifice. As the two illusionists engage in a deadly game of one-upmanship, a mysterious cloning machine becomes central to their escalating rivalry and quest for the ultimate magic trick.

While not solely focused on cloning, this Christopher Nolan film involves themes of duplication and identity as rival magicians engage in a deadly rivalry involving a mysterious cloning machine.

Aeon Flux

Release Year: 2005, Rating: PG-13, Score: 5.5/10 (IMDb), Studio: Paramount Pictures, Directed by: Karyn Kusama, Starring: Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas, Jonny Lee Miller

Set in a dystopian future, a skilled assassin becomes embroiled in a conspiracy involving cloning and genetic manipulation. As she uncovers the truth about her own origins, she must navigate a treacherous world of deceit and danger in her quest for justice.

The Island

Release Year: 2005, Rating: PG-13, Score: 6.8/10 (IMDb), Studio: DreamWorks Pictures, Directed by: Michael Bay, Starring: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou

In a seemingly utopian society, inhabitants discover they are clones created for organ harvesting. As two clones escape and seek to uncover the truth about their existence, they become embroiled in a high-stakes battle for freedom and survival.

Godsend

Release Year: 2004, Rating: PG-13, Score: 4.8/10 (IMDb), Studio: Lions Gate Films, Directed by: Nick Hamm, Starring: Robert De Niro, Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn

After their son dies tragically, a couple agrees to have him cloned by a scientist, but as their cloned son grows older, they begin to realize that he may not be exactly the same as the original. Dark secrets emerge as they confront the consequences of playing with the boundaries of life and death.

The 6th Day

Release Year: 2000, Rating: PG-13, Score: 5.9/10 (IMDb), Studio: Columbia Pictures, Directed by: Roger Spottiswoode, Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Rapaport, Tony Goldwyn

In a future where cloning is commonplace, a helicopter pilot finds himself cloned illegally after a botched assassination attempt. As he fights to reclaim his identity and uncover the truth behind the conspiracy, he becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

The Clone Returns Home

Release Year: 2008, Rating: NR, Score: 6.9/10 (IMDb), Directed by: Kanji Nakajima, Starring: Mitsuhiro Oikawa, Eri Ishida, Hiromi Nagasaku

This Japanese science fiction film explores the emotional and philosophical implications of cloning. After a tragic accident in space, a man is cloned back on Earth, leading to a haunting exploration of identity, memory, and loss. As the clone struggles to come to terms with his existence, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that blurs the line between the original and the copy.

Multiplicity

Release Year: 1996, Rating: PG-13, Score: 6.1/10 (IMDb), Studio: Columbia Pictures, Directed by: Harold Ramis, Starring: Michael Keaton, Andie MacDowell, Zack Duhame

A man overwhelmed by the demands of his personal and professional life decides to clone himself multiple times to cope. However, as the clones begin to develop distinct personalities and pursue their own interests, chaos ensues, leading to comedic and heartfelt moments of self-discovery.

The Boys from Brazil

Release Year: 1978, Rating: R, Score: 7.0/10 (IMDb), Studio: 20th Century Fox, Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner, Starring: Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason

In this thriller based on the novel by Ira Levin, a Nazi scientist clones Adolf Hitler in an attempt to recreate the Third Reich. A Nazi hunter discovers the plot and races against time to stop the replication of history’s greatest villain.

The top science fiction TV series with the subject of human clones

Foundation

Status: Ongoing, Years running: 2021-, Seasons: 2, Runtime: 50-60′, Score: 7.3/10 (IMDb), Channel: Apple TV+, Created by: David S. Goyer, Josh Friedman, Starring: Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell 

In the “Foundation” series, human cloning serves as a pivotal element in the story’s exploration of themes such as power, control, and the preservation of knowledge across generations. Cloning technology is utilized by various factions within the Galactic Empire to manipulate political dynamics and ensure the continuity of their influence over centuries. As the protagonist, mathematician Hari Seldon, navigates the complexities of predicting the future through psychohistory, he grapples with the ethical implications of cloning and its role in shaping the fate of humanity. The series delves into the consequences of playing god with human life and the inherent risks of tampering with nature’s balance.

Orphan Black 

Status: Ended, Years running: 2013-2017, Seasons: 5, Runtime: 44′, Score: 8.3/10 (IMDb), Channel: BBC America, Created by: Graeme Manson, John Fawcett, Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Dylan Bruce, Jordan Gavaris 

This series revolves around a woman who discovers she is one of many clones, all with different personalities and backgrounds.

The 100

Status: Ended, Years running: 2014-2020, Seasons: 7, Runtime: 43′, Score: 7.6/10 (IMDb), Channel: The CW, Created by: Jason Rothenberg, Starring: Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos

While not solely focused on clones, this series features a subplot involving clones created by a group of scientists.

Westworld

Status: Ongoing, Years running: 2016-present, Seasons: 3, Runtime: 60′, Score: 8.6/10 (IMDb), Channel: HBO, Created by: Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright 

This series explores a futuristic theme park populated by lifelike androids, some of which are clones of humans.

