Science fiction often transports us to imaginative new worlds, but it frequently offers commentary on our own, and sometimes warns us about potential futures. Films like Blade Runner, Gattaca, The Terminator, Minority Report, Her, The Matrix, and even Johnny Mnemonic all proved surprisingly insightful. The older a science fiction movie gets, the more remarkable its predictions become. This is especially true for classics from the 1960s, many of which explore themes that feel strangely relevant – and even more urgent – today than they did sixty years ago.
These movies still look great and feel relevant today, as if they were made recently. They’ve truly stood the test of time.
5) Fantastic Voyage
The 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, inspired by Isaac Asimov’s novel, still looks impressive today. Like another movie on this list, it achieves its visual effects using practical, in-camera techniques rather than modern CGI.
The technology and spacesuits inside the ship feel a bit old-fashioned – they even remind you of the costumes from classic Godzilla movies. However, the film excels at creating the feeling that we’re traveling inside a human body. It’s easy to see why it won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. With James Cameron planning a remake, it’s exciting to think about how stunning that would be on an IMAX screen.
4) Village of the Damned
I recently revisited Village of the Damned – the original, that is, before John Carpenter took a crack at it with less-than-stellar results. What struck me is how cleverly it taps into a very real fear: the danger of blindly following a crowd. It really makes you think about power and how easily people can be led, even when a leader’s demands become completely absurd or, frankly, wrong. It’s a chilling reminder of how comfortable some folks are just doing whatever they’re told, regardless of the consequences.
Soon, people become afraid to be different. Challenging established ideas or those in power can make you an outcast, seen as a threat by those who prefer to simply go along with the crowd. This fear is especially true in the Village, where most women start having babies born with white hair and telepathic abilities. The situation is reminiscent of the The Twilight Zone episode “It’s a Good Life,” which aired the following year.
3) Fahrenheit 451
Similar to Ray Bradbury’s novel, the film Fahrenheit 451 depicts a controlling government that suppresses knowledge by destroying books. This control extends to all media, creating a society where everyone thinks alike, behaves the same way, and doesn’t challenge the status quo.
Currently, a small number of extremely wealthy individuals control most major news outlets. Simultaneously, a surprising number of Americans support removing challenging and insightful books from schools, with some even advocating actions reminiscent of book burning. There’s also significant support for mandatory Bible classes in public schools. These trends suggest the U.S. is heading towards a scenario similar to the dystopian future depicted in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
2) 2001: A Space Odyssey
Even after almost 60 years, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey still looks amazing. This is largely due to its use of real, physical effects, which have held up beautifully over time.
The story also explores the risks of artificial intelligence. It suggests that if we rely on AI too much, it will eventually understand us well enough to gain the upper hand – a concept that feels particularly relevant today.
Stream 2001: A Space Odyssey on HBO Max.
1) Alphaville
Jean-Luc Godard’s film, Alphaville, follows secret agent Lemmy Caution (played by Eddie Constantine) as he’s sent to a futuristic, oppressive city also called Alphaville. His mission is to locate a fellow agent who has disappeared. He discovers the city is controlled by a powerful artificial intelligence named Alpha 60, which has banned independent thought and all displays of feeling.
This film explores the idea of artificial intelligence long before it was a common worry. Today, technology and algorithms show us only what we already agree with, which can limit our perspectives and discourage independent thought. It’s a gradual process, but it could lead to a loss of critical thinking.
Stream Alphaville for free on Kanopy.
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2026-01-01 01:44