I’ve mentioned this on the site before, but science-fiction is my favourite film genre. The ten films on this list comprise some of the best offerings of the genre, in no particular order.
I’ve tried to provide a range of films, from ones that lean into more hard sci-fi territory to those that are just a whole bunch of fun. If you’re a fan of sci-fi films chances are you’ve seen some, if not all of these already, but if you’re just getting into the genre these are the ten films that you absolutely cannot miss!
10. Ghost in the Shell
Directed by: Mamoru Oshii.
Released: 1995
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Otsuka, and Iemasa Kayumi (original Japanese voice-cast).
What’s it about?
In 2029, technology has advanced to the point where a person can become completely cybernetic and can access the internet through their brain. Technology such as this can bring great benefits to the world but it can also cause a whole host of new problems, and it’s up to Major Motoko Kusanagi to jack into the net to sort those problems out.
Why should you watch it?
The original and the best film version of the Ghost in the Shell story (perish even the thought of that live-action version), this film is a triumph on a visual level as well as a story-telling one. The plot is interesting and imaginative, and the film is gorgeously animated (especially the action sequences). This is another film which extends its long arms of influence around the sci-fi genre, being a massive inspiration for so many other works such as The Matrix. It’s also one that gets more relevant as technology progresses along with time – obviously we don’t live in a world with cybernetic augmentations or the ability to hack into other’s brains, but we’re closer to this kind of world in 2021 than we were in 1995, for sure.
9. Blade Runner
Director: Ridley Scott
Released: 1982
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young
What’s it about?
A landmark in the cyberpunk genre, Blade Runner was sadly unappreciated during its time but has since developed a cult following and become a certified classic. The film follows the story of Rick Deckard, a special police officer known as a Blade Runner, who is tasked with tracking down rogue Replicants (advanced androids indistinguishable from humans) in a grimy, futuristic Los Angeles.
Why should you watch it?
Honestly, watch this film for the sheer world-building alone. I’ve already written about why I think it’s such an amazing film for this reason, but here’s the short version: this alternate, futuristic Los Angeles is detailed, lived in and a special-effects triumph. Also watch the film so that you can understand the influence it has had on the cyberpunk genre and science-fiction as a whole. If you’ve played even 10 minutes of CyberPunk 2077, you’ll know that the game is chock-full of references to and inspirations taken from this classic – however, Blade Runner’s influence stretches beyond the obvious. For example, directors like George Lucas (whose work is also featured on this list) have used Blade Runner’s vision of Los Angeles as a reference in their own films.
Read more: Should You Watch Blade Runner?
8. A New Hope
Directed by: George Lucas
Released: 1977
Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness
What’s it about?
The start of a generation-spanning sci-fi phenomenon, A New Hope first introduced the world to the Force, Darth Vader and a young orphan just wanting to see the stars. The galaxy far, far away is under the thumb of a tyrannical leader, but not for much longer, if Luke Skywalker and his Rebel friends have anything to say about it.
Why should you watch it?
If you’ve never seen a Star Wars film, this one should be your entry point. Not just because it was the first one made, but because it provides a complete Star Wars experience in one film, and has a plot that has a satisfying conclusion even if you watch nothing else in the series. Star Wars is also an absolute cultural landmark, so that’s another reason to watch it. However, it’s also a series that is just so fun and imaginative and inspires such a sense of wonder. It’s something that everyone can enjoy and every fan has their own specific favourite thing about the series.
7. Alien
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Released: 1979
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Victoria Cartwright, Tom Skerrit, Ian Holm
What’s it about?
After receiving a strange transmission from an abandoned alien ship, the crew of the Nostromo are awoken by the ship’s computer to investigate. They briefly explore the moon that the distress signal originated from and come into contact with the Alien, who is accidentally brought back to their ship and is overjoyed at the opportunity to have new victims to hunt down one by one.
Why should you watch it?
Because, not content to just do one thing amazingly, Ridley Scott created both a great science-fiction and horror film. Alien is as nail-biting as you’d want a horror film to be and as technologically and scientifically-rich as you’d want a sci-fi film to be. The Alien that so graciously lends its name to the title is an absolutely classic movie monster, and Ellen Ripley is an absolutely classic movie heroine – they’re both tough, they’re both strong, and they’re both never going to back down unless they’re dead (and even then that won’t stop them coming back to get shit done).
