There are certain sci-fi movies that should be considered essential viewing for fans of the genre, and it’s hard to imagine the landscape of cinema or pop culture without them. Many of these movies spun their big successes into long-running franchises, which has cemented their status even further.
Sci-fi has the potential to introduce new ideas and deliver stunning visuals. This means that a great sci-fi movie can live long in the mind, and audiences will often rewatch the genre’s most important classics to discover any hidden details and explore the story from a new angle. Some sci-fi movies are unmissable, and fans of the genre couldn’t do without them.
Alienremains one ofRidley Scott’s best movies. Along with 1982’sBlade Runner, it granted the director a place in the pantheon of sci-fi movie legends, and it still has the power to enthrall audiences over 50 years later.It has been imitated many times, but never bested.
Alienis the ultimate synthesis of sci-fi and horror.
Alienis the ultimate synthesis of sci-fi and horror. Often described as a haunted house movie set in space, it revitalizes old horror tropes in a new setting to create a desperately bleak image of corporate greed at the expense of human lives. It helps that it also has one of the most striking creature designs in film history.
It’s hard to think about the originalStar Warsmovie without placing it in the context of the behemoth of a franchise that it created. The fact that it has provided the blueprint for other wannabe franchise starters underlinesStar Wars' remarkable worldbuilding.
Even in an era of CGI wizardry that has made anything possible,Star Wars' grand spectacle is unparalleled, with a hearty dose of action and romance to rival any old adventure movie. As theStar Warsfranchise continues to grow, the first movie stands alone as an entertaining romp unencumbered by lore, continuity and callbacks.
Artificial intelligence has always been a huge topic in science-fiction, and it’s bound to become even more important as contemporary anxieties about automation, authenticity and isolation continue to rise.Ex Machinais one of the best movies to address this issue in the context of the 21st century.
Ex Machinadraws a straight line between the biggest ethical issues with artificial intelligence and the ego-driven tech CEOs who govern so much of our world. It’s a distinctly modern horror story about the billionaire class’s wanton disregard for sustainability and human life, and it already seems shockingly prescient.
The Matrixdidn’t invent the idea of simulation theory, but it crystallized it into a distinct, stylized form which still resonates with audiences. There’s a reason why so many of the most striking images fromThe Matrix, like the red-pill-blue-pill dichotomy, have been co-opted by so many different people to illustrate different philosophies.
As well as exploring its unique sci-fi concept in depth,The Matrixalso presented a revolutionary style of action, making the perfect use of its simulated universe to innovate on wire-fu.TheMatrixfranchise has had its ups and downs, but the original is still a jolt of wild originality.
Denis Villeneuve has built a reputation as one of the leading lights in 21st century sci-fi, and this started withArrival.Eric Heisserer’s brilliant script adapts the novellaStory of Your Lifeby Ted Chiang, translating the author’s cerebral exploration of linguistics and geopolitics to the big-screen with exquisite finesse.
Arrival’s fascinating non-linear timelinemeans that it’s the kind of movie that most people will want to watch at least twice. The surprise of the ending is one thing, but Heisserer and Villeneuve’s controlled execution is what makes it so powerful.Arrivalis already a modern classic, proving that there’s still a place for pure sci-fi.
Inceptionis one ofChristopher Nolan’s best movies, and it captures a lot of what makes the director so unique. Nolan is known for bringing unique, high-brow concepts to huge audiences with plenty of blockbuster action and jaw-dropping spectacle.Inception’s dream-sharing technology is the perfect summation of this phenomenon.
Alongside big franchises likeStar WarsandAvatar,Inceptionprobably sums up the state of modern cinematic sci-fi better than any other movie, since it highlights the requirement to use explosive action and mind-bending visuals to sell its interesting premise. Many other filmmakers have bungled this formula, but Nolan always seems to strike the right balance.
Steven Spielberg has always been the kind of director who can deliver immense crowdpleasing theatrics, andJurassic Parkstands alongsideJawsandRaiders of the Lost Arkas one of his most relentlessly entertaining offerings. It adds elements of horror, adventure and action to its inherently eye-catching sci-fi premise.
Jurassic Park’s groundbreaking mix of practical effects and CGI has held up well, and the film still feels more immersive than any of its more polished sequels. This owes a great debt to the intelligent storytelling, which sets the stakes early so that the dinosaur action takes on a more urgent layer.
Not only isWALL-Eone ofPixar’s best movies, but it’s also one of the studio’s most ambitious and original. Pixar’s first true sci-fi movie features a protagonist who only communicates in beeps and computerized squeals, and there are long stretches without any dialogue at all.
Animation and sci-fi fit together nicely, as they both have the capacity for limitless exploration.WALL-Edelivers on this potential, and it appeals to audiences of all ages like many great Pixar classics. There aren’t many sci-fi films quite like it.
Alfonso Cuarón’sChildren of Menwas a box-office disappointment, but this doesn’t reflect its quality. Although it didn’t make much of an impact at the time,it’s since been recognized as one of the most exciting and delicately crafted sci-fi movies of the 21st century.
Post-apocalyptic stories have been a mainstay of science fiction for decades. In the 21st century,Children of Men’s catastrophic vision of the future is created by a falling birth rate and rampant xenophobia, not a nuclear war or some environmental disaster.
Few films have contributed as much to the landscape of the sci-fi genre as Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odyssey.It’s hard to imagine that other classics likeAlienor modern hits likeInterstellarcould exist without2001.It’s not just the visuals either, since2001’s approach to artificial intelligence and deep-space travel were also revolutionary.
2001: A Space Odysseyis teeming with strange, striking imagery.
2001: A Space Odysseyis teeming with strange, striking imagery, like the towering black monoliths and the mysterious space baby right at the end. Many of these images have been analyzed and deconstructed for decades, but they have an intense power that defies simple classification, as Kubrick urges his audience to feel before thinking.
