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The Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time

From Metropolis to 2001 to Blade Runner: the science-fiction canon ranked by our composite score across 20+ lists, awards and polls.

Science fiction is where cinema thinks in public: Lang's Metropolis built the genre's imagery before sound arrived, Kubrick's 2001 gave it philosophical scale, and Tarkovsky's Solaris and Stalker answered from the other side of the Cold War. The canon's second wing is the world-as-design tradition — Blade Runner, Alien, The Matrix — where Ridley Scott and his heirs made production design do the speculating; the genre's best entries are the ones still being argued about decades later.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) leads with a composite score of 7.43. Top 100 of 293 films in our library.

Masters of the genre

  1. 1
    2001: A Space Odyssey1968 · Stanley Kubrick · United States / United Kingdom · adventure, mystery, sci-fi
    7.43

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #6 · AFI 100 (2007) #15

  2. 2
    The Tree of Life2011 · Terrence Malick · United States · sci-fi, fantasy, drama
    4.26

    Palme d'Or winner 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #2

  3. 3
    E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial1982 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, drama
    4.17

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1982 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1982 · AFI 100 (2007) #24

  4. 4
    Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope1977 · George Lucas · United States · sci-fi, action, adventure
    3.58

    AFI 100 (2007) #13 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1977 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #225

  5. 5
    Jaws1975 · Steven Spielberg · United States · thriller, horror, adventure
    3.52

    Empire 500 (2008) #5 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #62 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1975

  6. 6
    A Clockwork Orange1971 · Stanley Kubrick · United Kingdom / United States · drama, crime, thriller
    3.06

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1971 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1972 #4 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #243

  7. 7
    Mad Max: Fury Road2015 · George Miller · Australia / United States · action, adventure, sci-fi
    2.96

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #3 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #7

  8. 8
    Blade Runner1982 · Ridley Scott · United States / Hong Kong, China · thriller, film-noir, sci-fi
    2.51

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #54 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #62 · Empire 500 (2008) #20

  9. 9
    Stalker1979 · Andrei Tarkovsky · Soviet Union · sci-fi, drama
    2.42

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #14 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #43 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1981 #7

  10. 10
    Poor Things2023 · Yorgos Lanthimos · United States / United Kingdom / Ireland · thriller, fantasy, sci-fi
    2.18

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2023 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2023 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2024 #4

  11. 11
    Metropolis1927 · Fritz Lang · Weimar Republic · silent, drama, sci-fi
    2.18

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #67 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1929 #4 · TIME All-TIME 100

  12. 12
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind2004 · Michel Gondry · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.13

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #2 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #93 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #17

  13. 13
    Everything Everywhere All at Once2022 · Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert · United States · sci-fi, action, comedy
    2.10

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2022 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2023 #9 · Letterboxd Top 250 #244

  14. 14
    A Matter of Life and Death1946 · Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger · United Kingdom · fantasy, drama, comedy
    1.99

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #78 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1950 #6 · BFI Top 100 British films #20

  15. 15
    Gravity2013 · Alfonso Cuarón · United States / United Kingdom · drama, thriller, adventure
    1.96

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2013 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2013 #4

  16. 16
    Solaris1972 · Andrei Tarkovsky · Soviet Union · sci-fi, adventure, drama
    1.90

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1972 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #5 · Empire 500 (2008) #285

  17. 17
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, adventure, drama
    1.83

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1978 #4 · Empire 500 (2008) #59 · AFI 100 (1998) #64

  18. 18
    A.I. Artificial Intelligence2001 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, drama
    1.74

    Sarris's annual top 10 2001 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #61

  19. 19
    King Kong1933 · Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack · United States · adventure, horror, fantasy
    1.74

    AFI 100 (2007) #41 · AFI 100 (1998) #43 · TIME All-TIME 100

  20. 20
    Under the Skin2013 · Jonathan Glazer · United Kingdom / Switzerland · sci-fi, drama, horror
    1.67

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2014 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #169 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #5

  21. 21
    Alphaville1965 · Jean-Luc Godard · France / Italy · sci-fi, drama, crime
    1.66

