With the death this past weekend of moon-walking astronaut Neil Armstrong, today we’re thinking “To infinity and beyond!”
What is your favourite science fiction film of all time? If that’s too hard, give us your Top 5. And at the same time, what’s the biggest genre dud in your opinion?
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.
Last Updated: August 29, 2012
Matewis Jubilai
August 29, 2012 at 10:58
1. 2001 A Space odyssey (obviously)
2. Blade Runner
3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
4. Terminator
5. Alien
Wayne Bossenger
August 29, 2012 at 11:04
Back to the future.
that is all…
Kervyn Cloete
August 29, 2012 at 11:12
Bloody hell, this would be a tough list for me. I’m gonna need some serious time to think about it.
I can tell you what’s definitely in the top spot though: 2001 A Space Odyssey
Erwin Kempff
August 29, 2012 at 11:22
As long as its a good SciFi, I’m sold.
SciFi ftw!
Sonny Bonds
August 29, 2012 at 11:30
The Matrix
T2
Predator
Aliens
Back To the Future
WernerE
August 29, 2012 at 11:35
In no particular order:Gattaca
Dark City
Star Wars IV – VI
Moon
… and for the arty scifi lover; Stalker
James Francis
August 29, 2012 at 11:47
I’m of the school that argues Star Wars is not Sci-Fi, but Fantasy.
Matewis Jubilai
August 29, 2012 at 11:56
You and me both! Glad to meet someone who agrees with me. The driving force if you will is not the science as much as it is the force – the same role that magic plays in a fantasy film.
edit : glad to see Blade Runner in your list – not sure what ‘cube’ is doing there though…
James Francis
August 29, 2012 at 13:41
Cube has to be one of the best mind-bending ‘puzzle’ movies ever made. It in fact pretty much started that genre. And the concept was genuinely sci-fi…
WernerE
August 29, 2012 at 12:05
hmm… you (as well as @facebook-100002325722170:disqus ) make an interesting point. I would like to know what makes a film a true scifi? I would like to hear more.
Kervyn Cloete
August 29, 2012 at 12:25
I’m in two minds about this. Structurally, it certainly follows more the more fantasy quest tropes than sci-fi, but then you have the advanced tech which is definitely more sci. And there’s the fact that it’s in a galaxy a long, long time ago, which goes against conventional science fiction which is usually set in the present or future.
But it’s precisely this kind of confusion that results in sci-fi and fantasy often being bundled together. In fact, a lot of modern fantasy authors who have eschewed the template laid down by Tolkien, very often merge the 2 genres in their works. For example, China Mieville’s work definitely falls under both camps.
James Francis
August 29, 2012 at 13:43
Star Wars never struck me as sci-fi. It’s essentially swords and sorcery, just with a different location and some mild flirting with space-ships. I don’t regard things like Flash Gordon as Sci-Fi either.
James Francis
August 29, 2012 at 11:46
Cube
Dark City
Solaris
Blade Runner
Robocop
Lourens Corleone
August 29, 2012 at 11:55
Event Horizon
The Fifth Element
Dark City
Stargate
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Serenity
Starship Troopers
Donnie Darko
The Thing
The Fly
Sorry, I couldn’t cut the list more than that I am pretty sure I am missing a heap. As a genre though, I prefer sci-fi as a series.
Kervyn Cloete
August 29, 2012 at 12:19
Ok giving it some thought, here’s a top ten of my favourites:
1. 2001 A Space Odyssey
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. Planet of the Apes (original)
4. Alien
5. Back to the Future
6. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
7. Close Encounters of The Third Kind
8. Brazil
9. Blade Runner
10.Jurassic Park
Tracy Benson
August 29, 2012 at 13:59
Favourite Sci-Fi books & TV series, I could easily name, Sci-Fi movies are more difficult.
Noelle Adams
August 29, 2012 at 15:25
I have a long list of runners-up but these are my personal best of the best (in no particular order):
1) Aliens
2) The Matrix
3) Terminator
4) Terminator 2
5) Event Horizon
Runners-up:
District 9, Total Recall, RoboCop 2, Brazil, Back to the Future trilogy, Butterfly Effect, WALL-E, Starship Troopers, Children of Men, E.T., Jurassic Park, Alien.
Worst/Most disappointing (in recent years):
Splice
Christo Kruger
August 29, 2012 at 15:57
This is too hard:
Jurassic Park,
Starship Troopers
Independence Day
Blade Runner
District 9
There are loads more. Don’t make me choose!
Kervyn Cloete
August 29, 2012 at 16:26
How the hell did I leave Children of Men and Stargate off my list? Stupid Kervyn!
James Francis
August 30, 2012 at 11:16
Stargate is not sci-fi. It’s historical fact!
James Francis
August 30, 2012 at 11:16
After seeing it last night, I also want to add Iron Sky…
Hendrik Cordier
September 12, 2012 at 15:24
Iron Sky was awesome. Nazis from the dark side of the moon and space zeppelins! It is without a doubt my favourite Finnish-German-Australian movie of all time:)