Lookingupatthenightsky,it'seasytounderstandtheappealofsciencefiction.Itcanbeadifficultgenretodefine,butatitscore,eachworkofsciencefictiondealswithagreatunknown.Saidunknowncanprobethemysteryofwhatresidesalongsideusintheuniverse,oritcanposethequestionofwhatwe,ashumans,arecapableofwithtechnology.Itisalsooneofthebestescapes,distractions,orparallelsgivenviewers'situationsandperspectives.
-Director:JohnS.Robertson-StackerScore:81-Runtime:49min
Adoctordrovetoprovethatevilandgoodexistineveryoneaccidentallyunleasheshisevilalter-ego:Mr.Hyde.StarringJohnBarrymoreasbothtitularcharacters,"Dr.JekyllandMr.Hyde"isthefirstofmanyfilmsinspiredbyRobertLouisStevenson'snovel.
-Director:AndréDeed-StackerScore:61-Runtime:80min
-Director:AlbertCapellaniandRobertG.Vignola-StackerScore:61-Runtime:90min
StarringMarionDavisinthetitularroleanddirectedbyAlbertCapellaniandRobertG.Vignola,"TheYoungDiana"isaboutayoungwomanwhosefatherpusheshertomarryintoBritishnobility,despiteherfeelingsforasailor.Throughoutthestory,Dianaisalsopursuedbyascientistconsumedwithsearchingfortheelixiroflife.
-Director:AlbertCapellani-StackerScore:64-Runtime:80min
"BlackOxen"isnotconsideredasciencefictionfilminthestrictestsense,butattheheartofitsromanticconflictliesatwistfuturisticenoughtomakeitthebestsci-fifilmof1923.Aphilanderer(ConwayTeele)fallsinlovewithabeautifulEuropeancountess(CorinneGriffith),beforerealizingthathertimelesslooksmaybeacluetoamuchlargersecret.
-Director:JohnG.Blystone-StackerScore:60-Runtime:70min
Asmanyoftheearliestsciencefictionfilmsdid,"TheLastManonEarth"founditsinspirationfromMaryShelley'snovel,"TheLastMan."Tappingintoatimelessfear,"TheLastManonEarth"isaboutaplaguethatwipedouteveryfertilemanonEarthovertheageof14—untilanaviator(GraceCunard)findsareclusivemaninthewoods(EarleFoxe).ThefilmspiralsintoacomedyaswomeneverywherebegintofightoverFoxe.
-Director:HannsWalterKornblum-StackerScore:68-Runtime:92min
Anexperimentalpiece,"OurHeavenlyBodies"isaGerman,patchworksciencefictionfilmthatattemptstheimpossible:toexplainhumanknowledgeoftheworldandtheuniverseinjust92minutes.Thefilmcombinesdocumentaryclips,historicaldocuments,andunderlyingfictionalelementstoultimatelyproduceapieceunlikeanyprecedingitsrelease.
-Directors:BorisBarnet,FyodorOtsep-StackerScore:70-Runtime:250min
ThisSovietspyfilmwasreleasednearlyadecadeafterWWIandtheBolshevikRevolution,servingasacompellingpieceofpoliticalpropaganda.Themovie,alsoknownas"MissMend,"focusesonatrioofreporterstryingtodefeatanevilWesternenemyintentonlaunchinganattackontheUSSR.
-Director:FritzLang-StackerScore:91-Runtime:153min
-Director:HenrikGaleen-StackerScore:62-Runtime:108minutes
"Alraune"exploresagermanprofessor(PaulWegener)asheseekstovalidateoldGermanfolklorethatarootburiedintheEarthissaidtoabsorbmen'spowerastheydie,andisusedinlovepotions.Heattemptstoimpregnateaprostituteinastrange,twistedexperiment.
-Director:MauriceElvey-StackerScore:62-Runtime:95min
Arguablyinspiredbythenotable"Metropolis,""HighTreason"looksatconflictonthescaleofaWorldWar:The"UnitedStatesofEurope"(Europe,India,theMiddleEast,Canada,Africa,andAustralasia)comeintoconflictwiththe"EmpireoftheAtlanticStates"(theUnitedStatesandSouthAmerica).Dr.Seymour(playedbyHumberstonWright)desperatelyattemptstoeasetensionsbetweenthetwosupernationsalongsidehisdaughter,Evelyn(BenitaHume).
-Director:RichardOswald-StackerScore:63-Runtime:103min
AnotherGermansciencefictionfeat,"Alraune"(aremakeofthe1928versionbythesamename)isbasedonthesameold,Germanmyth.ArootburiedintheEarthissaidtoabsorbmen'spowerastheydie,andisusedinlovepotions;in"Alraune,"ascientist(AlbertBassermann)artificiallyinseminatesaprostitutewhothenconceivesabeautifulgirl(BrigitteHelm)incapableoflove.
