30 Cool Movies for Science Fiction Lovers

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Experience classics by Kubrick and Tarkovsky, Cuaron's experiments, Villeneuve's blockbusters and much more.

30. Detonator

• USA, 2004.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 77 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

Engineers Abe and Aaron come up with a device that reduces the weight of the object. They soon realize that it can also serve as a time machine. Then friends go back in time to earn some money. But their attitude to the capabilities of the device is very different.

The "Detonator" was invented and staged by the mathematician Shane Carrut. Therefore, the picture has a very small budget and mediocre picture quality. But the theme of time travel is shown here in a more scientific and at the same time confusing than in any other film.

29. Strain "Andromeda"

• USA, 1971.
• Science fiction, drama, thriller.
• Duration: 131 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

After the fall of a military satellite in a small town in Arizona, an epidemic of a deadly virus begins. In a strange way, only one old man and a child remain alive. A group of scientists gathers in an isolated area to study the disease.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, author of the book "Jurassic Park" and the film "Westworld". The writer himself is a physician by training, so he spoke very plausibly about the study of the virus and natural immunity in some people. The authors of the film adaptation had only to carefully transfer his ideas into the film.

28. Hell

• USA, UK, 2007.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

A team of desperate astronauts set out to save humanity. Their mission is to get to the dying sun and drop a nuclear bomb on it so that the star shines with renewed vigor. If this is not done, life on Earth will be in danger of extinction.

Director Danny Boyle's only experience in space fiction is considered one of the genre's most underrated films. In the film with Cillian Murphy in the title role, there was a place for both sentimental drama and crazy adventures.

27. Time Loop

• USA, China, 2012.
• Science fiction, action, thriller.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Time loops can be used not only for peaceful purposes. In 2074, they figured out how to get rid of unwanted people with their help. The victim is sent back 30 years, and a specially trained killer kills her. Once a well-oiled system fails: the protagonist collides with an aged himself and allows himself to escape from the future, instead of closing the loop by shooting himself.

The action-packed film about temporal paradoxes features Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis. Moreover, they got the role of the same hero at different ages.

26. Invasion of the Body Snatchers

• USA, 1978.
• Science fiction, thriller, horror.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Plants of alien origin began to appear in San Francisco. Gradually, they turn into full-fledged copies of people, except that the clones show less emotion. At the same time, the originals disappear without a trace. The main characters are trying to understand the essence of the aliens and understand whether they can be defeated.

The film is based on Jack Finney's novel "The Body Snatchers". Moreover, in 1955, the story was already transferred to the screens. But better production and great actors allowed the new version to become even more popular than the original.

25. Abyss

• USA, 1989.
• Science fiction, adventure, thriller.
• Duration: 171 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Workers of an underwater oil platform and a special forces team go to the sunken nuclear submarine. They must find out the cause of the crash and neutralize the warheads on board. However, under the water, the heroes meet an unknown creature of alien origin.

Director James Cameron is a big fan of everything to do with the ocean. Therefore, in his picture, he combined fantasy about aliens with the study of the secrets of the underwater world.

24. Fly

• USA, UK, Canada, 1986.
• Horror, fantasy, drama.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Scientist Seth Brundle develops a device for teleportation and decides to test the invention on himself. Everything seems to have gone well. But in fact, a fly flew into the device at the last moment. Due to this accident, Seth gradually turns into a creepy creature.

Based on the story of the same name by Georges Langeland and the 1958 film, the film was directed by the master of the body-horror genre David Cronenberg. This director knows how to very vividly and unpleasantly show the mutations of the human body. Therefore, the scientific component here goes side by side with horrors.

23. Dissenting opinion

• USA, 2002.
• Science fiction, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 145 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

By 2054, humans had learned to predict the future and created a special crime prevention unit, led by Captain John Anderton. Employees see offenses that someone is planning to commit in the near future and arrest the villains even before the event. Once, in one of the predictions, Anderton notices himself killing a man. To avoid punishment and to understand the situation, John is forced to hide from his colleagues.

Steven Spielberg directed this film based on the novel by Philip Dick. The director relied heavily on the action, softening the complex fundamentals a little. But the visuals of the picture are still impressive.

22. Close Encounters of the Third Degree

• USA, 1977.
• Science fiction, adventure.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

In different parts of the Earth, anomalous phenomena occur, most likely associated with aliens. Soon, many people come into contact with UFOs. Among them is the electrician Roy Nari, who after that with all his might tries to get to the place that the aliens indicated to him.

This painting by Steven Spielberg is dedicated to the passion of a person and his admiration for something unknown. That is why many were disappointed when the director decided to update the film and showed the interior of the alien ship in the finale. Fortunately, there is always the opportunity to watch the classic version.

21. Out of the car

• UK, 2014.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Programmer Caleb agrees to participate in an interesting experiment: during the week he will test the robot girl Ava in the house of the inventor Nathan. Gradually, the hero becomes attached to the object of study.

Writer Alex Garland initially became famous for his novel The Beach, which was used in the film of the same name, and for the script for the film 28 Days Later. And his directorial debut "Out of the Machine" became one of the best films about artificial intelligence in the history of cinema.

