Science fiction films are among the most popular movies in cinematic history, with films like Star Wars and Aliens keeping audiences on the edge of their collective seats for decades. This list includes these classics, and many more, but it is by no means complete. Feel free to add your favorite sci- fi movies if they aren't listed, and vote for your favorites. Want to see more of the best Sci- Fi? Here are the Best Sci- Fi TV Shows of All Time. Great sci- fi films include stories of extraterrestrial life, time travel, space travel, robots and more. Some of these amazing science fiction movies are more fantasy- oriented, while others are a bit closer to reality. A rundown of the best action movies, roping in greats like Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Connery, Mel Gibson, and Bruce Willis. Michael Mann’s divisive techno-thriller just. Sci-Fi movies watch online free on MegaMovieLine. Download Sci-Fi movies, watch trailers. Science fiction doesn't always have to be synonymous with big budget blockbusters. These 15 movies prove that small budgets can still produce huge results. Either way, scifi films keep audiences rapt with tales of science and technology, combined, at times with the supernatural. Some sci- fi films are based on classic novels or short stories by such heavyweight authors as H. G. Wells (War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man) or Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Minority Report). What are the greatest sci fi movies of all time? This list of the best sci- fi films is also Crowdranked, meaning you can rerank your own greatest sci- fi movies. Your reranks can change the overall order of the films on the list! Best Low Budget Science Fiction Movies. Science fiction has always been synonymous with big- budget filmmaking. Although that’s only a paltry sum of around $3. Movies have come a long way since 1. Hollywood, sci- fi is still nearly synonymous with big budget. It’s true that the demands of science fiction filmmaking often require large sums of money and any lack of funds are made apparent to the viewer. District 9 (2. 00. Links to all sci-fi tv shows at CrazyAboutTV.com. For starters the best action movie of the 21st Century is: FLASHPOINT directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen. Other movies left out the list that should have. Our list of the 25 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 25 Years continues with #s 10-1. If you somehow missed the first 15 on this list, you can check out Part 1 right. We’re in a Post-apocalyptic Golden Age. Not even during the Cold War were science fiction books about the apocalypse and life afterward so popular. We fly our geek flag high and proud around here, so when The Man told us to write an article on the 50 best science fiction and fantasy films of all time, we were. Sci-fi Movies - Free to Watch and Download. This is a collection of old sci-fi movies that you can watch and download at BnWMovies.com. These sci-fi movies belong to. District 9 is definitely pushing the upper boundary of what most would consider “low budget,” but what earns it a spot on this list is that it’s a $3. Coming from a then- unknown director, Niell Blomkamp, and produced by box office king of the 2. Peter Jackson, District 9 made a big splash on arrival. The movie presented a dystopian near- future that uses aliens in South Africa as a metaphor for apartheid. Blomkamp might not have brought any large scale movie production experience to District 9, but with a strong background in special effects he was able to maximize efficiency and avoid a budget inflated by R& D. Other costs were also kept to a minimum due to the decision to use mostly unknown actors, and to shoot in South Africa during ongoing riots against refugees from Zimbabwe. Together, those factors all played into maximizing realism and minimizing expenses. Cloverfield (2. 00. While travelling in Japan, J. J. Abrams came to the realization that America doesn’t have its own Godzilla. Sure – we had King Kong, and sometimes borrow Godzilla for a romp in New York City, but there is no definitive stateside monster. A good chunk of the footage was actually shot by actor T. J. Miller (an unknown at the time), which helped reduce a lot of the overhead related to shooting. The shaky, blurry, and often out- of- focus style also allowed massive savings on effects. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2. Director Michel Gondry got the idea for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind from a friend exasperated with another friend’s constant complaints about her boyfriend. The friend eventually lost his patience and asked her if, given the option, would she erase the bad boyfriend from her memory? If Jim Carrey had demanded his normal pay, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind would have been almost twice as expensive, since he was commanding a full $2. Passing on the big bucks turned out to be a smart move, since the role ended up becoming one of his most respected dramatic performances. Gondry also saved a massive amount of money by using practical effects and camera tricks in favor of more complicated or digital effects. Gondry’s effects were mostly illusions of the camera, lighting, and forced perspective. Kate Winslet even referred to him as a “visual genius” because of the way he was able to perform all sorts of wizardry. By using light, camera angles, and pieces of glass, Gondry created complex illusions such as having a character fade into or pop out of a scene. Ex Machina (2. 