Sci-Fi
What it says on the tin
The ranking is a bit rough for this list; it's mostly based on my enjoyment of the titles, not wholly on the significance or impact of a particular film. Take these with a grain of salt
The ranking is a bit rough for this list; it's mostly based on my enjoyment of the titles, not wholly on the significance or impact of a particular film. Take these with a grain of salt
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43 titles
- DirectorJaco Van DormaelStarsJared LetoSarah PolleyDiane KrugerA boy stands on a station platform as a train is about to leave. Should he go with his mother or stay with his father? Infinite possibilities arise from this decision. As long as he doesn't choose, anything is possible.Also in my Top 10 list
Its focus on the outcomes of a variety of seemingly small choices on the rest of the protagonist's life are very interesting, and most of the supporting cast is developed well enough. The idea of being the last mortal on Earth is also fascinating - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea ThompsonMarty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.While I thought this would be overhyped, I think its influence in the time travel genre (and science fiction in general) can not be understated. The characters were written very well ("I would never chase a boy", which we find is not true shortly after Marty travels back in time) and I was overall impressed with the imagination of the movie. The juxtapositions of the two time periods, both before and after the time jump, were cool to see. Definitely deserves its regard as a classic
Watched July 7th, 2018 with family - DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.Starting one of the most popular franchises of all time, this is arguably the strongest as well. The classic Hero's Journey but somehow still entertaining. Solid special effects and worldbuilding
I think I rented this from Blockbuster the first time I watched
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter the Rebel Alliance are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.Definitely a Blockbuster film, this has the iconic "I am your father" line and was overall super entertaining. Took me forever to conclude the trilogy but I liked this one a lot
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsTimothée ChalametZendayaRebecca FergusonPaul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.This was everything I wanted from the first. The Harkonnen home planet and first sandworm ride were awesome visually, and I liked the deeper insights into Bene Gesserit and Empire motivations. I think Paul's character changed a bit too dramatically after drinking the Water of Life and wholly embracing his Lisan al-Gaib moniker, but perhaps that was the point of "one path forward". Good performances from all (especially the Harkonnens and Bene Gesserit), with some unexpectedly good (but possibly out-of-place) comedy from Javier Bardem.
Watched in theaters with friends March 3, 2024 - DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonMichael BiehnA human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.I liked this more than I expected to. Not only had I anticipated Schwarzenegger being the hero (he was definitely NOT), but the plot took itself seriously, which after most action blockbusters today, I have come to expect little in that regard. "I'll be back" and 'Come with me if you want to live" are still iconic lines, but they seemed almost throwaway in full context of the film. Impressive special effects for the time, time travel done well.
Watched March 1st, 2019 - DirectorRichard MarquandStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.I probably should've watched this sooner, but I liked the scenes on Endor the most. A satisfying conclusion and arguably could have been left alone
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorPeter WeirStarsJim CarreyEd HarrisLaura LinneyAn insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.I really liked the premise, and I thought that Jim Carrey did a fantastic job. The soundtrack left something to be desired, and I was expecting some sort of explanation on why human rights activists hadn't completely stopped the show (though there were some hints of their attempts), but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Watched for the first time as a child, and rewatched January 12th, 2018 with friends - DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossWhen a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.The special effects show their age at points and the acting (namely by Neo and Trinity, the assumed leads) is questionable, but I think its plot is very original and it was groundbreaking for the time. The action scenes were a bit over the top and the romance was extremely forced, but I would still recommend giving it a watch because of its significance in cinema and the sci-fi genre (not to mention, it was kind of cool to see the origins of several parodies or memes).
Watched October 9th, 2017 with friends - DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsCharlton HestonRoddy McDowallKim HunterAn astronaut crew crash-lands on a planet where highly intelligent non-human ape species are dominant and humans are enslaved.I definitely watched this in college and somehow neglected to add it. I remember being impressed with the special effects, performances and the actually emotional plotline, along with the now iconic ending. Good time.
