The science fiction genre has captivated audiences and filmmakers’ imaginations since the invention of cinema. From Georges Méliès to Fritz Lang, Robert Wise to Ridley Scott, science fiction films have explored humanity’s fear of the unknown and the hereafter, presenting pictures of the future that are either depressing and other times thrilling. Here is our selection of sci-fi films that every geek should watch, including some amazing, some terrible, and others stuck in the centre but nonetheless clever theoretically.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
An alien invasion epic that doesn’t take itself too seriously would be The Tomorrow War. Chris McKay, the director of The LEGO Batman Movie, crafts some absolutely jaw-dropping action scenes, and strangely, the film’s 138 minutes don’t feel overly long. The captivating and sincere performance by Chris Pratt is one of his best, and the subplot involving his father (J.K. Simmons) is surprisingly touching. The Tomorrow War is for you if you’re seeking for a Roland Emmerich impersonator that’s superior to anything Emmerich has produced in the previous 20 years.
Ender’s Game (2013)
Ender’s Game, a futuristic military sci-fi movie based on the same-named Orson Scott Card book, is about a clever young man who is recruited to head the defence against an alien civilization that everyone believes will invade Earth. Asa Butterfield (Hugo) plays Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, the classic sci-fi character, and he jumps right into the role, bringing all the emotion and mental struggle from the book to life with subtle looks and bold decisions.
I Still See You (2018)
I Still See You, a romantic thriller based on Daniel Waters’ fascinating book Break My Heart 1000 Times, stars Bella Thorne (The DUFF), Richard Harmon (The Night Agent), Dermot Mulroney (Scream VI), and explores the supernatural. I Still See You takes set in a world where spirits known as Remnants have started to mix with the living as a result of a horrific apocalyptic event that killed a significant percentage of the globe. Years after the disaster, Thorne portrays an adolescent who is possessed by a malicious spirit (Thomas Elms).
Samaritan (2022)
Samaritan, a surprisingly moving action movie from Julius Avery, stars Sylvester Stallone. Samaritan, written by Bragi F. Schut (Escape Room), is similar to Will Smith’s Hancock in that it has a gruff and antisocial man who turns out to be a reluctant superhero, thankfully avoiding the bloated and unfocused everlasting beings narrative. The action and battle choreography of Samaritan are superb, with a delightful preference for practical effects.
The Invisible Man (2020)
The Invisible Man is a genuinely disturbing movie about a lady named Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) who thinks her dead boyfriend, who has managed to become invisible, is stalking and deceiving her.
The Vast of Nights (2019)
The Vast of Night, a captivating science fiction movie, was created by Andrew Patterson, who also co-wrote the teleplay with Craig W. Sanger. The Vast of Night is a fascinating and intriguing novel set in 1950s New Mexico. It follows Sierra McCormick’s character, Fay Crocker, from American Horror Stories and Jake Horowitz’s character, radio DJ Everett Sloan, as they work to determine the cause of an eerie sound.
I, Robot (2004)
This action-packed science fiction classic is directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow) and stars Will Smith (Independence Day) and Alan Tudyk (Firefly). I, Robot follows Del Spooner (Will Smith) as he looks into the death of Dr. Alfred Lanning, a co-founder of U.S. Robotics (USR), played by James Cromwell.
Black Box (2020)
Blumhouse’s Black Box has an intriguing and heart-stopping premise and promises frightening results. Mamoudou Athie (Jurassic World Dominion) portrays Nolan in Black Box, a psychologically troubled father who lost both his wife and his memory in a horrible tragedy. Nolan learns a potentially horrifying truth that he might not be ready to embrace when he takes part in an experimental procedure to try and recover his memory.
Bliss (2021)
What results when The Matrix and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are combined? Bliss is a well-known but original science fiction love story about distorted reality. Although it’s simple to draw comparisons to the established genre masterpieces, director Mike Cahill nonetheless succeeds in making the content feel distinctive.
Anna (2013)
Anna, also known as Mindscape, is a movie that will leave you confused. Anna follows John Washington, a detective with the ability to access people’s memories, and is led by a spine-tinglingly outstanding performance by Taissa Farmiga. John must look into the case of 16-year-old Anna throughout the movie to see whether she is a dangerous sociopath or a victim of psychological trauma.
The Lazarus Effect (2015)
The Lazarus Effect centres on a team of medical experts who unearth a serum capable of raising the dead. This sounds fantastic in theory, but everyone who has seen a zombie film is aware that it doesn’t necessarily produce spectacular outcomes. It is also true of the Lazarus Effect.
Coherence (2013)
Coherence is a fantastic feature film debut by Gore Verbinski’s frequent storyboard artist James Ward Byrkit and one of the most original science fiction concepts in recent memory.On the night of a rare astronomical occurrence, during a dinner party reunion of old friends, tensions grow as the firmaments of reality and the rules of physics flex and shatter over the course of one night.