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1965 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1965 #5 · Criterion Collection spine #25

  22. 22
    WALL-E2008 · Andrew Stanton · United States · comedy, romance, sci-fi
    1.55

    Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #47 · National Film Registry (inducted 2021)

  23. 23
    Brazil1985 · Terry Gilliam · United Kingdom / Australia · film-noir, sci-fi, fantasy
    1.51

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1986 #8 · TIME All-TIME 100 · BFI Top 100 British films #54

  24. 24
    Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back1980 · Irvin Kershner · United States · sci-fi, adventure, action
    1.50

    Empire 500 (2008) #3 · Letterboxd Top 250 #65 · National Film Registry (inducted 2010)

  25. 25
    Groundhog Day1993 · Harold Ramis · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.45

    National Film Registry (inducted 2006) · Kehr's annual top 10 1993 #5 · Empire 500 (2008) #259

  26. 26
    The Matrix1999 · Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski · United States / Australia · thriller, action, sci-fi
    1.41

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #122 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1999 #6 · Empire 500 (2008) #39

  27. 27
    Melancholia2011 · Lars von Trier · France / Germany / Sweden · sci-fi, drama
    1.38

    Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #211 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #6

  28. 28
    Shin Godzilla2016 · Hideaki Anno · Japan / United States · sci-fi, action, drama
    1.38

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2017 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2016 #2

  29. 29
    Alien1979 · Ridley Scott · United States / United Kingdom · horror, sci-fi, thriller
    1.37

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #146 · Empire 500 (2008) #33 · National Film Registry (inducted 2002)

  30. 30
    The Host2006 · Bong Joon-ho · South Korea · horror, sci-fi, comedy
    1.35

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2006 #3 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #3 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #71

  31. 31
    Midnight in Paris2011 · Woody Allen · United States / Spain · comedy, romance, fantasy
    1.34

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2011 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #18

  32. 32
    Space Cowboys2000 · Clint Eastwood · United States · sci-fi, adventure, comedy
    1.30

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2000 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2000 #9

  33. 33
    Children of Men2006 · Alfonso Cuarón · United Kingdom / United States / Japan · thriller, sci-fi, drama
    1.28

    Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #27 · Ebert's annual top 10 2006 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #19

  34. 34
    Inception2010 · Christopher Nolan · United Kingdom / United States · crime, sci-fi, thriller
    1.25

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2010 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2010 #10 · National Film Registry (inducted 2025)

  35. 35
    District 92009 · Neill Blomkamp · South Africa / United States / New Zealand · thriller, sci-fi, action
    1.25

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2010 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #41

  36. 36
    La Jetée1962 · Chris Marker · France · sci-fi
    1.18

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #35 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #67 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  37. 37
    The Thing1982 · John Carpenter · United States / Canada · horror, sci-fi, mystery
    1.18

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #118 · National Film Registry (inducted 2025) · Letterboxd Top 250 #109

  38. 38
    Terminator 2: Judgment Day1991 · James Cameron · United States · action, thriller, sci-fi
    1.14

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #8 · Empire 500 (2008) #35 · National Film Registry (inducted 2023)

  39. 39
    The Truman Show1998 · Peter Weir · United States · sci-fi, comedy, drama
    1.10

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1998 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2025) · Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #5

  40. 40
    Godzilla Minus One2023 · Takashi Yamazaki · Japan / United States · action, sci-fi, adventure
    1.07

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2024 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2023 #8

  41. 41
    Her2013 · Spike Jonze · United States · sci-fi, drama, comedy
    1.05

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2013 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #67 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #17

  42. 42
    Bride of Frankenstein1935 · James Whale · United States · horror, sci-fi
    1.04

    TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 1998) · Empire 500 (2008) #204

  43. 43
    Crimes of the Future2022 · David Cronenberg · Canada / Greece / France · sci-fi, horror, thriller
    1.00

    Film Comment year-end poll 2022 #1

  44. 44
    Back to the Future1985 · Robert Zemeckis · United States · sci-fi, adventure, comedy
    0.99