20. Gravity

• USA, UK, 2013.
• Drama, fantasy, thriller.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

After an accident in orbit from the crew of the spacecraft, only astronaut Ryan Stone and her experienced colleague Matt Kowalski survive. The latter sacrifices himself so that the girl can be saved. But after that, she needs to figure out how to get to the space station.

Alfonso Cuarón in his film managed to demonstrate a real triumph of visuals and computer graphics. At the same time, the picture is rather devoted to human loneliness, and the main emphasis is placed on the acting of Sandra Bullock.

19. Moon 2112

• UK, 2009.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Astronaut Sam Bell's contract is coming to an end. All alone, he spent three years on the moon, overseeing the work of the apparatus that extracts the isotope. A couple of weeks before the end of the mission, Sam senses that something is wrong with him, and then discovers that he was led by the nose for a long time.

Director Duncan Jones has managed to produce an impressive and emotional film with minimal investment. It took only 33 days to work, and most of the time there is only one actor in the frame.

18. Alien

• USA, 1982.
• Science fiction, drama, adventure.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Aliens secretly arrive on Earth and collect plant samples. They are attacked by special agents of the government, and the aliens run away, forgetting to take one of their own. He has to be saved by ordinary earthly children.

Steven Spielberg directed a kind film that will appeal to both children and adults alike. And initially the director conceived the picture as a darker continuation of "Close Encounters of the Third Degree". But, disappointed in the sequel to "Jaws", he decided to create a new, more personal and brighter story.

17. Edge of the future

• USA, Canada, 2014.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Major William Cage dies in battle with evil aliens. But then the hero is reborn shortly before the moment of his death. Now he can relive events over and over again, and this makes it possible to defeat enemies.

The movie with Tom Cruise, based on the eponymous novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaki, looks like a computer game. The main character dies, is reborn, pumps up his abilities and starts all over again until his plan goes perfectly.

16. Arrival

• USA, Canada, India, 2016.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

12 space alien ships descend to Earth. The American government is getting worried. It instructs the team, led by linguistics teacher Louise Banks, to find a common language with the guests in any way and find out why they have arrived.

Denis Villeneuve made a film about aliens who do not destroy the planet and do not capture its inhabitants, but do exactly the opposite. Therefore, the picture can be perceived rather as a philosophical story about people's own aggression. That does not negate the stunningly beautiful shots.

15. District number 9

• South Africa, USA, New Zealand, Canada, 2009.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

A huge spaceship with many exhausted aliens hovers over the Earth. People organize a camp for them. But years later, the alien habitat turns into a criminal ghetto. One day, a representative of the commission involved in the relocation of creatures encounters an unknown artifact there.

The debut picture of Neil Blomkamp, filmed in a pseudo-documentary manner, tells not only about contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. The film is about disenfranchised slum dwellers and their difficult life.

14. Child of man

• USA, UK, Japan, 2006.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Humanity is faced with the problem of infertility. The last child was born almost 20 years ago, and there are no more women in the world who can get pregnant. While scientists are looking for ways to cope with the problem, people begin to create unimaginable things. But former activist Theo Faron has a chance to change everything.

Alfonso Cuarón's dystopia can be considered more of a philosophical reflection on human nature than a post-apocalyptic story. That does not negate the exciting and dark plot.

13. She

• USA, 2013.
• Science fiction, melodrama.
• Duration: 126 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Tired of loneliness, the writer Theodore Twombly orders himself a new development. This is a program that will communicate with him, adjusting to the mood of the owner. Gradually, the hero falls in love with the voice assistant.

Spike Jonze's painting is somewhat reminiscent of the episode of "Black Mirror". But instead of harsh satire on modern society and dependence on technology, the author showed a touching drama about loneliness and love.

12. The Martian

• USA, 2015.
• Science fiction, adventure.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Due to the onset of the storm, a group of scientists hastily leaves Mars. During the evacuation, one of Watney's expedition members is injured and blown away by the wind. Having decided that he was dead, the colleagues fly away. But Watney comes to his senses and realizes that now he must survive alone on a distant planet.

The film by the legendary Ridley Scott is based on the book of the same name by Andy Weier. Moreover, the original was written in the spirit of survival instructions, albeit with a fantastic fundamental principle. The director partially simplified the plot and turned out to be an easy adventure movie about Robinson Crusoe from the future.

11.12 monkeys

• USA, 1995.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 129 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

By 2035, almost all of the world's population had died out due to a terrible virus. The few survivors live in the catacombs. Criminal James Cole is offered amnesty in exchange for a chance to save humanity: he must travel back in time and understand the causes of the disease.

Terry Gilliam's painting touches upon a topic that is relevant at all times - the fear of a global pandemic. But in the film with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, the action was presented in the form of a thrilling detective with an unexpected denouement.

10. Something

• USA, 1982.
• Horror, fantasy, drama.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Polar explorers discover an alien organism in the ice of Antarctica. He turns out to be very aggressive and almost elusive: the monster not only attacks people, but also takes the form of any living creature.

