Here is a visual representation of the Kardashev scale and the amount of energy for each step:
Why is there a scale?
It's hard to have an intelligent conversation about something if you don't have a way to think critically about it. Classification schemes is one way of creating a frame of critical thinking. You have to create criteria for the different levels.
How did we get the Kardashev scale?
Russian astrophysicist, Nikolai Kardashev, created the scale in a paper he published in 1964 called, “Transmission of Information by Extraterrestrial Civilizations”. The scale measures a civilization's level of technological advancement based on the amount of energy it is able to use.
What is the scale?
Type 1 through 3. Frequently referred to as K1 through K3.
A Type I civilization, also called a planetary civilization, has the capability to use all of the energy of its planet. A technological achievement that a K1 society would likely have is weather control.
An example of this in movies would be any science fiction movie that shows Earth United by one government, or close cooperation, such as the movie Interstellar and 2010 Space Odyssey.
References:
the movie Interstellar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_(film)
Stanley Kubrick Space Odyssey:
* 2001 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/
* 2010 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086837/
A type II civilization,
also called a stellar civilization, can use and control energy at the scale of its planetary system. Technological achievements that K2 civilizations would likely have is the ability to terraform and build megastructures. An example of a near type 2 is the TV series The Expanse. Most space operas fall into this category such as any Star Trek. I wanted to place Star Wars here to but since Sith lords frequently entertain ruling the galaxy, they must be nearing K3 contrary to Star Trek, where the galaxy is still a vast place that takes lifetimes to span even with warp drive. Another delightful noir/cyberpunk book series is the Takeshi Kovacs novels by Richard K Morgan. The first of which, Altered Carbon, was made into a Netflix movie.
References:
The Expanse: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3230854/
Star Trek serieses: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek
Richard K Morgan's Takeshi Kovacks book series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeshi_Kovacs
A type III civilization,
also called a galactic civilization, can control energy at the scale of its entire host galaxy.
Movies like this do casually travel the wide reaches of the galaxy and the galaxy is as well known as any of us today see the Earth as well known and prospected by various nation states. The most famous example of this in movies would be, as I've already said, is Star Wars. More choices are Jupiter Ascending, as well as Valarian and the City of a Thousand Planets. In literature we have books like Vernor Vinges Zones of Thought, and Asimov’s The Foundation. The Vinge book showca