10 Sci-Fi Movies That Break The Genre

[@nereavelazquezhernandez9779]

10. District 9 (0:35) 9. 10 Cloverfield Lane (1:26) 8. Arrival (2:24) 7. The Truman Show (3:18) 6. Alien (4:18) 5. The Lobster (5:12) 4. Blade Runner (6:10) 3. Her (7:04) 2. Ex-Machina (7:50) 1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (8:42)

[@batgurrl]

Thank you. I just saw Ex Machina for the first time today. Holy shit. Blew my mind a bit

[@kathyc4236]

I think the grand daddy of all sci fi movies is Metropolis, from the 1920s. It was sci fi, political and social commentary, romance, horror, and the special effects were amazing for its time (or any time really). It definitely belongs on this list.

[@michaelnewton1754]

The fact that 10 was district 9, and 9 was 10 Cloverfield bugged the shit outta me...

[@bbsy1]

You two suck 😭

[@AdriLeemput]

You stole my comment! I bet it was reverse, and Simon said: no reverse it to annoy some people

[@alexafagiry4614]

Neill Blomkamp is a very good director. I adore District 9. Elysium and Chappie were decent too. I wanted him to direct Alien 5 and a new Robocop movie with passion. It sucks that he left both projects.

[@ixtlguul4578]

Wasn’t he going to do a Halo movie?

[@rhythmoriented]

Great list, but genre-bending champ has got to be The Shape of Water. Starting off as an adult drama with comedic elements, it quickly becomes a sci fi, then a thriller, a musical very briefly, and ends as a romance body horror flick. Oh, and Guillermo was able to generate nearly $200mil, for a budget under $20mil while winning best picture.

[@nicemimomisu]

I hated the movie. So predictable and cliche. Del Toro can do (and did) so much better. the Oscar even sealed my hatred. But that's just me.

[@rhythmoriented]

​@@nicemimomisu appreciate your comment. Beyond having among the best score and technical elements of the year on a dime budget, subsequent views helped me realize that there are staggering numbers of literary, biblical, scientific and cinematic references that create layers beyond a linear narrative. Although just the background billboards, TV shows and props were a story in and of themselves, here are a few examples that are easier to explain: 1. The story of The Shape of Water can be told through GDT’s use of *HANDS* -It was Strickland’s left (“sinister” in literature ) hand that was holding the electric baton. -His pinky “I swear” and ring (marriage) fingers festered, in keeping with his inability to honor his pledge to keep the asset under control, or his marriage for that matter. -Elisa’s hands were her means of communication, while the asset used them for healing. -Given the fact that proportionally there are more neural networks and topography within the human’s brain dedicated to the hands than for any other species, I guess the “creature” actually has quite a bit of “humanity” by way of his ability to heal. 2. *COLOR* also tells the story: Teal/blue for the optimistic or even narcissistic future (GDT was likely channeling Caravaggio's Blue Narcissus painting), yellow for the stark reality of the present (Strickland's home and the workers' break areas), with green being the merging of those two. Red denotes love (theater doors, as this is GDT’s love and Elisa’s evolving wardrobe on the opposite end of the color wheel. 3. *TIME* was an omnipresent theme: clocks in the background, watches, egg timer, bomb timer, punch clock and the calendar. Yet Elisa was always late, indicating that she is not part of this world. Elisa WAS of another time living in an apartment above a theater showing 'The Story of Ruth,' as she basically was playing an analogous role of Ruth in the film. Giles (the neighbor and - hint, hint - the narrator) ALSO is not part of the world - but in ways not so obvious on the first watch. IMHO the entire story may be inside his imagination; this is a theory that only arose after repeat watches. So much more, but beyond the entertainment value that drew endless applause on the indie circuit, and garnered this film subsequent admiration, The Shape of Water (more than any GDT film) continues to unfold itself as far more than initially meets the eye.

