Blade Runner

Blade Runner - John Conway

Simply put, this is a list of my favorite science fiction films (the top 50).  Movies which are a part of a series/trilogy, like Star Wars are listed all together. (I know.  I cheated again.)  I have also left out animated films and films I felt fit better in other genres (like horror or comic-book hero), but I will likely do separate lists of these in later posts. The “KH” mark indicates a movie I worked on.  If something is missing it’s probably because I haven’t seen it, I didn’t like it, or I didn’t remember it.  If you want to know more about these films, I suggest you check out the Internet Movie Database. The order may not be exact, it’s hard to choose amongst one’s favorites, but here it is:

My Favorites

  1. Blade Runner [1982]
  2. Alien & Aliens [1979 & 1986] (though these are arguably more horror than sci-fi)(The others in this series are omitted on purpose.)
  3. The Matrix [1999, 2003, 2003]
  4. Star Wars [1974, 1980, 1983] (I do not wish to discuss episodes I, II, and III)
  5. I Robot [2004]
  6. I Am Legend [2007]
  7. Inception [2010]
  8. Super 8 [2011]
  9. Avatar [2009KH]
  10. Star Trek [1979*, 1982*****, 1984***, 1986****, 1989**, 1991****, 1994***, 1996****, 1998**, 2002***, 2009KH******] (*rating compares Star Trek films only)
  11. Galaxy Quest [1999]
  12. The Terminator [1984, 1991, 2003KH, 2009]
  13. Minority Report [2002]
  14. John Carter of Mars [2012]
  15. Cowboys and Aliens [2011]
  16. Battle: Los Angeles [2011]
  17. Stargate [1994]
  18. Knowing [2009]
  19. The Time Travelor’s Wife [2009] (might not be considered sci-fi by some)
  20. 12 Monkeys [1995]
  21. A.I. Artificial Intelligence [2001KH]
  22. Independence Day [1996]
  23. Pandorum [2009]
  24. Children of Men [2006]
  25. Signs [2002]
  26. District 9 [2009]
  27. The Fifth Element [1997]
  28. Men in Black [1997, 2002]
  29. 2012 [2009]
  30. City of Ember [2008]
  31. Dune [1984 & 2002]
  32. The Thing [1982, 2011]
  33. War of the Worlds [1953, 2005KH]
  34. The Island [2005]
  35. Predator [1987]
  36. Star Ship Troopers [1997] (Only the first movie)
  37. Event Horizon [1997] (like Alien, arguably a horror flick, but sci-fi through most of it)
  38. 2001: A Space Odyssey & 2010 [1968 & 1984] (2010 better, but see 2001 first)
  39. The Time Machine [1960, 2002KH]
  40. Total Recall [1990]
  41. Dark City [1998]
  42. Pitch Black [2000]
  43. Outland [1981]
  44. The Day the Earth Stood Still [1951 & 2008]
  45. Equilibrium [2002]
  46. Monsters [2010]
  47. Enemy Mine [1985]
  48. Zathura: A Space Adventure [2005KH]
  49. Jurassic Park [1993, 1997KH, 2001KH] (the second movie not so much)
  50. Explorers [1985]

Honorable Mention

  1. Red Planet [2000]
  2. Surrogates [2009]
  3. Back to the Future [1985, 1989, 1990]
  4. Forbidden Planet [1956]
  5. The Abyss [1989]
  6. Paycheck [2003]
  7. Starman [1984]
  8. Armageddon [1998] & Deep Impact [1998] (the same but different :) )
  9. Mad Max [1979, 1981, 1985]
  10. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [1954]
  11. The Hitchhicker’s Guide to the Galaxy [2005]
  12. V for Vendetta [2005]
  13. Contact [1997]
  14. Flight of the Navigator [1986]
  15. Brazil [1985]
  16. Close Encounters of the Third Kind [1977]
  17. E.T. [1982]
  18. Skyline [2010]
  19. Alien Nation [1988]
  20. Lost in Space [1998]
  21. The Core [2003]
  22. The Final Cut [2004]
  23. Deja Vu [2006]
  24. Eagle Eye [2008]
  25. The Forgotten [2004]
  26. 6th Day [2000]
  27. Timecrimes [2007]
  28. Altered States [1980]
  29. I Am Number Four [2011]
  30. Dreamcatcher [2003]
  31. The Fly [1958 & 1986]
  32. Soldier [1998]
  33. Imposter [2001]
  34. War Games [1983]
  35. Firestarter [1984]
  36. Logan’s Run [1976]
  37. The Andromeda Strain [1971]
  38. The Last Starfighter [1984]
  39. Soylent Green [1973]
  40. Planet of the Apes [1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 2001]
  41. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure [1989, 1991]
  42. Fire in the Sky [1993]
  43. Dreamscape [1984]
  44. Inner Space [1987]
  45. Running Man [1987]
  46. Serenity [2005]
  47. Twilight Zone: The Movie [1983]
  48. The Philadelphia Experiement [1984]
  49. The Final Countdown [1980]
  50. Krull [1983]
  51. The Ice Pirates [1984]
  52. Master of the World [1961] (Vincent Price)
  53. Wedlock [1991]
  54. Johnny Mnemonic [1995]
  55. AVP: Alien vs. Predator [2004]
  56. Babylon A.D. [2008]
  57. Robocop [1987]
  58. Spaceballs [1987]
  59. The Island of Doctor Moreau [1977, 1996]
  60. Fantastic Voyage [1966]
  61. Ghosts of Mars [2001]
  62. Mars Attacks [1996] (Almost didn’t make list, but has some value to sci-fi enthusiasts.)
  63. Barbarella [1968] (Simply because Jane Fonda should never forget she made this film.)

 

Please give me your thoughts about what movies I may have missed or, in your opinion, should have added (or subtracted).  I look forward to your input, which will undoubtedly remind me of 50 more films I wish I had included. :)

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