    Empire 500 (2008) #23 · National Film Registry (inducted 2007) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  45. 45
    Interstellar2014 · Christopher Nolan · United States / United Kingdom · sci-fi, adventure, drama
    0.95

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2014 #6 · Letterboxd Top 250 #34 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #41

  46. 46
    Dreams1990 · Akira Kurosawa, Ishirō Honda · Japan / United States · fantasy, drama, sci-fi
    0.91

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1990 #4 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1990 #8 · Criterion Collection spine #842

  47. 47
    Kiss Me Deadly1955 · Robert Aldrich · United States · crime, film-noir, sci-fi
    0.90

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1955 #10 · National Film Registry (inducted 1999) · Criterion Collection spine #568

  48. 48
    Aliens1986 · James Cameron · United States · action, horror, thriller
    0.88

    Empire 500 (2008) #30 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1986 #9 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  49. 49
    The Fly1986 · David Cronenberg · United States / Canada · horror, sci-fi, drama
    0.87

    TIME All-TIME 100 · Kehr's annual top 10 1986 #5 · Sarris's annual top 10 1986 #8

  50. 50
    Lost Horizon1937 · Frank Capra, Andrew Marton · United States · fantasy, drama, sci-fi
    0.84

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1937 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  51. 51
    Night of the Living Dead1968 · George A. Romero · United States · horror, sci-fi, mystery
    0.84

    National Film Registry (inducted 1999) · Empire 500 (2008) #397 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  52. 52
    The Substance2024 · Coralie Fargeat · United Kingdom / France / United States · horror, sci-fi, drama
    0.84

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2024 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2025 #5

  53. 53
    Videodrome1983 · David Cronenberg · Canada / United States · horror, sci-fi, fantasy
    0.82

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #243 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #248

  54. 54
    Superman1978 · Richard Donner · United States / United Kingdom · action, sci-fi
    0.82

    National Film Registry (inducted 2017) · Empire 500 (2008) #174 · Ebert's annual top 10 1978 #10

  55. 55
    Nope2022 · Jordan Peele · United States / Japan / Canada · horror, thriller, mystery
    0.82

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2022 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2022 #8

  56. 56
    Naked Lunch1991 · David Cronenberg · Canada / United Kingdom / Japan · drama, horror, sci-fi
    0.81

    Kehr's annual top 10 1992 #5 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1991 #6 · Sarris's annual top 10 1991 #7

  57. 57
    Minority Report2002 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, action, thriller
    0.78

    Ebert's annual top 10 2002 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #11

  58. 58
    Donnie Darko2001 · Richard Kelly · United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
    0.76

    Empire 500 (2008) #53 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #18 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2001 #9

  59. 59
    Bye Bye Monkey1978 · Marco Ferreri · France / Italy · comedy, sci-fi, drama
    0.75

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1978

  60. 60
    Poison1991 · Todd Haynes · United States · horror, sci-fi, drama
    0.75

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 1991

  61. 61
    Primer2004 · Shane Carruth · United States · sci-fi, drama
    0.75

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2004

  62. 62
    Push2009 · Paul McGuigan · United States · thriller, sci-fi, action
    0.75

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2009

  63. 63
    The Life of Chuck2024 · Mike Flanagan · United States · sci-fi, drama, fantasy
    0.75

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2024

  64. 64
    The Face of Another1966 · Hiroshi Teshigahara · Japan · sci-fi, drama
    0.74

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1966 #5 · Letterboxd Top 250 #219 · Criterion Collection spine #395

  65. 65
    Frankenstein1931 · James Whale · United States · horror, sci-fi
    0.74

    AFI 100 (1998) #87 · National Film Registry (inducted 1991) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  66. 66
    Invasion of the Body Snatchers1956 · Don Siegel · United States · sci-fi, horror, mystery
    0.71

    TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 1994) · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  67. 67
    Black Panther2018 · Ryan Coogler · United States · action, adventure, sci-fi
    0.71

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2018 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #52

