Throughout cinema’s long history, one of its most prominent genres has been science fiction. From the earliest days of filmmaking withshorts likeA Trip to the Moon, to the ’60s and ’70s where long-running franchises likeStar TrekandStar Warsgot their start, all the way to the modern era with hits likeGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3andKingdom of the Planet of the Apes,the genre has clearly made a huge impression with audiences all over the world.
But, while sci-fi has had a long historycontaining some amazing films, there area few that transcend their genre, becoming absolutely essential watches that everyone should see at least once. Some of these films stand out for the impact that they had on the film industry, while others are examples ofnearly perfect filmmaking, but either way,these are science fiction films that everyone should see at some point in their lives.
10’Alien' (1979)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Following the major box office success of 1977’sStar Wars, science fiction was thrust into the spotlight, ensuring the rise of a number of other prominent sci-fi franchises.Alienwas one such series, beginning with 1979’s film of the same name, in which the crew members of a spaceship encounter the deadly Xenomorph species. While perhaps overshadowed by its sequel, 1986’sAliens,Alienis still an extremely iconic sci-fi horror film due tobrilliant direction from Ridley Scott.
A large part of the appeal ofAlienis how effectively it mixes its two genres. Featuring the detailed effects work ofStar Wars, and the slow, suspenseful horror of hits of the era likeJawsandHalloween,Alienperfectly combines the best aspects of both genres, solidifying its title as one of the best sci-fi horror films of all time. It also introduced audiences to the Xenomorph, now one ofthe most iconic creature designs of all time, while bringing wider recognition toSigourney Weaver, giving rise to one ofthe genre’s most beloved stars. So, whilearguably less iconic than its successor,Alienis stillan absolutely essential sci-fi film that everyone should see at least once.
Alienis streaming on Hulu in the U.S.
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9’The Matrix' (1999)
Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski
Back in 1999,The Matrixwas a massive breath of fresh air for the action genre. While the ’90s saw the release ofsome of the best action filmsof all time, many had begun to seem formulaic by the decade’s end.Matrixshook things up by featuring exciting action choreographythathighlighted the gun fufirst made popular in the works ofJohn Woo. Alongside its engaging choreography, the film also showed off some of the best CGI effects available at the time, quickly establishing itself asone ofthe best sci-fi action filmsof all time.
Also contributing toMatrix’s legacy is its genuinely interesting plot. While its sequels would get overly complicated, the original film, in whichKeanu Reeves' Neo learns he is living within a simulation and chooses to join a rebellion against those running it, is far more simple, making ita more accessible film than the franchise’s reputation might have you believe. Certain aspects of the film, like its over-the-top music choices, haven’t aged perfectly, but regardless,The Matrixstill stands asan extremely entertaining ride that no one should miss out on.
The Matrix
8’WALL-E' (2008)
Directed by Andrew Stanton
While few animated studios have had a run of films as critically acclaimed as Pixar’s streak from 1995 to 2010,WALL-Estands on a level of its own. The studio’s first release to beincluded in the Criterion Collection,WALL-Efinds its titular robot (Ben Burtt) on a post-apocalyptic Earth seemingly devoid of almost all life. Following a chance encounter with another robot, EVE (Elissa Knight), WALL-E is whisked away to space, where he finds what remains of the human race,left without a homedue to their own excessive wastefulness.
WhileWALL-Estands asone of Pixar’s best works, it’s also a fantastic film on its own merits, with an extremely valuable message regardingthe importance of preserving the planet’s environment. This thematic material, in combination with the film’s post-apocalyptic setting, could make it seem overly bleak, butits status as a family film keeps the tone light, and its subject matter surprisingly easy to digest, even for younger audience members. These qualities, as well as its overwhelmingly charming script, make itan easy film to recommend to anyone who hasn’t already seen it.
7’Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
Directed by James Cameron
WhileThe Terminatoris an amazing sci-fi horror film by itself, its sequel,Terminator 2: Judgment Day, is a better film in just about every way, completely justifying its reputation as one ofthe best sequels of all time. InTerminator 2, a new Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent to 1995 to protect Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her son, John (Edward Furlong), fromthe sinister T-1000(Robert Patrick), an evil Terminator once again sent to end John’s existence to set the events of Judgment Day into motion.
Terminator 2featuresadrenaline-pumping actionsequences,iconic, career-defining performancesfrom both Schwarzenegger and Hamilton, and groundbreaking special effectsthat have aged shockingly well considering the film’s 1991 release. The movie also highlightsJames Cameron’s talents as director, with fight scenes between the killer cyborgs serving as some of the franchise’s most memorable moments. FurtherTerminatorfilms varied in quality, butthe second is an undeniable classic that everyone should see at least once, even if they haven’t seen the first.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
6'2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 classic,2001: A Space Odyssey, won’t appeal to everyone. In the modern day, it can seem like an incredibly slow film, especially with itsminimalist approach to dialogue. But,given the proper context,2001is actually an incredible watch, with thematic elements regarding Artifical Intelligence that keep it shockingly relevant today.
The primary reason that the film is paced so slowly was initially to allowaudiences in 1968time to fully process theincredible special effects work on display. The detailed miniature work and innovative effects techniques may not seem particularly special today, but they were like nothing viewers had seen before in the ’60s, and even still,the entirety of the film is beautifully shot, giving it a timeless look.Its villainous AI, HAL 9000(Douglas Rain), has become a staple of American pop culture, beingheavily referenced and parodied in various mediaover the years, while also serving as a discussion starter regarding how much power AI should really be given. So, while2001may not be the most exciting movie in the world, its thematic relevance and influence on special effects make it an essential watchfor anyone who can get past its admittedly flawed pacing.