[@AndrewPRoberts]

I would consider it fantasy? Not sure, it's kind of a grey area

[@rhythmoriented]

Andrew P. Roberts it was classified as a thriller, but fantasy aspects are really prominent. As above, elements of just about every genre were used. On a related note, Robert Eggers (director of The Lighthouse and The Witch) was recently referencing how he and other newer directors are going to try to buck the convention of classifying their films as belonging to specific genres - unless the categorization is patently obvious . Nice to know that artists are working to avoid constricting boundaries to their art.

[@AndrewPRoberts]

@@rhythmoriented Yeah, I love how much of a blend of genres the film is. I almost completely forgot it's also technically a period piece, too!

[@samuelpearce9914]

Eternal Sunshine is in my top 5 of all time, it's literally so unbelievably good

[@batgurrl]

It’s my all time favorite

[@abebuckingham8198]

Where is Gattaca? Why do you never mention it in your lists? It's among the best sci-fi ever made. It's dialogue driven, entirely set on Earth and while space is mentioned it's not central to the plot. I would certainly consider it genre defining.

[@rickc2102]

Hear hear!

[@fredsilva8076]

I only recently watch the movie and found it to be an instant classic worthy of being on this list. Much much better than the lobster geez

[@batgurrl]

Very underrated. The end always makes me cry like a baby

[@JDRod88]

Simon is bonkers. He's becoming my favorite What Culture host

[@dougim]

I totally agree; I love this guy. I look forward to his Friday lists so much.

[@sa6r3]

first time watching him , i thought his hand movements are very odd , but i learnt to love it lol

[@LeggerementeUmano]

Agreed. Let the making of the fanclub for "crazy hands" Simon, commence...!

[@OrgnlProductions]

Simon is top tier WhatCulture missed him when he went off the channel for a bit

[@irina1296]

I can't believe some people dare to criticize Ridley Scott. This man gave us revolutionary Alien & Blade Runner - two masterpieces that inspired almost every Sci-Fi movie we have these days. Be more thankful! Ex Machina is nothing special. I could predict everything and I've seen much more interesting films about highly advanced humanoids or androids

[@oldDNU]

Don’t forget Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven (director’s cut obviously) and The Martian. The guy has classics spanning at least 4 decades. Sure, he has some stinkers too, but we’ll forgive those.

[@irina1296]

@@oldDNU This specific video is about Sci-Fi. That's why I only mentioned Alien & Blade Runner but you are right. Overall, he made a ton of cult classics. I adore all the movies you mentioned plus Black Rain, American Gangster, Body of Lies, Black Hawk Dawn, Hannibal, 1492: Conquest of Paradise and even Prometheus

[@connie1wilson]

Spotless mind is one of my favourite films. It is so unique and in-depth, that I watch it every few years, and the plot’s intricacies allude me every time, so I can watch it partially new every time!

[@oldDNU]

I’ll suggest The Prestige (for being secretly sci-fi), Star Wars (the concept of the “used future” completely went against the pristine look of other sci-fi films at the time, even Lucas’s own THX 1138), and Primer (the ultra low budget time travel film that trusts its audience to keep up even though nobody understands its technobabble).

[@pauleveritt3388]

He's a CHILD! 2001 A Space Odyssey is in a class all by itself. For the most part, it was "way to hype for the room". I saw it when I was eight and it had a significant impact on the direction of my life. I am now 61.

[@cmsmith1961]

How could you leave Metropolis off this list? Or 2001 A Space Odyssey?

[@just_xanny2777]

2001 didn't break the genre, it made the genre.

[@star8828]

As did metropolis

[@ViolaXZ]

I only agree with Alien, Blade Runner and District 9. Arrival? Ex Machina? Really? These films broke the genre: 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Metropolis, Jurassic Park, A Clockwork Orange, The Terminator, The Fifth Element, Mad Max 1 & 2, Planet of the Apes, Robocop, Brazil, Godzilla

[@ixtlguul4578]

Holy sh-t, that is my exact list too. Not necessarily my favourite movies, but definitely the ones that kicked the doors open

[@jameskrusen9063]

You forgot Sleeper, The Day the Earth Stood Still (the original), 2001, Failsafe, On the Beach, I could go on.

[@blackguyofthesouth2161]

@@jameskrusen9063 she literally said 2001 first

[@jameskrusen9063]

@@blackguyofthesouth2161 She? I was talking about the buff dude doing the ranking.

