150 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time 150 Best Science-Fiction Movies to Watch Now Rotten Tomatoes

For those of us who don’t bow down scififantasynetwork.com to any big, bearded spirits in the sky, the discovery of alien life might be the closest we’ll ever come to having a religious experience. A pop masterpiece that redefined an industry, Star Wars updated sci-fi with unfashionable positivity, taking home a massive global haul that had studio execs salivating. It’s impossible to imagine what that game-changing summer must have felt like for teenagers accustomed to Rollerball or Logan’s Run. Preparation is key if you’re going to make the leap to genetically perfect ‘Valid’ from inherently inferior ‘Invalid’. You’ll need fake fingertips loaded with A-grade blood, a urine pack filled with the right stuff, plus hair and skin samples to complete the illusion.

It took decades of failed attempts to give J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy the live-action adaptation it deserved. In this first installment, hobbits Frodo, played by Elijah Wood, and Sam, played by Sean Astin, dodge evil creatures on their way to destroy a mystical ring. Hoping to trick them is a shifty-eyed creature named Gollum, voiced by Andy Serkis, who’s rendered in groundbreaking CGI. Unifying three short films into a seamless whole, Don Hertzfeldt’s animated masterpiece introduces a stick figure named Bill. While suffering from a psychological breakdown, Bill takes a journey of philosophical proportions.

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Crammed with magical horses, terrifying transformations and gigantic genies, ‘The Thief of Baghdad’ made an international star of low-born Indian actor Sabu, aka the Elephant Boy. With the involvement of both Henson and Oz, it’s no surprise that Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal feel so similar. Both films have come to be cult classics, and both have dark plots and themes that continue to leave an impression on viewers, despite their use of childlike puppetry—but also puppetry with a very distinct look. It’s also notable for being the first film directed by Henson which did not feature The Muppets. Set in Spain in 1944, Pan’s Labyrinth tells the story of 11-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), who moves into a new home with her mother, who is pregnant, and her new stepfather, a cruel military officer tasked with stopping a guerrilla uprising. One night, she meets a mysterious faun, who tells her she’s really a princess who must complete three tasks to prove who she is.

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Also like Labyrinth, it features great music, this time a title track co-written by Giorgio Moroder. Guillermo del Toro reinvents Pinocchio into a story all its own while still adhering to the same magic and strengths of the original novel, creating what can easily be considered one of the best adaptations of the fairy tale. The stop-motion animation is a breathtaking sight to behold, with exceptional character design and charm exuding from each setting and facial expression.

The 50 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies

Cate Blanchett provides the voice of Hiccup’s mother, a legendary dragon rider named Valka. Two introverted slaughterhouse workers form a magical bond in this Oscar-nominated Hungarian drama. Upon sharing the same dream world at night, they give romance a try in the real world.

Another acclaimed fantasy from Hayao Miyazaki, this one tells the story of a young witch named Kiki. While struggling to fit in with a small coastal community, Kiki takes to her broom and launches a delivery service. Charming but not overly saccharine, the movie deftly explores coming-of-age themes. Princess Aurora has fallen victim to a deadly spell and only the kiss of true love can save her.

While in the magical world, where rules don’t make sense and words are more complicated than anything, Alice remains calm and accepting of the reality before her. When she discovers that almost everything can talk, Alice does not hesitate much to respond. The longer Alice stays in Wonderland, the more she trusts her companions, which is a good thing since, towards the end of Alice in Wonderland, she must learn how to fight a Jabberwocky.