Top 20 Sci-Fi Movies That Will Become Classics

These sci-fi movies will be remembered forever. For this list, we'll be looking at science fiction movies released in the 21st century that are bound to have a lasting legacy. Our countdown of the sci-fi movies that will become classics includes “Snowpiercer”, “Dune”, “Edge of Tomorrow”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, “Children of Men”, and more! #20: “Minority Report” (2002) Steven Spielberg has such an incredible filmography that even a movie as good as this one might get overlooked. Tom Cruise stars as John Anderton, a police officer who is accused of committing a crime before it even occurred. The original story that inspired the film was developed by renowned sci-fi author Philip K. Dick. Spielberg works his usual filmmaking magic by complementing it with some spectacular visuals and immersive world-building. The plot also raises some tantalizing philosophical questions in the vein of George Orwell, like concepts of individual freedom and authoritative overreach. And capping it all is an exceptional performance from Cruise. “Minority Report” truly has all the excitement, intrigue, and provocative ideas that come with the best sci-fi. #19: “Snowpiercer” (2013) Directed by Bong Joon-ho, this film has a lot in common with his later masterpiece, “Parasite,” including a strong emphasis on class inequality. The titular Snowpiercer is a train that circles the frozen Earth after a failed attempt at climate engineering. The wealth and power disparities onboard eventually lead to a violent rebellion. The unique story captivated many, as did its smart social commentary. Bong’s direction is masterful, as he crafts an absorbing world and fills it with memorable characters and exciting action. In the future, “Snowpiercer” will undoubtedly be considered a classic. Let’s just hope we’re not all watching it on a train. #18: “Annihilation” (2018) Sci-fi and horror often go hand-in-hand, but that doesn’t mean that they always pair well together. In the case of this Alex Garland-directed tale featuring a perplexing realm filled with animal and plant mutations and the scientists who enter it, those genres most certainly do. Not only that, but you might also call “Annihilation” a smart adventure thriller, what with its stirring themes and puzzling mysteries. One critic even called it “too intellectual” - but we think that should be taken as a compliment! With shimmering visuals and masterful direction, “Annihilation” has all the qualities of a sci-fi flick that will go down in history: it’s ambitious, strange and engrossing. advertisement #17: “Blade Runner 2049” (2017) This follow-up to Ridley Scott’s iconic 1982 film didn’t perform as well at the box office as the creators had hoped. That’s a shame, because seeing it in a theater was an unforgettable experience. Cinematographer Roger Deakins works his usual magic, establishing awe-inspiring shots and imbuing the movie with vibrant colors that really pop off the screen. It’s no surprise that he took home the Oscar. The production and set design are also impeccable, presenting a grungy atmosphere that befits the movie’s dystopian setting. Add a twisty story, engaging characters played by talented actors, and thought-provoking themes on humanity and you have a sequel worthy of its predecessor. #16: “Moon” (2009) #15: “Avatar” (2009) No one crafts visual spectacles like James Cameraon, and this film is his opus. The technical merits of “Avatar” are beyond compare, and they helped establish Cameron as a truly visionary director. With state-of-the-art CGI and a stunning use of 3D that had a lasting impact on the industry, “Avatar” is an exercise in sci-fi world building. There’s a reason that it became the highest grossing movie ever - people loved what Cameron had created, and they wanted to visit again and again. “Avatar” is sure to be remembered as a turning point in movie history. #14: “Dune” (2021) Frank Herbert’s expansive novel is one of the most popular and acclaimed in all of sci-fi. Since David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation was mostly a disappointment, fans have been waiting decades for a decent revival of the property. Enter Denis Villeneuve, who followed up “Blade Runner 2049” with another modern masterpiece. “Dune” is a visual extravaganza, complete with stunning special effects and production design. The world building is immaculate, with Villeneuve faithfully adapting Herbert’s epic scope and complex political intrigue. There’s also its place in history to consider, as “Dune” helped convince audiences to return to the theater in 2021. This is one of those films you’ll want to see on the biggest screen possible. advertisement #13: “Interstellar” (2014) Christopher Nolan sure is good at making movies. There are a ton of things to love about “Interstellar,” and some people even consider it the “2001” of our day - fitting, since Nolan himself cited Kubrick’s landmark film as an influence. There’s the ambitious storytelling, which contains complex scientific concepts like tesseracts, wormholes, and time dilation. There are the challenging themes that ask us difficult questions about the cosmos and our place within it. And yes, there are the breathtaking visuals accompanied by an outrageously good score, providing a rich cinematic experience. Just as we do with “2001,” future generations will look back on “Interstellar” as a meditative and visionary work. #12: “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014) Doug Liman’s “Edge of Tomorrow” takes on a well-worn premise - time loops - and makes it fresh for modern audiences. Based on the Japanese light novel “All You Need Is Kill”, “Edge of Tomorrow” tells the story of a public relations officer, played by Tom Cruise, who’s forced to relive the same day over and over, battling aliens. It’s kind of like an action version of “Groundhog Day”, but with extraterrestrial invaders and the fate of the world at stake. “The Edge of Tomorrow” brings humor, a badass Emily Blunt, and stunning visuals to this sure-to-be sci-fi classic. #11: “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017) The original Charlton Heston-starring film is already a classic, spawning a slew of sequels and series. That said, although the visual effects were ahead of their time in the 1960s, now they seem outdated, and the famous twist has been recreated and parodied so often, it’s almost become cliché. The 2010s trilogy updated and expanded the story for modern audiences, concluding with “War for the Planet of the Apes,” an action spectacle with a healthy dose of emotion and intellect. The filmmaking is dazzling, with remarkable production design and magnificent visual effects. It also ends the overarching story of the reboot series in a satisfying way. Like the original, its effects may look dated one day, but its place in sci-fi history is secured. #10: “Primer” (2004) To say that this film is challenging would