genre: sci-fi movies

  1. sanjurosamurai
  2. danny

here is a list of sci-fi movies i have seen in order of favorites. like with war films, sci-fi is an incredibly difficult genre to define. if defined too narrowly many great sci-fi films are left out, if defined too broadly there is no limit to what can be included. I have decided to define sci-fi as anything with space and aliens. as well, i include all futuristic films only if there is an element of science involved, so post apocalyptic films like the postman get left out but most other futuristic films fit. I have also decided to make this list live action only because including animated films opens things up too much. I have also included monster movies, but only those that are phenomenological, so king kong is in but jaws does not qualify. here is the list of sci-fi films in order.

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1
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983,  PG)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi 5.0 Stars
obviously it doesnt get more epic than this. lucas blended Christianity, roman and greek mythology, and samurai and wild west history in such a way that all themes blended as if they belonged together. i find this to be the best of the three star wars films.
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2
Signs (2002,  PG-13)
Signs 5.0 Stars
Shyamalan at his best. Good mix of humor and suspense. a story about faith and trial, proof that we can overcome the greatest of obsticles. one of my favorite films.
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3
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980,  PG)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 5.0 Stars
one of the great sequels in history. this film is better than its predecessor, developing the characters wonderfully and giving us pieces of a story many would leave out. one of the greats of all time.
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4
Transformers (2007,  PG-13)
Transformers 5.0 Stars
rediculously, phenomonally, incredibally, wonderfully fantastic in every way. one of the best films i have ever seen in my life. michael bay is usually not very good, but he delivered. there were a few typical michael bay sequences that another director could have done better on, but overall the cgi, acting, and storyline were remarkeable. shia lebeouf was amazing and the casting was done very well. i couldnt think of a single poorly casted role in this film. i got goose bumps on 3 different scenes, especially when you hear optimus speak for the first time. the comedy was great, really funny and never corny, and the action was equally impressive. this is normally not the type of film i would hype up this much but its too good. it made me fall back into the love affair i had with the transformers when i was 5.
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5
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977,  PG)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope 4.5 Stars
the worst of the originals but still great, a classic epic
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6
Deja Vu (2006,  PG-13)
Deja Vu 4.5 Stars
fantastic film. a sci-fi set in contemporary time about people who can see the past as its happening. i know that doesnt make sense, how can you see something thats already happened as its happening, you just have to watch the film. denzel takes this film to a level it probably couldnt have reached with another actor, and jim caviezel plays a great bad guy. you really have to think this film through for it to make sense, but when enough thought is put to it i dont see how anyone could not think of this film as fantastic.
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7
Minority Report (2002,  PG-13)
Minority Report 4.0 Stars
really smart movie. underrated sci fi instant classic. this movie isnt considered widely now, but give it ten years and this will be a well respected film. very good.
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8
Back to the Future (1985,  PG)
Back to the Future 4.0 Stars
marty mcfly singing johnny be goode, priceless. one of the true classics from the 80's a movie all should see that say they love movies.
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9
King Kong (2005) (2005,  PG-13)
King Kong (2005) 4.0 Stars
you never want to take your eyes off of the screen. They should have put the wall deeper into the island and a few other cues should have been taken from the original and the 70's version, but this was great. jackson cemented himself as a good director with such a solid follow up to LOTR.
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10
The Matrix (1999,  R)
The Matrix 4.0 Stars
brilliant first installment, the other 2 are terrible.