-Director:JamesWhale-StackerScore:89.5-Runtime:70min
ThefirstofmanyfilmadaptationsofMaryShelley'snovel,"Frankenstein"isparthorror,partcautionarytaleofwhathappenswhenmantriestoplayGod.Ascientist(ColinClive)isconsumedbythedesiretocreatehumanlife;withhisassistant,Fritz(DwightFrye),hedigsupabodyandattemptstobringittolife.TheresultAmaybemurderousbutcertainlymonstrous,andultimatelymisunderstood,beast.
-Director:ErleC.Kenton-StackerScore:85.5-Runtime:70min
-Director:JamesWhale-StackerScore:88.5-Runtime:71min
BasedontheH.G.Wellsnovelofthesamename,"TheInvisibleMan"isaboutchemistDr.JackGriffin(ClaudeRains),whodiscoversthesecretofinvisibilitythroughexperimentationwithadangerousdrug.Struckbypower,orperhapsjustdrivenmadbythedrug,Griffinbeginscommittingaseriesofmurders,intentondestroyingtheworld.
-Director:KarlHartl-StackerScore:69-Runtime:120min
Asmanyearlysciencefictionfilmsgo,"Gold"focusesonascientist'smisguidedquest.WernerHolk,playedbyHansAlbers,discovershowtoturnleadintogold—andfacestheconsequencesasevilpowersfighttounlockhissecret.
-Director:JamesWhale-StackerScore:89.5-Runtime:75min
Thefirstofmanysequelsto"Frankenstein,""TheBrideofFrankenstein"isactuallyconsideredaworthycounterparttoitspredecessor:Bothscoreawhopping100%onRottenTomatoes.Thefilmpicksupwhere"Frankenstein"ends,withDr.Frankenstein(reprisedbyColinClive)beinggoadedintocreatingamateforhisoriginalmonster—thusisborntheBrideofFrankenstein(ElsaLanchester).
-Director:WilliamCameronMenzie-StackerScore:79.5-Runtime:100min
-Director:HugoHaas-StackerScore:75-Runtime:78min
ACzechoslovaksciencefictiondrama,"SkeletononHorseback"depictsadeadlyplaguebreakingoutinthemidstofawar.Dr.Galen,playedbyHugoHaas,attemptstofindacure—andsomepeaceforhissufferingnation.
-Directors:FordBeebe,RobertF.Hill,FrederickStephani-StackerScore:74-Runtime:299min
"FlashGordon'sTriptoMars"isactuallyaserialfilm,with15chapterstoenjoy.TheywerescreenedweeklyinU.S.theatersuntiltheseriesconcluded.Inspiredbyacomicstrip,theplotfollowsFlashGordon(playedbyBusterCrabbe)onhisadventurestotrytosaveEarthfromamysterious,destructivelightbeam.
-Director:RowlandV.Lee-StackerScore:81.5-Runtime:99min
Anothersequelto"Frankenstein,""SonofFrankenstein"featuresBaronWolfvonFrankenstein(BasilRathbone),thesonofDr.Frankenstein,whotravelstohisfamilycastletoredeemhisfather'smistakes.HisfirststepDigginguptheMonster."SonofFrankenstein"isonlythethirdinstallmentinthe"Frankenstein"filmseries,butitisthelasttofeatureBorisKarloffasthemonster.
-Director:FordBeebe,RayTaylor-StackerScore:79.5-Runtime:220min
Thethirdofthe"FlashGordon"serialfilms,"FlashGordonConquerstheUniverse"bringsextraterrestrialproblemsalittleclosertohome:Aplague,knownasPurpleDeath,ravagestheEarth.Flash(playedagainbyBusterCrabbe)takestothestarstofindacureandfigureoutwheretheplagueiscomingfrom.
-Director:EduardPentslin-StackerScore:72-Runtime:75min
"TainstvennyyOstrov"(alsoknownas"MysteriousIsland")isaUSSR-producedfilmsetintheAmericanCivilWar.Fiveprisonersofwarescapeviahotairballoonandcrash-landonanislandintheSouthPacific,whereinexplicablethingsbegintohappen.
-Director:ErleC.Kenton-StackerScore:68-Runtime:67min
-Director:WilliamWitney,JohnEnglish-StackerScore:68-Runtime:69min
Originallyreleasedin1938,theserialfilm"TheFightingDevilDogs"cameoutin1943asafeatureversion.Althoughnotconsideredtobethegreatestserialfilmevermade,"TheFightingDevilDogs"isfamousforitscostumedsupervillain,TheLightning(HughSothern).LieutenantsTomGrayson(LeePowell)andFrankCorby(HermanBrix)spendthemoviefightingthevillainous,maskedman,whoselightning-basedarsenalmakeshimaworthyopponent.
-Director:ElmerClifton,JohnEnglish-StackerScore:60-Runtime:244min
The"CaptainAmerica"serialfilmbroughtoneextremelysignificantthingtocinema:Marvelsuperheroes,whowouldn'tbeseenagainintheatersforanotherfourdecades."CaptainAmerica"followsDistrictAttorneyGrantGardner(playedbyDickPurcell,whodiedfromcongestiveheartfailureshortlyafterthefilm'scompletion)ashetriestothwarttheinsidiousplottingofTheScarab(LionelAtwill).Fans,bewarned—"CaptainAmerica"differsfromtheoriginalcomicbookstripinanumberofways.
