During an online Ama this past Friday, Francis Ford Coppola shared some factoids about his recently released sci-fi epic “Megalopolis,” including a list of influences he posted on Letterboxd. The list includes films adapted from the works of H.G. Wells, historical epics, erotic dramas, and many more. Upon examining each individually, it’s easy to see how they all had effect on Coppola’s ultimate vision on a new Roman Empire and an architect trying to bring about change.

Starring Adam Driver and featuring performances from Aubrey Plaza, Jon Voight, Nathalie Emmanuel, Shia Labeouf, Talia Shire, and Giancarlo Esposito, “Megalopolis” premiered at Cannes, where it received a mixed reception. In IndieWire’s review of the film, David Ehrlich wrote, “After more than 40 years of idly fantasizing about the project (and more than 20 years of actively trying to finance it), Coppola is bringing ‘Megalopolis’ to screens at a moment when his...