History Main / FalseUtopia

* ''Literature/BraveNewWorld'' is a bit of this, since many of its people admire the main things that make this dystopia so terrifying. And, put simply, the mere fact of being unhappy is a crime.

* In ''StarTrek'', the Federation was clearly intended to be [[WriterOnBoard Roddenberry's vision]] of a Utopia. Despite this, more than one [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation interpretation]] has suggested that it's actually more of a Marxist Dystopia where everyone is in ''heavy'' denial.

* In ''WallE'', humans all live in a space ship where they can eat, drink, chat through computers, and have virtually nothing to do. So why is it a false utopia? For the reasons mentioned above...
** Also, the Earth is completely polluted, but the humans haven’t ever noticed, because they were in their safe ship for centuries.

* Skypia in ''Manga/OnePiece''. It is probably the most peaceful place in the manga, made of clouds with nice people. But they worship an EvilGod who is merely using (and planning to kill) them for selfish goals.

* In the original comics, TheSmurfs live in a village that, [[WordOfGod according to Peyo]], is meant to be a utopia. [[FridgeHorror You would think that as a child, but if you look closely]], their lifestyle isn’t so perfect. They all look the same (with different personalities), are all childlike and have only one female member (imagine the jealousy it brings, at least if smurfs reproduced sexually). Papa is the only Smurf old and wise enough to be their tutor, chief, doctor and wizard. So every time he leaves the village or falls ill, you can expect chaos to come. They are also not at ease with new things and progress: Many books feature the Smurfs trying to adapt to change or try something humans do, but fail miserably and go back to their conservative ways. Lastly, even though their village is protected by a curse that keeps humans out, they’re not safe from animals, weather, blaze and flood.
* Woodsbury in ComicBook/TheWalkingDead, along with several other towns. There simply cannot be peace in a world filled with zombies, [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters and even worse, other survivors]].

* ''TheIncredibleHulk'': In one of the comics, Bruce Banner has a dream where all his biggest wishes are true: married to Betty, friend to her father and other former enemies… This is an illusion from his inner monster, the Devil Hulk, in which Bruce could be trapped if he let the devil take over his body. Bruce turned down the offer.

* ''ToyStory3'' has Sunny Side. Lotso presents it like the best place any toy would dream of, where they will be played with forever. What he didn’t precise is that some unfortunate toys are forced to get chewed, brutalized and put in pieces by children too young to know better. And whether you like Sunny Side or not, [[TheAlcatraz Lotso and his minions make sure you’ll never get out.]]
* In ''WallE'', humans all live in a space ship where they can eat, drink, chat through computers, and have virtually nothing to do. So why is it a false utopia? For the reasons mentioned above…

* Disney/{{Bambi}}’s forest. Seriously. At first it seems like it is a wonderful dream land: all the animals are cute and nice and nature looks like a paradise. Then the humans arrive. Bambi’s mom dies. And as the fawn grows up he fights more and more for survival.

* The world of ''Sugar Rush'' in WreckItRalph. This CrapsaccharineWorld is full of sugar, is cute... too bad all its inhabitants apart from Vanellope are jerks. Plus, all this sweetness really TastesLikeDiabetes.
* ''TheKingAndTheMockingbird'': The kingdom of Tackycardie is very luxurious and pretty, with lots of art. But why is the king the only one to appear on the paintings? Because nobody but him is happy. His people hate his dictatorship, and most of them live under the kingdom in a somber town where they can’t even see the sun. It is a utopia for the king only.

* ''Film/DemolitionMan'': The futuristic town shown in the movie has its people think they are safe from harm, that violence has been erased from the world, and the tiniest thing like swearing is forbidden, but you barely get tickets for that. Apart from the fact that this world is completely “boring” to live in, it is anything but safe: a single psycho is enough to ruin its peace. [[TooDumbToLive And why the hell did this people keep loaded weapons in a museum with nothing but glass to keep them away from wrong hands?]]

