Cinema as a Worldbuilding Machine in the Digital Era

Focusing on the significance of worldbuilding in contemporary media, this essay explores how CGI and transmedia practices shape narratives in Hollywood sci-fi films. It analyzes the creation of multiverses and their impact on narrative structure, style, and genre, drawing on the influence of Philip K. Dick and cyberpunk culture. A typology of worlds is established, with case studies including the Resident Evil series, Total Recall, the Matrix trilogy, and HBO's Westworld, examining their contributions to post-9/11 narratives and cinematic discourse.