The film by John Carpenter is based on the 1951 film Something from Another World. As in the case of "Fly", the remake of the 80s turned out to be better than the original, since the plot perfectly combined fantasy with the atmosphere of a real horror.

9. Jurassic Park

• USA, 1993.
• Adventure, fantasy.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

The DNA of dinosaurs is found in the blood of fossil mosquitoes, which makes it possible to restore ancient dinosaurs. After that, the huge animals are sent to the amusement park, where visitors can admire them. Shortly before the opening, several scientists go to the park, and exactly at this time the protection is turned off.

The film, based on the novel by Michael Crichton, still amazes with the quality of the special effects. On the set, they combined computer graphics with animatronics - real miniature copies of dinosaurs. And later the picture grew into a whole franchise.

8. Blade Runner

• USA, 1982.
• Science fiction, drama, thriller.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

To make life easier for themselves, humans have created replicants indistinguishable from humans, who must perform the most difficult and dangerous work. But some androids do not want to put up with their fate and run away. Then a special "blade runner" is sent to search for them. One of these employees, Rick Deckard, already wants to retire, but he has a final task ahead of him.

Ridley Scott's painting is based on Philip Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. But the director greatly changed the plot, turning the story into a discourse about the very essence of man.

7. Solaris

• USSR, 1972.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 169 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Psychologist Chris Kelvin is sent to an orbital station off the planet Solaris, whose surface is made up of an intelligent ocean. The hero must figure out why one of the researchers committed suicide. But, arriving at the scene, Kelvin discovers something that defies logical explanations.

The film by Andrei Tarkovsky is based on the novel of the same name by Stanislav Lem. But the director shifted the focus of the plot, turning the story into an analysis of the hero's personal experiences. The author of the book was dissatisfied, but the audience fell in love with this picture.

6. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

• USA, 2004.
• Science fiction, melodrama.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The life of a shy Joel is a series of gray everyday life. But one day he spontaneously decides not to go to work, gets on the train and goes to the sea. There Joel meets Clementine, a girl with blue hair. And both have the feeling that they have already communicated at some point.

Michel Gondry's film starring Jim Carrey combines a fantastic setting with a touching melodrama and a story about the search for a soul mate.

5.11: A Space Odyssey

• USA, UK, 1968.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 149 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

In prehistoric times, a black monolith appears on Earth, triggering the evolution of Australopithecus into humans. Millions of years later, humanity discovers the same stone on the moon and catches a powerful signal that it sends into space. In his footsteps, the research ship "Discovery" is sent, on board of which there are only two awake crew members and the HAL 9000 supercomputer.

Director Stanley Kubrick wanted to make a realistic science film about space travel. He took as a basis the story of Arthur Clarke "The Sentinel" and, together with the author of the original, turned it into a large-scale philosophical picture.

4. Alien

• USA, UK, 1979.
• Science fiction, thriller, horror.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The crew of the space tug "Nostromo" receives a signal from the LV-426 planetoid. Assuming it might be a request for help, the team searches for its source and is confronted with an unknown and highly dangerous life form.

Ridley Scott's painting is more reminiscent of a thriller set in a confined space than a fantasy about space flights. But the viewers liked the image of the xenomorph and the gloomy atmosphere so much that the story was developed into a large-scale franchise, for which other authors were already responsible.

3. Interstellar

• USA, UK, 2014.
• Drama, adventure, fantasy.
• Duration: 169 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

Due to climate change, a food crisis is starting on Earth, which can destroy humanity. Then scientists send a group of researchers into deep space to find a habitable planet.

The idea of the picture was proposed by theoretical physicist Kip Thorne, and at first it was Steven Spielberg who planned to put it. Then the director hired Jonathan Nolan to finalize the script. And when Spielberg left for other projects, he invited his famous brother Christopher. Of course, there are many fantastic and dramatic assumptions in the tape. Still, Interstellar is a very strong and impressive film about space and other worlds.

2. Matrix

• USA, Australia, 1999.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 136 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

During the day, Thomas Anderson works in a regular office, and at night he turns into a hacker Neo who fights the system. But one day the hero finds out that the whole world around him is just a computer simulation. Now it is Neo who must save people from the power of machines.

The painting of the Wachowski sisters became revolutionary in the development of science fiction. The authors combined a dark, almost philosophical idea with an action-packed thriller and new filming technology. The Matrix trilogy has become a legend. And in 2021, the fourth part should be released.

1. Beginning

• USA, UK, 2010.
• Science fiction, action, thriller.
• Duration: 148 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 8.

Industrial spy Dominic Cobb is famous for stealing corporate secrets using shared dreaming technology. In order to return to his children, he agrees to an almost impossible job. This time, he will not have to steal another idea, but introduce it into the victim's subconscious.

Christopher Nolan's film is composed of several layers of sleep. Moreover, the director showed each of them in its own color scheme to make it easier for the viewer to understand the action. Nevertheless, he left the final of the picture open, allowing everyone to decide for themselves what happened to the hero.

This material was first published in June 2017. In October 2021, we updated the text.