Sci-fi films have always been a popular choice for moviegoers. Not only are they great examples of world-building, creativity, and artistry in storytelling, but they contain deeper meanings about society and culture. The best sci-fi films draw upon fundamental parts of society as inspiration for the worlds they create, prompting viewers to examine what makes us human.
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Sci-fi films often focus on looking into the future, but several films from the past are still relevant today. In fact, many of sci-fi’s modern franchises are influenced and inspired by these classics. For example, Franklin J. Schnaffer’s Planet of the Apes and Ridley Scott’s Alien have lived on through several modern sequels and adaptations. Films like these have made the recipe for delivering an entertaining yet powerful story that examines issues from beauty standards to human warfare.
10 The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
Directed by Robert Wise
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The Day The Earth Stood Still
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*Availability in US Director Robert Wise Character(s) Klaatu , Helen Benson , Bobby Benson , Prof. Jacob Barnhardt , Tom Stevens , Gort , General Cutler , Mrs. Crockett , Mr. Harley , Mrs. Barley , George Barley , Mr. Krull , Hilda , Elmer Davis , H.V. Kaltenborn , Drew Pearson , Gabriel Heatter , Lieutenant in Charge of Landing Site , Army Dr. White , Balding Army Doctor , Army Examining Doctor , Radio Interviewer at Landing Site , Brady Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
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Robert Wise’s The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of the earliest examples of a Sci-Fi hit in Hollywood. The film led the charge for the sudden boom of alien stories which became popular in the 1950s, and shocked audiences with its depiction of what an extraterrestrial threat may look like to humanity. Its message, that humanity would be exterminated by a secret alien coalition if it continued to act on its aggressive impulses, transcends to modern-day conversations over the brutality of war.
The Day the Earth Stood Still
was based on Edmund H. North’s short story, “Farewell to the Master” from 1940.
Beyond the now iconic characters of Klaatu, the alien, and his threatening robot sidekick, Gort, the film contains deeper meanings about the danger humanity poses to itself, if left unchecked. This was chilling to Western audiences who, at the time, were worried about the ongoing Cold War and atomic crisis. Today, this can still be applied to society’s fears over the possibility of nuclear warfare. In fact, the film’s haunting warning is still so applicable that The Day the Earth Stood Still was made into a remake in 2008.
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9 War Of The Worlds (1953)
Directed by Byron Haskin
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The War of the Worlds (1953)
Director Byron Haskin Character(s) Dr. Clayton Forrestor , Sylvia Van Buren , Maj. Gen. Mann , Dr. Pryor , Dr. Bilderbeck , Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins , Gen. Mann’s Aide , Second Radio Reporter Main Genre Sci-Fi
Similarly, War of the Worlds is another 1950s extraterrestrial film that is still a cult classic. In fact, War of the Worlds is so popular it was remade in 2005. This film centers around a small California town that has been attacked by mysterious UFOs from the planet, Mars. Soon, hysteria over the threat of unknown visitors spreads across the world and humanity is left to decide how they will fight off the aliens.
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War of the Worlds was created during the Cold War and the atomic crisis, which is relevant when the government considers using atomic bombs to fight off the aliens. In today’s world, the debate over the use of weapons of mass destruction is still just as relevant. Not to mention, the technical effects, although dated, remain impressive, such as the spine-chilling image of UFOs entering the New York skyline to destroy everything in their path. For these reasons, the film remains a classic, and War of the Worlds was adapted by the BBC as a series in 2018.
8 Forbidden Planet (1956)
Directed by Fred M. Wilcox
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Forbidden Planet Sci-Fi
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*Availability in US Director Fred M. Wilcox Release Date March 15, 1956 Cast Walter Pidgeon , Anne Francis , Leslie Nielsen
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The Technicolor World of Film brings Fred M. Wilcox’s Sci-Fi film, Forbidden Planet, to life onscreen. In this film, Commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielson) and his crew of intergalactic travelers launch an investigation when they encounter a lonely planet (Altair IV) where a group of scientists has gone missing. It was one of the first instances of a Sci-Fi story mixed with elements of fantasy and fiction, making Forbidden Planet ahead of its time.
Although the sci-fi world of Altair IV may seem rudimentary when compared with the planets featured in modern sci-fi, its desolate and rocky landscape forms the bones of what will come later in the creation of many extraterrestrial worlds. Impressive technical effects and the world-building of Altair IV’s retro-futuristic city make the visuals in the film captivating even to modern audiences. Not to mention, the character of “Robby the Robot” appeared later on in several films, and is a testament to the film’s influence.
