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The 101 Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movies of All Time: 1. Interstellar (3 Viewers)

22. Annihilation​

2018 - 1h 55 - R
Director: Alex Garland
Metascore: 79


A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition in which the laws of nature don't apply.

One of the best recent scifi flicks I've seen. I've come to realize I just really like Alex Garland's directorial style. The cinematography, the sound design and soundtrack are all amazing. And then the insane visuals of the ending lighthouse sequence. Just a fantastic scifi flick with a brilliant aesthetic.

Trivia: Due to a poorly received test screening, David Ellison, a financier at Paramount, became concerned that the film was "too intellectual" and "too complicated," and demanded changes to make it appeal to a wider audience, including making Natalie Portman's character more sympathetic and changing the ending. Producer Scott Rudin sided with Garland in his desire to not alter the film, defending the film and refusing to take notes. Rudin had final cut.
I never saw this one.....now we gotta track it down to stream. I have Prime, Max, Paramount and Netflix....hope one of them has it.
 

22. Annihilation​

2018 - 1h 55 - R
Director: Alex Garland
Metascore: 79


A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition in which the laws of nature don't apply.

One of the best recent scifi flicks I've seen. I've come to realize I just really like Alex Garland's directorial style. The cinematography, the sound design and soundtrack are all amazing. And then the insane visuals of the ending lighthouse sequence. Just a fantastic scifi flick with a brilliant aesthetic.

Trivia: Due to a poorly received test screening, David Ellison, a financier at Paramount, became concerned that the film was "too intellectual" and "too complicated," and demanded changes to make it appeal to a wider audience, including making Natalie Portman's character more sympathetic and changing the ending. Producer Scott Rudin sided with Garland in his desire to not alter the film, defending the film and refusing to take notes. Rudin had final cut.
I never saw this one.....now we gotta track it down to stream. I have Prime, Max, Paramount and Netflix....hope one of them has it.

Let us know what you think of the bear scene. You'll know it when you see it. :scared:
 

22. Annihilation​

2018 - 1h 55 - R
Director: Alex Garland
Metascore: 79


A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition in which the laws of nature don't apply.

One of the best recent scifi flicks I've seen. I've come to realize I just really like Alex Garland's directorial style. The cinematography, the sound design and soundtrack are all amazing. And then the insane visuals of the ending lighthouse sequence. Just a fantastic scifi flick with a brilliant aesthetic.

Trivia: Due to a poorly received test screening, David Ellison, a financier at Paramount, became concerned that the film was "too intellectual" and "too complicated," and demanded changes to make it appeal to a wider audience, including making Natalie Portman's character more sympathetic and changing the ending. Producer Scott Rudin sided with Garland in his desire to not alter the film, defending the film and refusing to take notes. Rudin had final cut.
I never saw this one.....now we gotta track it down to stream. I have Prime, Max, Paramount and Netflix....hope one of them has it.
Paramount+ has it

Be warned, it's pretty trippy and more than a little bit is symbolic.
 

22. Annihilation​

2018 - 1h 55 - R
Director: Alex Garland
Metascore: 79


A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition in which the laws of nature don't apply.

One of the best recent scifi flicks I've seen. I've come to realize I just really like Alex Garland's directorial style. The cinematography, the sound design and soundtrack are all amazing. And then the insane visuals of the ending lighthouse sequence. Just a fantastic scifi flick with a brilliant aesthetic.

Trivia: Due to a poorly received test screening, David Ellison, a financier at Paramount, became concerned that the film was "too intellectual" and "too complicated," and demanded changes to make it appeal to a wider audience, including making Natalie Portman's character more sympathetic and changing the ending. Producer Scott Rudin sided with Garland in his desire to not alter the film, defending the film and refusing to take notes. Rudin had final cut.
I never saw this one.....now we gotta track it down to stream. I have Prime, Max, Paramount and Netflix....hope one of them has it.
Paramount+ has it

Be warned, it's pretty trippy and more than a little bit is symbolic symbolic.
I love trippy. Will watch it this weekend and check back in.
 

18. Blade Runner​

1982 - 1h 57 - R
Director: Ridley Scott
Metascore: 84


A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

A cult classic. The ultimate "What does it mean to be human" movie and setting. I feel like Batty may be one of the best written villains in movie history. This is another I did not watch until later in life. I suspect even at 18, some will think this is too low.

Trivia: The final scene was shot hours before the producers were due to take creative control away from Sir Ridley Scott.
 