[@gavinsmiley9377]

I frequently reference Children Of Men as a great atypical sci-fi movie. And then have to justify it being sci-fi at all, it is.

[@oldDNU]

Easily the most intense film I’ve seen. We left the theater stopped over in exhaustion.

[@CIMAmotor]

i don't thing CoM is a Sci-Fi movie Gav. It's dystopian but I can't think of it as Sci-Fi.

[@fredsilva8076]

One of my favorite movies as well. It's science fiction but definitely different

[@jordanaethelric2614]

This movie was a radical departure from the book in so many ways. Honestly seeing an incredibly slow introspective novel that read like an anthropological study turned into a scifi thriller kinda killed the movie for me.

[@gavinsmiley9377]

Jordan Aethelric I’ve admittedly never read the book, but the way you describe it it sounds really hard to translate to an entertaining movie. A slow introspective movie that watches like an anthropological study sounds like a documentary. I personally enjoy documentaries, but they’re not big money makers. And ones about fictional events are hard sells for most. That being said, I didn’t know there was a book. So thanks for that.

[@InformantNet]

"Following two friends who unfortunately wake up kidnapped at the hands of a mad man..." That is most definitely NOT the premise of 10 Cloverfield Lane. Did Simon actually see this movie? Holy cow.

[@vtlxx]

Yeah it's almost like, the exact opposite of what actually happens lol. Like he just started the first few minutes and switched off.

[@TheDungeonMasterz]

It was sorta close if you didn't pay much attention to the movie? Like if you just sort of half watched it then that'd be accurate.

[@ndruark]

I actually did watch it and kidnapped seems like a very appropriate descriptor.

[@BennyLlama39]

Let's see *you* assclowns do any better.

[@chrissycurtis4152]

Thats how the movie comes across at first, is there an alien invasion and he has saved them or is he crazy and has kidnapped them? Until the end you don't know so what he says is correct when you listen to his whole explanation

[@philhopkins1795]

Great list. I would have included Terry Gilliam's excellent "Brazil" as well.

[@ndruark]

I always look forward to Friday and Simon’s videos. 😉😁

[@katemackay7488]

I honestly look forward so much to the sci-fri videos every week. Simon is so adorably enthusiastic, it just starts my weekend off right ☺

[@micah4029]

This is probably one of the best WhatCulture lists. 10 *District 9* is just great. Neil Blomkamp has stated that he didn't set out to make a movie that mirrored the apartheid, but the comparison is nearly impossible to ignore. On top of that, the creativity that went into the technology of the aliens is impressive. 9 *10 Cloverfield Lane* is better than Cloverfield. Yea they're almost completely different movies, but in what they individually set out to do, this movie does a better job. The whole time you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, and when it finally does, it's a roller coaster going at breakneck speeds. John Goodman's performance makes every seen so tense you feel like you can't move while watching. 8 *Arrival* is hands down one of my favorite movies. When the teaser trailer was announced, I only made it 30 seconds before I stopped it and avoided all other promotional material because I wanted to go in as fresh as possible. It did not disappoint. Tackling a first encounter scenario from an angle rarely used an then hitting with a bombshell twist just cemented it as a fantastic film. 7 *The Truman Show* messed me up as a kid. Even though I don't have an interesting life, for years there was a small nagging thought in my mind that maybe it was a tv show. No other movie has buried its way into my psyche like this one. 6 *Alien.* I mean, it's Alien. If you don't understand why it's on this list, I'll have to assume you've never seen it. 5 *The Lobster* is a weird movie in both premise and structure. The first half on its own could stand as one of the funniest movies I've ever seen, with its absurdist humor and perfectly dry deliveries by the cast. The second half is both identically and wholly different at the same time. Together, the film becomes something special. (Also, you should watch The Killing of a Sacred Deer if you haven't. Same director and also starring Colin Farrell). 4 *Blade Runner* is iconic for all the reasons Simon says (haha). I am one of those people though, that think the sequel outshines it. Though you can't have the sequel without the initial movie (usually), so it definitely earns a spot on this list. 3 *Her* I finally watched this movie last week, and I'm mad at myself for not seeing it earlier. It's always ironic when a movie explores some of our most human feelings when exploring A.I. 2 *Ex Machina* is the one movie in this list I don't agree with. I get why people enjoy it, and I liked the ending, but the movie never clicked with me. 1 *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* is and will remain in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. It perfectly blends romantic drama with sci-fi in a way I never expected to enjoy. The direction, cinematography, set design, and everything else that went into the visual portrayal of the memory-erasing process are perfect. It doesn't hurt that some of the movie was shot near where I live.

