The Top Ten Science Fiction Movies of All Time

There are a lot of classic science fiction films, from Metropolis to Donnie Darko that resonate with devoted audiences. But few that have captured the public attention and stimulated the public's imagination like these ten:

The Matrix

The high-concept film combines science-fiction, philosophy, religion, and action into one of the downright coolest movies ever made. Even given its unusual premise, the film holds up very well upon repeated viewings (and makes you wish there had not been sequels).

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

The best Star Trek film to date eschewed abstraction and godlike entities in favor of a simple straightforward menace: Ricardo Montalban's terrifying superman Khan. The action is tempered by drama, and tragedy as well as humor, and the combination allows the film to transcend its franchise limits and be a necessity on a list of best sci fi movies.

2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey is quite simply one of the best sci fi movies ever made. Kubrick outdid himself with Arthur C. Clarke's millennia-spanning epic. The cinematography here is just as moving now as it was upon its release. Its verisimilitude and high-level concepts are visionary, and remain fodder for many an armchair analyst.

The Empire Strikes Back

It is darker than either its predecessor Star Wars: A New Hope or Return of the Jedi, as Luke Skywalker's training to become a Jedi leads him to confront his own demons. But this film added a depth and a layer of moral complexity to the franchise that made Star Wars quite simply the best science fiction trilogy ever made. If you are searching for the artistic pinnacle of the trilogy, look here.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The Steven Spielberg flick is often overlooked on top sci fi movies lists, but the rich symbology coupled with the themes of progression, and the strong cinematography make the film a must see for science-fiction fans.

Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes, the infamous dystopic take on Earth in which human society has been supplanted by a civilization of intelligent apes, is one of the best sci fi movies of all time. The satire, the action, the special-effects-groundbreaking in the Sixties, all these and more, mark the film as a landmark in sci fi cinema, not to be disregarded.

Alien

One of the creepiest movies ever made, Ridley Scott's Alien is both smart and thrilling. Now an icon of American science fiction cinema, the alien itself, quite terrifying in its own right, has the advantage of the tension-filled build-up, which creates a claustrophobic feel second to none. And Sigourney Weaver is awe-inspiring as the crew member determined to survive at all costs.

Terminator 2

Beyond being a great action-flick, the film's conflict between man and machine is overshadowed by the question of the nature of humanity. Arnold Schwarzenegger's affecting turn as an android who seemingly transcends his natural limitations, coupled with Linda Hamilton's near-turn into the relentless, amoral thing she hates, provide insightful commentary into this common science fiction conceit. Oh, and the special effects are first-rate too.

Blade Runner

The combination of noir and high-concept science fiction, as well as stunning visuals make this one of the most critically acclaimed films of science fiction, and the eighties in general. Dealing with the nature of humanity years before Terminator 2, Blade Runner is also an example of expert filmmaking.

A Clockwork Orange

The landmark Anthony Burgess novel adaptation marks Stanley Kubrick's second top-ten sci fi movie here. It is well-deserved, as the harrowing vision of "that old ultraviolence" is brought to life in a way that is simultaneously intuitively true to the spirit of the novel and frighteningly plausible.