It’s always enjoyable when asci-fimovie leans further into the fiction part of the genre, taking impossible and outlandish concepts and weaving them into the story. Though it’s easy to appreciate when a work of science fiction is dedicated to drawing its story from realistic and logical concepts of math and science, this doesn’t always equal entertainment value onscreen.These works take loosely scientific premises and blend them with unforgettable actionand intense emotional drama, making for engaging pieces of media anyone can enjoy.
Many of these aresci-fi movies that aren’t as bad as their reviews said, as several of them were critically panned for their over-the-top sensibilities. However, sometimes, a film that leans into the melodrama and explosive action of sci-fi is exactly what we’re looking for as audience members. Time has been kind to many of these titles, as they’ve been reevaluated and become cult classics as the years have progressed. As sci-fi keeps evolving, it will be interesting to see what new technological developments and discoveries are woven into fiction.
Any movie’s plot that revolves around having to get to the center of the Earth is automatically going to be rooted in unrealistic and inaccurate science.The Core, which stars Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank,follows a group of scientists and astronauts who attempt to restart the rotation of Earth’s core. However, the complex scientific explanations for how this happened and how the characters are going to fix this never quite make sense.
The Coreis adisaster movie that should get a sequel or reboot, as it’s been a long time since the film first premiered, and its success on streaming proves that there’s renewed interest in the story.It’s clear thatThe Coredrew inspiration from classic sci-fi stories like Jules Verne’sJourney To The Center of the Earth,adding to its cultural context and relevance. Though imperfect,The Coreis a great blockbuster to put on with friends and get swept away by.
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Roland Emmerich’sMoonfallis widely considered one of the most inaccurate sci-fi moviesreleased in recent years, unseating many iconic additions to the genre, likeArmageddon. Despite being critically panned, there’s a lot to love aboutMoonfall. Though the stakes are high and the drama is intense, the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously. Like all the best disaster films,Moonfallacknowledges that its premise is out there and quickly dives headfirst into the most outlandish plot twists possible.
Unfortunately,Moonfallwas also a failure at the box office, only making $67,319,703 worldwide against an estimated budget of $150 million (viaThe Numbers). However,this hasn’t stopped fans of the project from pushing for a sequeland for new audiences to discover and fall in love withMoonfallin the years since it premiered. Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson lead the cast ofMoonfall, and though they’re put in confusing situations, the skilled actors make it work.
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There are many reasons whyArmageddonis a sci-fi movie that’s far from rooted in reality, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a cult classic despite the lukewarm critical reception. It’s unlikely that a crew of oil drillers would be tapped to travel into space to stop an asteroid from colliding with Earth, butArmageddoninvites the viewer to suspend their disbelief early on in the story. With an ensemble cast that includes Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Ben Affleck,it’s easy to get swept away in the drama ofArmageddon.
Audiences enter into the film expecting to be entertained, not provided with accurate descriptions of the laws of physics.
Like most of Michael Bay’s filmography,Armageddondoesn’t prioritize science, instead focusing on thrilling set pieces and action-packed sequences throughout the story. As time has progressed,Armageddonhas become an iconic addition to the disaster genre. Audiences enter into the film expecting to be entertained, not provided with accurate descriptions of the laws of physics. Though there are moments whenArmageddonleans further into funny and campy territory than serious, this is what has allowed it to age well.
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Robert Pattinson is hilarious as the titular Mickey inMickey 17, Bong Joon Ho’s latest addition to the sci-fi genre. It’s safe to say thatit will be a long time before humanity has the technology to print a person out,as this might never happen. While we’re also a long way off from space travel of this magnitude and being able to easily communicate with aliens, this doesn’t hinderMickey 17from being hilarious and action-packed.
ThoughMickey 17is very different in tone from Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winningParasite,the movie is a more slapstick, over-the-top project that’s in conversation with the director’s earlier work.Even whenMickey 17is on the outlandish side, Pattinson’s work, as well as the supporting performances from Naomi Ackie and Mark Ruffalo, help rootMickey 17in an emotional reality, if not a physical one. As strange as some ofMickey 17is, going on the journey with Mickey is a ride that viewers will not soon forget.
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One of Steven Spielberg’s most popular and iconic blockbusters,Jurassic Parkdraws its story from the novel by renowned sci-fi writer Michael Crichton.Though it’s fun to imagine that there could be a world where the dinosaurs come back, the idea that they could be genetically recreated today and live on Earth despite the intense changes in the atmosphere and environment is not at all realistic. However,Jurassic Parknever pretends to be anything other than fun.
Jurassic Park’s story is a classic allegory about the dangers of humanity playing God and messing with powers they don’t understand.