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7 Planet Of The Apes (1968)
Directed by Franklin J Schaffner
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Planet of the Apes (1968)
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*Availability in US Director Franklin J. Schaffner Cast Charlton Heston , Roddy McDowall , Kim Hunter , Maurice Evans , James Whitmore , James Daly , Linda Harrison , Robert Gunner Main Genre Sci-Fi
Perhaps one of the most famous sci-fi films of the 1960s is Franklin J. Schaffner’s original Planet of the Apes.The film has lived on today through several spin-offs and sequels that explain the larger timeline for Planet of the Apes, and it is no surprise why. As Charles Heston’s “Captain George Taylor” finds himself stuck in a dystopian future of an Earth run by chimps, he slowly discovers the terrible truth behind this reality in Planet of the Ape’s controversial ending: it is atomic warfare that has killed off civilized human society.
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|
Films |
Year |
|---|---|
|
Planet of the Apes |
1968 |
|
Beneath the Planet of the Apes |
1970 |
|
Escape from the Planet of the Apes |
1971 |
|
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes |
1972 |
|
Battle for the Planet of the Apes |
1973 |
|
Planet of the Apes |
2001 |
|
Rise of the Planet of the Apes |
2011 |
|
War for the Planet of the Apes |
2014 |
|
War for the Planet of the Apes |
2017 |
|
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes |
2024 |
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Planet of the Apes, like many other classics, also explores how humanity’s affinity for violence leads to its destruction, asking what would happen if humans had not evolved to be the top of the social chain. The film is a technical marvel in terms of establishing setting, from the now iconic world of Ape City to the desolate desert landscape that Heston crashes into. The film is so popular it eventually branched off into two other sequels and has now been made into a new prequel film series that is a box office hit.
6 Logan’s Run (1976)
Directed by Michael Anderson
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Logans Run Adventure Sci-FiAction
Director Michael Anderson Cast Farrah Fawcett , Roscoe Lee Browne , Michael York , Richard Jordan , Jenny Agutter See at AmazonSee at WalmartSee at Best Buy
Another popular sci-fi film that followed the success of sci-fi fantasy, like Forbidden Planet, was Logan’s Run. Michael Anderson’s film explores themes of aging and personal freedom against the backdrop of a futuristic city utopia. Though life is seemingly perfect for its members, at the age of thirty, all citizens are “reincarnated” and secretly killed to avoid overpopulation issues.
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Not only is the retro-futuristic, colorful world of Logan’s Run captivating to current audiences who crave a 70s style, but it also poses an interesting question about quality versus quantity of life and the right to self-determination. Logan 5 (Michael York) and Jessica 6 (Jenny Agutter), who discover life beyond their domed city, struggle to come to terms with the dark truth behind their perfect society. Their distrust of the government is another element of the film that is a current hot topic in today’s politics, and themes in Logan’s Run would certainly provide something fresh to this conversation.
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5 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
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8.2/10 2001: A Space Odyssey AdventureMysterySci-Fi
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*Availability in US Director Stanley Kubrick Cast Keir Dullea , Gary Lockwood , William Sylvester , Daniel Richter , Leonard Rossiter , Margaret Tyzack
2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most inspirational sci-fi films to date. Kubrick’s film takes on a much artsier quality than other sci-fi films of its time but contains many of the same elements: a team of explorers, alien contact, and a rogue robot. When Captain David Bowman and his crew make contact with a strange monolith, they embark on a transformational experience that will change human evolution. By the film’s strange ending, the monolith has transformed him into an evolved race of humanity meant to change Earth’s kind once more.
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Ultimately, 2001 was ahead of its time, tackling multiple issues throughout the story that are still popular in sci-fi films of today. Hal, the robot, and his increased autonomy from and disdain towards humanity is a common fear that has only become more applicable today in the age of AI and advanced technology. Beyond this, the film is technically spectacular and sure to impress audiences even today. For example, Bowman’s final scene of traveling through the wormhole in the monolith is a captivating watch because of its special effects.
