This list could easily be a “Top 100” list and it was difficult to decide on just ten. Some titles like The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing, Fifth Element, 2001: A Space Odyssey and so many more were close to making the list. Here are what we think are some of the best scifi movies of all time.
10. E.T.
An alien finds himself stranded on Earth and is helped and protected by a group of children. A touching and heartwarming film.
9. Metropolis
Fritz Lang’s masterpiece from 1927. Visual stunning it tells the story of a futuristic society, living in the city Metropolis (not to be confused with Superman’s Metropolis) where the classes are deeply divided. The film is also notable for portraying the first robot on screen.
8. Alien
Scifi and horror mix. Trapped on a spaceship with an alien creature whose only purpose is to kill Ripley struggles to survive and defeat the monster. Followed up by the more action-oriented Aliens and the disappointing Alien 3. (Not to mention Alien vs Predator, please, let’s not mention it.)
7. Terminator
The movie that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career. A robot from a future, where machines have taken control and are set on exterminating humanity, comes back in time to kill the woman who will give birth to the rebel leader in the future. The franchise had one successful sequel and a slew of not so successful ones.
6. The Matrix
A cyberpunk vision of the future. A future that’s not what it seems. Neo is destined to bring salvation to humanity, if he can survive Agent Smith.
5. Planet of the Apes
A franchise that began in 1968 and recently updated recently to critical acclaim. In a world where apes rule and humans have de-evolved to mindless animals there’s a reason it’s become a classic.
4. Wall-E
Humans have left the dying Earth and now roam space in hopes of one day returning.
A movie that proved a cartoon robot could elicit emotions in adults and children alike. A story that on the surface is simple but underneath deals with deep subjects and themes.
3. Blade Runner
A bleak alternate future set in a rain-soaked San Francisco. Rick Deckard is tasked with “retiring” three replicants (human-like androids). Hard-boiled detective noir meets scifi futurism.
2. Star Trek
Not just one movie but several and many television shows. In 1966 Star Trek first aired on television and after three short years it ended. Until 1979 when Star Trek: The Motion Picture was released to theatres. While it was met with a cool response Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was more well received. It was followed by more sequels, five television shows.
1. Star Wars
In 1977 a movie came along that changed the film industry from then on. Star Wars was unlike anything the world had seen in theatres before. A sweeping epic that has spanned eight movies and two solo ones. It is perhaps the most well known science fiction movie series of all time.
Check out these movies and then see Stela’s stable of scifi titles on our app.