Dollhouse

Status: Ended, Years running: 2009-2010, Seasons: 2, Runtime: 44′, Score: 7.7/10 (IMDb), Channel: FOX, Created by: Joss Whedon, Starring: Eliza Dushku, Harry Lennix, Fran Kranz 

Created by Joss Whedon, this series follows a group of individuals whose memories are wiped and replaced with new personalities for various assignments, essentially making them clones for hire.

Altered Carbon

Status: Ended, Years running: 2018-2020, Seasons: 2, Runtime: 60′, Score: 8.0/10 (IMDb), Channel: Netflix, Created by: Laeta Kalogridis, Starring: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda 

While primarily dealing with the concept of transferring consciousness between bodies, this series also delves into the idea of cloning and duplicate sleeves.

The I-land

Status: Ended, Years running: 2019-2019, Seasons: 1, Runtime: 60′, Score: 6.5/10 (IMDb), Channel: NBC, Starring: Natalie Martinez, Kate Bosworth, Ronald Peet 

A short-lived series that focuses on a group of people who discover they are clones created for organ harvesting.

Humans

Status: Ended, Years running: 2015-2018, Seasons: 3, Runtime: 42′, Score: 8.0/10 (IMDb), Channel: AMC, Created by: Sam Vincent, Jonathan Brackley, Starring: Gemma Chan, Katherine Parkinson, Lucy Carless 

Set in a world where humanoid robots called Synths exist, this series explores themes of artificial intelligence and the ethical implications of creating sentient beings.

Dark Matter

Status: Ended, Years running: 2015-2017, Seasons: 3, Runtime: 42′, Score: 7.5/10 (IMDb), Channel: Syfy, Created by: Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, Starring: Marc Bendavid, Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke 

While not specifically about human clones, this series involves a group of individuals waking up with no memory of who they are, leading to revelations about their past and origins.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Status: Ended, Years running: 2008-2020, Seasons: 7, Runtime: 23′, Score: 8.2/10 (IMDb), Channel: Cartoon Network, Netflix, Disney+, Created by: George Lucas, Starring: Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker 

An animated series set in the Star Wars universe, focusing on the events of the Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatists.

Blade Runner: Black Lotus

Status: Ongoing, Years running: 2021-present, Seasons: 1 (as of 2024), Runtime: 23′, Channel: Adult Swim, Created by: Shinji Aramaki, Kenji Kamiyama, Starring: Jessica Henwick, Arisa Shida, Shinshu Fuji 

A spin-off of the Blade Runner film series, this animated series delves into the world of replicants and artificial life.

Torchwood

Status: Ended, Years running: 2006-2011, Seasons: 4, Runtime: 50′, Score: 7.8/10 (IMDb), Channel: BBC One, Created by: Russell T Davies, Starring: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman

A spin-off of Doctor Who, this series features an organization that deals with extraterrestrial threats, including episodes involving cloning.

The X-Files

Status: Ended, Years running: 1993-2018, Seasons: 11, Runtime: 45′, Score: 8.6/10 (IMDb), Channel: FOX, Created by: Chris Carter, Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi 

While not a central theme, this series features several episodes involving clones and government conspiracies.

Fringe

Status: Ended, Years running: 2008-2013, Seasons: 5, Runtime: 46′, Score: 8.4/10 (IMDb), Channel: FOX, Created by: J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Starring: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble 

This series explores fringe science and alternate realities, featuring episodes involving cloning experiments and parallel universes.

Travelers

Status: Ended, Years running: 2016-2018, Seasons: 3, Runtime: 45′, Score: 8.1/10 (IMDb), Channel: Showcase (Canada), Netflix, Created by: Brad Wright, Starring: Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, Nesta Cooper 

While not about cloning in the traditional sense, this series involves travelers from the future who inhabit the bodies of people in the present, effectively creating duplicates.

Continuum

Status: Ended, Years running: 2012-2015, Seasons: 4, Runtime: 45′, Score: 7.7/10 (IMDb), Channel: Showcase (Canada), Syfy, Created by: Simon Barry, Starring: Rachel Nichols, Victor Webster, Erik Knudsen 

A series about a cop from the future who travels back in time to pursue criminals, which involves themes of technology, manipulation, and corporate power, including some cloning elements.

Themes explored in Sci-Fi movies and TV series with human clones

These Sci-Fi TV series and movies offer a variety of perspectives on the subject of human clones, ranging from ethical dilemmas to action-packed adventures.

Common motifs emerge across these narratives: the quest for immortality, the desire to overcome loss, the manipulation of life itself, and the existential questions surrounding identity and individuality. Through characters grappling with their own origins, struggles for autonomy, and the repercussions of playing with the fundamental building blocks of life, human cloning narratives invite audiences to ponder the blurred lines between science fiction and reality.

These stories offer a glimpse into the reflection on what it means to be human in an age of technological possibility. The ethical, moral, and existential quandaries that accompany the pursuit of cloning technology, inviting audiences to ponder the implications long after the credits roll.