Watched c. 2016 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHarrison FordRyan GoslingAna de ArmasYoung Blade Runner K's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.I appreciated the deeper exploration of what constitutes a human (given the "realistic" nature of the AI, the dying breed of rogue Replicants, the new subservient ones that still feel emotions, etc.) I think the movie could certainly have been shorter, but the special effects were great and showed the bleak, commercialized future as frighteningly plausible.
Watched February 3rd, 2019 - DirectorNeill BlomkampStarsSharlto CopleyDavid JamesJason CopeViolence ensues after an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology.Setting this in South Africa was a solid choice, considering the country's history with apartheid. Stellar special effects and I liked the transformation of Wikus' character, though it does lend credence to the "white savior" narrative that several publishings have made apparent. Still an entertaining movie; documentary style was cool.
Watched April 12th, 2019 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHaley Joel OsmentJude LawFrances O'ConnorA highly advanced robotic boy longs to become "real" so that he can regain the love of his human mother.A surprisingly palatable John Williams soundtrack and a really stellar effort from Spielberg. I appreciated the grand scope of the tale by the end, and I thought Osment and Law had fantastic performances.
Watched September 20th, 2019 - DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.Given that there are so many versions of this, it should be noted that I watched the "Final Cut". I thought it was posed some interesting questions on what being human really means, especially with such advanced cloning/robotics seen in Replicants, but I was fairly underwhelmed in the end. I appreciate it for its influence on sci-fi (namely cyberpunk) and its bleak but poignant view of the future, but it just didn't grab me as I had expected it to.
Watched February 3rd, 2019 - DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaOscar IsaacAs a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.This seemed like it was mostly laying the groundwork for the rest of this third trilogy, so I'm hoping the other two expand on some of the new lore to clear up the mysteries. Some of the character development and their relationships (i.e. Poe and Finn becoming best friends within a matter of seconds) seemed to come out of nowhere, but it was still an enjoyable watch.
Watched April 16th, 2017 - DirectorGeorge LucasStarsEwan McGregorLiam NeesonNatalie PortmanTwo Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their original glory.Probably ranked a bit too high, but it'll always hold a special place in my heart for being my first Star Wars
Own (or at least, owned) this on VHS - DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsChris PineZachary QuintoZoe SaldanaAfter the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.I was pretty impressed with Pine and Quinto in this and enjoyed their dynamic as Kirk and Spock. Cumberbatch played a good Khan as well
Watched in theaters
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsTimothée ChalametRebecca FergusonZendayaA noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.This was a visual treat but the plot was nearly entirely setup for a grander second film. The worldbuilding was good for introducing me to the setting, but the vision sequences were overused in my opinion and detracted from the more compelling political drama. Watched a while ago but forgot to write detailed thoughts
Watched March 2, 2024 - DirectorGeorge LucasStarsHayden ChristensenNatalie PortmanEwan McGregorThree years into the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi pursues a new threat, while Anakin Skywalker is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot to rule the galaxy.The Mustafar scenes are great and I thought it wrapped up the rather mediocre trilogy well
Watched at a friend's house
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.An inventive take on the "Groundhog Day" formula. I don't remember how this ended but it was entertaining
Watched in theaters
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsAmy AdamsJeremy RennerForest WhitakerA linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.I liked the idea of this film more than I actually enjoyed it. It posed some interesting questions about extraterrestrial communication and the abilities that these beings may have,but I was mostly underwhelmed by the romantic subplots and big bad China.
Watched April 25th, 2019 - DirectorRian JohnsonStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaMark HamillRey develops her abilities with the help of Luke Skywalker, as the Resistance prepares for battle against the First Order.After hearing several sctahing reviews for this, I was pleasantly surprised by the introduction of moral ambiguity into the universe and overall decent plot. The characters were horribly underdeveloped (namely Snoke, and Poe continues to be simultaneously an impulsive know-nothing to suddenly being the smartest person in the movie) and the numerous betrayals seemed a bit heavy-handed towards the end, but it was still an enjoyable watch.