-Directors:SpencerGordonBennet,YakimaCanutt,WallaceGrissell-StackerScore:72-Runtime:219min
AnotherserialproducedbyRepublic(whoalsodid"CaptainAmerica"and"TheFightingDevilDogs"),the"ManhuntofMysteryIsland"centersaroundClaireForrest(LindaStarling)inherquesttofindandrescueherfather(ForrestTaylor),trappedonamysteriousisland,alongsideprivatedetectiveLanceReardon(RichardBailey).
-Directors:Robert-PaulDagan,MauriceCammage-StackerScore:49-Runtime:105min
AFrenchsciencefictionfilm,"L'Ennemisansvisage"("EyeswithoutaFace")starsLouiseCarletti,FrankVillard,andRogerKarl.Thefilmfollowsascientistdeterminedtobuildanandroidwhoseintelligencecouldsurpassthatofhumans.
-Directors:SpencerGordonBennet,ThomasCarr-StackerScore:61-Runtime:257min
Aclassictaleoftherighttechnologygettingintothewronghands,"BrickBradford"isaserialaboutascientist(JohnMerton)whoseinvention,madetointerceptanddestroyincomingrockets,isthoughtbysometobemoreusefulasadeathray.Thetitularcharacter,playedbyKaneRichmond,workswithsidekickSandySanderson(RickVallin)tostoptheweaponfrombeingmisused.
-Directors:SpencerGordonBennet,ThomasCarr-StackerScore:72-Runtime:244min
It'sabird!It'saplane!It's...thefirstlive-actionappearanceofSuperman!A15-chapterserialfilm,"Superman"isthewell-knownstoryofababysentfromhisplanetKryptontoEarthminutesbeforeKryptonisdestroyed.Itisn'tlongbeforethechild'sadoptiveparentsrealizehehasgreatpowers—andonekeyweakness.Inthisserial,KirkAlynstarsasSuperman,andNoelNeillashisloveinterest,LoisLane.
-Director:LloydBacon-StackerScore:85-Runtime:87min
Ifyoudon'tfeellikewatchingasciencefictionmoviethattakesplaceinspace,"ItHappensEverySpring"istheoneforyou.Acollegeprofessor(RayMilland)accidentallycreatesaformulathatmakesabaseballrepellenttowood,andtheanticscommence.
-Director:SpencerGordonBennet-StackerScore:71-Runtime:252min
KirkAlynrepriseshisroleasSupermanin"AtomManvs.Superman,"joinedbyLyleTalbotwhoplaysLexLuthor.Luthortriestodestroythecity,creatingintricateplansthatSupermanhastofoil.
-Director:AlexanderMackendrick-StackerScore:87-Runtime:85min
Perhapstheonlysatiricalsciencefictionmovietomakethislist,"TheManintheWhiteSuit"starsAlecGuinnessasyoungchemistSidneyStratton,whocreatesafabricthatrepelsdirtandcan'tbeworndown.AbattleensuesbetweenStrattonandthecorporationstryingtoshutdownhisresearch.
-Director:GilbertoMartínezSolares-StackerScore:71-Runtime:75min
AMexicancomedyfilmdirectedbyGilbertoMartínezSolares,"TheBeautifulDreamer"("Elbellodurmiente")isaboutacaveman(GermánValdés)whohassomehowmanagedtosleepforathousandyears.
-Director:EugèneLourié-StackerScore:80.5-Runtime:80min
"TheBeastfrom20,000Fathoms"isaboutadinosaurunexpectedlyreleasedfromitsstateofhibernationwhenanatomicbombtestisconductedintheArcticCircle.PaulChristianstarsasProfessorTomNesbitt,aphysicistwhoseesthedinosaurawakenandspendstherestofthemovietryingtostopitspathofdestruction.Thefilmwasahit,grossing$2.5millionattheboxoffice.
-Director:GordonDouglas-StackerScore:86.5-Runtime:94min
HateantsTryantsthesizeofcars."Them!"isaboutgiantantsinNewMexicothatrevealthemselveswhenafewleavetocolonizenewnests,stompingtheirwayacrossthestateandintoneighboringareas.ThemoviestarsJamesWhitmoreandEdmundGwenn.
-Director:ValGuest-StackerScore:80-Runtime:78min
Ifyousendamanintospaceinasciencefictionhorrorfilm,chancesarehe'llcomebackinfectedwithanalienparasite."TheQuatermassXperiment"isaboutafailedrocketexperiment,whereonlyoneofthreeastronautssentintospacereturnstoEarth—butwithsomethingterribly,terriblywrong.RichardWordsworthstarsasthehomecomer,andBrianDonlevyasthedoctorwhotriestotreathim.
