The best science fiction movies of all time

[threej]

The Omega Man was a favorite of mine, as well as the amazing Time Crimes and Moon. Truth told, any top twenty list will necessarily be too restrictive.

 

[kemmler3D]

I think there is some confusion about what "Hard Science Fiction" is. It is not fiction based on proven science. That's called fiction. Hard Science Fiction is about what might be possible (i.e., not yet proven impossible or considered highly unlikely) and how that changes what is possible more generally. Put another way, the stories are not possible or even plausible without a specific scientific breakthrough or discovery. Compare that with time honored stories, like The Seven Samurai, moved to a just-scraping-by mining community in outer space. That's what most contemporary Sci-Fi films are like - retreads.

For example, "Terminator," if you subtract the time travel shtik*, would be hard science fiction, at least it would be this week. Next week, it might just be fiction. Alien, on the other hand, is "The Birds" in a tin can.

* Of course, that would also subtract the plot. So much for trying to be a purist.

I think this is a good definition, generally I think "real" sci-fi should at least show limited deference to "real" science, but I think more often the designation ends up based on aesthetics, i.e. robots and space = sci fi, dragons and elves = fantasy.

A list of Sci-Fi movies that only conform to the laws of nature as we currently understand them would be interesting. I can't think of any. Even 2001: A Space Odyssey ends with "woo".

The Matrix kinda counts because it all takes place inside a simulation, and I would argue that "the real world" they escape to is (although not discussed in the movie explicitly) just another layer of simulation, so all the physics-defying stuff gets a blanket pass. There is room for debate on this.

The Martian probably counts... similarly Project Hail Mary might pass as it doesn't depict (at least in the book) anything truly ruled out by known physics.

Robocop probably passes the test, oddly enough.

Her probably counts if you consider intelligent machines to be realistic...

Children of Men probably counts...

Gattaca, probably?

Farenheit 451 for sure...

All of the Mad Max franchise, I think?

Ex Machina for the same reason as Her...

Unrelated comment on Andromeda Strain, I found the ending irritating as I do with other Crichton books, (e.g. Sphere) where the central problem just kinda goes away on its own and you get the sense it was because he was facing a deadline from his publisher.

 

[JPA]

I would put Galaxy Quest on the list, although I would understand if many people don't really consider it SciFi.

 

[FrantzM]

Just want to state explicitly: I am really enjoying this thread!
Thank you, @Keith_W, for starting it!

+1

 

[Karmacoma]

Matrix should be on the list really.
On a more personal note, I really liked the movie ''Moon'' of Duncan Jones.

 

[Sir Sanders Zingmore]

Matrix should be on the list really.
On a more personal note, I really liked the movie ''Moon'' of Duncan Jones.

Matrix is on the list (or are you aware of that and you’re agreeing that it should be?)

Anyway, adding my thanks to @Keith_W for this thread. The initial list is pretty good and the following discussion has added a bunch of movies to my “to watch” list.

 

[danadam]

Does Gravity count as SF or just action/thriller?

 

[EERecordist]

Many great ones, thanks all!

My favorites, based on ideas are The Forbidden Planet, Blade Runner, and 2001 A Space Odyssey.

I will add Until The End of the World by Wim Wenders, and City of Lost Children for its steampunk science fiction.

Avalon (2001) by Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese Polish co-production about an immersive game. It has a beautiful soundtrack by Kenji Kawai. It mainly takes place in a post apocalyptic world, then within an illegal video game which is linked to the player's mind. Retro sets, not futuristic.

Many of Cronenberg's films would be considered science fiction in a horror way.

The Terminal Man, another great Crichton novel, has a film adaptation, it is an idea film.

 

[JeffS7444]

Mickey 17 was fun. Comedy + science fiction is kind of a rare combo in cinema. Oh sure, there was Woody Allen's Sleeper, but that is really more a series of gags than a story.

Okja was another good one: Action, adventure, girl-and-her-gigantic-mutant-pig tale.

 

[mhardy6647]

My son-in-law & his father really like Solaris. I've never seen it, though.

 

[JeffS7444]

My son-in-law & his father really like Solaris. I've never seen it, though.

I revisited the 1972 movie by Tarkovsky, and found it beautiful, if a bit slow. But it sometimes takes me multiple viewings to really understand a movie like this. Stanislaw Lem wasn't a fan, but whether his original story (I haven't read it yet) would translate well to cinema without the love interest ..?

 

[Petrushka]

I think this is a good definition, generally I think "real" sci-fi should at least show limited deference to "real" science, but I think more often the designation ends up based on aesthetics, i.e. robots and space = sci fi, dragons and elves = fantasy.

The Matrix kinda counts because it all takes place inside a simulation, and I would argue that "the real world" they escape to is (although not discussed in the movie explicitly) just another layer of simulation, so all the physics-defying stuff gets a blanket pass. There is room for debate on this.

The Martian probably counts... similarly Project Hail Mary might pass as it doesn't depict (at least in the book) anything truly ruled out by known physics.

Robocop probably passes the test, oddly enough.

Her probably counts if you consider intelligent machines to be realistic...

Children of Men probably counts...

Gattaca, probably?

Farenheit 451 for sure...

All of the Mad Max franchise, I think?

Ex Machina for the same reason as Her...

Unrelated comment on Andromeda Strain, I found the ending irritating as I do with other Crichton books, (e.g. Sphere) where the central problem just kinda goes away on its own and you get the sense it was because he was facing a deadline from his publisher.

Didn’t the Andromeda Strain end with the microbes mutating to eat plastic?

Really fast?

Not exactly a happy ending.

 

[kemmler3D]

Didn’t the Andromeda Strain end with the microbes mutating to eat plastic?

Really fast?

Not exactly a happy ending.

It's been a while but I think that was right before they also mutated to not be deadly anymore and flew away back into the upper atmosphere, the end, yay.

 

[AA63]

Brazil
Prometheus

Not a movie but I enjoyed the WestWorld series

 

[Chrispy]

Not a movie but I enjoyed the WestWorld series

You mean you aren't aware of the original movie or just that you preferred the tv thing that came later on?

 

[mhardy6647]

You mean you aren't aware of the original movie or just that you preferred the tv thing that came later on?

With Yul Brynner, if memory serves(?).

 

[AA63]

You mean you aren't aware of the original movie or just that you preferred the tv thing that came later on?

I meant that it is a thread for Sci-Fi movies - and I was referring to the series, that I enjoyed.

The o.g. movie was decent, but very 70's - LOL

 

[Karmacoma]

The aesthetics of ''Ghost in the shell'' with Scarlett Johansson are second to none in a SF movie. This movie blew my mind in that regard.

 

[Chrispy]

I meant that it is a thread for Sci-Fi movies - and I was referring to the series, that I enjoyed.

The o.g. movie was decent, but very 70's - LOL

Just confused since well, that was a 70s sci fi movie and this thread is about movies rather than tv series. The tv series did well vs the original movie considering tech at the time, the latter version sort of drummed it into the ground with bigger budget/effects perhaps

 

[Multicore]

Unrelated comment on Andromeda Strain, I found the ending irritating as I do with other Crichton books

I haven't read any since i was a kid. I should have another go.