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Released: 1968
Starring: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood
What’s it about?
The film charts humanity’s relationship with space, and a strange black alien monolith, from prehuman times through to the future of 2001.
Why should you watch it?
It’s a looooong film, and at times it can be hard to decipher, but it’s definitely worth the time taken to view it. The film is absolutely full of Kubrick’s visual flair, and the sets were considered so good that they helped fuel that conspiracy theory that Kubrick actually directed the moon landing! The film is also notable for its spot-on use of music. Watch it for the psychedelic “Star Gate” space-travel sequence alone – it’s certainly an experience! There’s a reason why 2001: A Space Odyssey is considered one of the best sci-fi films of all time.
5. Planet of the Apes
Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner
Released: 1968
Starring: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Maurice Evans, Kim Hunter
What’s it about?
Three astronauts crash-land on a strange planet where apes have evolved to become the dominant species. It’s a case of monkey-see, monkey-do, however, as these apes are essentially human, which means they have all of humanity’s flaws – not accepting those different to them chiefly among them.
Why should you watch it?
Planet of the Apes is brilliant on the surface-level as a film with an exciting plot and a seriously shocking twist (seriously, watch it for the ending alone, as even though pop-culture references have long ago spoiled it, they haven’t lessened its impact), but the ideas of the film run deeper. It asks us to examine how we treat others we view as different to us and about the inequalities in our society – all things we are still dealing with today. Science-fiction is excellent at telling interesting stories with deeper messages, and Planet of the Apes is certainly up there with the best the genre has to offer.
4. Gattaca
Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Released: 1997
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin
What’s it about?
Imagine a world where everyone could be perfect. Now imagine you’re born into this world not perfect.
Why should you watch it?
The science-fiction film with the most focus on actual science on this list, Gattaca is a film with an important message for society – perfection is only beneficial to those who are actually deemed “perfect”, and is it fair for us to rule on whether a person meets this criteria or not. It’s also yet another science-fiction film with a message that grows more and more relevant as the years progress. The film is tense, thought-provoking and full of stellar performances by all of its cast. Even though it focuses more on science than action it’s never boring or bogged down with over-explaining anything. Unlike the actually flawed society the film presents, this film is pretty close to perfection.
3. Inception
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Released: 2010
Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio, Elliot Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy
What’s it about?
Thieves can steal a lot of things, but not your hopes and dreams, right? Well, not anymore – at least where dreams are concerned.
Why should you watch it?
The sheer scope and creative brilliance of it all! Every five minutes of this film is packed with enough interesting locations, characters and action to fill an entire 90-minute feature in its own right. Cities fold in on themselves. Fights take place without gravity. And at the centre of it all are characters with real emotional stakes. It’s a film that’s honestly incomparable to pretty much anything else in the genre. It’s one of the best sci-fi films around, and a film that you definitely need to watch right now.
2. District 9
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Released: 2009
Starring: Sharlto Copely, David James, Jason Cope
What’s it about?
Aliens come to earth. Are they invading? Not really. Are they aggressive? Not very. What should we do with them? Lock them up. It’s a pretty easy decision to make when you aren’t turning into an alien yourself.
Why should you watch it?
District 9 is different from other alien-centric sci-fi films in that it presents humans, not the aliens, as the aggressors. The aliens in District 9 are not on Earth on purpose, and are not interested in attacking humans. They just want to get home. The film’s social commentary is obvious – its director is South African and the film is based on events that happened during the apartheid. This film is affecting, full of good performances and story-telling.
1. Back to the Future
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Released: 1985
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Thomas F. Wilson, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
What’s it about?
Marty McFly travels back in time to 1955 after trying to escape from terrorists using a Delorean time-machine. There’s a lot going on in that sentence, and there’s a lot going on in this film – good thing every minute of it is pure, unadulterated joy!
Why should you watch it?
Sci-fi doesn’t always have to be all doom and gloom and unlivable dystopias! Back to the Future tells us a time-travel tale that may be light-hearted but isn’t missing any of its heart. It’s such a fun film with likeable characters, great effects and an engaging story. The time-travel elements seem as logical as any other time-travel film, and who wouldn’t want to go to the past if you were travelling in something as cool as a Delorean? It’s all of these elements that make Back to the Future one of the best sci-fi films of all time, and why it is still such a classic today!