* Film/{{Metropolis}} is a town where the rich live above, in luxury and entertainment, while the working class in the undertown strive to live.
* ''Film/TheMatrix'' gives a subversion: Neo didn’t live in a utopia, [[CrapsackWorld but when you look at what reality has become…]] the Matrix ends up looking like a safe world that would be hard to let go. Some characters are shown to think this illusion is much better than reality.
* ''Film/HotFuzz'' Nicholas Angel gets transferred to the little town of Sandford, which is crime free, and everything seems perfect. But the towns inhabitants secretly control everything, and they kill people they consider would ruin the towns image.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' uses this trope often, especially in the revived series. In the year 5 billion, the world looks perfect and evolved. But the Doctor discovers an hospital that uses thousands of humans as testing subjects to fight illnesses.

* ''Literature/AnimalFarm''. Napoleon keeps telling BlatantLies and the animals are just happy to be free from the farmer. But slowly, with them realizing when it’s too late, the farm becomes hell.
* Hogswart castle and the world of the sorcerers in general is a bit of this to Literature/HarryPotter. Having spent his first ten years with [[AbusiveParents the Dursleys]], he is more than happy to live in the school and is amazed by the magic world. You would be tented to think everything there is better than the Muggle world. As the books got DarkerAndEdgier, it’s obviously not. The second book show there’s racism and slavery. The third that the magic world has creatures like the Dementors in it. The fourth gives us a supremacist cult and [[KnightTemplar Barty Crouch]]. The fifth has Umbridge, who turns the school in a dictatorship. Looks less magical now, doesn’t it?
** Talking about the fifth book, Cornelius Fudge makes everyone believe that Harry and Dumbledore lie about Voldemort’s return, and that all is well.
* In the last book of ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', the Baudelaires end up on an island ran by Ishmael, who presents it as an idealistic society, free from the evil of the outside world. But it is very conservative; the chief pretends that he doesn’t force anyone to do anything when in fact he ''does'', and it hides several secrets. While the Baudelaires needed ''some'' place to avoid justice, the book clearly states they don’t like living on the island, though it could have been worse.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' has Tranquility Lane, a virtual reality where everybody lives happily in the 1950s, and is safe from the devastated wastelands outside.

* In ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' video game, the group finds a farm with welcoming people and food, as well as an electric fence to protect from the dead and the bandits. [[NightmareFuel Then Lee discovers that the farmers keep their guests locked up, cut them ''alive'' into pieces, and feed on their human flesh.]] The zombies look a bit nicer now, don’t they?

* The world of ''HappyTreeFriends'' is beautiful, colorful, and inhabited by cute little creatures. It would be perfect if they didn’t [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath die so gruesomely]] in every single episode…

* In a ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode, Superman receives a strange plant from Mongull that forces him into a dream world. He lives on his birth planet, and has a wife, a son and even a dog. When he realizes that none of this is true, and leaves this perfect dream world, Mongull tells Superman that it must have been like tearing his own arm off.
* In a ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' episode, Buzz wakes up in a future where most of his enemies are defeated and he is worshiped as a hero. It was all a scam Zurg made to fool him.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' has Tranquility Lane, a virtual reality where everybody lives happily in the 1950s, and is safe from the devastated wastelands outside.

* Rapture in BioShock.

* Woodsbury in TheWalkingDead, along with several other towns. There simply cannot be peace in a world filled with zombies, [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters and even worse, other survivors]].

* In ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' video game, the group finds a farm with welcoming people and food, as well as an electric fence to protect from the dead and the bandits. [[NightmareFuel Then Lee discovers that the farmers keep their guests locked up, cut them ''alive'' into pieces, and feed on their human flesh.]] The zombies look a bit nicer now, don’t they?

* ''Film/{{Equilibrium}}'': A medicine is invented to rid people of emotion. War is over, the world is in peace. The price? People feel nothing, are incapable of empathy, and emotion-triggering activities like art are forbidden.