Watched June 29th, 2018 with friends - DirectorRichard KellyStarsJake GyllenhaalJena MaloneMary McDonnellAfter narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit who manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.Don't remember much about it; watched on Youtube in like twelve parts during high school
From when I had this in the "Psychological" list:
"Watched in parts on Youtube during high school; not the most optimal way of viewing haha" - DirectorVincenzo NataliStarsNicole de BoerMaurice Dean WintDavid HewlettA group of strangers awaken to find themselves placed in a giant cube. Each one of them is gifted with a special skill and they must work together to escape an endless maze of deadly traps.Watched on a random Sunday when I was in high school at some point. It was all right, definitely suspenseful, but I think it dragged quite a bit as well. Also Horror technically, but it didn't seem all that scary
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsSam NeillLaura DernJeff GoldblumA pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.This was siginificantly campier than I expected, so I was pretty disappointed in that regard. I did enjoy the CGI and focus on the human greed aspect.
Watched September 2, 2020 - DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerCarl WeathersKevin Peter HallA team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.This was a decent action flick and it established a cool extraterrestrial enemy, but the film itself was fairly bland action from what I remember
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsTommy Lee JonesWill SmithLinda FiorentinoJames, an NYC cop, is hired by Agent K of a secret government agency that monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth. Together, they must recover an item that has been stolen by an intergalactic villain.I liked the buddy cop dynamic of this but I can't remember much other than being grossed out by the parasite alien
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorJon TurteltaubStarsJason StathamBingbing LiRainn WilsonA group of scientists exploring the Marianas Trench encounter the largest marine predator that has ever existed - the Megalodon.I went into this with rock bottom expectations and was mostly pleasantly surprised. Some of the main plot was incoherent, but I thought the characters generally were written with some semblance of sensitivity (except some stereotypes for DJ and the palpable lack of chemistry between The Wall and Toshi). The acting was decent (Ruby Rose and Olafsson being notable exceptions), though Statham, Sophia Cai and Li Bingbing were by far the best. The CGI was a lot better than I expected, the cinematography was surprisingly compelling at times, and the soundtrack was good (especially that "Hey Mickey" cover). The restraint and genuine tension of the first half of the movie was cool, but I enjoyed the wackier second half as well for its better action scenes. Overall, pretty solid
Watched August 2, 2023 with friends - DirectorGeorge LucasStarsHayden ChristensenNatalie PortmanEwan McGregorTen years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, while Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi.I only remember the Tusken Raiders, but I think this was when the Anakin/Natalie Portman romance started so that was cool too
Watched at a friend's house
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorCraig ZobelStarsChiwetel EjioforChris PineMargot RobbieIn the wake of a disaster that wipes out most of civilization, two men and a young woman find themselves in an emotionally charged love triangle as the last known survivors.I watched this when it came out but don't remember much of anything beyond being disappointed compared to the novel. I don't think the introduction of a third character really added anything, but I still find the basic premise fascinating. All three stars in this were good from my limited memory.
Watched c. 2015 - DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsElle FanningAJ MichalkaKyle ChandlerDuring the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.I don't remember much about this other than finding it interesting at the time. I think Stranger Things took heavy inspiration from this
Watched in theaters - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsRichard DreyfussFrançois TruffautTeri GarrRoy Neary, an Indiana electric lineman, finds his quiet and ordinary daily life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him to an obsessed cross-country quest for answers as a momentous event approaches.Often lauded as a "sci-fi classic", I was wholly underwhelmed. The blaring horns of the soundtrack and overall spacey nature didn't resonate with me (especailly because I feel they're inferior to the very similar Star Wars soundtrack, also composed by Williams). The acting was by far the best part of the movie, and watching Dreyfuss' character slowly descend into madness was nice. It was almost too slow of a burn, and while I can appreciate the special effects and plot for the time, it simply did not grab me and I coudln't recommend it to anyone
Watched December 19th, 2018 - DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsSandra BullockGeorge ClooneyEd HarrisDr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first time on a space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.While most of the scoping shots in the film were beautiful and the claustrophobic scenes really amped up the intensity of the thriller scenes, it was simply not for me. The slow pace probably replicated the true nature of being in space, but it was a slog to get through; Bullock's acting was particularly solid though.