[@MonikaAhatX]

Am I the only one who thinks Arrival is vastly overrated? I mean it's a good movie but nothing groundbreaking about it. The acting was great though

[@davidjonathanavalostornero8016]

You are not alone, indeed the movie is good but the central concept was not so new and i was surprised it received so much praise about it . At the end of the movie i said Hey! This is basically sci-fi Jojo's Bizarre adventure part 6 Stone Ocean only with aliens instead of a fashion priest.

[@oldDNU]

I personally loved it. I also just read the short story the film is based on. Though the author is an excellent writer, the film was better.

[@jennifercarlin-goldberg1125]

Simon, you are delightful to watch on a SciFri. :-)

[@AlexBlend]

I prefer the first Cloverfield movie by a long shot and I'm not even a found-footage fan

[@strangerjones5576]

I'd like 10 Cloverfield Lane more if they cut out all the Cloverfield references. It's a great isolated thriller and the aliens felt out of place.

[@KEVMAN7987]

"Oh no. Not again." - John Hurt

[@Midsomnyx]

"Check please!"

[@correlis]

"Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my rag-time gal!"

[@drdarkeny]

"What did he have?" "He had The Special." "I've have the soup!" "Me, too!"

[@poiballs425]

how bout brazil? never knew 1984 dytopia could be so quirky

[@batgurrl]

Amen. It blew my mind when I first saw it way back when

[@luisalmeida1391]

Came here for some movie suggestions. Haven't watched only two from the list, but I will. This is a brilliant, brilliant list. Excellent choices. And let me stress Arrival, Her and Ex-Machina, which I think are a bit overlooked by audiences. They're simply brilliant movies, where everything is simply perfect: writing, acting, directing, soundtrack... Beautiful. Cheers from Porto.

[@jedisparktheboy9423]

darren aronofsky's Pi. I’ve not seen it in years. I think I needed a long break before trying to rewatch that.

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

I'm not entirely sure that's sci-fi.

[@jedisparktheboy9423]

All seemed sciencey to me. That is the correct term isn’t it? Sciencey? Philosophical thriller? Mathematical fiction? Where would you put it?

[@rjperkins365]

@@TH3F4LC0Nx it can take Truman's spot

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@jedisparktheboy9423 Yeah, I would just categorize it as mathematical fiction/psychological thriller.

[@jedisparktheboy9423]

Probably. Doubt you’ll sell as many tickets for that though. “Coming to a cinema near you, Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson as Pythagoras in “Theorum”!

[@luciferspal]

Eternal sunshine is my favorite movie. It’s a perfect movie in my eyes.

[@_-LK-_]

I agree, it's the only film I've seen over a dozen times and yet, after a few months I'm happy to watch it again. Michel Gondry is a genius and Jim Carrey's straight acting is very underrated.

[@Asdfghjklyde]

I STRONGLY AGREE

[@luciferspal]

L K exactly. I’ve watched it countless times. It’s perfect for any mood you’re in.

[@yomogami4561]

truly enjoyed arrival. i thought it was great sci-fi.

[@farhannr28]

I would argue that The Prestige should also be in this list

[@iainjames03]

@Future Dad 'time cruise'...? I think you mean crystal bale... :D

[@jamesxxxyz8775]

12 Monkeys?

[@anonymous1k256]

I used to watch the Rock Reacts videos, and I checked their KZbin the other day and saw they hadn’t uploaded in a long time. I also saw Jon Denton had his own channel that he uploads to. I was wondering if he and Simon had a falling out. And now I’m here getting a headache seeing Simon in a WhatCulture Video instead of reacting to rap music lol

[@LarkLaTroy]

Thank you for including Her. While Phoenix and Johanson are great, the unsung wonder of the movies is the incredible May Lindstrom, the Muses Muse.