01. Entering the scene as one of the most compelling surprises of 2. Ex Machina is the product of writer/director Alex Garland’s long obsession with A. I. It has easily and quickly earned itself a well- deserved spot right next to many more costly sci- fi classics. Garland wanted to retain as much creative control as possible, so he sought to keep the budget to a minimum. The movie was shot digitally but without the use of any blue screens or other effects- heavy shots. The character of Ava was created by filming two takes of all of Ava’s scenes, excluding her from the second, then rotoscoping the robot body over most of actress Alicia Vikander. Ex Machina also found massive savings in its tiny cast. The majority of the movie is just Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac, with just 1. The Terminator (1. James Cameron was inspired to write The Terminator after experiencing a fever dream in which he was being chased by a killer robot. Since he already harbored the desire to make a slasher- style horror movie, Cameron put his nightmare down on paper. Its success has put it towards the top of the best sci- fi movies of all time (although some of that is due to its more expensive sequel). If it wasn’t for the decision to use Arnold Schwarzenegger – who commanded a far smaller price tag than he does today – as the T- 8. The Terminator wouldn’t be remembered today. Chronicle (2. 01. As a young filmmaker, Josh Trank was inspired to create an anthology of viral prank videos featuring kids using telekinesis. When he fully developed the novel idea, he realized he actually had an entire feature length movie on his hands. Trank had a lot of prior experience with creating special effects, so he was able to significantly cut overhead by planning out the effects and being able to succinctly communicate needs to the effects company. This helped to avoid what he referred to as the cost of “figuring it out.”9. Attack the Block (2. Writer and director Joe Cornish was inspired to write Attack the Block after he was mugged in South London. Ten years later, he was recreating the scene for Attack the Block. The film extrapolates on the real- life mugging when an alien crashes to the ground and interrupts the crime. Attack the Block used mostly no- name actors, although John Boyega has since made a name for himself (see Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Cornish and crew were also very thrifty when it came to set design. All of the apartment scenes shown in the movie were filmed in the same two apartments. The principal photography involved actors donning gorilla suits with animatronic jaws, with just a little digital touch up to add an otherworldly quality. Europa Report (2. Europa Reportis an example of the kind of hard science fiction that isn’t very common in the genre these days. Writer Philip Gelatt wanted to create a science fiction movie that didn’t totally scratch out the word “science” from the equation, so he set out to create a story with as much scientific realism as he could muster. Consulting heavily with companies like NASA and Space X, the production team sought to create the most plausible space travel movie. While most hard sci- fi in recent years, such as Gravity and Interstellar, have gone the route of sweeping scenes formatted for IMAX, Europa Report does the opposite. With 2. 8 Days Later, Danny Boyle revitalized the zombie movie genre. Which is fairly ironic, considering the the “Rage Virus”- infected running “zombies” in 2. Days Later wouldn’t pass the sniff test with most zombie enthusiasts. Much of the money- saving in 2. Days Later comes from the intimate story telling. It’s a simple story about a handful of people in an already overrun UK. The small scale of the story meant that the normally far less budget- friendly elements of zombie movies can be entirely avoided in favor of a character drama set in a post- infection world. Moon (2. 00. 9) – $5 million. Written specifically for actor Sam Rockwell, Moon is a cerebral story about an astronaut on a 3 year solo mission. Written and directed by Duncan Jones (the son of David Bowie), Moonis intended to be a throwback to the sci- fi of the late 7. Alien. Like many other lower budget movies, Moon benefited greatly from Jones’ familiarity with special effects. A small cast, short shoot, and smart use of miniatures over more expensive effects all ensured Moon was made for the bottom dollar. THX 1. 13. 8 – $7. After seeing a similarly titled short student film by George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola requested that Lucas provide a screenplay to turn it into a full length movie. Lucas originally balked, claiming he couldn’t write a screenplay. After eventually caving, Lucas provided Coppola a draft. Coppola read it over and said “Boy, you were right, you can’t write a screenplay.” Fortunately, Walter Murch was brought in to polish Lucas’s draft into an excellent script. THX 1. 13. 8 is a bit of a pioneer in its documentary style (a style that would be utilized by many low- budget sci- fi movies in the future). The style was chosen partially for budgetary reasons, but also because Lucas wanted it to appear like an actual visual documentation of future events. In order to create a believable futuristic world on a small budget, the use of real sets was maximized. Many props were also real- world objects adapted to have a futuristic use – a practice that would become even more prevalent when Lucas made Star Wars. Safety Not Guaranteed (2. Inspired by a classified ad seeking a time- traveling partner, Safety Not Guaranteed is a warm story about friendship loosely wrapped in some sci- fi time travel concepts. Colin Trevorrow’s directorial debut earned him enough credibility for Universal and Lucasfilm to hand him the reigns for Jurassic World and Star Wars: Episode IX. Safety Not Guaranteed may not have been particularly lofty in any of its sci- fi objectives, but that doesn’t make the budget any less impressive. The movie found most of its monetary efficiency in its especially rigorous shooting schedule, filming in 3. Monsters (2. 