18. Blade Runner​

1982 - 1h 57 - R
Director: Ridley Scott
Metascore: 84


A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

A cult classic. The ultimate "What does it mean to be human" movie and setting. I feel like Batty may be one of the best written villains in movie history. This is another I did not watch until later in life. I suspect even at 18, some will think this is too low.

Trivia: The final scene was shot hours before the producers were due to take creative control away from Sir Ridley Scott.
Jebus. T2 and Blade Runner AND there is 17 more to come?
Blade Runner is my most watched movie of all time. I’ve watched all cuts. The US theatrical release was the worst by far.
It has overtaken Godfather Pt 1 as my fave movie of all time.
 
If T2 is at 20, what the eff is in the top 19?

A little about my tastes as we approach the end.

As I'm getting older and as I was ranking these films, I learned that I tend to lean more towards semi-realistic, hard sci-fi. Settings, stories, and situations that are plausible in that they could happen in humanity's future. So while I love a great action sci-fi like T2, I don't watch it with the lens that something like that could happen in reality and for me, films like this lose a few points for it. That "realistic possibility" thing is a big part of the sense of wonder and awe that I get from watching scifi. It's why a movie like Gravity ranks higher than usual in my list vs. others.

That said, there is still plenty of action and "soft" scifi to come. Some of these are just too good not to have them ranked high.
 

18. Blade Runner​

1982 - 1h 57 - R
Director: Ridley Scott
Metascore: 84


A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

A cult classic. The ultimate "What does it mean to be human" movie and setting. I feel like Batty may be one of the best written villains in movie history. This is another I did not watch until later in life. I suspect even at 18, some will think this is too low.

Trivia: The final scene was shot hours before the producers were due to take creative control away from Sir Ridley Scott.
Jebus. T2 and Blade Runner AND there is 17 more to come?
Blade Runner is my most watched movie of all time. I’ve watched all cuts. The US theatrical release was the worst by far.
It has overtaken Godfather Pt 1 as my fave movie of all time.
Ouch. I would have BR much higher. Maybe seeing it at release makes me more impressed, but it would be in my top 10 for sure. And, yes, I'm considering the directors or anniversary cuts when rating this.
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
I need to watch it again. I watched once around the time it came out and once fairly recently but couldn’t see what the “hype” was all about either time. It’s a movie that should be in my wheelhouse but it was just so dull and a little confusing. Obviously mine is a minority opinion.
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
I need to watch it again. I watched once around the time it came out and once fairly recently but couldn’t see what the “hype” was all about either time. It’s a movie that should be in my wheelhouse but it was just so dull and a little confusing. Obviously mine is a minority opinion.
It's not wrong to say it's dull if one is expecting a sci-fi action movie. What it actually is is a philosophical film noir in a sci-fi context.

And the set design is unreal, even after 40 years.
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
I need to watch it again. I watched once around the time it came out and once fairly recently but couldn’t see what the “hype” was all about either time. It’s a movie that should be in my wheelhouse but it was just so dull and a little confusing. Obviously mine is a minority opinion.
It's not wrong to say it's dull if one is expecting a sci-fi action movie. What it actually is is a philosophical film noir in a sci-fi context.

And the set design is unreal, even after 40 years.
I need to watch it again.
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
I need to watch it again. I watched once around the time it came out and once fairly recently but couldn’t see what the “hype” was all about either time. It’s a movie that should be in my wheelhouse but it was just so dull and a little confusing. Obviously mine is a minority opinion.
It's not wrong to say it's dull if one is expecting a sci-fi action movie. What it actually is is a philosophical film noir in a sci-fi context.

And the set design is unreal, even after 40 years.

Criminally underused setting.
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
I need to watch it again. I watched once around the time it came out and once fairly recently but couldn’t see what the “hype” was all about either time. It’s a movie that should be in my wheelhouse but it was just so dull and a little confusing. Obviously mine is a minority opinion.
It's not wrong to say it's dull if one is expecting a sci-fi action movie. What it actually is is a philosophical film noir in a sci-fi context.

And the set design is unreal, even after 40 years.
The Art direction is the paradigm for pretty much every sci-fi movie that followed.
 
I wonder how different the rankings would have been if it was all sci-fi as opposed to sci-fi and fantasy.

Well the sci-fi movies would have been bumped a bit. As it is, this list is about 70/30 in favor of sci-fi.

And the top 20 is by far mostly sci-fi.
 
When my older sister would cut the grass, my dad used to call her "The Blade Ruiner" because she constantly hit rocks and roots. We both thought that was hilarious and I now call my son that name whenever he does the same. None of you will be able to unhear this when you hit a rock while cutting the grass this Spring.
 