Watched July 14th, 2018 - DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsFelicity JonesDiego LunaAlan TudykIn a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire's ultimate weapon of destruction.While I can appreciate its darker themes, its characters all felt so flat; the actors did the best with what they were given, but I didn't feel even a passing attachment to a single character in the entire film, which I think is a problem. The soundtrack was good and the story itself was passable, but the characters themselves tanked the movie for me.
Watched in multiple sittings between September 9th and September 11th, 2017 - DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsTommy Lee JonesWill SmithRip TornAgent J is sent to find Agent K and restore his memory after the re-appearance of a case from K's past.A mostly uninspired sequel that didn't satisfy me like the first one
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorShane AckerStarsElijah WoodJennifer ConnellyCrispin GloverA rag doll that awakens in a postapocalyptic future holds the key to humanity's salvation.I liked the animation in this, and the voice acting was okay, but I was extremely underwhelmed with the plot and characters. It was very imaginative, but unfortunately not for me.
Watched January 27th, 2018 - DirectorNimród AntalStarsAdrien BrodyLaurence FishburneTopher GraceA group of elite warriors parachute into an unfamiliar jungle and are hunted by members of a merciless alien race.I liked the survival aspect of this since I was huge on the genre at the time, but it definitely would not hold up upon repeat viewings
Watched in theaters with family
Written 4/8/19 - DirectorShane CarruthStarsShane CarruthDavid SullivanCasey GoodenFour friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there's something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they've built, wrestle over their new invention.Watched at a friend's house on a weekend with nothing to do.
Had some cool ideas and concepts, but it was a little heavy and difficult to grasp some aspects of the film - DirectorFred M. WilcoxStarsWalter PidgeonAnne FrancisLeslie NielsenA starship crew in the 23rd century goes to investigate the silence of a distant planet's colony, only to find just two survivors, a powerful robot, and the deadly secret of a lost civilization.The electronic soundtrack was cool but the movie as a whole was pretty slow and definitely hammed up some of its campier moments.
Watched December 5th, 2019 - DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaOscar IsaacThe surviving Resistance faces the First Order once again in the conclusion of the Skywalker saga.While this was visually stunning (particularly the section with the tumultuous ocean), the plot was poorly explained and featured a dizzying number of deus ex machina and reversals of fortune (Kylo constantly showing up, the protagonists being ambushed every other scene before miraculously escaping, etc.) It was just a bit too much to take seriously by the end.
Watched December 28th, 2019 with friends in theaters - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHenry ThomasDrew BarrymorePeter CoyoteA troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.The special effects were decent but it was the textbook Spielberg feel-good schtick with a bland yet somehow overbearing John Williams soundtrack. Not particularly fond, but may have been better if I had seen it at a younger age
Watched July 25th, 2019 - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsJohn David WashingtonRobert PattinsonElizabeth DebickiArmed with only the word "Tenet," and fighting for the survival of the entire world, CIA operative, The Protagonist, journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a global mission that unfolds beyond real time.Genuinely awful sound mixing, cringeworthy dialogue and a plot so poorly explained that even the 45 minutes of exposition in the movie still left plotholes and confusion. The characters had no motivation for any of their actions and weren't developed in the slightest. While an entertaining watch with friends, I would never recommend this.
Watched March 19, 2021 with friends - DirectorBen WheatleyStarsJason StathamJing WuShuya Sophia CaiA research team encounters multiple threats while exploring the depths of the ocean, including a malevolent mining operation.This was REALLY bad. I went in expecting something decent but schlockier than the first based on the trailer, but this was just all around bad. The CGI was somehow worse 5 years later, the plot left things unexplained and dropped ideas without any conclusion (really, no one reacts to a kraken attacking the beach even though they had only seen three megs leave?), and the eco-terrorist spy and corporate betrayal plotlines especially were poorly done. The characters, despite having more time on-screen together in this film, seemed to have less chemistry than the first. The action was not particularly enjoyable in this aside from some of the absurd Statham stunts late in the second act. I went in with low but hopeful expectations after the first, and this basically ruined any good will I had for the budding franchise. My standouts were again Statham and Cai as far as acting is concerned, but the script was so bad that there wasn't much to work with.
Watched August 5, 2023 in theaters with friends