When watching a movie, everyone tends to, on some level or another, categorize it in their heads. Whether by comparison or by a superficial analysis, our thoughts on any movie are informed by the movies we watched before, and so categories emerge, whereby we place a particular film in a specific box in accordance with the type of production we believe it to be.
I myself do that very same thing, of course. And while I do try to watch a variety of films encompassing a variety of genres, I do tend to sway more in some directions than others, and sometimes unfairly judge a particular movie based on its genre. I have favorite genres and not so favorite genres, ones I look forward to experience, upon knowing a movie falls into that category and others I dread, due to past bad experiences with similar works. But every movie is a standalone work. Unless it’s part of a series, no prior work before should inform on its quality, and I try to maintain that outlook, as best as I can.
Science-fiction or Sci-Fi is a very particular type of genre in that respect, and one I very much enjoy. One of the reasons for that is that Sci-fi does not define its genre in a tight space like other categories do, because it only describes the context or setting of the movies that it defines, not the themes or characteristics of their stories. To put it simply, a Sci-Fi movie can be lots of things, you have Sci-Fi romances, Sci-Fi Thrillers, Sci-Fi horrors, Sci-Fi adventures, Sci-Fi epics, Sci-Fi comedies even. Sci-Fi defines a type of fiction that handles imaginative and futuristic concepts linked with science and technology, but those concepts can impact humanity and the human conscience and perspective in such a wide array of ways that the genre’s potential is truly limitless.
So, with all the great work that has been done in that field and disregarding arbitrary definitions of what is a work of science-fiction and what is not, but adhering to generally agreed upon categorizations, below are 10 movies that I find to be definitely worth a watch if you want to explore the vast array of possibilities this genre in particular has to offer. It’s definitely not a complete list and many other movies deserve a spot on this list, and I may one day make a second edition of this list, but for one reason or another, these 10 found their way into this list and I recommend every single one.
1. Alien
Starting out with a classic, Alien is a movie that I held of on seeing for a long time, but having seen it, there’s really no reason not to. To me horror movies should focus primarily on three things: character, ambience and structure. Alien nails all three in a pretty revolutionary (for the time) setting, that still holds up today. The classic premise of a group of people in a confined space while a monster kills them one by one is quite familiar, but the execution here is flawless to the point that you really don’t get bored with it. It’s scary, it’s fun, it’s also interesting to know about its setting, and it’s so entertaining. Give it a watch if you haven’t.
2. The Truman Show
A movie that entices you by allowing you to unfold the plot along with Truman himself but also to revel in how everything around the protagonist is so obvious in retrospect, but also not when you put yourself in his position. It provides an interesting commentary on how we accept the world we’re given and seldom question the nature of our own existence while throwing some neat little observations on modern society’s obsession with reality TV. Definitely worth watching if you want something to reflect on and discuss after the movie is over.
3. The Matrix
An obvious choice I know, but there’s something about the first Matrix that stands the test of time and will always be impressive. I believe it’s the perfect merge of concept and execution. Of course, stories about our entire existence being based on some kind of lie are enticing in nature, but The Matrix uses it to full advantage in order to gear the specifics towards some of the best action the genre had and has ever seen. The progressive reveals to our protagonist Neo are delivered so well in scenes that combine good writing, good acting and good visual cues that help explain things to the audience in a way that doesn’t feel overly expositional. Character-work, plot development and action all share screen-time evenly, none rushes or drags and all three are so well implemented that The Matrix really has in it something for everyone.
4. Children of Men
Dystopian futures are a pretty very recurring sub-genre in science-fiction and while many times they might disappoint with lackluster worlds and characters, Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men is definitely a cut above the rest. Set in a world plagued by human infertility, the movie is basically an escort mission as Theo, the main character, is put in a position to accompany Kee, a miraculously pregnant woman out of the UK and towards some form of safety. What works in Children of Men is the brilliant blend of character and world building, complemented by the amazing cinematography that this director is known for. It focuses on bringing the audience into this world and the characters rather than solving their problems, and that makes for a very moving experience, even as everything is presented in a very bleak way.
5. Wall-E
Who said that science-fiction can’t be for children? Pixar’s Wall-E argues against that statement with a cinematic feast for the eyes. It presents a bleak world, an Earth destroyed by human pollution and greed, and where the surviving humans live out their days on a fully automated spaceship, barely in control of their own lives, content to eat and drink and sit down, enjoying the endless commodities provided to them by their robotic servants/overlords. In contrast to this reality is Wall-E, a little garbage disposal robot still on Earth, seemingly alone, working to organize the endless piles of garbage the humans left behind, apparently for a very long time. All changes when he meets Eve, a robotic pod sent by the human spaceship to verify whether life on Earth is sustainable once again. From there he goes on somewhat of a space odyssey to reunite with Eve, with whom he falls in love, and ultimately, guide humanity back to Earth and to a life of purpose and care for the environment. Wall-E provides an easily digestible cautionary tale about human excesses, both on Earth and beyond, and about recognizing the true meaning of living. The movie achieves this most cleverly by representing robots as behaving like humans even more so than the actual humans in the story. On top of that, Wall-E is gorgeous to look at, and one of the best examples of visual storytelling I’ve ever seen. A remarkable achievement, definitely worth your time.
