With "The Platform 2" set to hit screens this October, the buzz around dystopian thrillers is reaching fever pitch. The original Spanish satirical sci-fi masterpiece captivated audiences worldwide with its brutal take on survival and social inequality. Now, as fans eagerly await the sequel, there's no better time to explore similar films that will keep you on the edge of your seat - and boost your language skills while you're at it.
In this post, we're serving up a menu of six movies that share The Platform's DNA: thought-provoking concepts, claustrophobic settings, and biting social commentary. But we're not just here for the thrills - we'll show you how each of these can be used to learn a new language.
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What was the whole point of the movie The Platform?
Netflix's The Platform (El Hoyo) burst onto the scene in 2019, quickly becoming a cult classic that left viewers both disturbed and enthralled. Set in a vertical prison called "the Pit," the film follows prisoners who are randomly reassigned to different levels each month.
The catch?
A platform of food descends through the levels, leaving those at the bottom to starve. This simple yet ingenious premise serves as a stark allegory for social inequality and human nature.
What made The Platform a standout hit:
- The vertical prison and descending food platform create a powerful metaphor for social hierarchy.
- It tackles issues like capitalism, solidarity, and human behavior under extreme circumstances.
- Despite its grim premise, the film incorporates elements of black comedy.
- The Spanish dialogue offers a mix of everyday language and philosophical discourse.
These elements not only made The Platform a gripping watch but also set the bar for our selection of similar films. As we explore movies that echo its themes and style, we'll be looking for those that combine innovative storytelling with linguistic opportunities.
Movies Like The Platform
Ready to watch movies like The Platform? We've handpicked six movies that capture the essence of this Netflix hit, each offering its own twisted take on society, survival, and human nature.
The Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer (2013) is like The Platform on a train. Instead of a vertical prison, it's a long train carrying the last humans alive. The poor live in the back, the rich in the front. Just like in The Platform, people fight to move up (or in this case, forward) for better food and living conditions. It's all about survival and trying to change an unfair system.
For language learners, Snowpiercer is great because it has different types of English. You'll hear posh accents from the rich people and rougher talk from those in the back. As characters move through the train, you'll pick up words about survival, luxury items, and social class. The action scenes are good for learning everyday phrases and commands.
Us
Us (2019) is a horror thriller that shares some key themes with The Platform. Instead of a vertical prison, it explores the idea of a hidden underground world. The movie follows a family attacked by their evil doppelgangers. Like The Platform, it uses a clever concept to talk about social inequality and what happens when the "have-nots" rebel against the "haves".
If you want to feel confident in your English skills, then this movie is for you! It's full of modern American slang and everyday family conversations, which is great for picking up natural English. The movie switches between casual talk and tense situations, so you'll hear how language changes with emotion. There's also some creepy, poetic dialogue from the villains that's fun to decode.
Parasite
Parasite (2019) is a Korean dark comedy that, like The Platform, uses a clever setup to talk about social class. Instead of a prison, it's about two families - one rich, one poor - whose lives get tangled up in unexpected ways. The poor family cleverly worms its way into working for the rich family, leading to surprising and tense situations.
This Korean flick is packed with everyday conversations, so you'll hear how real Korean families talk at home. The movie also shows how people speak differently based on their social status. You'll naturally pick up formal language used with bosses, casual chat between friends, and even some hilarious Korean slang.
Cube
Like The Platform, the characters in Cube must work together (or against each other) to survive deadly traps and figure out why they're there. It's a tense, claustrophobic film that makes you think about human nature under pressure.
The fact that this movie is dialogue-heavy already shows that you can learn a great deal in each scene. You'll hear a mix of everyday language, technical terms (as characters discuss the cube's mechanics), and emotional outbursts. The confined setting means you'll get lots of repetition of key phrases and words related to directions, problem-solving, and interpersonal conflicts.
Ready Or Not
Ready or Not (2019) is a dark comedy horror that, like The Platform, uses a unique premise to explore social themes. Instead of a prison, it's set in a wealthy family's mansion. The movie follows a newlywed bride who must survive a deadly game of hide-and-seek on her wedding night. Like The Platform, it's about survival and exposes the cruel nature of the privileged class, but with a wickedly funny twist.
In this movie, you'll be faced with American idioms, slang, and even some dark humor. It's especially good for learning how tone and context can completely change the meaning of simple phrases like "ready or not, here I come!"
The Hunt
Instead of a vertical prison, it's set in a remote location where elite liberals hunt "deplorables" for sport. Like The Platform, it uses a high-concept premise to explore social and political divisions. The movie follows a group of strangers who must survive being hunted, turning the tables on their predators.
Here, you'll hear a wide range of accents and dialects from across the US, making it great for understanding regional differences. The movie is packed with political jargon, internet (and Gen z) slang, and pop culture references, perfect for learners who want to understand modern American discourse.
How To Use Movies Like The Platform For Learning
So you've got your lineup of mind-bending thrillers like The Platform – but how do you turn these edge-of-your-seat experiences into actual lessons? To help you out, we're listing here the exact steps to take:
- Pause and repeat memorable phrases to practice pronunciation.
- Keep a notebook for new vocabulary and expressions.
- Rewatch scenes to catch details you missed.
- Discuss the movie in your target language with friends or language exchange partners.
For an even more effective learning experience, try Lingopie. This language-learning tool offers a wide selection of movies and TV shows with interactive subtitles, allowing you to click on words for instant translations. Lingopie also provides vocabulary lists, quizzes, and the ability to create flashcards from the content you watch. It's like having a language tutor built into your entertainment!
Learn Foreign Languages With Lingopie
There you have it – six thrilling movies that'll keep you on the edge of your seat while boosting your language skills. Remember, the key to language learning is immersion and consistency. By regularly watching films like these, you get to entertain yourself all while training your ear, expanding your vocabulary, and gaining cultural insights.
Learn about Lingopie's methodology here 👇
Lorena Macedo
Ready to take your movie-based language learning to the next level? Give Lingopie a try. With interactive subtitles, vocabulary tools, and a vast library of content, Lingopie's advanced features make it easier than ever to learn while you watch. So why not start your language journey today?
