Sci-fi often dominates the box office with movies like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also debuting to acclaim.
But it seems that nothing has managed to beat the more "classic" sci-fi of the 80s and 90s, at least not according to s over at Ranker who still rate a lot of these movies higher than today's new wave, despite their smaller budgets and lesser abilities in the CGI and special effects department; suggesting that although these are important parts of sci-fi, a good story still dominates above all.
Alien
Intercepting a distressing signal from another planet, the crew of a spaceship finds thousands of mysterious eggs on the planet, unleashing a deadly lifeform later on their ship. Alien is a claustrophobic journey of survivor, as the crew desperate tries to evade the bloodthirsty creature that seizes them one by one.
Introducing one of the most incredible protagonists in movie history, Alien is a classic that reshaped the whole sci-fi thriller subgenre, mixing gruesome imagery with a spectacular psychological setup.
Interstellar
Interstellar is a typical Nolan movie, taking the sci-fi thriller genre to another level. Exploring both fictional and non-fictional intriguing phenomena such as wormholes, black holes, and time relativity, the movie mixes these with suspense and an interesting family drama that goes beyond time and space.
In the near future, the Earth is gradually dying and Joseph Cooper must leave his daughter behind and set out on an interstellar voyage to find a new inhabitable planet. While there's plenty of tense moments and groundbreaking sci-fi elements, Interstellar really ends up at its core, being a great and tear-jerking movie about the end of the world and humanity's drive to survive.
Aliens
Aliens takes the well-established mythology of its predecessor and expands it to a much more ambitious narrative that not only has the dark suspense mixed with sci-fi tropes of the first movie, but also a lot of action and jaw-dropping sequences that remain as all-time iconic scenes. The one featuring Ripley rescuing the colonial marines says it all.
The story takes place over 50 years after the events of Alien. Officer Ripley awakes from her hyper-sleep and ends up on the very planet where she previously found the alien species, forced to fight once again against the evil creatures and against her greedy human commanders.
The Matrix
With unbelievable The Matrix remains one of the most innovative cinematic experiences ever. While the trilogy (and the fourth movie) hardly pleases the whole fanbase, the first movie is unanimously acclaimed as a masterpiece.
After discovering his world is merely a simulation known as the Matrix, Neo s a group of insurgents and must face a prophecy that can dictate the destiny of all humankind. Released ahead of the new millennium, The Matrix is an interesting psychological study presented through an engaging sci-fi thriller narrative.
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a timeless cult classic. Set in a dystopian LA of 2019, the android hunter (a.k.a blade runner) Rick Deckard is assigned to track down and terminate four rebellious replicants that are after their creator, as he is drawn to an investigation that will lead him to contest his own existence.
Aside from the incredible source material and the intricated sci-fi narrative, Blade Runner also offers important philosophical discussions about what exactly means to be human, and how technology is gradually blurring the reality humanity lives in.
Flatliners
Flatliners is an underrated gem that definitely deserves more recognition. Five medical students investigate "near-death" experiences by stopping their heart and then bringing the person back to life. While trying to stay on "the other side" as much as possible, the experiment soon causes dark consequences.
Inspiring a lifeless remake in 2017, the original Flatliners stands out for its haunting scenarios filled with a bunch of creepy elements, setting a gothic tone for the narrative that bounces between reality and an unsettling "beyond". It's just as dark as it is goofy; a certified fun ride.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
If there's one thing James Cameron never fails to deliver is an incredible sequence. Considered by many fans his masterwork, Terminator 2 expands the lore of the first film and introduces Arnold Schwarzenegger now as an anti-hero, sent by the resistance to protect Sarah Connor and her son from a much more deadly cyborg model.
Apart from the eye-dropping visual effects, it's also clear how the relationship between the Terminator and little John Connor inspired many recent popular movies, such as Logan, where two characters that seem to be the opposite of the other forge a strong, powerful bond.
The Terminator
It's clear that sci-fi fans are crazy about James Cameron, but what's actually surprising is seeing how fans prefer the first movie to the second in this case. The reason is likely to be the oppressive, destructive force that Arnold Schwarzenegger represents in this 80s classic, as he rampages like an army of one in order to get Sarah Connor.
Revisiting the presence of the Terminator here makes his comeback in the sequence much more rewarding, as viewers kind of want to cheer for him because of how cool he looks. On the other hand, Sarah Connor is an incredibly well-developed character and fans want her to survive. In sum, the thrilling atmosphere of imminent danger created by the first Terminator was never quite matched in the franchise. And good news, Terminator is currently available on Amazon Prime Video.
Edge Of Tomorrow
Edge Of Tomorrow initially looks just like another Groundhog Day variant, but it instead offers one of the most original sci-fi stories of the past years. The premise is quite simple: Major Bill Cage is demoted and sent into combat against alien creatures, reliving the same day over and over after physical with one of them. When he gets in touch with Sgt. Rita Vrataski, they quickly form a bond and forces to stop the loop and save their world.
With memorable performances from Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt throughout, Edge of Tomorrow is a remarkable attempt to subvert a well-known trope into something original, while also offering incredible action sequences.
12 Monkeys
12 Monkeys is not only one of the greatest examples of sci-fi psychological dramas ever; it also offers one of the greatest plot twists of all time. Based on the fantastic short film La Jetée, the movie follows the convict James Cole in the year 2035, sent back in time to discover the origin of a deadly virus that is wiping out humanity in the future. Heading to 1990 instead of 1996, Cole is locked up in a mental hospital and must convince someone that the secret that has brought him there is true.
ed by Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis leads the movie in this enthralling mystery that touches on the inevitability of destiny and how one can never outrun time.
