These sci-fi movies will be remembered forever. For this list, we’ll be looking at science fiction movies released in the 21st century that are bound to have a lasting legacy.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00 I had your job, I was good at it.
00:02 It was simpler then."
00:03 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 20 Sci-Fi Movies
00:08 That Will Become Classics.
00:10 "I'm trying to save you.
00:12 We're getting slaughtered.
00:13 You need to get us off this beach."
00:18 For this list, we're looking at science fiction movies released in the 21st century that are
00:22 bound to have a lasting legacy.
00:24 We won't be including superhero films or animation since those deserve their own lists.
00:29 What do you make of these movies and their messages?
00:31 Let us know in the comments below.
00:34 #20 Minority Report
00:36 "The precogs see the future and they're never wrong."
00:39 "But it's not the future if you stop it.
00:41 Isn't that a fundamental paradox?"
00:43 Steven Spielberg has such an incredible filmography that even a movie as good as this one might
00:47 get overlooked.
00:49 Tom Cruise stars as John Anderton, a police officer who is accused of committing a crime
00:53 before it even occurred.
00:55 The original story that inspired the film was developed by renowned sci-fi author Philip
01:00 K. Dick.
01:01 Spielberg works his usual filmmaking magic by complementing it with some spectacular
01:05 visuals and immersive world-building.
01:08 The plot also raises some tantalizing philosophical questions in the vein of George Orwell, like
01:13 concepts of individual freedom and authoritative overreach.
01:17 And capping it all is an exceptional performance from Cruise.
01:21 Minority Report truly has all the excitement, intrigue and provocative ideas that come with
01:26 the best sci-fi.
01:27 "Careful, chief.
01:28 You dig up the past, all you get is dirty."
01:34 #19 Snowpiercer
01:36 "Hey, listen.
01:37 I think I need that protein block.
01:39 How about I trade you this one for that one?"
01:45 "No."
01:47 Directed by Peng Joon-ho, this film has a lot in common with his later masterpiece Parasite,
01:52 including a strong emphasis on class inequality.
01:55 The titular Snowpiercer is a train that circles the frozen earth after a failed attempt at
02:00 climate engineering.
02:02 The wealth and power disparities on board eventually lead to a violent rebellion.
02:07 The unique story captivated many, as did its smart social commentary.
02:12 Peng's direction is masterful, as he crafts an absorbing world and fills it with memorable
02:16 characters and exciting action.
02:19 In the future, Snowpiercer will undoubtedly be considered a classic.
02:23 Let's just hope we're not all watching it on a train.
02:25 "Order is the barrier that holds back the frozen death.
02:30 We must all of us on this train of life remain in our allotted station."
02:35 #18 Annihilation
02:37 Sci-fi and horror often go hand in hand, but that doesn't mean they always pair well together.
02:42 "What is it?"
02:43 "I don't know."
02:46 In the case of this Alex Garland-directed tale featuring a perplexing realm filled with
02:50 animal and plant mutations and the scientists who enter it, those genres most certainly
02:55 do.
02:56 Not only that, but you might also call Annihilation a smart adventure thriller, what with its
03:00 stirring themes and puzzling mysteries.
03:02 "They've grown this way.
03:04 That doesn't make any sense."
03:06 One critic even called it, quote, "too intellectual," but we think that should be taken as a compliment.
03:12 With shimmering visuals and masterful direction, Annihilation has all the qualities of a sci-fi
03:16 flick that will go down in history.
03:19 It's ambitious, it is strange, and it's engrossing.
03:25 "Three, two..."
03:29 #17 Blade Runner 2049
03:32 "Mr. Morton, if taking you in is an option, I will do it."
03:41 "I would much prefer that to the alternative."
03:44 This follow-up to Ridley Scott's iconic 1982 film didn't perform as well at the box office
03:49 as the creators had hoped.
03:51 That's a shame because seeing it in a theater was an unforgettable experience.
03:56 Cinematographer Roger Deakins works his usual magic, establishing awe-inspiring shots and
04:01 imbuing the movie with vibrant colors that really pop off the screen.
04:05 It's no surprise that he took home the Oscar.
04:08 The production and set design are also impeccable, presenting a grungy atmosphere that befits
04:12 the movie's dystopian setting.
04:14 Add a twisty story, engaging characters played by talented actors, and thought-provoking
04:19 themes on humanity, and you have a sequel worthy of its predecessor.