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11
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968,  G)
2001: A Space Odyssey 4.0 Stars
four stars is a very high score for me. while i am confident in giving four stars to this american classic, this is probably the highest score ive ever given a film that i had so many problems with. ill start with the negatives.
hal 9000 has to be the most overrated "great" villian in history. because of the extreme lack of diologue in this film he isnt developed much, and his interaction with his human counterparts is so limited that no real tension is built. when hal 9000 goes into preserverence mode, i didnt find myslef caring or being intrigued at all. there were also things in the film left completely unexplained, and although this brings a viewer into a fun place of theory and alegorization it made the film a little less satisfying. the end of the film especially calls for theory and discussion but at the same time it was a dissappointing and anti climatic ending. the film also had lengthy and unneccessary sequences where diologue could have helped.
the reason why i LOVE this film despite these problems is that in the technical elements this film was incredibly perfect in every regard. the cinematography was flawless, among the absloute best i have ever seen. there was not a single throw away shot in the entire film, every single shot was thought through and executed masterfully. the musical score was also genius, adding to the majesty of each shot, and the art direction and set design was amazing. the science of the film was realistic and detailed, and the space shots drew me into awe with the realization that God has created true beauty that man doesnt understand.
the symbolism in the film was also well thought out and truly profound. the dawn of man sequence, while promoting a naturalistic worldview that i reject, was done very well. the bone used as the first tool, being connected to the satellite, made a profound statement about man, his ambition, and the ultimate corruption of many of the things that man creates. while i dont hold to the "cirlce of life" presented in the film, the point was effectively made and the story well told. in all, i had HUGE issues with a few things in the film, and was still completely captivated by it in every way. a truly great and foundational classic.
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12
Jurassic Park (1993,  PG-13)
Jurassic Park 4.0 Stars
fantastic, a true cultural phenomenon when it was released and it lived up to the hype. one of the great sci-fi/monster movies of all time.
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13
The Fifth Element (1997,  PG-13)
The Fifth Element 4.0 Stars
great sci fi, willis is good and the look of the film is great. a little silly while being adventurous and exciting.
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14
E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982,  PG)
E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial 4.0 Stars
a classic film, everyone should see it
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15
I Am Legend (2007,  PG-13)
I Am Legend 4.0 Stars
i loved this movie. will smith did an excellent job and the film flowed well. no time was wasted on the meaningless, i felt that every scene was essential. to see smith create community with dummies and risk his life for his dog shows humanities need for relationship. this is defintely one of the better films of 2007.
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16
Predator (1987,  R)
Predator 4.0 Stars
one of the all time calssic action flicks, love this movie
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17
King Kong (1976) (1976,  PG)
King Kong (1976) 4.0 Stars
great stuff, peter jacksons version was good but he should have followed a bit of the formula of this one, its great
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18
Cloverfield (2008,  PG-13)
Cloverfield 4.0 Stars
what a great start to the 2008 movie year. sort of a hybrid of the styles of godzilla and blair witch but much better than both, this film builds great anticipation and stirs the creative juices of its viewer. there were missteps but they were seldom and insignificant, for the most part this film was exactly what it wanted to be and exactly what i expected. many in my screen room were dissapointed at the end because of the information that the viewer is left with, i say those people missed the point of why the film was done the way it was. easily one of the best monster movies ive ever seen.
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19
I, Robot (2004,  PG-13)
I, Robot 3.5 Stars
i really liked this, inventive action flick pulling a few ques from 2001: a space odessey. philosophical and exciting.
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20
Blade Runner (1982,  R)
Blade Runner 3.5 Stars
this is such a hard film to score. in many ways the film was dull and cliche, losing its originality in now being listed among the many sci-fi films to give us a typical dark and bleak outlook on the future. in other ways the script was fascinating and the concept full of intrigue. i do feel that based on the plot the film could have been miles better, but in the end this is still a very, very good movie.
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21
Independence Day (1996,  PG-13)
Independence Day 3.5 Stars
great flick, will smith and jeff goldblum were great together
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22
The Abyss (1989,  PG-13)
The Abyss 3.5 Stars
the best of the corny alien style flicks were everyone dies except the one or two people that everyone expects to live.
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23
Virtuosity (1995,  R)
Virtuosity 3.5 Stars
a dynamic duo with washington and crowe teaming up. a solid and underrated sci-fi flick.
