10 Best Sci-Fi Movies in Film History

Published Aug 6, 2026, 12:21 PM EDT Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel. A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated. Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point. Science fiction as a whole is a relatively young genre, but since as far back as the very early 20th century, it has been one of the oldest and most foundational in the history of cinema as a storytelling medium. As such, it should be no surprise that throughout film history, several of the best movies ever made have been science fiction stories. Whether it's a modern sci-fi-adventure blockbuster like Dune: Part Two or a classic arthouse sci-fi masterpiece like Stalker, the best sci-fi movies in film history are all irrefutable proof of the tremendous narrative, emotional, and thematic power that this genre has always held. These are powerful futuristic reflections of the problems of the real world, while also being among the most engrossing motion pictures in the art form's history. 10 'Dune: Part Two' (2024) Image via Warner Bros. Pictures Frank Hebert's Dune is nothing short of one of the greatest and most important works of science fiction literature in history, so it was never a surprise that attempts to translate it onto the big screen had historically been all-out failures. That was until Denis Villeneuve came into the picture. But as great as 2021's Dune was, it's Dune: Part Two that will easily be remembered as one of the best sci-fi movies of the 21st century even a few decades from now. It's one of the best adventure movies in film history, Villeneuve's vision of the world of Dune matching Herbert's unique imagination perfectly. From the jaw-dropping visuals to Hans Zimmer's unforgettable score to the perfectly-crafted screenplay, this cautionary tale against the dangers of charismatic leaders is among the strongest book-to-screen adaptations in recent memory. 9 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004) Image via Focus Features Directed by Michel Gondry and penned by Charlie Kaufman (who may very well be the greatest screenwriter currently working in Hollywood), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of those soft sci-fi movies that are absolutely perfect from the first scene to the last. But far from being your typical sci-fi film, this romance dramedy is a deeply humanistic drama first and a soft sci-fi gem second. Indeed, the way Kaufman and Gondry employ sci-fi elements and tropes to elevate this profoundly existential story about the complexities of human connection is nothing short of masterful. Bolstered by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet at their very best, Eternal Sunshine is one of the most paintfully realistic yet beautifully bittersweet romance dramas in film history. 8 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991) Image via Tri-Star Pictures Sci-fi cinema doesn't have very many filmmakers more visionary than James Cameron, whose The Terminator is one of the greatest sophomore feature efforts in film history. However, it's its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, that's far and away one of the greatest sci-fi action masterpieces of all time, one of those R-rated action movies that can be called masterpieces. What really makes Terminator 2 stand out even all these many years later is that it offers the perfect balance between high-octane action set pieces and a surprisingly emotional story. Thanks to its tremendous budget (the highest of any movie in history back in 1991), its many action sequences are absolutely riveting from beginning to end. And thanks to a phenomenal cast and a wonderfully-written script, it's also a deeply moving tale about an unlikely friendship. 7 'Blade Runner' (1982) Image via Warner Bros. Pictures Ridley Scott's output throughout the 21st century has generally been quite hit-or-miss, but back during the 20th century, he was genuinely one of the greatest filmmakers working in Hollywood. For proof, one needn't look any further than Blade Runner, one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. Part neo-noir detective story, part cyberpunk action flick, it's truly one of the most iconic masterpieces in Hollywood history. That wasn't always the case. Back when it originally released, Blade Runner was an all-around commercial and critical flop. It was home video that granted it a second life, allowing it to become the massive cult classic that it's still remembered as today. Perfectly directed, hugely complex, deeply atmospheric, and endlessly analyzable, it's a must-see for anyone who loves science fiction. 6 'Alien' (1979) Image via 20th Century Studios As if any more proof were needed that sci-fi as a whole owes an awful lot to Ridley Scott, Alien is probably the greatest sci-fi horror movie ever made. While this blend of genres was definitely not uncommon before 1979, Scott essentially revolutionized it, polishing it with a level of artfulness and with an A-level budget that completely changed the way sci-fi horror was approached going forward. It's one of those horror movies without any flaws, a haunted house in space that anyone who loves horror, science fiction, or even just filmmaking as a whole ought to watch at least once in their lives. With a top-tier Sigourney Weaver performance, stunning production values that have aged like fine wine, and a level of slow-burning atmosphere rarely seen in either of Alien's genres, what's not to love? 