6. Moon
A solitary tale in space that dangles a tantalizing mystery in front of the viewer, but which remains interesting even after said mystery is unmasked. Sam Rockwell plays Sam Bell, the sole keeper of a lunar mining facility who, on the verge of the end of his three-year shift on the station, starts to experience weird incidents around him, including some deriving from his only companion, an AI computer voiced by Kevin Spacey. Moon does not appear very intriguing on the surface, and even as you’re watching, you might be able to perceive where the story is going, but there is something undeniably entertaining about the interactions between Sam and the robot, and about watching the events on the Moon unfold, as the plot thickens and thickens. It helps that Rockwell delivers a very good performance on his own, and Spacey does pull off a voice-over that cleverly balances a level of character that keeps the robot interesting, while still being believably a robot. If you’re looking for a solid cinematic other-worldly introspective experience that seamlessly hooks you in, give Moon a watch.
7. Inception
Probably the movie that best encapsulates the idea of inventive, thought-provoking ideas, mixed with a cinematic style that lends itself well to blockbuster experiences that can be enjoyed by anyone. Inception, much like the Matrix before it, really has within it a bit of everything: an engaging plot, compelling characters, clever humor, iconic score, sound structure and of course, its unique premise. I find putting it here a bit superfluous, because odds are, you’ve seen it already, but it merits a spot because it’s an example of how well Sci-Fi can show us things we never could have imagined, but at the same time, touching on familiar concepts that foster our engagement. In the case of Inception, the idea of going into dreams and exploring the depths of human thought and emotion is tantalizing enough but the execution is even better. Writing, acting, pacing, cinematography and action all come together to create a movie you really need to see if you haven’t already.
8. The Planet of the Apes Trilogy
It’s rare a situation where one can say that some form of reboot, retelling or prequel to a cinematic classic not only does justice to the original but surpasses it in many ways. It’s even rarer when one can say that about a trilogy of movies, and yet, here we are. The Planet of the Apes Trilogy, composed by Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) is a wonderfully crafted series of Sci-Fi stories centered around the emergence of intelligent apes around the world, at the same time as a global pandemic wipes out most of humanity. All three movies are centered around the tale of the ape Caesar, one of the first apes to develop a greater cerebral capacity, and how he deals with his evolving conscience and the humans who exerted dominance over him and his species for so long. It’s a very interesting dive into the nature of humanity and how we are to the animals we share this planet with and really anything we consider to be an ‘other’ to us. On top of this, these are gorgeously made movies, benefitting from what might be the best work of Andy Serkis not only in terms of motion capture, but also acting. He deserved far more awards and accolades for his work here than those he received. The thematic explorations here are not unheard of but they are very well done and worth taking a look at not only as great stories, but as great movies.
9. Snowpiercer
This was the first movie I saw of Bong Joon-Ho, and while some might argue that it is the most Americanized of his works, its quality is undeniable. The premise is just outright enticing, and while the main allegory of the movie is quite obvious from the start, the entertainment value here is so damn captivating, as is the quality of the acting and of the writing. Set in a dystopian future (another such case) where global temperatures dropped to unbearable levels, the last remnants of humanity reside on an ever-moving train that circles the globe in which the ones living in the best conditions reside in the front and those who dwell in poverty live in the back. The story of the uprising of those in the back and their efforts to reach the front are all made so engaging due to really good character work, economic writing that makes the most out of few words, and really solid performances from the lead actors. On top of that, there is great use of cinematography that emphasizes the characters’ mentality of moving forward or backward, given that’s the world they know, as well as great action that comes in at the best moments. It’s a super entertaining thoughtful movie that is definitely accessible.
10. Her
To bring an end to this list we have an example of a romantic story told through the lens of a Sci-Fi concept with all the implications it brings. Her tells the story of a lonely man called Theodore living in a futuristic Los Angeles, recently divorced and with few interpersonal relationships. The kinship he seeks comes in the form of Samantha, an AI operating system that he installs on his computer and with whom he can have full articulate conversations. Eventually Theodore becomes so connected to her that he falls deeply in love. What follows is an exploration of how humans define being in love and how those notions can be challenged by evolving technology and ever-changing social behaviors. Her is quite stylized in its presentation, which fits this advanced world, everything looks pristine, shiny and clean, which also lends itself well to the romantic tone of the story. It’s light in its tone, but utterly engaging, aided by stellar performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson providing the voice of Samantha. If you’re looking for something akin to a Black Mirror episode, but not as dark, this is right up your alley.
And that wraps up this very short list. I know quite that there are many, many other movies I could’ve mentioned and maybe on a later occasion I’ll make a part 2 to this list. Until then, hope you enjoy checking out the movies on this compilation and thank you for reading.