Jurassic Park’s story is a classic allegory about the dangers of humanity playing God and messing with powers they don’t understand. There are many reasons whyJurassic Parkis such a beloved project, including the blend of computer-generated and physical visual effects and the moving emotional journey the characters go through. No matter how many times we revisitJurassic Park, the movie loses none of its entertainment value. There’s something universally engaging about humanity’s interest in the dinosaurs and the things that came before us.
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The misunderstood cult classicStarship Troopersis aunique war movie that separates itself from the genre. Combining sci-fi, action, satire, and political commentary,Starship Troopersis a dark comedy that uses its premise to discuss colonialism and the military-industrial complex. While these are heavier subjects,Starship Troopersdelivers its message in an entertaining package, poking fun at itself and including plenty of explosive momentsto contrast the sly criticism.
When it first premiered,Starship Trooperswas taken at face value and considered a celebration of the concepts that it was commenting on. However,time has been kind toStarship Troopers, and the project comes off as a sharp and enjoyable addition to the sci-fi genretoday. The hilarious ensemble cast delivers their performances sincerely, giving their all to the outlandish space travel, aliens, and violence that makeStarship Trooperspure fiction in concept but deeply critical in its story.
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Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law leadGattaca,a futuristic exploration of a world where eugenics has become commonplace and has started to rule our society. Though genetic testing and gene selection aren’t unimaginable in the modern day, the wayGattacarealizes them is what makes the story less than fully scientific. Hawke’s character, Vincent, wasn’t genetically engineered before birth, and he spends the story carefully collecting his DNA so he can pass as a “valid.”
Gattacadoesn’t show the most complex understanding of DNA and genetic screening because it uses these concepts to examine the idea of perfection in any form.
Gattacadoesn’t show the most complex understanding of DNA and genetic screening because it uses these concepts to examine the idea of perfection in any form. As the movie progresses, the tension stems from Vincent masquerading as a “valid” and the many instances when his true identity is nearly exposed. ThoughGattacauses science fiction elements, it’s just as much of a thriller and a character study of Vincent as he learns to accept himself.
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The 1980s cult classic sci-fi movieTronwas immediately hailed for its visual effectsand use of computer-generated imagery that was well ahead of its time. Though it’s unrealistic that people would ever be able to enter a computer program, this is the premise ofTron, and the way the filmmakers realized this onscreen is gorgeous to watch today. Like many sci-fi movies of the 1980s,Tronfeatures many ideas about where technology is heading that aren’t necessarily true, but they are imaginative and surprisingly predictive.
Thoughthe 2010 sequel,Tron: Legacy, didn’t revive the franchise the way Disney might have hoped,there’s still a lot of love for the originalTronwithin sci-fi circles.Tronblends emerging concerns and interest in a computerized world with the exciting action-adventure of ’80s blockbusters. Even the more dated elements and early attempts at utilizing CGI are compelling to watch because they’re a precursor to so much science fiction in contemporary films.
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Out of all of Terry Gilliam’s films,Brazilmight be the most out there. Part of Gilliam’sTrilogy of Imagination,Brazilis a bizarre take on the dystopian genrethat has drawn comparisons to the work of George Orwell. Jonathan Pryce leads the cast as Sam Lowry, who lives in this near future, weathering the authoritarian surveillance state and looking for a way out of his repetitive life and job. The offbeat and twisting narrative ofBrazilallows it to stand out and be memorable despite its outlandish premise.
Braziltakes many real concepts, like invasive plastic surgery, government work, and technological surveillance, and satirizes them.
Braziltakes many real concepts, like invasive plastic surgery, government work, and technological surveillance, and satirizes them. By taking all of these subjects and heightening them to the point of unreality,Brazilmakes a larger comment on the direction society is going. Of course,Brazilis elevated by Gilliam’s characteristic whimsy and humor, but it’s equally impressive that the 1985 project has held up so well, remaining relevant and interrogative in the modern context.
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Alicia Vikander gives a landmark performance as Ava,the artificial intelligence who gains consciousness and executes a complex escape plan inEx Machina. Tense and atmospheric,Ex Machinaexplores a terrifying yet unmissable exploration into the future of AI and how to determine true humanity and consciousness. Though Ava manipulates those around her, the audience can’t help feeling empathy towards her and her desire to see the outside world instead of being trapped inside her creator’s home.
ThoughEx Machinais amovie to avoid if you’re nervous about AI, it’s wildly entertaining from beginning to end. When it comes to the hard science ofEx Machina, the film isn’t concerned with a truthful depiction of how AI is trained and learns from humans. However, the interactions between Ava and the two human men, Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac, capture the audience’s attention from the start.Ex Machinais a great example of asci-fimovie that uses its otherworldly premise to grapple with contemporary issues.
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