The grim darkness of the far future, where there is only war, has inspired countless fans to imagine what a perfect Warhammer 40,000 movie might look like. But what if we told you there are already films out there that capture the essence of the 40k universe—without ever setting foot in the Imperium?
Here are 10 movies that feel like they could take place in the Warhammer 40k universe, filled with xenos, heretics, and the grim darkness of humanity's endless wars.
1. Aliens (1986)
If you’ve ever imagined a squad of Astra Militarum soldiers cornered by Tyranids, you’ve essentially got the plot of Aliens. This James Cameron masterpiece follows a team of space marines fighting an overwhelming alien threat, complete with flak armor, flamethrowers, and dropships straight out of a 40k campaign.
2. Event Horizon (1997)
Event Horizon feels like a cautionary tale straight from the pages of 40k lore. A spaceship experimenting with warp travel vanishes and returns with a horrifying secret. The ship’s crew finds themselves confronted by the madness of the warp, complete with eerie hallucinations, demonic possession, and outright chaos. A perfect Horus Heresy-era horror.
3. Starship Troopers (1997)
In the distant future, humanity is engaged in a brutal war against a race of alien bugs. Starship Troopers captures the over-the-top militarism, propaganda, and massive planetary invasions you’d expect from the Astra Militarum or Space Marine chapters. Rico and his Roughnecks could easily be on a mission for the Emperor.
4. Blade Runner (1982)
While Blade Runner isn’t about war, its dark, oppressive atmosphere feels like it was plucked from a hive world like Necromunda. The film’s exploration of artificial life, corporate control, and humanity’s decline parallels the Mechanicum’s approach to servitors and AI. Deckard chasing rogue replicants could easily be an Adeptus Arbites hunting rogue psykers.
5. Dune (1984, 2021)
The political intrigue, feudal houses, and spice mining on the desert planet of Arrakis make Dune a clear influence on the Warhammer 40k universe. The Emperor’s Sardaukar troops feel like proto-Adeptus Custodes, and the battle for control over the galaxy’s most valuable resource is a tale as old as the Imperium.
6. The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
In a universe ruled by Necromongers—an intergalactic cult obsessed with death—The Chronicles of Riddick channels the gothic vibes of 40k perfectly.
The grim temples, towering cathedrals in space, and relentless religious zealotry would feel right at home in the Imperium.
7. Hellraiser (1987)
Chaos Space Marines, anyone? Hellraiser explores the dark temptations of forbidden knowledge and demonic power.
The Cenobites, with their grotesque forms and love of suffering, feel like they stepped out of a Slaanesh cult.Replace the puzzle box with a chaos relic, and you’ve got a heretic’s descent into madness.
8. Rebel Moon (2023)
Zack Snyder's "Rebel Moon" feels like a Warhammer 40k story come to life. Set in a universe ruled by a tyrannical empire, it follows Kora, a warrior rallying a band of misfits to fight for their freedom. The gritty aesthetic, galaxy-wide stakes, and focus on rebellion against oppressive forces echo the grimdark themes of 40k. The film’s grand battles and darkly heroic tone could easily fit as a tale of a rogue Imperial world resisting Chaos or a desperate rebellion against a cruel Imperial Governor.
9. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Swap out gasoline for promethium, and the chaotic wasteland of Fury Road could easily be the ash wastes of Necromunda. The War Boys, with their ramshackle vehicles and obsessive devotion to their leader, evoke Orks or even the feral tribes found on some Imperial fringe worlds.
10. Apocalypse Now (1979)
The descent into madness as soldiers venture deeper into hostile territory is pure grimdark. Apocalypse Now feels like a journey into the heart of a Chaos-corrupted warzone, complete with a rogue general turned madman who could easily be a fallen Imperial commander or heretic.
While Warhammer 40k still awaits its big cinematic break, these films give us a taste of what it might look like on screen. They capture the gothic, brutal, and existential elements that make 40k such a compelling universe to explore.
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