-Director:DonSiegel-StackerScore:88-Runtime:80min
BasedonJackFinney'snovel"TheBodySnatchers,""InvasionoftheBodySnatchers"makessci-ficreepywithitsmostbasicpremise:alienlifethatlooksjustlikeus.PodsaredroppedaroundtheEarth,capableofmakingthealiensinsideevolvetolookandactjustlikethehumanssleepingclosesttothepod.KevinMcCarthystarsasthelocaldoctorwhoattemptstostoptheinvasion.
-Director:JackArnold-StackerScore:84-Runtime:81min
ThewinnerofthefirstHugoAwardforBestDramaticPresentation,"TheIncredibleShrinkingMan"starsGrantWilliamsasScottCarey,abusinessmanwhobeginsinexplicablyshrinkingafteravacationoffthecoastofCalifornia.
-Director:KurtNeumann-StackerScore:83-Runtime:94min
Theonlyinspirationyou'lleverneedforputtingscreensoveryourwindowscanbefoundinthismovie."TheFly"tellsthestoryofascientistwhoisinthemiddleofworkingonamoleculartransporterwhen,unbeknownsttohim,aflywandersin.DavidHedisonstarsastheunfortunatehalf-man,half-flyresult.
-Director:StanleyKramer-StackerScore:74-Runtime:134min
DirectedbyStanleyKramer,"OntheBeach"isapost-apocalypticfilmthattakesplaceafterWorldWarIII,intheaftermathofnuclearwar.Withimpendingradioactivethreats,thelastpocketsofhumanitystruggletofigureoutapathforsurvival.ThefilmstarsGregoryPeck,AvaGardner,andFredAstaire.
-Director:WolfRilla-StackerScore:84.5-Runtime:77min
"VillageoftheDamned"isaBritishscience-fictionhorrorfilmthatopenswiththeresidentsofavillagecalledMidwichsuddenlyfallingunconscious.Theyregainconsciousnessjusthourslater,buttwomonthslater,allwomenofchildbearingagesuddenlydiscoverthey'repregnant.Therestofthefilmunfoldsasthechildrenareborn,andgrowtorevealunnaturalpowers.
-Director:ValGuest-StackerScore:79-Runtime:99min
AnotherBritishcontribution,"TheDaytheEarthCaughtFire"isabouttheorbitoftheEarthbeingdramaticallyaffectedbytheUnitedStatesandRussiaconductingnuclearbombtestsatthesametime.PeterStenning(EdwardJudd)andhisgirlfriendJeannieCraig(JanetMunro)worktodiscoverexactlywhatthetestsdid,andifit'stoolatetoreversetheconsequences.
-Directors:VladimirChebotaryov,GennadiKazansky-StackerScore:72-Runtime:96min
BeforeDisneymade"TheLittleMermaid,"theSovietUnionmade"AmphibianMan."Afisherman'sdaughterfallsinlovewithamanwhohasgills,andtogethertheyfighttoprotecttheirrelationship.
-Director:JerryLewis-StackerScore:77.5-Runtime:107min
Aparodyof"Dr.JekyllandMr.Hyde,""TheNuttyProfessor"isaboutascientist(JerryLewis)whohopestoshrugoffhissociallyawkwardwaysbydrinkingaconcoctionthatbringsouthischarming,womanizingalter-ego.
-Director:ByronHaskin-StackerScore:80-Runtime:110min
StrandedonMars,Kit(PaulMantee)mustfindwater,food...andawaytohelptheescapedalienslave(VictorLundin)herunsinto.Althoughnotaboxofficesuccess,"RobinsonCrusoeonMars"hasa94%ratingonRottenTomatoes.
-Director:Jean-LucGodard-StackerScore:81-Runtime:99min
Combiningelementsofbothsciencefictionandfilmnoir,"Alphaville"takesplaceinthefutureunderaruthlessdictatorshipthatforbidslove,poetry,oranysortofoutwarddisplayofemotion.EddieConstantinestarsasasecretagentfromoutsidethecitylookingtodestroythecomputersysteminchargeofAlphaville.
-Director:HiroshiTeshigahara-StackerScore:90-Runtime:124min
Whenhisfaceisdamagedinawork-relatedaccident,Okuyama(TatsuyaNakadai)isgivenamasktocoveruphisdisfigurement.Slowly,themaskbeginstotakeoverhispersonality,changingthewayheactsandviewstheworld.
-Director:MichaelReeves-StackerScore:82-Runtime:86min
Whateveryoudo,don'tlookthemintheeyes."TheSorcerers"isaboutanelderlycouple(BorisKarloff,CatherineLacey)whosepenchantforhypnosisleadsthemtodevelopamind-controllingmachinetheytestoutonyoungMikeRoscoe(IanOgilvy).
