While fast-paced action can be incredibly enjoyable, there’s a lot to be said for a slow-burn sci-fi movie that takes its time to reveal its true nature. By allowing the space for atmosphere and complexity to grow and breathe, sci-fi stories can become all the more thought-provoking and philosophically rich when they don’t underestimate the audience and allow for events to occur naturally without the need for endless explosions, chases, or blockbuster movie spectacles. A slower-paced sci-fi film allows for tension to build and the characters’ motivations to reveal themselves.
Some of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made ran at a slower pace and rewarded viewers’ patience with meaningful revelations. By focusing on characters over pure, mindless entertainment or giving room for striking visuals and a sense of discovery within the movie’s world, sci-fi stories can go from being merely good to truly great. Some of the most epic sci-fi movies ever released were slow-burn triumphs exploring deep existential themes like searching for meaning in an unknowable universe or the probing humanity at the heart of technological advancement.
15 The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976)
Directed by Nicolas Roeg
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The Man Who Fell to Earth R Sci-FiDrama
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a sci-fi movie where David Bowie stars as an alien who comes to find a way to save his dying planet, but uses his advanced knowledge to create a global business empire and eventually loses sight of his original mission. A 2022 TV series starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Bill Nighy continued the story of the 1976 film.
Director Nicolas Roeg Release Date March 18, 1976 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures Distributor(s) Columbia Pictures Writers Paul Mayersberg , Walter Tevis Cast David Bowie , Rip Torn , Candy Clark , Buck Henry , Bernie Casey Runtime 139 Minutes Budget $1.5 million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand See at Amazon
The Man Who Fell to Earth starred glam rock icon David Bowie in the role he was born to play as the humanoid alien Thomas Jerome Newton coming to Earth to seek water for his drought-ridden planet. However, much like Bowie himself during the 1970s, Newton found himself at the mercy of human vices as the allure of alcohol, drugs, and sex corrupted him. As a slow-moving sci-fi with more to do with the complexities of human desire than thrilling action sequences, the surreal imagery of this cult classic made it stand out as among Bowie’s best movies.
14 A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
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A.I. Artificial Intelligence PG-13DramaScience FictionAdventure
A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, featuring a robotic boy named David who is programmed to love. Adopted by a Cybertronics employee and his wife, David faces unexpected challenges that threaten his place in their family.
Director Steven Spielberg Release Date June 29, 2001 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , DreamWorks Pictures , Amblin Entertainment , Stanley Kubrick Productions Writers Steven Spielberg Cast Haley Joel Osment , Jude Law , Frances O’Connor , Sam Robards , jake thomas Runtime 146 Minutes Budget 100000000 Main Genre Drama Expand
Steven Spielberg stepped in to finish his friend and contemporary Stanley Kubrick’s long-planned sci-fi movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence. As a sci-fi reimagining of Pinocchio, A.I. was based on the 1969 short story “Supertoys Last All Summer Long” by Brian Aldiss and told the story of a childlike android who longs for the affection and adoration of his deceased loving mother. With themes around grief, technology, and machines’ capacity for emotion, A.I. has only become more relevant in the decades since it was released.
13 Under The Skin (2013)
Directed by Jonathan Glazer
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7.3/10 Under the Skin R Sci-FiThrillerDramaHorror
Under the Skin is a sci-fi thriller directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson. Johansson plays “The Female,” an alien from another world that hunts men in Scotland. Despite receiving high praise upon release, Under the Skin was a box office bomb, only making a little over half of its budget.
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*Availability in US Director Jonathan Glazer Release Date April 4, 2014 Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 Writers Jonathan Glazer , Walter Campbell Cast Dougie McConnell , Lynsey Taylor Mackay , Jeremy McWilliams , Scarlett Johansson , Kevin McAlinden Runtime 108 minutes Budget $13.3 million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
Those who like their sci-fi movies fast-paced with traditional narratives should look elsewhere, as Under the Skin was among the most unconventional sci-fi movies of the 21st century. Starring Scarlett Johansson as a shapeshifting alien who lures unsuspecting men to their demise in the Scottish countryside, Under the Skin was a deeply atmospheric film made all the more effective through Mica Levi’s ethereal and otherworldly score. Widely regarded as a modern sci-fi masterpiece, Under the Skin might not hit with all viewers, but for those willing to give themselves over to its strange power, it’s deeply alluring.