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24
Children of Men (2006,  R)
Children of Men 3.5 Stars
this was an amazing film. i was inclined to think that this was one of the top films of 2006 until the end, but the end was so ubrupt, incomplete, and unsatisfying that it dropped a full star off of my score. however, the film leading up until that last few minutes was amazing, edge of your seat and intruiging. micheal caine was great as always and clive owen really delivered in this one. this film portrays a scary future that mankind would do well to avoid at all costs.
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25
Serenity (1997,  PG-13)
Serenity 3.5 Stars
a really great flick. inventive and fun to watch.
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26
Back to the Future Part III (1990,  PG)
Back to the Future Part III 3.5 Stars
fun movie, one of the classics although not as good as the first
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27
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978,  PG)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 3.5 Stars
truly one of the landmark films of the sci-fi genre, spielberg delivered one of his many very solid films. it was a fun film with a great story. the fate of dreyfuss' character was a major dissapointment to me cinsidering that he had a family, but for the most part the film was great.
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28
TRON (1982,  PG)
TRON 3.5 Stars
very good sci fi
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29
The Astronaut Farmer (2006,  PG)
The Astronaut Farmer 3.5 Stars
i loved this movie but i was fairly conflicted while watching it. in some regards the main character was a great family man concerned about his family above all else. in other regards he put his own dreams before the well being of his own family in a major way. ultimately it was a good family film and a delight to watch. you really root for the guy to get to space the whole time and they didnt try and tell too much story. they told what they needed to. i was suprised to see bruce willis in this film because they didnt promote him when the movie came out in theatres, he has a decently important role in this film even though it is a small one.
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30
Jurassic Park III (2001,  PG-13)
Jurassic Park III 3.5 Stars
fantastic for a third installment. after a dissapoining second flick, this revitalized the series.
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31
The Matrix Revolutions (2003,  R)
The Matrix Revolutions 3.5 Stars
a great improvement upon the second film which is one of the most dissappointing films i have ever seen. this film payed off in its profound diologue and interesting Christological ending.
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32
Short Circuit 2 (1988,  PG)
Short Circuit 2 3.5 Stars
better than the first. an interesting way to pose the philosophical questions about A.I. in a family oriented film.
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33
Short Circuit (1986,  PG)
Short Circuit 3.5 Stars
a classic, all should see this one
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34
Alien (1979,  R)
Alien 3.5 Stars
a classic sci-fi/action flick. one that should be rewatched every so often.
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35
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002,  PG)
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones 3.0 Stars
how can a movie be this good and this bad at once, the most bipolar movie ever made
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36
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999,  PG)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3.0 Stars
darth maul is sweet but this trilogy made some missteps
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37
Flight of the Navigator (1986,  PG)
Flight of the Navigator 3.0 Stars
classic family fun
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38
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991,  R)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day 3.0 Stars
the best of the 3
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39
Contact (1997,  PG)
Contact 3.0 Stars
really interesting, good alien flick
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40
Demolition Man (1993,  R)
Demolition Man 3.0 Stars
decent, fun to watch, i dont usually like sandra b but she was cool in this flick
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41
Planet of the Apes (2001,  PG-13)
Planet of the Apes 3.0 Stars
pretty good, but the end would have been better if apes and humans lived and mated together
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42
Species (1995,  R)
Species 3.0 Stars
really good alien kills people type of movie
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43
Alien 3 (1992,  R)
Alien 3 3.0 Stars
i really need to see this again. the series was solid across the board.
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44
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005,  PG-13)
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith 2.5 Stars
the worst of the six, anakin was a little whinny punk the entire time and all he id was murder little kids and get set on fire. he should have been the one to hunt down the jedi. i was one of the few who liked the new trilogy until this one ruined the story. im not sure i can look at darth the same way again, the new trilogy should have left him looking tuff before obiwan beat him, instead he let the clones do the real work. weak.
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45
Total Recall (1990,  R)
Total Recall 2.5 Stars
strange, intersting but a little too off the wall
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46