Just looking for some recommendations because I'm in a sci fi mood. And btw, my favorite sci fi film is Planet of the Apes (original).
Oh fuck. Hard question. I'm gonna answer with a couple because I can't really rank them. That being said, they're all in my top 10. Special shoutout to the last one.
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Event Horizon: Just a good ol' science fiction horror movie. I buy into the fan theory that it actually takes place in the early years of Warhammer 40k Universe.
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Galaxy Quest: This is almost cheating. It's not Star Trek but it has been called 'The Best Star Trek movie' so take that as you will.
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Rocky Horror Picture Show: Could technically be classified as a science fiction movie. Just saying.
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Moon: Sam Rockwell is a fantastic actor. Kevin Spacey is in it as a voice only role so that does ding the movie but it's well worth it. I didn't even recognize it was Kevin first time watching it. Performance from Sam Rockwell is incredible.
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Hitchhikers Guide (2005): It gets a bad wrap because it's not the greatest adaptation but it's still a fun movie nonetheless.
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Sunshine: Highly recommend not watching any trailers going into the movie and just enjoying the ride. If you don't consider anything else on this list, consider this movie. Exceptionally well done. Stars Chris Evans, Cillian Murphy and even got good ol' Michelle Yeoh in a considerably less evil role than Mirror Georgiou. The only thing you need to know about the movie is that its set not that far in the future. The Sun is dying and there's a plan to restart the sun by flying a nuke into it the size of manhattan. Not a word of a lie, that is literally the plan. Don't look up anything about the movie, just enjoy it. Trust me.
Event Horizon is legit one of the coolest movies I've ever seen. Galaxy Quest is one of the best Trek films ever ;)
Haven't seen the rest, and didn't know Rocky Horror was sci fi, now i really gotta see it to see what all the fuss is about.
Don't sleep on Sunshine!
Also yeah Rocky Horror has a strange storyline so it could technically be classified as a sci-fi. It's... odd. I love it. Best seen with strangers in a theater during Halloween though. There might be a showing near you. There's usually at least one going on for it. Encouraged to throw shit at the screen and yell at the cast. It's fantastic. Also tell me this song isn't a fucking banger. Imagine the whole theater singing along to that. It's a trip and I highly recommend trying to see it that way for your first time. If you tell anyone at one of those viewings you're a RHPS Virgin you'll get treated really well and they'll be gung ho to get you in on the fun.
I'll find a group here in PHX that watches it and ask to join them :) Can't wait to see it
If you don't enjoy it then I will be truly and genuinely surprised. Especially in that fashion. It's not a 'good' movie by any means but it's a great movie. It's a disaster and I wouldn't change a thing.
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Alien. It was well made and it aged well. I'm a sucker for scary, atmospheric films.
Watching the original Alien in a theatre with a group of friends, almost none of whom had any idea what was coming, is one of those indelible experiences of my youth.
So is lining up to see the original Star Wars (The Last Hope) after having been impressed by the trailer that was shown before ‘Robin and Marion’ the previous November. I never would have imagined after seeing it that the franchise would eventually evolve to be dystopian.
One great 70s science fiction movie that I only got to see later on television was Silent Running. It deserves more attention.
I sometimes wish I was older (I was born in 1989, after a lot of my favorite movies came out).
Star Wars (The Last Hope)
A New Hope :P Though it was just called "Star Wars" originally
😹😹. Our kids correct me constantly, and is annoyed when I say that it wasn’t called that when I first saw it.
I can see why it would be jarring to call the original "Episode IV"
I do love the fifth element. Absolite classic, with what seems like ageless cinematography
I don't have a favorite, but many favorite science fiction films. Here are a few of them:
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Dark City (1998)
Thing From Another World (1951)
Never seen the original The Thing, should one day because its remake is like my favorite sci fi/horror film.
Gotta see the other two too. Thanks for reminding me
The Thing (1982) is another favorite film of mine. It's a lot more faithful to John W. Campbell's novella, "Who Goes There?" than the 1951 film, but I enjoy both takes.
It's impossible to name just one, so here's a couple.
Metropolis
Equilibrium
Jurassic Park
Galaxy Quest
Robo Cop
Face/Off (This one might be stretching a little, but it's not possible without the sci-fi aspect, so I'm counting it).
Predestination (2014)
One of the most original and unique takes on the time travel trope I've ever seen.
Stalker (1979) I like scifi weirdness. The book it's based on Roadside Picnic is also great.
Just looked it up, a Soviet film which probably means its a very arthouse film so that should be interesting.
Under the Skin - with Scarlett Johansson. There's almost no dialogue. No exposition about anything, or names - just the short lifespan of an alien. Disguised as a woman, they're part of what seems to be a hidden alien colony living amongst humans.
The soundtrack is haunting, hypnotizing and beautiful.
It's also slow and sad.
Back to the Future (the whole trilogy)
Alien (the first two, anyway)
Ghostbusters I & II (I know it's a comedy with horror elements, but the proton packs are definitely sci-fi, and so is the whole city of NY coming together in harmony during the 2nd movie)
The Matrix (just the first one)
Coherence - a great small film.
Gattaca - fun sci-fi film that feels ignored
Moon - fantastic performance from Sam Rockwell
Primer - confusing but the best time travel movie ever
Dark City - I love this movie. It has problems, but it's such a cool ride
Existenz - very matrix like but unique and surprisingly good
The institute - not sci-fi per say but a really cool documentary
I wouldn't say its my favourite but Mute is up there for me. Does Hackers count as a sci fi film? If so, that!
Some obscure ones.
'Altered States.' Scientist tries mixing LSD and sensory deprivation. Not a great mix.
'Battle Beyond the Stars' Gloriously cheesy re-make of 'The Magnificent Seven.' Which was a remake of 'The Seven Samurai.'
'Rollerball' James Caan original, not the remake.
I actually prefer 2010, which puts me in a very small minority but 2010 is one of my favorite sci fi films
It's a good movie, too. I remember seeing 2001 and 2010 in the years 2001 and 2010 as a double-feature in cinema.
Totally worth it! Especially 2001 looks spectacularly awesome. Not only awesome for it's age, but on par with modern productions - even surpassing them thanks to practical effects, models, and high quality filming equipment and media.
Yeah I love the pre-cgi age because special effects actually age well when they're not computer generated, at least if done well.