5 'Back to the Future' (1985) The Back to the Future series is one of the most universally-beloved movie trilogies of all time, but as far as quality and iconicity go, it doesn't get any better than the original. One of the most popular sci-fi blockbusters in film history, this delectably '80s-y masterpiece is not only Robert Zemeckis' magnum opus, but also one of the greatest popcorn flicks in the history of cinema. Back to the Future is irrefutable proof that sci-fi movies don't need to be extremely artsy in order to be genuinely flawless, because there is simply nothing to complain about when watching this masterpiece. From Marty's first time-travel to his climactic return to 1985, Back to the Future is filled to the brim with unforgettable set pieces, excellent performances, great music, and production values that have aged wonderfully. 4 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980) Image via Lucasfilm The Star Wars franchise is, simply put, the biggest and most successful multimedia franchise in history. But as full as it is of enthralling pieces of media, it was the original trilogy that started it all, and it's almost universally agreed-upon that Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back is the best that the whole Star Wars franchise has ever been. Where can one even begin singing Empire's praises? It contains several of the most immensely entertaining sci-fi set pieces in film history, one of John Williams' most beloved scores, one of the scariest sci-fi movie villains of all time, and the single most iconic plot twist in film history. Blockbusters simply don't get any better or more universally appealing than this. Collider Exclusive · Star Wars Quiz Which Force UserAre You? Light Side · Dark Side · Or Somewhere Between The Force is not a binary. It is a spectrum — from the serene halls of the Jedi Temple to the shadowed corridors of Sith space. Ten questions will reveal where you truly fall. The Force has always known. Now you will too. 🔵Jedi Master 🟡Padawan 🔴Sith Lord ⚫Inquisitor ⚪Grey Jedi IGNITE YOUR SABER → 01 What is the Force to you? Your relationship with the Force defines everything else. AA living energy I must be worthy of — it is not mine to control. BSomething vast and mysterious I'm only beginning to understand. CNeither light nor dark — just a current I choose to ride. DPower. Pure and simple. The strong take it; the weak don't. NEXT QUESTION → 02 When you feel strong emotions — anger, grief, love — what do you do? The Jedi suppress. The Sith feed. Others choose differently. AAcknowledge them, then release them. Attachment leads to suffering. BFeel them fully, then decide what to do — they're not the enemy. CBury them. Emotion is a liability I can't afford to indulge. DUse them. Passion is the engine of the dark side for good reason. NEXT QUESTION → 03 The Jedi Council gives you an order you disagree with. You: How you handle authority reveals your alignment. AFollow it. The Council's wisdom surpasses my own perspective. BVoice my objection clearly, then defer to the decision. CComply outwardly while doing what I think is right. DIgnore it. The strong don't answer to committees. NEXT QUESTION → 04 You are offered forbidden knowledge that could give you enormous power. The cost is crossing a moral line. You: The dark side's pull is never more than a choice away. ARefuse without hesitation. There is no cost worth that price. BWeigh it carefully — sometimes darkness holds real answers. CFeel the pull but walk away — for now. DAccept it. Power justifies the method used to obtain it. NEXT QUESTION → 05 Your approach to training and learning is: A student's habits become a master's character. ADedicated but humble. There is always more to learn from my masters. BRigorous and patient. Mastery is earned through years of discipline. CEclectic — I draw from every tradition, not just one. DRelentless and brutal. Pain accelerates growth. Rest is weakness. NEXT QUESTION → 06 In a duel, your lightsaber fighting style reflects: Combat is the purest expression of a Force user's philosophy. ADefense and composure — I wait for my opponent to overcommit. BFast and instinctive — I trust the Force to guide my movements. CUnpredictable — I blend styles to keep enemies off-balance. DOverwhelming aggression — I end fights before they begin. NEXT QUESTION → 07 A defeated enemy lies at your feet, powerless. You: Mercy — or its absence — is the truest test of alignment. AStrike them down — compassion toward enemies is naïve and costly. BNeutralize them permanently. I can't afford loose ends. CSpare them if I can — but stay clear-eyed about the risks. DOffer them a chance to surrender. Every being deserves that. NEXT QUESTION → 08 The Jedi Code forbids attachment. Your honest view on love and bonds: The source of the greatest falls in the galaxy. AThe Code is right. Attachment clouds judgment and invites suffering. BLove is not a weakness — the Jedi Code got this one wrong. CI have no attachment — only loyalty to my master's mission. DI feel it deeply but struggle to reconcile it with my training. NEXT QUESTION → 09 Why do you use the Force at all? What's the point? Purpose is the difference between a knight and a weapon. ATo learn. I'm still figuring out what I'm capable of. BTo protect and serve. The Force is a responsibility, not a gift. CTo survive — and maybe carve out something worth having. DTo dominate. Strength demands to be expressed, not contained. NEXT QUESTION → 10 At the final moment — light side or dark side pulling at you — what wins? In the end, every Force user faces this moment. What does yours look like? AThe light. I choose peace, even when darkness would be easier. BNeither fully — I carve my own path through the middle. CWhoever I serve — my loyalty defines me more than my morality. DThe dark. Power is the only thing that's ever actually been real. REVEAL MY ALIGNMENT → Your Alignment Has Been Determined Your Place in the ForceThe scores below reveal how the Force sees you. Your highest number is your true alignment. Read on to understand what that means — and what it will cost you. 