4 Alien (1979)
Directed by Ridley Scott
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10/10 Alien (1979)
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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Character(s) Ripley , Dallas , Kane , Lambert , Brett , Ash , Parker , Alien Main Genre Sci-Fi
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Perhaps one of the most enduring sci-fi movies is the original Alien, directed by Ridley Scott. The film features a star-studded cast, led by Alien’s iconic final girl Sigourney Weaver (Ripley), who are from a futuristic version of humanity with the ability for deep space travel. When they are tasked with bringing a mysterious alien life form home, a horrifying turn of events leads to the deaths of most of the crew and the release of the dangerous “xenomorph.” In the end, it is curiosity that leads to the demise of the crew on the ship, “The Nostromo.”
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Similarly to 2001 a Space Odyssey, Alien involves a self-serving robot whose best interest is to abandon his human companions for the sake of knowledge. In today’s reality, where machine-made helpers are being used at a higher capacity, this element of the film has the capacity to hit home. Also, apart from these philosophical questions, Alien represented a new kind of extraterrestrial blockbuster where the alien threat was more developed, continuing to make the xenomorph just as scary in today’s adaptations. For this reason, the original Alien is a terrifying and gripping watch that has still not become technically outdated.
3 Solaris (1972)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
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Solaris (1972)
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*Availability in US Director Andrei Tarkovsky Cast Natalya Bondarchuk , Donatas Banionis , Jüri Järvet , Vladislav Dvorzhetskiy Main Genre Drama
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Solaris is one of Andrew Tarovsky’s top sci-fi films, a haunting tale about the weaknesses and desires of the human mind. The film follows a psychologist, Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis), who is sent to a space station above the planet Solaris because many of the scientists there have suffered from strange mental afflictions. As Kelvin begins to experience symptoms himself, the film does a beautiful job of illustrating how guilt, grief, and repressed emotions are universal human experiences that cannot be ignored.
The artistic quality of Solaris is also what makes it stand out. Shots and music are pieced together to create a sense of loneliness and isolation on the space station. Though it is a sci-fi film based on fiction, the story revolves around a grounded emotional plot for Kelvin and the supporting characters, which gives it a more modern feel for its time. Because of the strong emotional elements and cinematic quality, this space thriller is a powerful story that has not lost its luster with age.
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2 Stalker (1979)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
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Stalker (1979)
Director Andrei Tarkovsky Cast Alexander Kaidanovsky , Anatoly Solonitsyn , Alisa Freindlich , Nikolai Grinko Main Genre Sci-Fi
Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Stalker is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. At the time of its release, few sci-fi films had been created in this style. The film takes place in the cold and eerie Zone, and is less action-packed than philosophical. In the film, a man known as The Stalker guides two individuals through The Zone to a room that will grant them any wish. The premise is made even more powerful because it is set in a Soviet-style society, much like the one Andrei Tarkovsky was commenting on at the time of its release.
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The main characters’ simple quests to find the room and make their personal desires a reality are in direct opposition to the strict control exerted by their authoritarian government. Personal desire and freedom of expression are still qualities of life that are cherished in many modern societies and therefore make the thematic genius of this film resilient to time. The surrealist landscape and tone of this film have also remained popular in today’s sci-fi franchises; Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Blade Runner being popular examples.
1 The Black Hole (1979)
Directed by Gary Nelson
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The Black Hole (1979)
Director Gary Nelson Character(s) Dr. Hans Reinhardt , Dr. Alex Durant , Captain Dan Holland , Lieutenant Charles Pizer , Dr. Kate McCrae , Harry Booth , Captain S.T.A.R. , V.I.N.CENT. (voice) , B.O.B. (voice) , Drone with Mask Removed Main Genre Sci-Fi
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Gary Nelson’s Black Hole is an underrated sci-fi classic, and speculation over a TV adaptation has floated around for years. The film examines the lengths humanity will go to in search of knowledge and answers to the unknown. Black Hole follows a crew aboard the ship, “Palomino”, which happens upon a missing spaceship with a single surviving scientist. However, instead of leaving with the rescue crew, the scientist, Dr. Reinhardt (Maximilian Schell), is determined to take himself and his army of robotic soldiers into a black hole for the first time.
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Throughout the film, crew members decide whether to support Dr. Reinhard, revealing the long-standing debate over humanity’s ambition in the face of the unknown. Today, this can be applied to many different aspects of technological advancement. This film is also a rare instance of a darker Disney film that resembles horror rather than the traditional sci-fi flick. Because of this tonal difference, the film stands out among other films in the genre. The Black Hole also pushed boundaries with its effects, technology, and futuristic world.