  68. 68
    Dawn of the Dead1978 · George A. Romero · United States / Italy · horror, sci-fi, action
    0.70

    Kehr's annual top 10 1979 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #415 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  69. 69
    The Nutty Professor1963 · Jerry Lewis · United States · comedy, sci-fi, romance
    0.67

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1963 #7 · National Film Registry (inducted 2004) · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  70. 70
    Young Frankenstein1974 · Mel Brooks · United States · horror, comedy, sci-fi
    0.66

    National Film Registry (inducted 2003) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Sarris's annual top 10 1974 #8

  71. 71
    Hard to Be a God2013 · Aleksei Yuryevich German · Russia · sci-fi, drama
    0.64

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #11

  72. 72
    Dark City1998 · Alex Proyas · Australia / United States · film-noir, sci-fi, thriller
    0.63

    Ebert's annual top 10 1998 #1 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies

  73. 73
    Existenz1999 · David Cronenberg · Canada / United Kingdom / France · horror, sci-fi, thriller
    0.62

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1999 #4 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1999 #5

  74. 74
    28 Days Later2002 · Danny Boyle · United Kingdom · horror, sci-fi, action
    0.62

    Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #53 · Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #35 · Empire 500 (2008) #456

  75. 75
    Peggy Sue Got Married1986 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    0.62

    Siskel's annual top 10 1986 #6 · Ebert's annual top 10 1986 #9 · Kehr's annual top 10 1986 #9

  76. 76
    Howl's Moving Castle2004 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, adventure
    0.62

    Letterboxd Top 250 #104 · Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #27 · Empire 500 (2008) #230

  77. 77
    RoboCop1987 · Paul Verhoeven · United States · action, sci-fi, thriller
    0.61

    Empire 500 (2008) #404 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #23

  78. 78
    The China Syndrome1979 · James Bridges · United States · sci-fi, drama, action
    0.60

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1979 #9 · Ebert's annual top 10 1979 #8 · Siskel's annual top 10 1979 #10

  79. 79
    Arrival2016 · Denis Villeneuve · United States · drama, sci-fi, thriller
    0.56

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2016 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  80. 80
    Iron Man2008 · Jon Favreau · United States · action, sci-fi, adventure
    0.54

    National Film Registry (inducted 2022) · Empire 500 (2008) #406 · Ebert's annual top 10 2008 #null

  81. 81
    Born in Flames1983 · Lizzie Borden · United States · sci-fi
    0.54

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #243 · Criterion Collection spine #1277

  82. 82
    Ghostbusters1984 · Ivan Reitman · United States · fantasy, horror, comedy
    0.54

    National Film Registry (inducted 2015) · Empire 500 (2008) #189 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  83. 83
    Jurassic Park1993 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, adventure, action
    0.53

    National Film Registry (inducted 2018) · Empire 500 (2008) #232 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  84. 84
    The Terminator1984 · James Cameron · United States / United Kingdom · action, sci-fi, thriller
    0.52

    National Film Registry (inducted 2008) · Empire 500 (2008) #308 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  85. 85
    Planet of the Apes1968 · Franklin J. Schaffner · United States · sci-fi
    0.51

    National Film Registry (inducted 2001) · Empire 500 (2008) #350 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  86. 86
    The Day the Earth Stood Still1951 · Robert Wise · United States · sci-fi, horror, drama
    0.50

    National Film Registry (inducted 1995) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  87. 87
    Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan1982 · Nicholas Meyer · United States · action, thriller, sci-fi
    0.50

    National Film Registry (inducted 2024) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  88. 88
    Cloverfield2008 · Matt Reeves · United States · action, sci-fi, fantasy
    0.50

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2008 #3

  89. 89
    Super 82011 · J. J. Abrams · United States · thriller, horror, sci-fi
    0.50

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #8 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #42

  90. 90
    Spider-Man 22004 · Sam Raimi · United States · action, thriller, sci-fi
    0.50

    Ebert's annual top 10 2004 #4 · Empire 500 (2008) #411 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  91. 91
    The Incredible Shrinking Man1957 · Jack Arnold · United States · sci-fi, drama, horror
    0.50