01. 0) – $5. At this point, we’re really beyond “low budget” and have pushed into the area of “micro budget.” Gareth Edwards really dropped jaws with his half- a- million dollar monster movie that looked like it could have cost $1. The true value of Monsterslikely isn’t even represented in the budget. Since Edwards wrote, directed and shot the movie himself, then did all the effects work himself on his computer in his bedroom, Monsters’ savings come mostly from Edwards simply doing all the work himself. Sometimes, the best way to keep a low budget is to have one person do the job of several. Upstream Color (2. Marking the second outing of filmmaker Shane Carruth, Upsteam Color is an abstract movie that revolves around some loose sci- fi concepts. What’s amazing about it is it bears great resemblance to movies like Terrance Malick’s Tree of Life or Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, but for less than 1% of the cost. Like Gareth Edwards, Shane Carruth keeps his costs down by wearing many hats, but he takes it even further. The 5. 0 Best Sci- Fi And Fantasy Movies Of All Time. We fly our geek flag high and proud around here, so when The Man told us to write an article on the 5. Man, this stuff is hard. In making this list, we decided to avoid super hero flicks, lean away from most monster movies, and allow as many sequels as necessary from deserving franchises. We also realized both genres offer a ton of viable candidates, so that meant more than a few great movies were left on the cutting room floor—our apologies in advance. So hop in your space cruiser, set your blaster to stun, and check out our list of the 5. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Year: 1. 97. 7Director: George Lucas. Purchase: Amazon DVDPerhaps you’ve heard of this one? If not, let us fill you in. It’s about a guy named Luk—oh, come on it’s freaking Star Wars. Is there a more textbook definition of sci- fi than George Lucas’ legendary franchise starter? The special effects and dialogue may not have fully stood the test of time, but the cultural footprint left by this universally loved space opera is arguably the largest by any movie of any genre. The Wizard of Oz. Year: 1. 93. 9Director: Victor Fleming. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Pitch perfect Judy Garland and the stellar cast. It’s clear by now that no matter how much times passes or advances are made on the CGI front, nothing will ever dull the magic of learning there’s no place like home. Minority Report. Year: 2. Director: Steven Spielberg. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Dick was a sci- fi genius, and Steven Spielberg tapped into Dick’s short story for the supremely suspenseful Minority Report. Tom Cruise is chief of the Pre. Crime police force in the year 2. Besides being a top- notch thrill ride, the film also leaves you with a host of moral questions to ponder once it’s done. We like that. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Year: 2. 00. 1Director: Peter Jackson. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Tolkien’s Middle- Earth masterworks. The scope and sense of immersion he established right off the bat with Fellowship of the Ring was ambitious and amazing. Even with the valid criticisms about the film’s runtime and laundry list of character names and places one gets bombarded with, this is still a standout achievement in fantasy filmmaking. E. T.: The Extraterrestrial. Year: 1. 98. 2Director: Steven Spielberg. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Steven Spielberg tells the story of a boy befriending an alien with superior skill, weaving suspense, comedy, thrills, and tears into a powerful 1. Young Henry Thomas is excellent as Elliott, as is the rest of the cast, and the stirring theme by John Williams. Alien. Year: 1. 97. Director: Ridley Scott. Purchase: Amazon DVD . But in 1. 97. 9, Ridley Scott took that title and with it, sci- fi horror to new levels with this tale of a commercial spaceship getting a smidgen more than they bargained for while exploring a distress call. The pacing and suspense is Grade- A, Sigourney Weaver is strong (and gets even stronger in Aliens), and the chest- popping scene is still shown in most major medical schools—or should be. Planet of the Apes. Year: 1. 96. 8Director: Franklin J. Schaffner. Purchase: Amazon DVD . The great Rod Serling having his hands on the screenplay surely helped, and the last scene of the film still stands tall as one of Hollywood’s greatest gotcha. Inception. Year: 2. Director: Christopher Nolan. Purchase: Amazon DVD . There’s so much drama, you could call it a dramatic film. There’s so much action, you could call it an action flick. But when the story involves a professional thief diving into the subconscious minds of his targets to get the goods, you know you’re in the world of science fiction as well. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Year: 1. 97. 1Director: Mel Stuart. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Gene Wilder is freaking sensational, and we’re still waiting for the Oompa- Loompas’ spinoff. Back to the Future. Year: 1. 98. 5Director: Robert Zemeckis. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Fox as Marty Mc. Fly is a joy to watch as he goes back in time to fix the present, and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown is equally awesome. Even if the film’s take on what kind of tech we’d have in 2. Godzilla. Year: 1. Director: Ishiro Honda. Purchase: Amazon DVDLike many sci- fi classics, Godzilla not only delivers a spectacle to look at, but also a poignant message to discuss after. Less than a decade after Japan was hit by atomic bombs in World War II, the themes of nuclear radiation and mass destruction were delved into via this iconic monster movie. Even if its spawn of sequels and offshoots only further entrenched its B- movie status, there’s no denying the impact of this creature on film and pop culture history. A Space Odyssey. Year: 1. Director: Stanley Kubrick. Purchase: Amazon DVD . When people say they hate it, we totally get it. Much of it is boring and (depending on who you talk to) nonsensical. But it’d also be criminal to not have it on this list for three reasons: 1) Its profound impact on future sci- fi films and filmmakers, 2) its ground- breaking special effects, and 3) its handful of magical moments created by Stanley Kubrick. If only there were more HAL 9. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Year: 1. 98. 0Director: Irvin Kershner. Purchase: Amazon DVDIt’s the consensus choice for the best of the six Star Wars films to date, and yeah, it should be. The Empire Strikes Back was darker, more intense, and more emotional than Star Wars. It also yielded a heavy load of unforgettable characters and moments, from the introduction of Yoda and Boba Fett, to Darth Vader’s “I am your father” bombshell. Perhaps the greatest sequel of all time, and surely on the short list for the best sci- fi adventures. Blade Runner. Year: 1. Director: Ridley Scott. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Loosely based the Philip K. Dick story, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, this is film noir set fantastically in the future. Its vision of the future is bleak, dark, dangerous, and believable, with a moral tale about humans and technology too. We think it’s a smidgen overrated, but it certainly belongs on this list. Forbidden Planet. Year: 1. 95. 6Director: Fred M. Wilcox. Purchase: Amazon DVD ? Set aside 9. 8 minutes for Forbidden Planet, a landmark bit of sci- fi that leans heavily on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It’s 5. 0s sci- fi at its stereotypical best, with terrific special effects (for the time period, of course), suspense, and a rich cheesy goodness you don’t mind getting all over you. Casting bonus: Leslie Nielsen! The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Year: 2. 00. 2Director: Peter Jackson. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Andy Serkis and the CGI wizards who created Gollum really steal the show, creating one of the most memorable non- human characters in film history. The Matrix. Year: 1. Director: The Wachowski Brothers. Purchase: Amazon DVD . The Wachowski Brothers built a crazy deep (and yeah, crazy confusing) world that gave sci- fi lovers everywhere a massive Wachowski in their pants. The mushy money- grab sequels however, won’t be making this list. Metropolis. Year: 1. Director: Fritz Lang. Purchase: Amazon DVD . German director Fritz Lang took audiences far into the future with amazing set design and ground- creating visual flair. And despite it being older than bubble gum, canned beer, and the ballpoint pen, the themes of the film – class warfare and love – are as fresh as ever. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Year: 1. 97. 7Director: Steven Spielberg. Purchase: Amazon DVD . But one exception to that rule came hurtling into theaters in 1. Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Richard Dreyfuss is great as the dude whose run- in with a spaceship leaves him obsessed with learning more about what he experienced. The soothing five notes played by the alien spaceship almost makes the anal probing worth it! Avatar. Year: 2. 00. Director: James Cameron. Purchase: Amazon DVD . You can’t quibble with the fact that Avatar is an absolute visual spectacle, and perhaps the greatest use of 3. D ever seen. On those merits, it sits somewhere in the latter half out our top 5. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Year: 1. 98. 3Director: Richard Marquand. Purchase: Amazon DVDReturn of the Jedi finished off the original Star Wars trilogy in grand style, with more space swashbuckling and alien encounters. The first half of the film, with Luke Skywalker’s mission to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt’s clutches, nicely carries over some of that edgy bite found in The Empire Strikes Back. The final battle between Luke, Darth Vader, and the Emperor helps to make up for all those unfortunate Ewok shenanigans. Aliens. Year: 1. 98. Director: James Cameron. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Regardless, Sigourney Weaver earns her stripes as one of the fiercest female action heroes of all time as she goes womano- a- womano vs. Great pacing, big thrills, and one of the best sci- fi films of the 8. The Day the Earth Stood Still. Year: 1. 95. 1Director: Robert Wise. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Expecting maturity from sci- fi back then was nearly unthinkable, but director Robert Wise nails it, despite being limited by the constraints of the time period. King Kong. Year: 1. Director: Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack. Purchase: Amazon DVD . The 8th wonder of the world. One of the greatest achievements in cinema history, the original King Kong is a flat- out masterpiece, especially on the technical front when you consider the film was made during the infancy stage of the motion picture industry. It’s the story of man’s ill- fated attempt to make money off of a giant ape, but it’s also an inter- species love story, perfectly blending fantasy, action, and drama, and in one. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Year: 2. 01. 1Director: David Yates. Purchase: Amazon DVD . Even if you don’t think Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was the best of the eight films, it’s hard to dispute the notion that the series mostly got better as it went along.
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