-Director:StanleyKubrick-StackerScore:88.5-Runtime:149min
StanleyKubrick's"2001:ASpaceOdyssey"isregardedasoneofthemostinfluentialfilmsevermade.ThemoviefollowsavoyagetoJupiterwithacrewcomposedofscientists,pilots,andasentientcomputer,HAL(DouglasRain).Ifyouhaven'talreadyseenthisfilm,besuretowatchitwithsomeonewho'swillingtoexplorequestionsofexistentialismandotherphilosophicalquandaries.
-Director:JohnSturges-StackerScore:79-Runtime:134min
ReleasedfourmonthsaftertheApollo11landing,"Marooned"isaboutthreeastronauts(RichardCrenna,GeneHackman,andJamesFranciscus)whoareontheirwaybacktoEarthwhenanenginefails,leavingtheminorbit.Afranticrescuemissionislaunchedasthecrew'soxygenbeginstorunout.
-Director:JosephSargent-StackerScore:80-Runtime:100min
Ifnukescouldtalk,they'dprobablybejustasterrifyingasweimagine.In"Colossus:TheForbinProject,"America'sadvanceddefensesystembeginstodevelopamindofitsownafterbeingallowedtocommunicatewiththeSoviets'intelligentcounterpart.EricBraedenstarsasthedesignerofthecomputer,forcedtodealwiththeimpossibleconsequencesofamachinededicatedtopreventingwar.
-Director:StanleyKubrick-StackerScore:87-Runtime:136min
BasedonAnthonyBurgess'novel,"AClockworkOrange"wasdirectedandproducedbyStanleyKubrick,andisoneofhisbest-knownworks.MalcolmMcDowellplaysAlex,athuggish,insidiousdelinquentwholeadsasmallgangofequallyunsavorycharacters.Heisimprisonedandgivenpsychologicalconditioningthatdramaticallyaffectshisabilitytoreacttoviolence.
-Director:AndreiTarkovsky-StackerScore:88.5-Runtime:167min
WhenamissionaboardaspacestationthatorbitsfictionalplanetSolarisisstalledbecausethecrewmembersindependentlysuffermentalbreaks,psychologistKrisKelvin(DonatasBanionis)issenttofigureoutwhatisplaguingeachofthem.
-Director:WoodyAllen-StackerScore:86.5-Runtime:89min
WoodyAllendirectsthissciencefictioncomedy,whichbeginswiththeownerofafoodstore,MilesMonroe(playedbyAllen),beingbroughtoutofcryostasisafter200years.Instarkcontrasttothe1970s,the22ndcenturyshowsAmericabeingoperatedassomesortofpolicestate,andMonroejoinsarebelliontotryandfighttherestrictedwayoflife.Thefilmcurrentlyholds100%onRottenTomatoes.
-Director:JohnCarpenter-StackerScore:72-Runtime:83min
Anothercomedy,JohnCarpenter's"DarkStar"garneredadevotedcultfollowingthathelpeditachievesomesuccessfollowingatepidrelease.Themovieisaboutacrewwhose20-yearmissiontodestroyunstableplanetsstartstogoterriblywrong.
-Director:DavidCronenberg-StackerScore:76.5-Runtime:87min
Originallytitled"OrgyoftheBloodParasites,""Shivers"isaboutahigh-risebuildingwhoseresidentsaresuddenlyinfectedbyastrainofparasitesthatturntheirhostsintosex-crazedfiends.
-Director:NicolasRoeg-StackerScore:74.5-Runtime:139min
DavidBowie'sfirststarringfilmrolecamein1976whenheplayedThomasJeromeNewton—analienwhocrash-landsonEarthandbeginstryingtofindawaytotransportwatertohishomeplanet.
-Director:StevenSpielberg-StackerScore:86.5-Runtime:137min
-Director:DonSiegel-StackerScore:84-Runtime:115min
Aremakeofthe1956movieofthesamename,"InvasionoftheBodySnatchers"isconsideredanextremelysuccessfulremake—madeevidentbyits93%ratingonRottenTomatoes.ThestarringcastincludesDonaldSutherland,BrookeAdams,LeonardNimoy,andJeffGoldblum,andthemovietakesplaceinSanFrancisco(whereit'salltooeasytobelievethereareemotionlesscloneswanderingaroundthecity).
-Director:RidleyScott-StackerScore:91-Runtime:117min
Thefirstofalarge,prolificfranchise,RidleyScott's"Alien"followsaspacecrewhauntedbyapredatoryextraterrestrialbeing."Alien"wonanOscarforitsvisualeffects,andwasnominatedformanymoreawards.SigourneyWeaverfoundherfirstleadingroleinthefilm,joinedonscreenbyTomSkerritt,VeronicaCartwright,andHarryDeanStantontonameafew.
-Director:KenRussell-StackerScore:77.5-Runtime:102min
Theroadtoconsciousnessisdarkandlong.In"AlteredStates,"aresearchscientist(WilliamHurt)decidestocombinesensorydeprivationwithhallucinogenicdrugs.Ashegetsdeeperanddeeperintohisresearch,bothhismindandbodybeginlosingtouchwithreality.
