The science fiction genre is quite vast. Where you can go in sci-fi has provided extraordinary opportunities in cinema. Whether heading into deep space or an elaborate simulation, to a dystopian future or back in time, the places movies have gone have made the genre one of the most beloved of all time.
To pinpoint why science fiction is so incredible, we have to look at some of the most important and influential films of all time. These films have played a major impact on the evolution of the genre, whether through themes, storytelling, or visuals. If you look at your favorite science fiction movies, you might not realize how these ten films influenced them. So, we’re here to tell you the ten essential science fiction films that played a crucial role in the trajectory of cinema.
10
‘Inception’ (2010)
I might be a bit biased with this entry, but Inception is one of my all-time favorite films. As someone who has an affinity with dreams, Inception pushed the bounds of where dreams could go and what they can be. For some, grasping the plot of the Christopher Nolan sci-fi action film might be difficult. Which is fair. It’s dense and wildly layered. But that’s why it is so perfect. Inception follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a professional thief who steals corporate secrets by infiltrating the subconscious of his target. He’s offered a chance to have his criminal history erased as payment for the implantation of another person’s idea into a target’s subconscious. Tackling themes of memory, grief, and the perception of reality, Inception is one of the most fascinating films of all time.
With a masterful philosophical question at its heart, the exploration of reality versus dream provides a highly gripping narrative that elevates the film to great heights. By using the fear of regret and the constant entanglement of attempting to let go, Inception is the type of film that forces you to think while you’re engaged by the exceptional action. Nolan is a visionary with his work here, helped by the top-tier ensemble cast that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine, among many others. Inception may be the most recent film on this list, but its impact is far-reaching. From a cinematic standpoint, it’s Nolan at his finest. From a cultural perspective, we’ve literally incepted Inception as the title has been colloquialized. And, for those who like to feel a bit more cultured, the film did introduce Edith Piaf to a brand-new audience, so there’s that.
9
‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
If you’re looking for one of the most fun science fiction films you’ll ever experience, it’s Back to the Future. Brought to life by Robert Zemeckis, the quintessential 80s film told us that a time-traveling DeLorean can bring us back in time. And hopefully back! When Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is sent back to 1955 thanks to his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), he inadvertently prevents his future parents from falling in love, and thus is forced to help them fall in love again so he can get back to the future. Helping to launch a multimedia franchise, a theme park ride, a Broadway musical, and more, Back to the Future proved there can be a lightness in the genre. Further proof of this is the music. Unlike the other entries on this list, the score is filled with brilliant atmospheric songs. Back to the Future’s usage of music is iconic. You can’t hear Huey Lewis and the News‘ “The Power of Love” without thinking of this film.
Time travel can often be a very difficult story device to use because the mechanics have to be done right. The rules of the world must be followed; otherwise, you might be pulled out of reality. Now, we know that Back to the Future is a fantasy, but it’s told so well, the film makes you truly wonder, “what if?” The film is filled with hilarious moments, especially between Marty and the 1955 version of his mother, Lorraine (Lea Thompson). They also share some incredibly cringe moments, but hey, all for the sake of comedy. Back to the Future brings pure joy. And sometimes, in this genre, that’s more than welcome!
8
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
Two names you’ll see on this list later on —Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford—may be best known for their time in space, but when the pair collaborated on their sci-fi classic, something exceptional was created. Rather than another space chase, we explore the future in Blade Runner. Set in rainy, dystopian future Los Angeles in 2019, the film follows blade runner Rick Deckard (Ford) as he’s called back to hunt down four synthetic humans called Replicants who have returned to Earth from off-world slave labor colonies. Led by Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), they seek their creator, the bioengineers at the powerful Tyrell Corporation, to demand an extension of their lifespan. Throw in a sci-fi love story between Deckard and Rachael (Sean Young), a Replicant girl, and you have a tremendous neo-noir science fiction film.
An adaptation of Philip K. Dick‘s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Scott’s vision for the future felt like a future tossed in space, but it still maintained the Los Angeles neo-noir essence that brought it back down to Earth. Playing with themes of identity through the psychological test of determining humanity from replicants, Blade Runner uses emotion and lack thereof to help indicate where humanity may be leading. Gaining a cult following, its darker tones and futuristic design have become a major influence on subsequent science fiction movies. One might have thought it would launch a major franchise, but it took a couple of decades before a sequel was created, featuring Ford alongside Ryan Gosling.