    National Film Registry (inducted 2009) · Criterion Collection spine #1100 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  92. 92
    Seconds1966 · John Frankenheimer · United States · sci-fi, drama
    0.50

    National Film Registry (inducted 2015) · Criterion Collection spine #667 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  93. 93
    Mauvais sang1986 · Leos Carax · France / Switzerland · drama, romance, crime
    0.50

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1986 #5 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  94. 94
    Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith2005 · George Lucas · United States · sci-fi, action, adventure
    0.49

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2005 #8 · Empire 500 (2008) #330

  95. 95
    A Scanner Darkly2006 · Richard Linklater · United States · sci-fi, drama
    0.49

    Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #12 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2006 #4

  96. 96
    Akira1988 · Katsuhiro Otomo · Japan · sci-fi, action, animation
    0.48

    Letterboxd Top 250 #190 · Empire 500 (2008) #440 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  97. 97
    Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1931 · Rouben Mamoulian · United States · horror, sci-fi
    0.46

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1932 #10 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  98. 98
    Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi1983 · Richard Marquand · United States · sci-fi, adventure, fantasy
    0.46

    Empire 500 (2008) #91 · National Film Registry (inducted 2021)

  99. 99
    Invention for Destruction1958 · Karel Zeman · Czechoslovakia / United States · sci-fi, adventure, fantasy
    0.45

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1959 #10 · Criterion Collection spine #1016

  100. 100
    Avatar2009 · James Cameron · United States · sci-fi, action, adventure
    0.45

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009

Science fiction is where cinema thinks in public — and, for most of its first half-century, where the industry preferred it not to think at all. Any ranking of the best sci-fi movies is therefore a record of a long climb from disreputable to indispensable, and the list above wears that history openly: a silent monument, atomic-age paranoia, blockbusters and Soviet metaphysics, all measured on one scale.

From the B-picture basement to the monolith

The imagination came first. Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon (1902) is generally counted the first science fiction film, and Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) gave the genre its defining imagery before sound arrived. Respectability lagged far behind: from the 1930s into the 1950s the genre ran mostly on low-budget B pictures, and even the 1950s boom — when surging interest in space travel produced bigger-budget standouts like The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) — left films that now sit deep in our four-figure ranks (#2424 and #1852). Japan answered the atomic age in its own register: Toho's original Godzilla (1954) founded a lineage this list carries right up through Shin Godzilla (2016) and Godzilla Minus One (2023). The door out of the basement was Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), after which — the standard histories agree — the genre was finally taken seriously. Our composite score concurs without hedging: #3 in the entire library, score 7.43, more than three points clear of anything else on this page.

Two futures: awe and rust

The modern era begins as a fork. George Lucas's Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) and Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) were the box-office hits that multiplied the genre and opened the blockbuster era. What followed split into two futures. Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), at #51 the gentlest film in the genre's top tier, made the visitor benign; Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982), with James Cameron's The Terminator (1984), made the future dark, dirty and chaotic — the world-as-design tradition in which production design does the speculating. And from the other side of the Cold War, Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris (1972) and Stalker (1979) turned the genre inward — less hardware, more conscience — and both now outrank most of Hollywood's rust-future canon here (#426 and #251).

How to read our list

Membership is mechanical, and honestly so: our pipeline maps each film's Wikidata genre tags into canonical buckets, and this page simply collects everything in the library tagged science fiction, ranked — like every list on this site — by composite score across the 20+ lists, awards and polls we track. The tag casts a wide net, which is why Jaws (1975) surfaces at #92 and why The Tree of Life (2011), which most viewers shelve as metaphysical drama, sits at #46 as the page's second-highest entry: the databases call it science fiction, so we do too. The other lesson is the gap between fan canon and measured canon. Blade Runner lands at #236, a shade above Stalker, while The Matrix (1999) and Alien — giants of the popular imagination — sit at #691 and #729. The composite counts accumulated weight in critics' lists, awards and polls, not devotion or box office; where those two canons disagree, this page is the argument laid out in numbers.