-Director:GeorgeMiller-StackerScore:87-Runtime:94min
-Director:StevenSpielberg-StackerScore:88.5-Runtime:115min
It'safact:E.T.iseveryone'sfavoritealien,andpossiblyeveryone'sfavoritefilm.Itwasthehighest-grossingfilmofthe1980s,weighinginatalmost$400millionintotalgross(over$1billionbytoday'svalues).Ifyouhaven'theardof"E.T.,"itisastoryaboutatimelessfriendship.Alonely10yearold(playedbyHenryThomas)findsandbefriendsanalienstrandedonEarth,andsubsequentlytriestogetthecreaturebacktoitshomeplanet.
-Director:NicholasMeyer-StackerScore:85.5-Runtime:127min
AtelevisionfilmthatairedonABCoriginally,"TheDayAfter"focusesonfamilieslocatednearmissilesilosastensionsbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnionrisearoundthem,escalatingintoanuclearexchange.Over100millionpeopletunedintowatch"TheDayAfter"duringitsinitialbroadcast.
-Director:JamesCameron-StackerScore:90-Runtime:107min
It'simportanttorememberthatbeforeArnoldSchwarzenegger'sstintasthegovernorofCalifornia,hewasarobotsentfromthefuturetodestroyhumanity."TheTerminator"enjoyedmassivesuccessandhelpedlaunchthecareerofdirectorJamesCameron.
-Director:RobertZemeckis-StackerScore:90.5-Runtime:116min
Anothertime-travelingfilm,"BacktotheFuture"featuresMichaelJ.FoxasMartyMcFly,ayoungmanwhoaccidentallytravelsbackintimetowhenhisparentswereinhighschool.ChristopherLloydplaystheoutlandishscientistwhotriestohelpMartygetbacktothefutureandpreventtoomuchinterference.
-Director:JamesCameron-StackerScore:91-Runtime:137min
Sequelto"Alien,""Aliens"beginsasEllenRipley(SigourneyWeaver)wakesupfrom57yearsofhypersleep.Sheleadsateambacktowherehercrewencounteredthealien,inthehopesthattheycandestroyitforgood."Aliens"waslaudedbycriticsandaudiencesalike,andwasabox-officehit.
-Director:PaulVerhoeven-StackerScore:81.5-Runtime:102min
Thebasicpremiseof"RoboCop"isonethatmaybefast-approachinginthemodernday:cyborglawenforcement.Inthefilm,adetective(PeterWeller)murderedbyaganginDetroitisrevivedandturnedintoarobotcoptotacklecrimeinthecity.
-Director:JohnCarpenter-StackerScore:78-Runtime:94min
Inperhapsthemostterrifyingconceptyet,"TheyLive"centersaroundaman(playedbyRoddyPiper)whoonedayfindsoutthattherulingclassisactuallyalienspropagatingtheirownagenda.CriticshavelaudeditasaB-moveclassic.
-Director:JamesCameron-StackerScore:82.5-Runtime:145min
-Director:PaulVerhoeven-StackerScore:78.5-Runtime:113min
In"TotalRecall,"DouglasQuaid(ArnoldSchwarzenegger)beginshavingstrangedreamsaboutMarsandawomanwholivesthere.Aftercertaineventsunfold,Quaidbeginstorealizethatthesevisionsmaybemorethanjustdreams.Extremelypleasingvisually,themovieisneverthelessconsideredbysometobeoverlyviolent.
-Director:JamesCameron-StackerScore:89-Runtime:137min
Schwarzeneggerreturnsinthesequelto"TheTerminator"asagoodrobot,sentbacktoprotectJohnConnor(EdwardFurlong)andhismother,SarahConnor(LindaHamilton).Themoviewasmetwithconsiderablesuccess,asmanyfeltthefirstfilmleftplentyofroomforafollow-upstory.
-Director:KazuhitoKikuchi-StackerScore:73-Runtime:46min
"DragonBallZ"isaJapaneseanimeTVshowthatfollowstheadventuresofGoku,anextraterrestrialbeingwhouseshissuperhumanstrengthtodefendtheEarthagainstanarrayofvillains.In"DragonBallZ:SuperAndroid13,"Goku(MasakoNozawa)mustdefendhimselffrommurderousandroids.
-Director:StevenSpielberg-StackerScore:86.5-Runtime:127min
Buildingathemeparkandfillingitwithdinosaursis,intheory,agoodidea...untileverythinggoesdisastrouslywrong.SamNeill,LauraDernandJeffGoldblumstarinthissciencefictionthriller,whichreceivedthreeAcademyAwardsforitstechnicalachievements.
-Director:RobertIscove-StackerScore:70-Runtime:100min
ATVmoviethatoriginallyairedonCBS,"WithoutWarning"showsanchorSanderVanocurandreporterBreeWalkercoveringabreakingnewsstoryaboutmeteoritefragmentscrashingintotheEarth'shemisphere.Duringcommercialbreaks,CBSmadesuretoinformwatchersthatthefilmwasentirelyfictional.