12 The Thing (1982)
Directed by John Carpenter
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9.7/10 The Thing (1982) RHorror Sci-FiMystery
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
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*Availability in US Director John Carpenter Release Date June 25, 1982 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Bill Lancaster Cast T.K. Carter , David Clennon , Keith David , Kurt Russell , wilford brimley Runtime 109 minutes Franchise(s) The Thing prequel(s) The Thing Budget $15 million Expand
Although John Carpenter’s The Thing did not get the love it deserved upon release, it’s widely regarded as a masterpiece of horror and sci-fi today. Featuring a crew of scientists at an Alaskan base that’s been overrun by a menacing shapeshifting alien, The Thing forced audiences to reckon with the horror of paranoia and isolation that comes from being unable to trust anyone or anything. As the crew turned on one another with suspicion about who could secretly be the titular thing, The Thing was a rare movie in which nobody made it out alive.
11 Interstellar (2014)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
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17 8.4/10 Interstellar PG-13 Sci-FiDramaAdventure
From Christopher Nolan, Interstellar imagines a future where the Earth is plagued by a life-threatening famine, and a small team of astronauts is sent out to find a new prospective home among the stars. Despite putting the mission first, Coop (Matthew McConaughey) races against time to return home to his family even as they work to save mankind back on Earth.
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*Availability in US Director Christopher Nolan Release Date November 7, 2014 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Jonathan Nolan , Christopher Nolan Cast Matthew McConaughey , Anne Hathaway , Jessica Chastain , Mackenzie Foy , Ellen Burstyn , Michael Caine , Bill Irwin , Timothée Chalamet , David Oyelowo , John Lithgow Runtime 169 Minutes Budget 165 million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
Christopher Nolan is one of those rare directors who excels just as much in slow-building, thoughtful narratives as he does in action-packed showcases of pure spectacle. One example of his more thoughtful side was in the modern sci-fi triumph that was Interstellar. As a deeply complex story that addressed time, space, and alternative dimensions, while Interstellar began with an astronaut’s attempt to find a new home for mankind, it soon turned into a fascinating and paradoxical study of human relationships, family, and the passage of time.
10 Contact (1997)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
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Contact (1997) PGDramaScience FictionMystery
Contact, directed by Robert Zemeckis, stars Jodie Foster as Dr. Ellie Arroway, a determined scientist who uncovers a signal from extraterrestrial intelligence. Based on Carl Sagan’s novel, the film explores themes of faith, science, and the quest for meaning. Featuring Matthew McConaughey in a supporting role, Contact delves into the human spirit’s reach for the unknown and the implications of first contact with alien life.
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*Availability in US Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date July 11, 1997 Studio(s) South Side Amusement Company , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Michael Goldenberg , James V. Hart Cast Jodie Foster , Matthew McConaughey , James Woods , John Hurt , Tom Skerritt Runtime 150 Minutes Budget 90000000.0 Main Genre Drama Expand
Robert Zemeckis’ sci-fi classic Contact told the story of the scientist Dr. Eleanor Arroway (Jodie Foster), who found evidence of extraterrestrial life and was chosen as the person to make first contact with aliens. With fascinating scientific concepts and theological inquiry, Contact looked behind the mere idea of aliens’ existence and addressed the complexities of mankind and intelligent species making the decision to cross paths with them. By probing deeper than the average sci-fi action film, Contact managed to recapture the same wonder for the unknowable nature of the universe as iconic movies like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
9 Dune (2021)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
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9/10 Dune PG-13ActionAdventureScience FictionDrama
Dune the big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal bestseller of the same name. A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
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*Availability in US Director Denis Villeneuve Release Date October 22, 2021 Studio(s) Legendary Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Frank Herbert , Eric Roth , Denis Villeneuve , Jon Spaihts Cast Dave Bautista , Rebecca Ferguson , Sharon Duncan-Brewster , Jason Momoa , David Dastmalchian , Stephen McKinley Henderson , Stellan Skarsgård , Charlotte Rampling , Chang Chen , Oscar Isaac , Zendaya , Javier Bardem , Timothée Chalamet , Josh Brolin Runtime 155 minutes Expand
After director David Lynch’s notorious failure to successfully adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune during the 1980s, it started to feel like this was truly an unfilmable story. However, Denis Villeneuve, hot of the success of Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, finally pulled off this gigantic feat by splitting the novel into two films and allowing the story room to breathe with a slower pace that highlighted the story’s complexities and themes. With Timothée Chalamet as the heroic savior Paul Atreides, Dune and its sequel, Dune: Part Two, became one of the most satisfying sci-fi releases in living memory.
8 Solaris (1972)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
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Solaris (1972) PGDramaMysterySci-Fi
Solaris, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and based on the novel by Stanisław Lem, follows psychologist Kris Kelvin as he is sent to a space station orbiting the enigmatic planet Solaris. Confronted with mysterious phenomena affecting the crew, Kelvin must grapple with complex themes of memory, humanity, and loss. The film is a contemplative exploration of human consciousness and the unknown.