04:23 "Dying for the right cause is the most human thing we can do."
04:30 #16 Moon
04:31 "Gertie, have you heard anything new about anyone fixing Lunar's set?"
04:36 "No, Sam.
04:37 What I understand is it's fairly low on the company's priority list."
04:41 Many movies on this list, and many pieces of sci-fi for that matter, ask what it means
04:46 to be human.
04:47 That includes this one.
04:49 Moon stars an excellent Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell, an astronaut alone on the moon mining
04:54 helium-3.
04:55 What follows is an exceptionally crafted tale with surprising twists and turns.
05:01 Along the way, the film introduces many philosophical questions, including ethical dilemmas and
05:06 explorations of the human condition.
05:08 These themes are perfectly embodied by Rockwell, who gives a career-best performance by grappling
05:13 with an existential crisis.
05:16 Moon has already gained a cult following as more and more people discover this heady,
05:20 atmospheric film.
05:21 "Who is he?
05:22 Who is he?"
05:23 "We need to get him to the infirmary."
05:24 "Gertie."
05:25 #15 Avatar
05:26 "If you wish to survive, you need to cultivate a strong mental attitude.
05:35 You got to obey the rules.
05:38 Pandora rules."
05:41 No one crafts visual spectacles like James Cameron, and this film is his opus.
05:46 The technical merits of Avatar are beyond compare, and they helped establish Cameron
05:51 as a truly visionary director.
05:53 With state-of-the-art CGI and a stunning use of 3D that had a lasting impact on the industry,
05:59 Avatar is an exercise in sci-fi worldbuilding.
06:02 There's a reason it became the highest-grossing movie ever.
06:05 People loved what Cameron had created, and they wanted to visit again and again.
06:10 Though its 2022 sequel achieved the rare feat of being almost as critically and financially
06:15 successful, Avatar is sure to be remembered as a turning point in movie history.
06:20 "The Tree of Souls.
06:23 I've been trying to moon on.
06:26 It's their most sacred place."
06:28 #14 Dune
06:29 "For the Fremen, spice is the sacred hallucinogen, which preserves life and brings enormous health
06:37 benefits."
06:38 Frank Herbert's expansive novel is one of the most popular and acclaimed in all of sci-fi.
06:43 Since David Lynch's 1984 adaptation was mostly a disappointment, fans have been waiting decades
06:49 for a decent revival of the property.
06:52 Enter Denis Villeneuve, who followed up Blade Runner 2049 with another modern masterpiece.
06:57 Dune is a visual extravaganza, complete with stunning special effects and production design.
07:03 The worldbuilding is immaculate, with Villeneuve faithfully adapting Herbert's epic scope
07:08 and complex political intrigue.
07:11 There's also its place in history to consider, as Dune helped convince audiences to return
07:16 to the theater in 2021.
07:18 This is one of those films you will want to see on the biggest screen possible.
07:22 "Preparing the way, Paul.
07:26 These people have waited for centuries for the Lisanalgaib.
07:30 They see you, they see the signs."
07:34 #13 Interstellar
07:36 "This team never left the simulator.
07:39 We need a pilot, and this is the mission that you were trained for."
07:43 Christopher Nolan sure is good at making movies.
07:45 There are a ton of things to love about Interstellar, and some people even consider it the 2001
07:50 of our day.
07:51 Which is fitting, since Nolan himself cited Stanley Kubrick's landmark film as an influence.
07:56 There's the ambitious storytelling, which contains complex scientific concepts like
08:00 tesseracts, wormholes, and time dilation.
08:03 There are the challenging themes that ask us difficult questions about the cosmos and
08:07 our place within it.
08:09 And yes, there are the breathtaking visuals accompanied by an outrageously good score,
08:14 providing a rich cinematic experience.
08:17 Just as we do with 2001, future generations will look back on Interstellar as a meditative
08:22 and visionary work.
08:23 "If I can find a way to transmit the quantum data I'll find in there, they might still
08:24 make it."
08:25 "Let's just hope there's still someone there to save."
08:33 #12 Edge of Tomorrow
08:35 "I have spoken to your CO.
08:37 You are now under my command.
08:39 You will retain your present rank, of course.
08:43 My secretary has all the details."
08:44 Doug Liman's Edge of Tomorrow takes on a well-worn premise, time loops, and makes it
08:49 fresh for modern audiences.