-Director:RichardLoncraine-StackerScore:84.5-Runtime:110min
BasedontheShakespeareantragedy,thedystopianundertonespresentin"RichardIII"breathenew,eerielifeintothe16th-centuryplay.IanMcKellenstarsasRichard,apower-hungryDukeintentonusurpingKingEdwardIV(JohnWood).Thefilmholdsa94%scoreonRottenTomatoesandwaspraisedforitsvisuallystrikingshots.
-Director:JimMallon-StackerScore:77-Runtime:73min
-Director:JohnWoo-StackerScore:82.5-Runtime:138min
-Director:PeterWeir-StackerScore:87.5-Runtime:103min
JimCarreystarsinthisfilmaboutamanwhoonedayrealizesthathisentirelifeisaTVshow."TheTrumanShow"wasthehighest-grossingfilmatthetimeofitsrelease,andthefilmisconsideredtobeoneofCarrey'sfinest,mostenjoyableperformances.
-Directors:LanaWachowski,LillyWachowski-StackerScore:87-Runtime:136min
Speakingofsimulatedrealities,"TheMatrix"isaboutacomputerprogrammer(KeanuReeves)whofiguresoutthateveryoneislivinginsideofasimulation.Hejoinsarebelliontotryandfightthesentientmachinesharvestinghumanenergy.Aswellasbeingaboxofficesuccess,"TheMatrix"receivedmultipleawards,includingfourAcademyAwardsforitstechnicalachievements.
-Director:KinjiFukasaku-StackerScore:82-Runtime:114min
Before"TheHungerGames,"therewas"BattleRoyale."Adisturbingplot,thefilmfeaturesadystopianworldinwhichtheJapanesegovernmentforcesjuniorhighstudentstofighttothedeath.Theviolencefeaturedinthefilmwassuchthatseveralcountriesbanneditsoriginalrelease,butitgainedwidespreadcriticalacclaimregardless.
-Director:RichardKelly-StackerScore:83.5-Runtime:113min
JakeGyllenhaalplaysayoungman,Donnie,whoistormentedbyvisionsofagiantbunnythattellshimtheworldisgoingtoendin28days.ThemoviealsostarsJenaMaloneandKatharineRoss,andpremieredattheSundanceFilmFestivalbeforebeingreleasedtolukewarmboxofficesuccess.
-Director:StevenSpielberg-StackerScore:84-Runtime:145min
InStevenSpielberg's"MinorityReport,"anofficerfromafuturisticpoliceunitthatemploysthreepsychicsisaccusedofamurderbeforeithappens.Ontherunforhislife,JohnAnderton(TomCruise)forcestheaudiencetoconsiderwhetherfreewillcanexistwhenthefutureisdefinedinadvance.Thefilmreceivedpositivereviews,andispraisedforthecontinueddiscussionandanalysisitpromptsinviewers.
-Directors:LanaWachowski,LillyWachowski-StackerScore:72.5-Runtime:138min
ThesecondfilmintheMatrixinstallment,"TheMatrixReloaded"returnstorebelsNeo(KeanuReeves),Trinity(Carrie-AnneMoss)andMorpheus(LaurenceFishburne)intheircontinuedbattleagainsttheevilsentientmachinesthathavetakenovertheworld.Althoughnotnearlyasappreciatedasthefirstmovie,"TheMatrixReloaded"isconsideredafunfollow-upfilm.
-Director:MichelGondry-StackerScore:88-Runtime:108min
JoelBarish(JimCarrey)andClementineKruczynski(KateWinslet)feelimmediatelydrawntoeachotherwhentheymeetonatrain.Itlateremergesthatthetwoactuallydatedbefore,butchosetowipetheirmemoriesoncetherelationshipended.ThefilmwontheAcademyAwardforBestOriginalScreenplay.
-Director:StevenKnight-StackerScore:81-Runtime:119min
In2002,FoxputoutaTVshowcalled"Firefly"thatwasabruptlycanceledafteroneseason:Cuethecultfollowing."Serenity"isthefilmadaptation,starringthesamecastandfollowingthecrewofaspaceshipknownasSerenity.Whenapsychicmessenger(SummerGlau)joinstheship,shebringsdangeralong.
-Director:AlfonsoCuarón-StackerScore:85.5-Runtime:109min
Whenwomenbecomeinfertile,societyfallsapart.ThelastfunctioninggovernmentisintheUnitedKingdom,andrefugeesflooditsbordersseekingsanctuary.WhenTheoFaron(CliveOwen)istaskedwithtakingapregnantwoman(Clare-HopeAshitey)tosafety,itbecomesanincreasinglydangerousjourney.
-Director:RichardSchenkman-StackerScore:80-Runtime:87min
"TheManfromEarth"didn'tgetatraditionalstart:WriterJeromeBixbycompletedthescreenplayonhisdeathbedin1997,butitwasn'ttouchedforyears.IteventuallypremieredattheSanDiegoComic-Con,andisinpartfamousforbeingwidelydistributedacrosstheinternet.Inthefilm,DavidLeeSmithplaysanintellectualprofessorwho,athisfarewellparty,tellshispeersthathe'sa14,000-year-oldcaveman.