[@teddyf9438]

5:12 when you wake up from a dream and try to speak

[@dmndsol]

Other Jim Carey Sci-fi movies include "Liar, Liar" and "Bruce Almighty". Technically all Jim Carey movies are sci-fi since he is an alien. That's the only explanation for one person to be so talented.

[@oldDNU]

I’d consider those two fantasy, not sci-fi.

[@elliottryan13]

The movie "Resolution" was pretty off the wall if you ask me.

[@triggerbunny]

The sequel is pretty damn good. The Endless- Those characters Mike & Chris make a nice cameo.

[@tito6699]

Such a fan of your delivery Simon, you muscle-bound legend!

[@lavarela]

I love SciFri! Thank you for these.

[@stevencoghill4323]

Ray Bradbury's work is almost all social commentary in a SF setting

[@lenkajunova7419]

That's most of SF in general 😄

[@billbeeh217]

I saw alien when it was released in cinema and it had a huge impact, so much that I still remember it !!!!!?, later I saw alien 2 and 3 and same thing happen thought I hated alien 3, I saw alien 4 and I hardly remember it? the rest of the movies I saw at home and I didn't like much including blade runner. breaking the Genre is Risky business, public mindset is programmable structure that hard to change. but when it start to change it is harder to predict.

[@JDZVideos]

How can Simon be so cute and be a beefcake at the same time? =)

[@sheahunsinger9801]

Shaved head with facial hair 😉

[@flareinc7413]

I think two of my favorite movies, Suckerpunch and Cloud Atlas, should be on a similar list. Bc both are tragedies, scifi, Adventure and other genres and in so smart Ways one can't just watch them one time to get everything. And yeah, Jim Carrey should be in all good movie lists, he is excellent in everything (even in the trashpile called Ace Ventura 1)

[@TonyHammitt]

I liked Blast From the Past, another good romantic drama but it's really a Sci-Fi movie. Cool premise, nicely executed.

[@oldDNU]

I was pleasantly surprised by that movie. I wasn’t expecting much, but it was a lot of fun.

[@mikeMrBear]

Um...war of the worlds, invasion of the body snatchers, little shop of horrors, Logan's run, Tron, the list is far bigger than the 10 listed. Metropolis, planet of the apes, Mad Max, 2001, etc.. etc..

[@rickyr1528]

I'd give you mad props if you could do a video where your arms aren't in prime bicep flex the whole time. Put your arms down mate....the guns can speak for themselves lol

[@DeathAndCatmix]

Simon has the best energy ever!!

[@abebuckingham8198]

The Lobster is fantasy, not science fiction. There is no science mentioned anywhere in that film and a magic box that turns you into an animal is a firmly established trope in the fantasy genre.

[@cherrybombstudios1671]

Me as I start this video: “Weird, it’s not Friday. Oh, wait....”

[@Vectorbabe]

The Man From Earth. The most cerebral sci-fi movie ever.

[@tahaghassan6004]

Simon in another list im so happy

[@kassykreutzer6972]

I love #1 just blew my mind the 1st time and till now it makes you question can i do this or not erase my bad memories In my own opinion, No i cant bad and good memories makes you who you are

[@andrewmartin1123]

well done pumpy- or at least your writer. your superfluous arm body language makes everything that much more relatable. now, where is my protein shake!

[@Draidis]

I still want a sequel to District 9 SO BAD.

[@netropolis]

Simon is actually Simon Whistler from the Star Trek Mirror Universe.

[@shaihulud3140]

Wait, wouldn't Simon Whistler be the evil one, since he's the one with the facial hair?

[@davidbayliss4415]

Great list, Simon!

[@Imperfect_Workshop]

Blade runner still looks better than all the new sci-fi film

[@rossross3689]

“Something something something..........and I think that’s something”

[@star8828]

Who knew my 2 fave Jim Carrey roles would be on here

[@TheSionThomas]

Great list Love Lobster

[@albertfralinger2711]

No Inception?