08:51 Based on the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill, Edge of Tomorrow tells the story
08:55 of a public relations officer played by Tom Cruise, who's forced to relive the same day
09:00 over and over battling aliens.
09:02 It's kind of like an action version of Groundhog Day, but with extraterrestrial invaders and
09:06 the fate of the world at stake.
09:08 Edge of Tomorrow brings humor, a badass Emily Blunt, and stunning visuals to the sure-to-be
09:14 sci-fi classic.
09:16 "Find me when you wake up."
09:18 "What?"
09:19 "Come find me when you wake up."
09:24 #11 War for the Planet of the Apes
09:26 "I'm just gonna put this down."
09:37 The original Charlton Heston-starring film is already a classic, spawning a slew of sequels
09:42 and series.
09:43 That said, although the visual effects were ahead of their time in the 1960s, now they
09:49 seem outdated, and the famous twist has been recreated and parodied so often it's almost
09:54 become cliche.
09:56 The 2010s trilogy updated and expanded the story for modern audiences, concluding with
10:01 War for the Planet of the Apes, an action spectacle with a healthy dose of emotion and
10:06 intellect.
10:07 The filmmaking is dazzling, with remarkable production design and magnificent visual effects.
10:13 It also ends the overarching story of the reboot series in a satisfying way.
10:18 Like the original, its effects may look dated one day, but its place in sci-fi history is
10:23 secured.
10:24 "My God, look at your eyes.
10:27 Almost human."
10:30 #10 Primer
10:32 "Okay."
10:33 To say that this film is challenging would be an understatement.
10:46 Made by Shane Carruth, who was working almost entirely solo on a budget of $7,000, it follows
10:52 two engineers who accidentally discover time travel while working on another project.
10:57 The result is some of the most mind-warping sci-fi ever put to film.
11:01 Not only is the plot intricately structured, but the dialogue is filled with dense technical
11:06 jargon that while realistic, can be hard to follow.
11:10 But it also proves the value of indie filmmaking.
11:13 You don't need flashy set pieces to be remembered, just a unique story, a tenacious creator,
11:18 and true respect for the audience.
11:21 "I'm not gonna pretend like I know anything, okay, about paradoxes, you know, or what follows
11:24 them.
11:25 And honestly, I really don't believe in any of that crap.
11:27 I mean, kill your mom before you're born, whatever.
11:29 It has to work itself out somehow."
11:31 9.
11:32 District 9
11:33 Forget Area 51, it's District 9 that holds all the alien secrets.
11:38 Redefining the classic alien invasion story, it's the humans that are the villains in this
11:42 one.
11:50 After a spacecraft landed in Johannesburg back in the 80s, the South African government
11:54 interned the refugee aliens and stole their technology.
11:57 Decades later, a company agent, Vikas, accidentally exposes himself to a fluid that alters his
12:02 human DNA and begins to transform him into an alien.
12:14 Watching his plight after he begins to see things from the alien's perspective couldn't
12:17 be more captivating or emotional.
12:20 While the movie itself is action-packed, entertaining, and thought-provoking.
12:24 8.
12:25 The Martian
12:26 Though traveling to Mars is still in our future as of 2023, our children's children will
12:39 probably look back on this movie with a wink and a smile.
12:45 Astronaut Mark Watney is thought dead after his team must hastily escape a storm on the
12:49 Red Planet.
12:50 Realizing they left him behind, his team turns back to rescue him.
12:54 In addition to being highly entertaining and even humorous, the film is also a testament
12:58 to human will.
13:09 Watney must survive for years on his own, creating oxygen and growing food on a dead
13:14 planet until his team can bring him home.
13:17 Luckily for him, he's a botanist.
13:23 7.
13:25 Everything Everywhere All at Once
13:38 Even though it has produced countless classics, some people still consider science fiction
13:42 a somewhat niche genre.
13:44 But that definitely does not apply to Everything Everywhere All at Once.
13:48 By some estimates, this is the most awarded movie of all time, winning hundreds of major
13:53 industry honors, including the Oscar for Best Picture.
13:57 It's clearly more than just a good genre film.
13:59 Yes, it is wickedly entertaining, with a wild story, a dose of wacky humor, and some of
14:05 the best cinematography of the century.
14:07 But it's also a remarkably profound film, touching on generational trauma, existentialism,
14:12 parallel universes, compassion, regret, need we go on?
