Best science-fiction movies: a starting selection

Search for “best science-fiction movies” and you will find hundreds of different answers. Instead of pretending there is one definitive ranking, this selection is a starting point: different eras, different sub-genres, and very different movies you can use to build your own path through science fiction.

Foundational classics

2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner and Alien show three very different sides of the genre: philosophical space fiction, neo-noir science fiction and space horror.

Science fiction and artificial intelligence

The Matrix and Ex Machina approach technology, identity and consciousness from very different angles.

Space travel and first contact

Interstellar and Arrival are accessible gateways into more contemplative science fiction, built around time, space and first contact.

Dystopias and near futures

Children of Men and Minority Report use near-future settings to explore surveillance, technology, social control and individual freedom.

Blockbusters and modern science fiction

Ready Player One, Dune and Dune: Part Two provide a more spectacular route into science fiction and work especially well as a mini-marathon.

A selection, not a ranking

There is no universal order for discovering science fiction. A tracker like dejaVu is useful because you can turn this selection into a personal watchlist, rate every movie, complete it and split it into sub-genres.

The movies referenced here link to dejaVu pages when localized TMDB data is available. Then explore public lists and channels for more selections.

Go further

Use this list as a starting point, then create your own “space science fiction”, “cyberpunk”, “dystopian”, “time travel” or “French science-fiction” lists.