-Director:JonFavreau-StackerScore:86.5-Runtime:126min
RobertDowneyJr.playsaphilandering,billionairesuperheroin"IronMan,"aMarvelfilm.TonyStark(Downey)buildsthefamousironsuitasahostageinAfghanistan,andthenimprovesuponitwhenheultimatelyescapesimprisonment.Thefilmwassuccessful,grossingover$500milliondollars.
-Director:J.J.Abrams-StackerScore:87-Runtime:127min
J.J.Abramsdirects"StarTrek,"the11thinstallmentinthefranchise.Itrebootstheoldcharacters,bringingSpock(ZacharyQuinto)andJamesT.Kirk(ChrisPine)backtothescreen.Inthisfilm,KirknavigatesthroughtrainingbeforewindingupontheUSSEnterprisewherehehelpsfightNero(EricBana),aRomulanfromthefuture."StarTrek"wontheAcademyAwardforBestMakeup,makingitthefirst"StarTrek"filmtowinanOscar.
-Director:ChristopherNolan-StackerScore:87-Runtime:148min
ChristopherNolanplayswithdreamsandtimein"Inception."LeonardoDiCapriostarsasaprofessionalthiefwhoaccessesinformationbytravelingthroughlevelsofthesubconscious."Inception"grossedover$800millionworldwide,anditsweptthetechnicalAcademyAwards.
-Director:DuncanJones-StackerScore:83-Runtime:93min
JakeGyllenhaalplaysasoldierwhowakesupinsomeoneelse'sbody.Hesoonrealizesthathe'spartofanexperimentalgovernmentprogramtofindthebomberonacommutertrain,injusteightminutes.
-Director:JossWhedon-StackerScore:86.5-Runtime:143min
"TheAvengers"featuresallyourfavoritesuperheroesinoneplace.IronMan(RobertDowneyJr.),CaptainAmerica(ChrisEvans),theHulk(MarkRuffalo),Thor(ChrisHemsworth),theBlackWidow(ScarlettJohansson),andHawkeye(JeremyRenner)allteamupinMarvel'sCinematicUniversetotakedownLoki(TomHiddleston),Thor'speskyyoungerbrother.Itwasavastsuccess,grossingawhopping$1.5billionworldwide.
-Director:AlfonsoCuarón-StackerScore:87-Runtime:91min
SandraBullockandGeorgeClooneystarinthisthrilleraboutaspacemissionthatgoeswrongwhendebrisfromadefunctsatellitecrashesintotheirspaceshuttle.With96%onRottenTomatoes,"Gravity"garnerednearuniversalacclaim.
-Director:JamesGunn-StackerScore:86-Runtime:121min
AnotherMarvelfilm,"GuardiansoftheGalaxy"followsadysfunctionalgroupthatconsistsofahuman(ChrisPratt),analien,ahumanoidalien,andaraccoonastheybegrudginglytrytosavetheworld.Visuallypleasingwithatightscript,"GuardiansoftheGalaxy"wasaninstantsuccess.
-Director:GeorgeMiller-StackerScore:89-Runtime:120min
Arebootofthe"MadMax"franchise,MadMaxisplayedbyTomHardyasheteamsupwithImperatorFuriosa(CharlizeTheron)toescapebanditsinpost-apocalypticAustralia.ThefilmwonsixAcademyAwardsforitstechnicalachievements.
-Director:DenisVilleneuve-StackerScore:87-Runtime:116min
WhenmonolithsdescendonEarth,alinguist(AmyAdams)isrecruitedbytheArmytotrytodevelopameansofcommunicationwiththeextraterrestrialbeingsthatarefound.Theresultisasurprisinglyemotionalfilm,whoseintrospectionforcestheviewertochallengetheirthoughtsandbeliefs.
-Director:JamesMangold-StackerScore:87-Runtime:137min
-Directors:BobPersichetti,PeterRamsey,RodneyRothman-StackerScore:90.5-Runtime:100min
ShameikMoorevoicesSpider-Man/MilesMoralesinthisfreshtake,inwhichmusic,humor,andtop-notchanimationmakeforaunique,thrillinganimatedMarvelfeature.Miles,anAfricanAmerican/PuertoRicanBrooklynteenager,tradeshisspray-paintinghobbyforsavingthecity'sdestructionalongwithhelpfromPeterParker,Spider-Woman/GwenStacy,PeterPorker,andothers.
-Directors:JoeRusso,AnthonyRusso-StackerScore:89-Runtime:181min
Thefollow-upto"Avengers:InfinityWar"andthe22ndMCUfilm,"Endgame"deliversthreeexhilaratingand,attimes,emotionalhoursofactionasthebelovedensemblesuperherosquadtriestoreverseThanos'finger-snappingannihilation.Whileits$350-plusmillionpricetagappearshefty,itbrokebox-officerecordswhenitgrossed$2.8billion.
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