14:17 It's right there in the title, Everything Everywhere, and it is mesmerizing to watch.
14:28 6.
14:32 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
14:34 Joel wants to forget Clementine ever existed, so he hires Lacuna Inc. to erase his memory
14:40 of her.
14:42 However, Joel realizes too late that he'd rather keep the painful memories, as long
14:48 as he can have the good ones too.
14:50 Interestingly, Joel and Clementine's story is told inside Joel's mind, so we never get
14:55 to see the truth, only the way Joel remembers it.
15:02 Linking parallel storylines of the Lacuna workers and the non-linear storytelling of
15:06 Joel's vanishing memories, the film explores the subjectivity of memory and the way certain
15:11 impulses still linger long after our memory fades.
15:14 That, plus the bonus of Jim Carrey killing it in a dramatic role, secures this one's
15:19 place in history.
15:22 5.
15:26 Inception
15:27 Forget future classic, try instant classic.
15:34 This visually stunning Christopher Nolan film about planting ideas in people's minds through
15:38 their dreams uses the ways that our dreams influence our real lives and the ways that
15:43 our real lives influence our dreams as its landscape.
15:49 As the dependency on visual effects in film will undoubtedly continue to grow, Inception
15:54 will be remembered for its impressive use of practical effects in some of its most iconic
15:58 scenes, such as the tilting bar and of course the hallway scene.
16:05 4.
16:08 Her
16:09 Spike Jonze's vision of the future is feeling more and more relevant as the years go by.
16:14 It tells the story of Theodore Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who falls in love with
16:18 his virtual assistant Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson.
16:29 Though the narrative follows Theodore, he is not alone.
16:33 He learns from Samantha that hundreds of others have fallen in love with their OSes.
16:37 Even his neighbor Amy has befriended hers.
16:50 Theodore's substitution of human interaction with that of an adaptive AI foreshadows our
16:54 growing dependence on technology in real life.
16:57 As our smartphones grow smarter, we grow more socially detached, and this movie brings up
17:02 some very real and very relevant questions.
17:11 3.
17:14 Ex Machina
17:15 Though there have been many modern sci-fi incarnations of the "man creates monster,
17:20 monster destroys man" story, they usually culminate in a grand and violent revolt of
17:24 man versus machine.
17:30 But in Alex Garland's directorial debut Ex Machina, the struggle is far more subtle,
17:35 at least at first.
17:37 Eccentric entrepreneur Nathan Bateman flies in programmer Caleb Smith to test the intelligence
17:41 of his humanoid robot Ava.
17:48 But Ava has her own agenda, and an intelligence that surpasses her creator.
17:53 With dazzling performances from Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander, and Donal Gleeson, it is
17:58 a compelling watch that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
18:05 2.
18:07 Children of Men
18:08 In one of several hard sci-fi flicks on this list, the quite possible near future is a
18:13 disaster.
18:14 "You scared the shit out of me."
18:16 War has broken out across the world and governments have toppled.
18:19 No babies have been born for 18 years, and the Earth's population is in serious danger.
18:25 When discovering Key, a pregnant woman, Theo, a hardened former activist, is tasked with
18:30 bringing her and her baby to safety.
18:37 In a mesmerizing and unforgettable scene, Theo walks Key and her baby through a building
18:41 under fire, and for a brief moment, the war stops so they can escape.
18:46 Though set in the future, this film is very grounded in reality, and foreshadows a scary
18:51 yet hopeful fate.
18:56 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
19:00 about our latest videos.
19:02 You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
19:06 If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
19:11 1.
19:13 Arrival
19:14 With Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve at the helm, this movie could not go wrong.
19:19 A contender for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars, this
19:24 film is not only spectacularly written, but also cinematically beautiful.
19:36 As aliens come to Earth, linguist Louise Banks is tasked with discovering their intentions.
19:41 If you were expecting your typical alien invasion action movie, you came to the wrong place.
19:46 Arrival is a timely story of communication and understanding.
19:57 Told through linear timelines as well as flashbacks or flash-forwards, the film's use of time
20:02 as a thematic element allows for one of the greatest twists in modern sci-fi history.
20:16 Did you enjoy this video?
20:17 Check out these other clips from WatchMojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell
20:21 to be notified about our latest videos.
20:25 [Music]
20:33 (upbeat music)