22. Annihilation​

2018 - 1h 55 - R
Director: Alex Garland
Metascore: 79


A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition in which the laws of nature don't apply.

One of the best recent scifi flicks I've seen. I've come to realize I just really like Alex Garland's directorial style. The cinematography, the sound design and soundtrack are all amazing. And then the insane visuals of the ending lighthouse sequence. Just a fantastic scifi flick with a brilliant aesthetic.

Trivia: Due to a poorly received test screening, David Ellison, a financier at Paramount, became concerned that the film was "too intellectual" and "too complicated," and demanded changes to make it appeal to a wider audience, including making Natalie Portman's character more sympathetic and changing the ending. Producer Scott Rudin sided with Garland in his desire to not alter the film, defending the film and refusing to take notes. Rudin had final cut.
Didn’t know this existed. Read the book which had a lot of recommendations. I didn’t care for the book. It has been a while but I remember going back and re reading a lot because I wasn’t clear what just happened
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
I think there is a bit of that. I am similar to you in age, and didn't see this until adulthood. Maybe it would be a little higher for me, but I think more important than age is simply what you want out of a movie and how you view a list when you are ranking something. I usually take a desert island approach and let's be honest - Blade Runner is great, but like Andy said it's more a philosophical film noir. Movies like that or Solaris or 2001 I rate highly on a greatest scale, but those aren't the first wave of movies that I would be grabbing for my sci-fi/fantasy island.
 
I wonder how the ranking of Blade Runner goes by age demographic? I was way too young when it came out to appreciate or even know about it. 5 yaer old me was expecting chewbaccas and he-man from his scifi movies.

So I had to watch is through the lens of watching a possibly outdated 80s movie. I still think it was great, and an all timer, but I feel like that may be the difference between my 18 ranking and a top 10 ranking.
I was 12 when it came out and at 12 I liked the music and the setting but it was a tad too deep for me at 12. But it left a big impression on me and when I revisited it at 17 I totally loved it.

And it’s only gotten better and better with age like a fine wine. I totally prefer the Directors cut as well as the Final cut.

And BR 2049 was also freaking amazing. Both are top 10 Sci-fi for my tastes.
 
If T2 is at 20, what the eff is in the top 19?

A little about my tastes as we approach the end.

As I'm getting older and as I was ranking these films, I learned that I tend to lean more towards semi-realistic, hard sci-fi. Settings, stories, and situations that are plausible in that they could happen in humanity's future. So while I love a great action sci-fi like T2, I don't watch it with the lens that something like that could happen in reality and for me, films like this lose a few points for it. That "realistic possibility" thing is a big part of the sense of wonder and awe that I get from watching scifi. It's why a movie like Gravity ranks higher than usual in my list vs. others.

That said, there is still plenty of action and "soft" scifi to come. Some of these are just too good not to have them ranked high.
My tastes are similar. Really hoping you have some of my favorites in your top 10.
 

31. Spirited Away​

2001 - 2h 4 - PG
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Metascore: 96


During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.

Great animation, and a superb storyline that relates to kids and adults. I feel like anime can sometimes get lost in the translation for US audiences, but this one is as universal as it gets.

Trivia: This is the first film to earn US$200 million in grosses before opening in the U.S.
I've been wanting to watch this for a long time. Started it last week, made it about half the way through, and found it boring as hell. I don't get it. Maybe it would help if I were more Japanese.
 

19. The Wizard of Oz​

1939 - 1h 42 - G
Director: Victor Fleming, King Vidor
Metascore: 92


Young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.

A timeless classic. I can only imagine seeing this at the time when it first changes over to full color.

Trivia: The horses in the Emerald City were colored with gelatin powder. The relevant scenes had to be shot quickly before they started to lick it off.
this is my #1 favorite movie of all time. I have probably watched it over 100 times. I had visions of remaking this movie many years ago with more popular music stars. Scarecrow - Chris Robinson, Lion - James Hetfield, Tin Man - Undecided, Wizard - Ozzy, Wicked Witch - Marilyn Manson, and my new Dorothy would have been Linda Perry from 4 Non Blondes.
 

18. Blade Runner​

1982 - 1h 57 - R
Director: Ridley Scott
Metascore: 84


A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

A cult classic. The ultimate "What does it mean to be human" movie and setting. I feel like Batty may be one of the best written villains in movie history. This is another I did not watch until later in life. I suspect even at 18, some will think this is too low.