be an understatement. Made by Shane Carruth, who was working almost entirely solo on a budget of $7,000, it follows two engineers who accidentally discover time travel while working on another project. The result is some of the most mind-warping sci-fi ever put to film. Not only is the plot intricately structured, but the dialogue is filled with dense technical jargon that, while realistic, can be hard to follow. But it also proves the value of indie filmmaking. You don’t need flashy set pieces to be remembered - just a unique story, a tenacious creator, and true respect for the audience. #9: “District 9” (2009) Forget Area 51, it’s District 9 that holds all the alien secrets. Redefining the classic alien invasion story, it’s the humans that are the villains in this one. After a spacecraft landed in Johannesburg back in the ‘80s, the South African government interned the refugee aliens and stole their technology. Decades later, a company agent, Wikus, accidentally exposes himself to a fluid that alters his human DNA and begins to transform him into an alien. Watching his plight after he begins to see things from the alien’s perspective couldn’t be more captivating or emotional, while the movie itself is action-packed, entertaining and thought-provoking. #8: “The Martian” (2015) Though traveling to Mars is still in our future as of 2019, our children’s children will probably look back on this movie with a wink and a smile. Astronaut Mark Watney is thought dead after his team must hastily escape a storm on the Red Planet. Realizing they left him behind, his team turns back to rescue him. In addition to being highly entertaining and even humorous, the film is also a testament to human will. Watney must survive for years on his own, creating oxygen and growing food on a dead planet, until his team can bring him home. Luckily for him, he’s a botanist. #7: “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022) Even though it has produced countless classics, some people still consider science fiction a somewhat niche genre. But that definitely doesn’t apply to “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” By some estimates, this is the most awarded movie of all time, winning hundreds of major industry honors, including the Oscar for Best Picture. It’s clearly more than just a good genre film. Yes, it is wickedly entertaining, with a wild story, a dose of wacky humor, and some of the best cinematography of the century. But it’s also a remarkably profound film, touching on generational trauma, existentialism, parallel universes, compassion, regret - need we go on? It’s right there in the title - everything, everywhere, and it is mesmerizing to watch. #6: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004) Joel wants to forget Clementine ever existed, so he hires Lacuna, Inc. to erase his memory of her. However, Joel realizes too late that he'd rather keep the painful memories as long as he can have the good ones too. Interestingly, Joel and Clementine’s story is told inside Joel’s mind, so we never get to see the truth, only the way Joel remembers it. Linking parallel storylines of the Lacuna workers and the nonlinear storytelling of Joel’s vanishing memories, the film explores the subjectivity of memory, and the way certain impulses still linger long after our memory fades. That, plus the bonus of Jim Carrey killing it in a dramatic role, secures this one in history. #5: “Inception” (2010) Forget future classic, try instant classic. It’s hard to pick just one Christopher Nolan film to represent his sci-fi genius. His 2014 space-time drama, “Interstellar,” is definitely a contender, but claiming this spot is “Inception.” This visually stunning Christopher Nolan film about planting ideas in people's minds through their dreams uses the ways that our dreams influence our real lives, and the ways that our real lives influence our dreams as its landscape. As the dependency on visual effects in film will undoubtedly continue to grow, “Inception” will be remembered for its impressive use of practical effects in some of its most iconic scenes, such as the tilting bar and, of course, the hallway scene. #4: “Her” (2013) Spike Jonze’s vision of the future is feeling more and more relevant as years go by. It tells the story of Theodore Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who falls in love with his virtual assistant, Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Though the narrative follows Theodore, he is not alone. He learns from Samantha that hundreds of others have fallen in love with their OSes. Even his neighbor, Amy has befriended hers. Theodore’s substitution of human interaction with that of an adaptive AI foreshadows our growing dependence on technology in real life. As our smartphones grow smarter, we grow more socially detached and this movie brings up some very real and very relevant questions. Though there have been many modern sci-fi incarnations of the man creates monster, monster destroys man story, they usually culminate in a grand and violent revolt of man versus machine. But in Alex Garland’s directorial debut “ex_machina”, the struggle is far more subtle … at least at first. Eccentric entrepreneur Nathan Bateman flies in programmer Caleb Smith to test the intelligence of his humanoid robot Ava. But Ava has her own agenda, and an intelligence that surpasses her creator. With dazzling performances from Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander, and Domhnall Gleeson, it’s a compelling watch that will stay with you long after the credits roll. #2: “Children of Men” (2006) In one of several hard sci-fi flicks on this list, the quite possible near future is a disaster. War has broken out across the world and governments have toppled. No babies have been born for 18 years, and the earth’s population is in serious danger. Upon discovering Kee, a pregnant woman, Theo, a hardened former activist, is tasked with bringing her and her baby to safety. In a mesmerizing and unforgettable scene, Theo walks Kee, and her baby through a building under fire, and for a brief moment, the war stops so that they can escape. Though set in the future, this film is very grounded in reality and foreshadows a scary, yet hopeful fate. #1: “Arrival” (2016) With “Blade Runner 2049” director Denis Villeneuve at the helm, this movie couldn’t go wrong. A contender for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture, and Best Director at the Oscars, this film is not only spectacularly written, but also cinematically beautiful. As aliens come to Earth, linguist Louise Banks is tasked with discovering their intentions. If you were expecting your typical alien invasion action movie, you came to the wrong place: “Arrival” is a timely story of communication and understanding. Told through linear timelines, as well as flashbacks, or flash forwards, the film’s use of time as a thematic element allows for one of the greatest twists in modern sci-fi history.