----

* ''TheKingAndTheMockingbird'': The kingdom of Tackycardie is very luxurious and pretty, with lots of art. But why is the king the only one to appear on the paintings? Because nobody but him is happy. His people hate his dictatorship, and most of them leave under the kingdom in a somber town where they can’t even see the sun. It is a utopia for the king only.

* The Other World in {{Coraline}}.

* ''Disney/{{Pinocchio}}'' has Pleasure Island where children can go crazy: smoking, drinking, vandalism, everything is allowed. The Coachman simply "forgot" to mention that acting as a jackass on this island turns into an actual donkey. [[NightmareFuel Then you go serve in the salt mines, with no hope of going back to your family.]]

* In ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' video game, the group finds a farm with welcoming people and food, as well as an electric fence to protect from the dead and the bandits. [[NightmareFuel Then Lee discovers that the farmers keep their guests locked up, cut them '''alive''' into pieces, and feed on their human flesh.]] The zombies look a bit nicer now, don’t they?

* ''DemolitionMan'': The futuristic town shown in the movie has its people think they are safe from harm, that violence has been erased from the world, and the tiniest thing like swearing is forbidden, but you barely get tickets for that. Apart from the fact that this world is completely “boring” to live in, it is anything but safe: a single psycho is enough to ruin its peace. [[TooDumbToLive And why the hell did this people keep loaded weapons in a museum with nothing but glass to keep them away from wrong hands?]]
* ''TheTrumanShow'': Truman lives in a nice little town, ignoring that it is the biggest studio in the world and that his life is a TV show. Christoff justifies that he won’t free Truman because while in his studio, where everyone protects him and give him an easy life, he will be safe from the evil of reality.

* ''Film/{{Brazil}}'': The setting is obviously a CrapsackWorld, but bureaucrats, including Sam Lawry at the beginning, truly believe they make it a better and more organized place.

[[folder:Litterature]]

* In ''TheWalkingDead'' video game, the group finds a farm with welcoming people and food, as well as an electric fence to protect from the dead and the bandits. [[NightmareFuel Then Lee discovers that the farmers keep their guests locked up, cut them '''alive''' into pieces, and feed on their human flesh.]] The zombies look a bit nicer now, don’t they?

* ''BraveNewWorld'' is a bit of this, since many of its people admire the main things that make this dystopia so terrifying. And, put simply, the mere fact of being unhappy is a crime.

* In the last book of ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', the Baudelaire end up on an Island ran by Ishmael, who presents it as an idealistic society, free from the evil of outside. But it is very conservative, the chief pretends that he doesn’t force anyone to do anything when in fact he “does”, and hides several secrets. While the Baudelaire needed some place to avoid justice, the book clearly states they don’t like living on the island, though it could have been worse.
* In ''CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', you have a place with the best candy in the world, and being its owner would be a HappyEnding, right? But if you’re too careless or greedy, you will drown in chocolate, get turned into a giant gum bubble, be thrown into trash or be shrunk then elongated. While the bad kids survive in the TimBurton film, in the book they likely died. This factory manages to be both SweetDreamsFuel and NightmareFuel.

----

* In the original comics, TheSmurfs live in a village that, [[WordOfGod according to Peyo]], is meant to be a utopia. [[FridgeHorror You would think that as a child, but if you look closely]], their lifestyle isn’t so perfect. They all look the same (with different personalities), are all childlike and have only one female member (imagine the jealousy it brings). Papa is the only Smurf old and wise enough to be their tutor, chief, doctor and wizard. So every time he leaves the village or falls ill, you can expect chaos to come. They are also not at ease with new things and progress: Many books feature the Smurfs trying to adapt to change or try something humans do, but fail miserably and go back to their conservative ways. Lastly, even though their village is protected by a curse that keeps humans out, they’re not safe from animals, weather, blaze and flood.

Compare CrapsackWorld, where the world is Hell, but everybody usually knows, and Dystopia, when it is set in a possible future.

A False Utopia is a place, town, or even a world that seems or at least is supposed to have no faults, while it does, but hides them very carefully to its inhabitant. Not all False Utopias are Dystopias in disguise. They usually are worlds that try or pretend to be perfect, but will never be, simply because perfection isn’t part of real life. A False Utopia manifests itself in this ways:

* The whole Utopia is too good to be true. So good it is not true: it’s only a dream, an illusion, or a scam.