[@JB2387]

"Spike Jon-zey"? What? Despite it's spelling, it's pronounced "Jones".

[@willwidrick8039]

Great choices, especially HER & Eternal

[@RH1812]

Nice list Adam

[@paulhammersley4562]

district 9, really good film,

[@theretronoisemakers3516]

I liked District 9. Chill out on the arm movement, you look like you’re waving them badboys about for a bet.

[@brucepulver8358]

Metropolis , 2001 A Space Odyssey and Dark City.

[@Steele42]

I don't mind "The Truman Show" being on the list. I DO mind that no one remembers that it was completely RIPPED from a 1985 Twilight Zone episode... which was done better in a considerably shorter amount of time.

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

What about Alphaville?

[@katherinevelasquez3845]

That's a great ocean's thirteen reference

[@AngelOcasioLovesMadonna]

You are too cute! Can you do a top 10 madonna performances? I think that would be great!!! Keep up the good energy 😉

[@ctakitimu]

Another one that I thought broke the mold was 'Archive' a 2020 film, although that opinion might be polarising

[@danieljob3184]

There was nothing printed on his comfortably loose T-shirt... WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?

[@jonf5975]

Finally a title of that sort that doesn’t contain „you haven’t seen because you’re an idiot“ Obviously exaggerated but I hate these titles, condescending and clickbaity

[@kristal3346]

Why was 10 Cloverfield Lane at 9 instead of 10? The same could be said for District 9 at 10.

[@majestyc0359]

"We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and its not meant that we should voyage far." -HPL

[@swyzzlestyx]

Science Fiction films I think ought to be on this list are, Moon and Serenity. I also think Alien Nation should replace District 9, on this list, ad I thought Neill Blomkamp's film sucked. There were no characters I sympathized or empathized with, and Graham Baker's Alien Nation did it all first, but with proper characters.

[@beanman2206]

Inception??

[@Cogency1]

Simon should be in the movies if not already.

[@roymcmasters9785]

Simon and I seem to have similar opinions of movies

[@MrRonald327]

Great ideas.

[@batgurrl]

Missing Brazil and 2001 and Dark City

[@You-are-right-but]

Love these videos but the guy throwing bicep poses every few seconds is irritating

[@tarquinnff3]

So many of my favorite movies on this list. What does that say about me?

[@milesclarke2]

Enjoy your vids. Thank you

[@Merylstreep1949]

You forgot A Clockwork Orange and 2001

[@katherinevelasquez3845]

Murder me I've never seen alien

[@DerHeitzer]

Brazil

[@gfear24]

Spike Jonze (Jonsie)? It's pronounced just like "Jones", just spelled different.

[@mrsnrub2952]

Miller, ya yid slaphead, love ya!

[@ctakitimu]

9 and 10 should be switched around so the movie names match the number on the list :)

[@kmashbaker]

My son’s favorite movie: The Life of Pi.

[@clukskin]

couldn't stop watching your pecs, totally missed what the video was about

[@pushbaner5219]

oh I know where this is going! (johnny sins joke)

[@deathraygonzo6339]

The Truman Show has a nice ending? I beg to differ, real world must be horrible for Truman.

[@cromwellfluffington1627]

Ex Machina vs Uncanny Which is better?

[@SpartanHighKing14]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind is a really good movie, but it's not nearly as good as this channel will have you believe.

[@iainjames03]

No love for 'The Matrix'? Okay.....

[@idknemore525]

Giving Bladerunner way too much credit again. Also the movie is almost entirely spectacle with almost no substance. I find it hard to believe that even in the 70s, people would be impressed with the premise "what if robots who are obviously people were actually people." Good looking film, that's it.

[@levischorpioen]

The Man From Earth, anyone?

[@OzSteve9801]

A Cure for Wellness

[@chrislucken8354]

Simon, is it possible for you to straighten your arms? Constantly at 90 degrees

[@swordscot]

Chris Lucken Far too muscly to do that.