The Best Science Fiction Movies (and The Runners Up)

Below is a list of the best science fiction movies that I've seen to date. I decided to list them alphabetically rather than to try to rank them, so don't read anything into the order.

• 2001
• The Abyss
• Alien
• Blade Runner
• Children of Men
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind
• Contact
• District 9
• The Matrix
• Solaris
• Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
• Sunshine
• Terminator

Runners up:

• 12 Monkeys
• 28 Days Later
• Cloverfield
• The Fifth Element
• Jurassic Park
• Moon
• Serenity

Comments

[Will Swain]

Bladerunner seems an obvious exclusion.

[pete]

Whot no Bladerunner ?

[FlashGen]

Nice selection, although I'd replace Children of Men with The Day The Earth Stood Still (original Michael Rennie version) and drop Sunshine for Forbidden Planet.

[Jeff]

Solaris - right movie, wrong version. 1972 Russian version http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0069293/ infinitely better. Never saw sunshine, but I'd nominate the 1953 war of the worlds for this list. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046534/

[andy matthews]

Helloooo

Blade Runner?
Serenity (what good sci-fi should be like)

Children of Men was an awesome movie, but it barely qualifies as sci-fi
Solaris was horrible (I could have fallen asleep, no...should have)
Surprised that Matrix merely made runner up. I would have swapped it and The Abyss

Good list though Christian.

[Christian Cantrell]

I have to admit, I wasn't able to get into Blade Runner. But I saw it many years ago, so I'll give it another try.

I'm going to add Serenity to the "runners up" section. It was definitely a good one.

Christian

[Alan]

More, in no particualr order:
Blade Runner
Starship Troopers <--- Perfect mix of cheesy and serious.
Total Recall
Minority Report
Planet of the Apes (original)
Logan's Run
Terminator 2
Aliens
Back to the Future
Tron
Gattaca

[Christian Cantrell]

I had to make an adjustment to the list. After watching "Blade Runner" again (the "final cut"), I've decided that it belongs on the list after all. When I first saw it years ago, it didn't resonate, but I think I've become more receptive to it over the years.

Also added "Fifth Element" to the Runners Up.

[John]

Great list.

I thought I was the only sci-fi fan who didn't connect with Blade Runner, so it's good to see my reaction wasn't unique. I'll watch The Final Cut version as well, though, since it may change my mind, too.

Also, totally agree with the placement of the 2002 Solaris and The Abyss. They're both favorites of mine, and they often don't make people's "Top 10" lists. Nice to see them up there.

[Christian Cantrell]

Another update: District 9. Amazing movie. See it.

Christian