🔵 Jedi Master 🟡 Padawan 🔴 Sith Lord ⚫ Inquisitor ⚪ Grey Jedi Disciplined, compassionate, and deeply attuned to the living Force, you have walked the path long enough to understand its demands — and accept them. You lead not through authority alone, but through example. You have felt the pull of the dark side and chosen otherwise, every time. That is not certainty. That is courage. You are earnest, powerful, and brimming with potential — and you know it, which is both your greatest asset and your most dangerous flaw. You act before you think, trust your gut over your training, and sometimes confuse impatience for bravery. The Masters see something in you, though. The question isn't whether you have what it takes — it's whether you'll be patient enough to find out. You are not simply dangerous — you are certain, and that is worse. You have decided what the galaxy needs, and you have decided you are the one to deliver it. Your power is genuine and formidable, earned through sacrifice that would have broken lesser beings. But examine your victories carefully. Every Sith believed their cause was righteous. The dark side's cruelest trick is that it agrees with you. You were forged in fire and reshaped by those who found you at your lowest. You serve, because service gave you structure when you had none. Your allegiance is not to an ideology — it is to survival and to the master who gave you purpose. But there is something buried beneath the conditioning. The Jedi you hunt? You recognize them. Because you remember what it felt like before the choice was taken from you. You have looked at the Jedi Code and the Sith Code and found both of them incomplete. You walk the line not out of indecision but out of conviction — you genuinely believe both extremes miss something essential. The Jedi don't fully trust you. The Sith think you're wasting your potential. They're both partially right. But so are you. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 3 'Metropolis' (1927) Image via Parufamet When talking about film history's most important sci-fi classics, the conversation can never be complete without Fritz Lang's Metropolis. This silent German epic is one of those perfect sci-fi movies that are pure cinema, the sort of classic masterpiece that tends to make people go "they sure don't make 'em like that anymore." When talking about Metropolis, that's not any sort of exaggeration. Lang's magnum opus is still one of the most stunning sci-fi filmmaking achievements in film history even after nearly a century of its release. On paper, it's a relatively simple story about class differences and the conflicts between the heart and the mind, but the wonders that Lang pulls off with that premise must be seen to be believed. Technically masterful, emotionally stirring, and packed with unforgettable imagery, it's one of the most essential masterpieces in the genre's history. 2 'Stalker' (1979) Image via Goskino Andrei Tarkovsky was far more than just a simple filmmaker: He was a poet with a camera, one of the most important and revolutionary arthouse filmmakers in the history of European cinema. The Soviet auteur only made two sci-fi movies during his career, and though some may argue in favor of Solaris being superior, it's Stalker that's more often recognized as one of the greatest sci-fi movies in history. Those who prefer more traditionally entertaining popcorn blockbusters to provide their sci-fi movie fix are probably better off looking elsewhere. However, those who love artful, slow-burning, meditative science fiction ought to experience Stalker at least once in their lives. It's one of the most poetic sci-fi movies of all time, an endlessly analyzable masterpiece that grows even more complex and spiritually provocative with every rewatch. 1 '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968) Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Far more than just one of the best sci-fi epic movies of all time, 2001: A Space Odyssey is perfect proof of why many would confidently call Stanley Kubrick the greatest filmmaker in Hollywood history. With a perfect balance between slow-burning arthouse atmosphere and the sort of high-budget technical wonders that you expect from an A-lister Hollywood production, it's one of the most essential masterpieces in film history, regardless of genre. What's not to love and praise when watching 2001? Kubrick's direction is as powerfully evocative as it is technically impressive, HAL 9000 is one of the most effective villains in film history, the music and visuals are high art in and of themselves, and the way the whole story is paced is enthralling without ever losing its arthouse-coded charm. There is no sci-fi movie more perfect than 2001: A Space Odyssey. 2001: A Space Odyssey Release Date April 10, 1968 Runtime 149 minutes Cast Keir Dullea Dr. David Bowman Gary Lockwood Dr. Frank Poole