Science fiction is quite simply one of the most popular genres of film that we have. The creation of faraway places and futuristic technology seems to be exactly what the medium of film was designed to create. Sci-fi on film has been around for as long as there have been movies. But which ones are the best? Figuring that out is a nearly impossible task. But, we’re going to try and do it anyway.
If you’re a lover of science fiction in film, there’s a good chance some movies you love are on this list. Perhaps if you’re not as familiar with the genre, this could be a guide, giving you some ideas of where to start a journey into space and time. From all-time classics to modern blockbusters, here’s a look at the 35 sci-fi movies that we think are the best of all time.
That’s a pretty good list. I have a few differences in how I look at lists like this, though.
I generally lump major series together, unless there’s a real standout entry or a long series. So I agree with having just Star Trek 2 in it, but think Star Wars 4 and 5 should occupy 1 spot and include ROTJ. For cases like Terminator, where there are a ton of crap movies, I’d put the original and 2 in a single slot.
There are a bunch of classic movies missing, too. Soylent Green, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Forbidden Planet, Metropolis, etc. Personally, I’d have Dark City, The Last Starfighter, Short Circuit, maybe Iron Man, Black Panther, or Age of Ultron (some Marvel entry). A nod to anime should also be in there, even if it’s just Akira. Others I’d might have in there if I ever sat down to rank these things in order: Total Recall, The Running Man, The Lawnmower Man, Cube, THX 1138, The Fly, MiB, Mad Max, The Thing, Close Encounters
Probably not making the list, but noteworthy conceptually: Minority Report, Johnny Mnemonic, Contact, Children of Men, Contact, Donnie Darko, Looper,
If they want to include movies that were great within their times or some specific context, the original animated Transformers was a crazy, but noteworthy departure from the franchise’s previous media. Galaxy Quest and Space Balls aren’t philosophical masterpieces, but definitely high on my list.
For kid friendly stuff, Batteries Not Included, Space Camp, Flight of the Navigator, and E.T.
Metropolis is on there in the top 10, as it always is on these lists. Seen it multiple times, its a work of art considering it’s age but it’s always way too high for my taste.
Oh, whoops. Thanks for pointing that out.
Metropolis is interesting because of the time period. I think of it like Godzilla or Akira in the context of nuclear weapons. As a movie, they’re fine, but the culture and trepidation about the direction the world was moving adds a whole different level to appreciate.
Big +1s for Dark City and Children of Men.
Dark City doesn’t get enough love. It’s a pretty bizarre movie and was ahead of it’s time.