'''Look out!!!''' Many False Utopias are meant to stay secret: expect heavy spoilers on this trope!

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]
* Skypia in OnePiece. It is probably the most peaceful place in the manga, made of clouds with nice people. But they worship an EvilGod who is merely using (and planning to kill) them for selfish goals.

[[folder: Comics]]
* In the original comics, TheSmurfs live in a village that, [[WordOfGod according to Peyo]], is meant to be an utopia. [[FridgeHorror You would think that as a child, but if you look closely]], their lifestyle isn’t so perfect. They all look the same (with different personalities), are all childlike and have only one female member (imagine the jealousy it brings). Papa is the only Smurf old and wise enough to be their tutor, chief, doctor and wizard. So every time he leaves the village or falls ill, you can expect chaos to come. They are also not at ease with new things and progress: many books feature the Smurfs trying to adapt to change or try something humans do, only to fail miserably and go back to their conservative ways. Lastly, even though their village is protected by a curse that keeps humans out, they’re not safe from animals, weather, blaze and flood.
* [[FantasticFour Dr. Doom]] has created Latveria, among other False Utopias among the years. He often makes his people trust and worship him, even though he is an outright dictator. Note that he does try to bring peace, but with force.
* TheIncredibleHulk: In one of the comics, Bruce Banner has a dream where all his biggest wishes are true: married to Betty, friend to her father and other former enemies… This is an illusion from his inner monster, the Devil Hulk, in which Bruce could be trapped if he let the devil take over his body. Bruce turned down the offer.

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]
* The RainbowFactory, from a MyLittlePony fan fiction.

[[folder: Films-Animated]]
* ToyStory3 has Sunny Side. Lotso presents it like the best place any toy would dream of, where they will be played with forever. What he didn’t precise is that some unfortunate toys are forced to get chewed, brutalized and put in pieces by children too young to know better. And whether you like Sunny Side or not, [[TheAlcatraz Lotso and his minions make sure you’ll never get out.]]
* In WallE, humans all live in a space ship where they can eat, drink, chat through computers, and have virtually nothing to do. So why is it a false utopia? For the reasons mentioned above…

* {{Bambi}}’s forest. Seriously. At first it seems like it is a wonderful dream land: all the animals are cute and nice and nature looks like a paradise. Then the humans arrive. Bambi’s mom dies. And as the fawn grows up he fights more and more for survival.
* TheKingAndTheMockingbird : The kingdom of Tackycardie is very luxurious and pretty, with lots of art. But why is the king the only one to appear on the paintings? Because nobody but him is happy. His people hate his dictatorship, and most of them leave under the kingdom in a somber town where they can’t even see the sun. It is a utopia for the king only.

[[folder: Films-Live Action]]
* DemolitionMan : The futuristic town shown in the movie has its people think they are safe from harm, that violence has been erased from the world, and the tiniest thing like swearing is forbidden, but you barely get tickets for that. Apart from the fact that this world is completely “boring” to live in, it is anything but safe: a single psycho is enough to ruin its peace. [[TooDumbToLive And why the hell did this people keep loaded weapons in a museum with nothing but glass to keep them away from wrong hands?]]
* TheTrumanShow : Truman lives in a nice little town, ignoring that it is the biggest studio in the world and that his life is a TV show. Christoff justifies that he won’t free Truman because while in his studio, where everyone protects him and give him an easy life, he will be safe from the evil of reality.
* {{Equilibrium}} : A medicine is invented to rid people of emotion. War is over, the world is in peace. The price? People feel nothing, are incapable of empathy, and emotion-triggering activities like art are forbidden.
* Brazil : The setting is obviously a CrapsackWorld, but bureaucrats, including Sam Lawry at the beginning, truly believe they make it a better and more organized place.
* {{Metropolis}} is a town where the rich live above, in luxury and entertainment, while the working class in the undertown strive to live.
* TheMatrix gives a subversion: Neo didn’t live in a utopia, [[CrapsackWorld but when you look at what reality has become…]] the Matrix ends up looking like a safe world that would be hard to let go. Some characters are shown to think this illusion is much better than reality.

