I like realistic books and movies that lead me to consider how our future might change—for better or worse. In the case of Ready Player One, both the book and the movie led me to ponder such outcomes. My conclusion about the future remains hopeful, but I’m convinced of two things: the future is almost unpredictable, and LitRPG will become a major book and movie genre.

LitRPG is short for literary role-playing, combining the conventions of computer games with themes of science fiction and fantasy. The genre has gone beyond merely fan fiction and books like Ready Player One into a mind-bending major motion picture with extensive CGI effects.

Ready Player One is a science fiction LitRPG action film directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s based on a novel by Ernest Cline, and the screenplay was written by Cline and Zak Penn. The film stars Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts, along with Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance. Released on March 29, 2018 the runtime is two hours and twenty minutes. It’s rated PG-13 for virtual reality violence, partial nudity, intense scenes, and some foul language.

In 2045, most of humanity escapes the dreary, dystopian reality by slipping into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual world where anything is possible. When its creator dies, he leaves behind a contest that will grant ownership to the winner. Wade Watts, a teenage orphan, uncovers the first clues and joins a desperate race to solve the remainder before a ruthless corporation takes control. Roughly half of this film is set in the dystopia of Columbus, Ohio, and the other half is in the OASIS. While in the OASIS and using the avatar Parzival, Wade meets a girl he knows only as Art3mis and this introduces a romantic element that continues throughout the story.

Pop-culture references abound in both the novel and film. In the movie, King Kong and the Iron Giant both appear. There is also a virtual sequence inspired by The Shining. There are many more references in the film—and even more in the novel.

For science fiction fans, Ready Player One is an interesting and provocative glimpse a possible future. I was engaged with the film from the opening race and suspension of disbelief came frighteningly easy. This could be our future but—I hope it is not.

Recommendation: Buy the ticket and see it in the theater.