Trivia: The final scene was shot hours before the producers were due to take creative control away from Sir Ridley Scott.
Jebus. T2 and Blade Runner AND there is 17 more to come?
Blade Runner is my most watched movie of all time. I’ve watched all cuts. The US theatrical release was the worst by far.
It has overtaken Godfather Pt 1 as my fave movie of all time.
Let's not get crazy
 

31. Spirited Away​

2001 - 2h 4 - PG
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Metascore: 96


During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.

Great animation, and a superb storyline that relates to kids and adults. I feel like anime can sometimes get lost in the translation for US audiences, but this one is as universal as it gets.

Trivia: This is the first film to earn US$200 million in grosses before opening in the U.S.
I've been wanting to watch this for a long time. Started it last week, made it about half the way through, and found it boring as hell. I don't get it. Maybe it would help if I were more Japanese.
I liked the beginning and the ending. The second act was kind of monotonous.
 
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19. The Wizard of Oz​

1939 - 1h 42 - G
Director: Victor Fleming, King Vidor
Metascore: 92


Young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.

A timeless classic. I can only imagine seeing this at the time when it first changes over to full color.

Trivia: The horses in the Emerald City were colored with gelatin powder. The relevant scenes had to be shot quickly before they started to lick it off.
this is my #1 favorite movie of all time. I have probably watched it over 100 times. I had visions of remaking this movie many years ago with more popular music stars. Scarecrow - Chris Robinson, Lion - James Hetfield, Tin Man - Undecided, Wizard - Ozzy, Wicked Witch - Marilyn Manson, and my new Dorothy would have been Linda Perry from 4 Non Blondes.

I would watch the **** out of that kind of remake.
 

17. V for Vendetta​

2005 - 2h 12 - R
Director: James McTeigue
Metascore: 62


In a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical government - with the help of a young woman.

I rewatch more than anyone probably should and I bet I'll get some heat for ranking this so high, but I absolutely love this movie. I've never been a very political person but this movie got close to lighting that fire under my butt. Hugo Weaving is amazing especially when you consider he was in a mask the whole time. All in all , a great adaptation of a great graphic novel.

Trivia: The domino scene, where V tips over black and red dominoes to form a giant letter V, involved 22,000 dominoes. It took four professional domino assemblers 200 hours to set it up.
 

16. The Martian​

2015 - 2h 24 - PG-13
Director: Ridley Scott
Metascore: 80


An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.

A movie for lovers of hard, realistic scifi. The science is sound, it’s a unique setting and situation and the acting of the entire cast was on point. It's funny, realistic, and will keep you on the edge of your seat, even through the botany scenes.

Trivia: The mission to Mars in the film emulates actual missions that NASA is planning for the future.
 
Interesting - I was one and done with both V for V and The Martian. And I never got the appeal of The Wizard of Oz.

"Bro, do you even like movies?'
 

16. The Martian​

2015 - 2h 24 - PG-13
Director: Ridley Scott
Metascore: 80


An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.

A movie for lovers of hard, realistic scifi. The science is sound, it’s a unique setting and situation and the acting of the entire cast was on point. It's funny, realistic, and will keep you on the edge of your seat, even through the botany scenes.

Trivia: The mission to Mars in the film emulates actual missions that NASA is planning for the future.
IMO this is one of those good but not great scifi films. The climax is exciting but it takes a long time to get there. Some of the song choices, like Waterloo, don't really work either.
 
I have to assume Mary Poppins will be showing up in the Top 15. Is it Top 10? Was it overlooked? :popcorn:

I'm actually shocked that IMDB has this only rated 7.8/10.
 

16. The Martian​

2015 - 2h 24 - PG-13
Director: Ridley Scott
Metascore: 80


An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.

A movie for lovers of hard, realistic scifi. The science is sound, it’s a unique setting and situation and the acting of the entire cast was on point. It's funny, realistic, and will keep you on the edge of your seat, even through the botany scenes.

Trivia: The mission to Mars in the film emulates actual missions that NASA is planning for the future.
IMO this is one of those good but not great scifi films. The climax is exciting but it takes a long time to get there. Some of the song choices, like Waterloo, don't really work either.

I feel like it's a movie for space nerds. This movie kept me fascinated the entire time. :shrug:
 

15. Big Fish​

2003 - 2h 5 - PG-13
Director: Tim Burton
Metascore: 58


A frustrated son tries to determine the fact from fiction in his dying father's life.

I lost my father at a young age, so father/child movies like this always impact me a bit more than others. That said, I think this is Burton's best film. Just a perfectly written and executed story.

Trivia: Steven Spielberg was attached to this project and wanted Jack Nicholson to star, but dropped out due to his full schedule, soon after which Tim Burton signed on to direct.
 

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