[[folder: TV Series]]
* DoctorWho uses this trope often, especially in the revived series. In the year 5 billion, the world looks perfect and evolved. But the Doctor discovers an hospital that uses thousands of humans as testing subjects to fight illnesses.

[[folder: Litterature]]
* BraveNewWorld is a bit this, since many of its people admire the main things that make this dystopia so terrifying. And, put simply, the mere fact of being unhappy is a crime.
* AnimalFarm . Napoleon keeps telling BlatantLies and the animals are just happy to be free from the farmer. But slowly, with them realizing when it’s too late, the farm becomes hell.
* Hogswart castle and the world of the sorcerers in general is a bit of this to HarryPotter. Having spent his first ten years with [[AbusiveParents the Dursleys]], he is more than happy to live in the school and is amazed by the magic world. You would be tented to think everything there is better than the Muggle world. As the books got DarkerAndEdgier, it’s obviously not. The second book show there’s racism and slavery. The third that the magic world has creatures like the Dementors in it. The fourth gives us a supremacist cult and [[KnightTemplar Barty Crouch]]. The fifth has Umbridge, who turns the school in a dictatorship. Looks less magical now, doesn’t it?
** Talking about the Fifth book, Cornelius Fudge makes everyone believe Harry and Dumbledore lie about Voldemort’s return, and that all is well.
* In the last book of ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents, the Baudelaire end up on an Island ran by Ishmael, who presents it as an idealistic society, free from the evil of outside. But it is very conservative, the chief pretends that he doesn’t force to do anything when in fact he “does”, and hides several secrets. While the Baudelaire needed some place to avoid justice, the book clearly states they don’t like living on the island, though it could have been worse.
* In CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory, you have a place with the best candy in the world, and being its owner would be a HappyEnding, right? But if you’re not careful or too greedy, you will drown in chocolate, get turned in a giant gum bubble, thrown into trash or shrank then elongated. While the bad kids survive in the TimBurton film, in the book they likely died. This factory manages to be both Dream and NightmareFuel.

[[folder: Video Games]]
* Fallout3 has Tranquility Lane, a virtual reality where everybody lives happily in the 1950s, and is safe from the devastated wastelands outside.
* In TheWalkingDead video game, the group finds a farm with welcoming people and food, plus and electric fence to protect from the dead and the bandits. [[NightmareFuel Then Lee discovers that the farmers keep their guests locked up, cut them ALIVE in pieces, and feed and their human flesh.]] The zombies look a bit nicer now, don’t they?
* {{VideoGame/BackToTheFuture}}: In the alternate 1986, Doc Brown became the leader of Hill Valley and turned it into a totalitarian place, closed from the world, with people wearing all the same suit, are forced or even brainwashed to be good, and watched 24 hours on 24. Doc actually wants his citizens to be happy, but his wife Edna is so obsessed with discipline she makes him annihilate all freedom in the town.

[[folder: WebOriginal]]
* The world of HappyTreeFriends is beautiful, colorful, and inhabited by cute little creatures. It would be perfect if they didn’t die so gruesomely in every single episode…

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* In KidsNextDoor episode U.T.O.P.I.A., Chester traps Numbuh 1 in a virtual reality where his personal paradise is a an island with no adults, and all kids live happily and carefree.
* In a JusticeLeagueUnlimited episode, Superman receives a strange plant from Mongull that forces him into a dream world. He lives on his birth planet, has a wife, a son and even a dog. When he realizes none of this is true, and leaves this perfect dream world, Mongull comments that it must have been like tearing his own arm off.
* In a BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand episode, Buzz wakes up in a future where most of his enemies are defeated and he is worshiped as a hero. It was all a scam Zurg made to fool him.
[[/folder]]