When it comes to delightful and charming science fiction films, none is quite like Steven Spielberg‘s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Reminding us that not all aliens are scary, this little guy just wants to phone home! In this story, our titular alien is stranded on Earth and befriends a young boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas). With his friends and family by his side, Elliot is on a mission to help E.T. find his way home. And if you’ve ever been on the Universal Studios attraction, what a wonderful, whimsical home it is! Family-friendly in its focus, it has been one of the most popular, heartwarming films for its emotional story of friendship and compassion, as well as its marvelous magic. Add in John Williams‘ score, and you have a wonderful film. The flying bicycle is one of the most incredible moments in cinema history. From imagery to music, it’s perfect.
You might seek out science fiction films with a deep message, but this one keeps it right there, focusing more on the emotional depth it brings. Spielberg’s ability to provide an authentic portrayal of children and the bonds they make, even with an extra-terrestrial, is where the heart lies. E.T. is the type of film that should be passed down from generation to generation. It’s the perfect movie to introduce young ones to science fiction.
6
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
The 90s were known for some epic blockbusters, but leave it to the final year before the new millennium for a film to truly disrupt the system and usher in a new evolution of science fiction. The Matrix is a science fiction action film written and directed by the visionary the Wachowskis. It’s time to enter The Matrix. The first film of the franchise follows computer hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves), who discovers that the reality he knows is actually an elaborate simulation created by intelligent machines. In turn, Neo learns that humans are unknowingly enslaved by these machines to serve as a power source in the real world. Led by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), Neo joins a rebel group that all believe him to be “The One.” If he is what they believe him to be, then Neo is the prophesied individual who has the power to manipulate the Matrix and free humanity from its grip.
Science fiction on the surface, with martial-arts-centric action on the side, the Wachowskis instilled a deep philosophical theme about the nature of reality, free will versus determinism, and the search for truth. As rich as the meaning is inside, The Matrix is regarded as a spectacular action film for its groundbreaking special effects. By combining the two in an extraordinary way, it stands as an important film for the 21st century. Just looking at how it’s filmed and the images that have remained a major player in our general psyche. Yes, we’ve all attempted The Matrix back-bend and hurt our backs in the process. The Matrix is a mind-blowing experience that deserves the praise it’s received over time.
5
‘Metropolis’ (1927)
We often neglect the black-and-white era of cinema, when we should instead have reverence for its impact and influence on the industry. When it comes to science fiction, it’s important to travel back nearly a century to acknowledge the essential German film, Metropolis. The German expressionist silent film, directed by Fritz Lang, is based on Thea von Harbou’s 1925 novel of the same name. Well-regarded as a pioneer film for the genre, Metropolis is set in a futuristic urban dystopia as Freder (Gustav Fröhlich), the wealthy son of the city master, and Maria (Brigitte Helm), a saintly figure to the workers, overcome the vast gulf separating the classes, as they try to bring the workers together with Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel), the city master. Perhaps a cautionary tale for our current society, Metropolis explored class warfare against the elites that sparked a rebellion, with a robot as the center of it all.
With a central theme of the need for mediation between the intellect, better known as the “head,” and the labor, also known as the “hands,” with the “heart” serving as the mediator for society. It’s quite a deep sentiment, but that’s what makes the story timeless. As for the visuals, it celebrated art deco style, reminding us once again of its timelessness. Though Charlie Chaplin may be the image we remember as the shining achievement of the black-and-white era, Metropolis is a crowning achievement in both silent films and science fiction. Metropolis has inspired so much in media, from music and cinema, it’s essential for viewing simply to understand the scope of its importance.
4
‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ (1977)
There have been so many miraculous places Steven Spielberg has taken us to in his illustrious career. When it comes to space, he just certainly knows how to make an extraordinary piece of cinema. Such was the case in 1977 with Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In the film, lives are changed when Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), a blue-collar electrician in Indiana, encounters a UFO. As Roy embarks on an obsessive quest for answers, straining his family along the way, he is drawn to a group of scientists, including French researcher Claude Lacombe (François Truffaut) and another individual, Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon). The single mother has had her own terrifying experience as the UFO abducted her three-year-old son, Barry (Cary Guffey). The film, which ultimately culminates in a massive landing of an alien spacecraft at Devil’s Tower, answers the intriguing question of what happens if aliens are real?