2001: A Space Odyssey
5’E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
WhenE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialfirst released in 1982, it became a worldwide hit, quicklyachieving historic box office success. Watching it nowadays,it continues to be incredibly clear why it was such a phenomenon in the first place;E.T.is an expertly crafted film featuring a simple, relatable plot, iconic practical effects work, a strong performance by young leadHenry Thomas, and one of thebest original soundtracks in Hollywood historyfrom composerJohn Williams.
The film follows Elliott (Thomas), a young child struggling with loneliness in the aftermath of his parents' divorce. One night, Elliott makes an unlikely friend when he discovers an alien that he names E.T. in his backyard. Throughout the film,Elliott and his alien companion’s relationship is brilliantly fleshed out, giving the film an extremely endearing emotional core, aided by directorSteven Spielberg’s signature heart and charm, which is present in every single frame of the movie. It’s one of the most well-known science fiction films of all time, butfor anyone who hasn’t seen it yet,E.T.is an absolutely essential watch thatno one should miss out on.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
4’Back to the Future' (1985)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Back to the Futureis the story of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a teenager sent from 1985 to 1955 while participating in a science experiment gone wrong with Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), an eccentric scientist who oftenworks with Marty’s assistance. While trapped in the past, Marty is tasked with ensuring that his mother (Lea Thompson) and father (Crispin Glover) still end up together in order to secure his future existence, while also working with a past version of Doc to return to his own time. It may sound convoluted, butin practice it’s easy to understand, and an absolute joy to watch.
Back to the Futurebenefits from having a nearly perfect scriptwhich neatly explains its concept, while still being filled to the brim withhilarious character interactionsand extremely witty and quotable lines. Fox and Lloyd are also perfectly cast, with Fox being allowed to build upon the comedic talents he developed onFamily Ties, andLloyd bringing his already well-established skillsto the table, resulting in Marty and Doc being one of cinema’s most recognizable duos. FollowingBack to the Future’s success, Marty and Doc’s story continued in two sequels, butit is the original that still stands as a timeless classic, remaining an essential watch to this day.
Back to the Future
3’Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (1977)
FollowingJaws' unprecedented success at the box office, Steven Spielberg was one of Hollywood’s hottest directors. With his newfound freedom, Spielberg moved from uncharted waters to uncharted skies with 1977’sClose Encounters of the Third Kind, a sci-fi film exploring the effect that a potential alien visitation might have on one man. It may not beas well-loved as Spielberg’s next science fiction film,E.T., butClose Encountersis actuallySpielberg’s best foray into sci-fi, thanks to its memorable plot and a stunning performance from Richard Dreyfuss.
Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, a man who finds himself obsessed with a peculiar shape after witnessing a number of UFOs in the sky one night. As he repeatedly creates the shape out of a variety of materials, attempting to find meaning in his obsession, Roy’s family slowly falls apart around him as his life is completely consumed by thoughts of his extraterrestrial encounter. What follows issome of the most engaging family drama of Spielberg’s career, particularly in the director’s cut. The film also approaches its aliens in unique ways,showing the potential terror of the unknown, like in a famous scene where young Barry (Cary Guffey) is abducted,but also the inherent wonder of it, like in the film’s finale, where humankind communicates with alien life for the first time. It may not be Spielberg’s most well-known science fiction film, but it is his best, making itan absolutely essential watch.
Close Encounters of The Third Kind
2’Metropolis' (1927)
Directed by Fritz Lang
1927’sMetropolis, a silent film made in Germany, isone ofthe most influential science fiction moviesof all time. It tells the story of Freder Fredersen (Gustav Fröhlich), the son of prominent city leader Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel), and his experience as he is first exposed to the lower classes of the titular city. The lower classes live beneath Metropolis while simultaneously keeping it functioning, a fact whichleads Freder to grow empathetic, entangling him in a worker’s rebellion.
Elements of this plot are likely to sound familiar to any fan of sci-fi, as it contains a number of themes that would become commonplace in later science fiction films. In addition to its narrative influence,Metropoliswas also visually influential, containing some striking shots, anda general aesthetic thatclearly impacted a number of other worksin the genre, perhaps best exemplified by Rotwang’s (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) robot. While the fact that it’s a two-and-a-half hour silent film makes it an admittedly tough watch,Metropolisis still hugely influential, making it a movie that everyone should see at least once.
Metropolis
1’Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope' (1977)
Directed by George Lucas
It would be difficult to overstate the effect that 1977’sStar Wars, later given the subtitleEpisode IV – A New Hope, has had on Hollywood. It kicked off one of the biggest and most successful film franchises of all time, while also featuring jaw-dropping special effects thatcemented the importance of spectacle more than any film before it.George Lucas' sci-fi epic also introduced audiences worldwide toMark Hamill,Carrie FisherandHarrison Ford, launching three of the film industry’s most notable careers.
But, while adding three huge names to the Hollywood zeitgeist,Star Warsalso made science fiction more mainstream than ever before. Characters like Darth Vader (David ProwseandJames Earl Jones), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) becamesome of the most well-known characters in popular culture, while starships likethe Millennium Falconand Imperial Star Destroyer have become some of themost widely-recognized ships in sci-fi. The Death Star trench run is alsoan outstanding action scene, combining the filmmaking techniques behind the dogfights in World War II movies with its own innovative special effects to createa wholly unique sequence that blew audiences away in 1977. Today,A New Hopecontinues to stand as one of the best entries in its long-running franchise, but even without considering its sequels,Star Warsis the most essential sci-fi film that everyone should see at least once.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
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