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*Availability in US Director Andrei Tarkovsky Release Date September 26, 1972 Writers Stanislaw Lem , Fridrikh Gorenshteyn , Andrei Tarkovsky Cast Natalya Bondarchuk , Donatas Banionis , Jüri Järvet , Vladislav Dvorzhetskiy Runtime 167 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky was the king of slow-burn sci-fi movies whose focus on the psychological themes and the existential nature of space made him the ideal filmmaker to adapt Stanisław Lem’s novel Solaris. Centering on a spaceship crew falling into a deep state of emotional crisis, Solaris addressed themes of existential dread, the vast, unknowable nature of the universe, and thought-provoking ideas of a parallel Earth. While viewers looking for fast-paced chase sequences and grand explosions will be left disappointed, Solaris was a movie with a lot to say about the nature of human existence.
7 Moon (2009)
Directed by Duncan Jones
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Moon RMysteryDrama Sci-Fi
Duncan Jones presents Moon, a sci-fi mystery drama that follows Astronaut Sam Bell, who has spent the last three years working at a lunar mine in isolation and is coming up at the end of his shift. However, as Sam prepares to return home to his family and meet his daughter for the first time, he begins to experience vivid hallucinations of a younger version of himself and begins to experience hazardous events. Before Lunar Industries arrives to relieve him of duty, he must uncover the reason for his recent psychosis and free himself of his mental prison.
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*Availability in US Director Duncan Jones Release Date July 10, 2009 Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony Writers Nathan Parker Cast Sam Rockwell , Kevin Spacey , Kaya Scodelario , Benedict Wong , Dominique McElligott Runtime 97 minutes Budget $5 million Expand
Sam Rockwell deserved an Academy Award nomination for his tour-de-force performance in Moon, a compelling sci-fi debut from Duncan Jones that explored a man’s personal crisis on a three-year solitary space mission. As a thoughtful and moving film, Moon used its sci-fi concept to explore the very nature of self, as loneliness and a lack of human connection had led to deep torment amid the enclosed space of a strange spaceship. With themes of doubling, identity, and the human psyche, Moon was as much about the personal needs of individuals as it was about the lead characters’ search for alternative fuel on the Moon.
6 Her (2013)
Directed by Spike Jonze
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9/10 Her (2013) RDramaRomanceScience Fiction
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*Availability in US Director Spike Jonze Release Date January 10, 2014 Cast Joaquin Phoenix , Amy Adams , Scarlett Johansson , Rooney Mara Runtime 126 Mins
The sci-fi romance Her was a fascinating study of humans’ need for connection, which has only become more relevant in the years since its release. With Joaquin Phoenix as a lonely, introverted man who fell in love with his AI virtual assistant, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, Her was one of the most powerful breakup movies ever made as it used its science fiction concepts to represent emotions that felt all too human. Packed with wisdom about the complexities of modern relationships and the difficulties in making connections in an increasingly fractured world, Her will surely connect with those going through heartbreak.
5 Ex Machina (2014)
Directed by Alex Garland
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8.5/10 Ex Machina R Sci-FiDrama
Young computer programmer Caleb is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment by evaluating the human qualities in a new and improved female artificial intelligence. But in the luxurious, isolated mansion of the man who created this technology, all may not be as it seems.
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*Availability in US Director Alex Garland Release Date April 10, 2015 Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 , Universal Pictures Writers Alex Garland Cast Alicia Vikander , Domhnall Gleeson , Oscar Isaac , Sonoya Mizuno , Gana Bayarsaikhan , Corey Johnson Runtime 108 minutes Budget $15 million Expand
Science fiction has always reckoned with the true nature of artificial intelligence and robots’ capacity for true consciousness. These ideas were powerfully explored in Alex Garland’s extraordinary directional debut, Ex Machina, a movie that started slow as a programmer and an eccentric robotics expert meet in an isolated home, only to build in intensity as Alicia Vikander was introduced as the lifelike robot Ava. As a visually stunning and highly thought-provoking sci-fi release, Ex Machina was a masterclass in acting, directing, and writing.
4 Planet Of The Apes (1968)
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
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Planet of the Apes (1968) GSci-FiAdventure
George Taylor, an astronaut, finds himself on a strange planet ruled by apes after his spaceship crashes. In this topsy-turvy world, apes are the intelligent rulers while humans are mute and oppressed. Captured and held in captivity, Taylor’s struggle for survival leads him to an alliance with Zira and Cornelius, two chimpanzee scientists who recognize his intelligence. As Taylor uncovers the dark secrets of this civilization, he faces shocking revelations that challenge everything he knows about his own species and their future.