As many alien films have done before and will do after, aliens are presented as scary, terrifying beings. That was not the case for Spielberg’s foray into space. Close Encounters of the Third Kind depicts aliens in a positive manner, presenting them as peaceful. Instead, the visionary keyed into a world of wonderment, curiosity, and the overall hunt for something greater. By leading with this angle, we are left with an awe-inspiring climax where space and the potential of other life are no longer a source of fear. Perhaps it’s a dreamy-eyed view of the world beyond, but that’s the beauty of science fiction. It doesn’t always have to be doom and gloom, warning us of a grim future. There is an innocence to Close Encounters of the Third Kind that has made the film essential.
3
‘Alien’ (1979)
In space, no one can hear you scream. But in the movie theaters, they sure can! In 1979, Ridley Scott showcased the brilliant cross-section between science fiction and horror with Alien. The terrifying space thriller follows a commercial starship crew who investigate a derelict space vessel and are hunted by a deadly extraterrestrial creature. Alien proved that space can truly be a terrifying place. Launching its own blockbuster franchise, the first film left you breathless with nonstop action and terror.
With nowhere to escape to, the stakes were high for the crew, led by the incomparable Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. The tension and fear she exuded provided for a stellar performance. Alongside the adventurous crew, they made a timeless piece of scary entertainment. Perhaps you were like me, terrified of Xenomorphs popping out of ceiling grates. Maybe an alien popping out of a man’s chest caused immense nightmares. But those are signs of an accomplished mission. As the franchise continues to expand, now represented on television in Alien: Earth, the original film set us on a course where horror science fiction became the new frontier.
2
‘Star Wars’ (1977)
Though it may not be the best of them all, Star Wars is the reason why the franchise has exploded to the place it is today. Transporting us to a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas’ groundbreaking film introduced us to iconic characters, epic space battles between the Rebels and the Galactic Empire, and, of course, the Force. The space opera was a bold and daring film that created a revolution in lightspeed. Not just a spectacular film, Star Wars became an influential film in how we viewed blockbuster movies.
With a newfound desire for high-entry motion pictures with exquisite special effects and a true sense of fantasy, Star Wars expanded upon the sci-fi films that came before it. The ambitious beginning of the Star Wars franchise didn’t start at the beginning. It was episode four, meaning there was a galaxy of possibilities before and after. And you bet your bottom dollar that we revived it all, and then some. The original film made stars out of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. It spawned a pop-cultural revolution. Star Wars is essential viewing. If you are the rare few who haven’t watched it before, I promise you it will form an obsession.
1
‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)
There has never been a more important and influential science fiction movie than 2001: A Space Odyssey. Stanley Kubrick’s breathtaking epic covers humanity’s evolution from prehistoric times to the future, where mysterious alien monoliths influence. With an imposing black structure serving as a link between the past and the future, Dr. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and his team of astronauts are sent on a mysterious voyage. Their ship’s sentient computer system, HAL 9000, begins to exhibit increasingly strange behavior, leading to a tense battle between man and machine that culminates in a mind-bending trek through space and time. An enigmatic adaptation of a short story by revered sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey took audiences to a place they’d never been before.
What has made the film so triumphant is how it’s been interpreted over time. To some, it’s darkly apocalyptic. To others, an optimistic reappraisal of the hopes of humanity. Nevertheless, its thematic exploration has served as a beacon of inspiration for future generations of science fiction films. A visually brazen production, 2001: A Space Odyssey was an unforgettable endeavor for the director. It may seem jarring to learn that the film was divisive when it debuted in 1968. It’s a cinematic wonder that deserves a rewatch just to once again be enamored by its splendor.
2001: A Space Odyssey
- Release Date
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April 10, 1968
- Runtime
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149 minutes
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Keir Dullea
Dr. David Bowman
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Gary Lockwood
Dr. Frank Poole