10 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time, Ranked (and Where to Watch Them)

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For approximately three centuries, science fiction tales have existed, yet they’ve experienced a significant resurgence in the cinematic realm during the past hundred years.

In the 21st century, we’ve seen fantastic science fiction films, but a significant number of the genre’s finest works emerged during the final two decades of the previous century.

Regrettably, many highly-rated science fiction films aren’t easily found on streaming platforms without purchasing or renting them.

However, should you be interested in discovering the greatest science fiction films ever made, allow us on the Watch With Us team to guide you towards identifying them and locating where you can watch them.

10. ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)

In the 1980s, director Steven Spielberg established a unique atmosphere with the release of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’, following his incredible success with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ the year prior. Spielberg crafted E.T., an alien character, as a gentle being, using a blend of animatronics, puppetry, and actors in costumes to bring him to life. Stranded on Earth, E.T. develops friendships with a young boy named Elliott Taylor (Henry Thomas), his younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and their brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton).

In my fervent enthusiasm, I can’t help but confess that our lives have taken a turn for the worse since E.T. joined us. This strange planet seems to be making him gravely unwell, and it’s tearing me apart knowing this. As government operatives scour the land in pursuit of our extraterrestrial friend, his fate mirrors Elliott’s and mine, as our health spirals downward at an alarming rate.

E.T. is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

9. ‘The Thing’ (1982)

In ‘The Thing’, directed by John Carpenter, aliens are portrayed in a more ominous manner, earning a spot among the finest horror films ever made. Unlike traditional extraterrestrials, this one lacks a designated name but possesses the ability to infiltrate and mimic any life form it encounters, including humans. A team of researchers stationed in the Arctic remains unaware of the alien’s malicious intentions until it has already penetrated their base.

In simpler terms, character R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, seems to be uninfected himself. However, he’s growing increasingly suspicious of his fellow survivors like Blair (Wilford Brimley), Childs (Keith David), Nauls (T.K. Carter), Norris (Charles Hallahan), Palmer (David Clennon) and Dr. Copper (Richard Dysart). They could potentially be the alien in disguise, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. If they fail to stop this extraterrestrial entity, it will spell doom not just for them but for the entire world.

The Thing is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

8. ‘Inception’ (2010)

Christopher Nolan’s movie “Interstellar” is an impressive science fiction film, yet his movie “Inception” provides a much more captivating exploration within a mind rather than venturing beyond the stars. In “Inception”, characters played by Leonardo DiCaprio (as Dom Cobb) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Arthur), employ innovative technology to penetrate the dreams of their targets, extracting confidential business information from their subconscious minds. The dreamscapes portrayed in the film are breathtaking, and they don’t adhere to the physics we typically understand.

Dom is currently in exile due to the tragic death of his wife, Marion Cotillard’s character, and he continues to be tormented by her ghostly presence within his own mind. To return to his children and restore his reputation, Dom organizes a new group for an arduous task. They must construct a series of dreams to persuade Robert Fischer, played by Cillian Murphy, to dismantle his father’s energy conglomerate, making him believe it was his own idea. The deeper they venture into Fischer’s dreams, the more difficult it becomes for them to escape.

Inception is streaming on Max.

7. ‘The Matrix’ (1999)

In a remarkable turn of events, The Matrix revolutionized the science fiction genre so significantly that subsequent movies in the series failed to approach the influence wielded by the original. An unassuming office worker named Thomas Anderson (portrayed by Keanu Reeves) moonlights as a hacker under the alias Neo. He’s heard whispers about the Matrix, but remains clueless about its nature. The only individuals who can enlighten him are Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), infamous outlaws in this new world.

In any film, nothing is as startling as the unveiling of the true nature of Neo’s world and what follows. His understanding of reality is irreversibly broken, and he cannot return to his former life. He has a purpose that demands fulfillment, if he can endure long enough to achieve it.

The Matrix is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

6. ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

In my opinion, if James Cameron hadn’t crafted a sequel to “The Terminator,” that original masterpiece would have held this coveted spot. However, Cameron elevated the initial movie with “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” an even more impressive follow-up. Initially, Arnold Schwarzenegger was so menacing as the antagonist in the first film that it seems almost unfortunate his T-800 character transformed into a hero in the second installment.

In the course of events, the AI named Skynet had previously failed to eliminate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) prior to her giving birth to John Connor (Edward Furlong), the future leader of the human rebellion. To alter the sequence of events, Skynet dispatches an even more sophisticated Terminator, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick), back in time to complete its mission. However, luckily for John and Sarah, a reprogrammed T-800 from the future was sent to aid them. This protector may also have provided the Connors with a means to prevent the war between humans and machines altogether.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is streaming on Paramount+.

5. ‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

The genres of science fiction and humor merge spectacularly in the iconic film, “Back to the Future.” While Michael J. Fox wasn’t initially cast as Marty McFly, he single-handedly holds the entire movie aloft. Marty, alongside his eccentric scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, finds himself in possession of a time-traveling DeLorean. This remarkable vehicle is a product of Doc’s genius, but tragically, he reveals its secrets just moments before meeting an untimely end at the hands of terrorists seeking revenge for the theft of their plutonium.

In the DeLorean, Marty manages to flee and ends up trapped in 1955. Here, he inadvertently puts his life at risk by preventing George McFly (Crispin Glover) and Lorraine Baines (Lea Thompson) from meeting as they should have. A younger incarnation of Doc Brown could potentially aid Marty in returning to 1985; however, he must ensure that his parents fall in love, or else he won’t have a place to return to.

Back to the Future is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

4. ‘Aliens’ (1986)

Ridley Scott’s movie Alien is renowned in the realm of science fiction films, yet James Cameron elevated the tension with his production, Aliens. One xenomorph was already terrifying, but an entire colony teeming with aliens is nothing short of a nightmarish scenario. The character Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, managed to survive her initial encounter with a xenomorph, unfortunately discovering that she had spent decades in suspended animation and missed out on her daughter’s entire life. With no other purpose left, Ripley consents to join the Colonial Marines in their mission to explore LV-426, a potential xenomorph breeding ground.

In a surprising turn of events, what they uncover turns out to be much more horrifying than anyone could have anticipated. The solitary human survivor is a young girl named Rebecca “Newt” Jorden (played by Carrie Henn), who develops a powerful connection with Ripley. However, even the Colonial Marines struggle to contain the extraterrestrial menace. Ultimately, it falls upon Ripley to take decisive action to protect Newt and herself from the xenomorph queen.

Aliens is streaming on Hulu.

3. ‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

1982’s “Blade Runner” seemed like it was set far into the future for me back then, but now six years have passed and we’re still lacking flying cars and indistinguishable android replicants from humans. However, what we do possess is an outstanding film by Ridley Scott that expands upon the groundwork laid by author Philip K. Dick in “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

In this sci-fi setting, Rick Deckard, previously a police officer, now assumes the role of Blade Runner, tasked with tracking down and eliminating dangerous replicants posing a threat to humans. However, Roy Batty and his replicant comrades are not passive about their fate; they fiercely resist Deckard’s attempts to eliminate them. Although Deckard has become disillusioned, he is taken aback by the human-like qualities of the replicants, particularly a unique model named Rachael, portrayed by Sean Young. Her authenticity as a human being is so remarkable that even Deckard struggles to discern her artificial nature.

Blade Runner is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

2. ‘Star Wars’ (1977)

Although The Empire Strikes Back might be considered a superior film, the original Star Wars has significantly influenced the shape of science fiction for nearly five decades. Initially, George Lucas aimed to produce a Flash Gordon movie, but ended up creating one of the most renowned film series in history instead. This epic space opera catapulted Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill to stardom, and its timeless Oscar-winning music by John Williams remains widely recognized even today.

In the story, Princess Leia (Fisher) gets captured by Darth Vader, who’s played by David Prose in person and voiced by James Earl Jones. However, before her capture, she secretly sends the Death Star plans aboard her ship with two droids, C3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker). This clandestine act sets off a chain of events that lead a young farm boy named Luke Skywalker (Hamill), a smuggler known as Han Solo (Ford), the Wookie Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and an old Jedi master, Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi (Alec Guinness), on an extraordinary journey.

Star Wars is streaming on Disney+.

1. ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey is a movie that doesn’t require extensive explanation. Directed by Stanley Kubrick and written by Arthur C. Clarke, it tells a comprehensive story while allowing viewers to interpret the events at their own discretion. The film starts with an exploration of humanity’s early history, hinting at the potential impact an alien monolith might have had on human evolution.

In the time to come, the unearthing of a solitary monolith on the moon sparks curiosity about another similar structure lurking near Jupiter. Astronauts Dr. David Bowman (portrayed by Keir Dullea) and Dr. Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood) set off on this lengthy voyage to explore it, unbeknownst to them of the challenges they are about to face. Their advanced computer system, HAL 9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain), becomes a potential obstacle that could thwart their efforts. With suspicions that Bowman and Poole aim to dismantle it, HAL makes preparations to act before the duo can complete their mission, posing a problem they may struggle to surmount.

2001: A Space Odyssey is streaming on Max.

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2025-06-29 17:26