Ten Best Science Fiction Movies from the 1970's and Earlier

Science Fiction movies have been a popular genre for ages. Sci-fi is not all about alien encounters, although that may be a fairly big part of it. Science Fiction movies include those with impossible creatures and trips to other worlds. Sci-fi are sometimes scary, but most of the time amazing and full of fantastical ideas. Here is a list of ten of the best Sci-fi films from the 70's and earlier.

In 1975 Steven Spielberg brought "Jaws" to the waters we all swim in, even if we didn't think a great white shark could be there. We had nightmares about those beady, emotionless black eyes. And when we'd swim around in pools our friends would imitate the sound/music that played whenever "Jaws" was on his way to attack. Resort towns were never the same.

In 1933 a giant gorilla named "King Kong" found himself a beautiful maiden played by Fay Wray and climbed up the side of the Empire State Building. An interesting twist on "Beauty and the Beast" and a movie that has been loved for decades.

In 1977 "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" brought aliens to Earth and showed they too were intelligent. With this film, Frank Capra brought alien encounters to the adult world.

1977's first "Star Wars" film awed everyone that saw it in the theater. George Lucas made fans for life with this film, even if not all of it's successors were as phenomenal.

In 1968 Stanley Kubrick made a film adaptation of Arthur C, Clarke's short story "2001: A Space Odyssey." We will never forget the name HAL, the computer. The movie may seem a little slow and it does not have all of the special effects that movies have now, but it is still a classic.

For a fright fest 1979's "Alien" is a must see. These acid drooling creatures are enough to scare the pants off of Sigourney Weaver. The H.R. Giger designed aliens are nothing but amazing.

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" made us think that our family members were all pod people in 1956. It was a B film and it remains a classic, and has been remade numerous times.

Recently remade with Keanu Reeves, the original "The Day the Earth Stood Still" came out in 1951. It was just as frightening an idea then as it is now.

"Island of Lost Souls" tells the tale of Dr. Moreau, a twisted scientist blending animals with humans. This 1933 film starred Bela Lugosi as one of the Doctors creatures.

1933's "The Invisible Man" launched the career of actor Claude Rains and it was an inventive tale. This movie has also been remade numerous times but the original remains a movie to be seen.

Reference:The Entertainment Weekly Guide To The Greatest Movies Ever Made, 1996