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*Availability in US Director Franklin J. Schaffner Release Date April 3, 1968 Distributor(s) 20th Century Fox Writers Michael Wilson , Rod Serling , Pierre Boulle , John T. Kelley Cast Charlton Heston , Roddy McDowall , Kim Hunter , Maurice Evans , James Whitmore , James Daly , Linda Harrison , Robert Gunner Runtime 112 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
As one of the most iconic sci-fi movies ever, Planet of the Apes featured perhaps cinema’s best twist ending. This slow-burn sci-fi carefully exposed viewers to a society where humans were considered lesser beings and apes ruled superior. As the launching point for one of the most successful franchises of all time, Planet of the Apes was packed with fascinating ideas about civilization, society, and religion. While viewers will best remember the famous image of the Statue of Liberty or iconic quotes like “Get your stinkin’ paws off me, you damn dirty ape,” the entire film was a slow-burn triumph.
3 Arrival (2016)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
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8/10 Arrival PG-13Sci-FiDocumentaryDramaMysteryThriller
Based on Ted Chiang’s short story “Story of Your Life”, Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival follows Louise Banks (Amy Adams), a linguist brought in to establish a line of communication with an alien species that have recently landed on Earth. With the help of physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), Banks begins to understand more of the aliens’ communications, and it alters her perception of life forevermore.
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*Availability in US Director Denis Villeneuve Release Date November 10, 2016 Studio(s) FilmNation Entertainment , 21 Laps Entertainment , Lava Bear Films Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Eric Heisserer , Ted Chiang Cast Michael Stuhlbarg , Forest Whitaker , Tzi Ma , Amy Adams , Mark O’Brien , Jeremy Renner , Nathaly Thibault Runtime 116 Minutes Budget $47 million Expand
While Denis Villeneuve showcased his talents in Hollywood with thrillers like Prisoners or the action movie hit Sicario, it was with the release of Arrival that he earned his place as a major voice in the world of sci-fi. However, rather than lean into action movie tropes, Arrival was a more thoughtful examination of language and the complex potential for communication with extraterrestrial life. Featuring an astounding story of impressive performances, Arrival was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, and won Best Sound Editing.
2 Blade Runner (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott
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9.7/10 Blade Runner RDramaSci-FiThriller
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi neo-noir film set in 2019 in a dystopian cyber-punk society. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, tasked with hunting rogue replicants, genetically engineered humans designed to tackle tasks that human beings cannot. When four replicants go rogue and begin killing humans, Deckard is forced out of retirement to hunt them down and stop them – but the truth isn’t as simple as it seems. Deckard will have to reckon with the philosophical dilemma of what makes someone human.
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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date June 25, 1982 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Hampton Fancher , David Webb Peoples , Philip K. Dick , Roland Kibbee Cast Harrison Ford , Rutger Hauer , Sean Young , Edward James Olmos , M. Emmet Walsh , Daryl Hannah , William Sanderson , Joe Turkel Runtime 117 minutes Sequel(s) Blade Runner 2049 Budget $28 million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
Blade Runner was Ridley Scott’s incredible adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which dealt with themes of memory, freedom, and the true nature of self. Starring Harrison Ford as a burnt-out cop reluctantly hunting down a group of fugitive replicants, Blade Runner blended film noir stylings with futuristic aesthetics to create a look and feel entirely its own. Adding to this, the incredible 1980s synth score by Vangelis and Blade Runner became an engaging, slow-burn sci with a powerfully distinctive identity.
1 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
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8.2/10 2001: A Space Odyssey GAdventureMysterySci-Fi
2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s most well-known films. A science-fiction epic, the film tells the story of the journey of Discovery One, a spacecraft operated by a group of scientists, astronauts, and a sentient computer, on a mission to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious monolith. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, Kubrick combines sparse dialogue with the heavy use of scoring and ambiguous imagery to create something that eschews conventional filmmaking.
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*Availability in US Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date April 3, 1968 Studio(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributor(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Writers Stanley Kubrick , Arthur C. Clarke Cast Keir Dullea , Gary Lockwood , William Sylvester , Daniel Richter , Leonard Rossiter , Margaret Tyzack Runtime 149 minutes Budget $12 million Expand
When it comes to incredible, slow-burn sci-fi movies, one release stands above the rest, and that was Stanley Kubrick’s magnum opus 2001: A Space Odyssey. From its powerful incorporation of classical music to the anxious characterization of the sentient supercomputer HAL 9000, 2001: A Space Odyssey was a movie that felt deeply grand in scope while also honing in on the complexities of individual experience. A true masterpiece of the sci-fi genre, the influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey has bled into every slow-burn sci-fi movie that followed it.