15 Science Fiction Movies That I ❤️

[@sueneilson896]

Agree with all your choices here. Would add Quatermass and the pit for being an actually scary low budget pic.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Good choice.

[@bobgriffith2001]

I think "Gwangi" is one of his most underrated movies. The end cathedral scenes ranks right up there. My mom took me to see it as a kid.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Such fun.

[@shibolinemress8913]

One detail that really added realism to The Day The Earth Stood Still was that they included real news presenters of the day, playing themselves. Drew Pearson, H.V. Kaltenborn, Elmer Davis and Gabriel Heatter would have been known to most Americans back then, and I've heard them mentioned on several old radio shows that KZbin has thankfully preserved for today's generations to experience for themselves. You are also a part of that tradition, and I thank you so much for helping preserve the memory of older movies, for the benefit of us all!

[@terrytalksmovies]

Thank you! I love the use of real news journalists. It always adds verisimilitude to the movies/ shows where that happens.

[@theritchie2173]

Flesh Gordon - we rented it for the naked ladies, were pleasantly surprised to find an actual good, fun movie at the same time. It was clearly made with a lot more love for the source material than any Marvel movie lately.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's such a love letter to the original Flash Gordon.

[@doug2424]

I saw Edward 👀 penishands.

[@dondragmer2412]

Saw this at a sci-fi convention in Portland, Oregon, in October, 1980. Yeah, good flick with goofy gay monster.

[@jaysonspirtos7313]

I know this is more borderline science fiction but one of my all time faves is The Man in the White Suit (1951)

[@terrytalksmovies]

Definitely a fun SF flick.

[@ghostwriter74]

So good to see The Day The Earth Caught Fire getting some long overdue appreciation. I love the writing in that film. The dialogue is so sharp, and yet the actors make it feel effortless.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Yep. Totally a hidden gem.

[@chrisvelazquez6933]

Almost all of these older movies were on television a lot when I was a kid. Love this list

[@terrytalksmovies]

My pleasure, Chris.

[@stevenduncan7086]

Australia? Science Fiction? ON THE BEACH!

[@terrytalksmovies]

That was an American film which was made here, not an Australian one. Anyway, I don't love it because even for a cautionary take, it's a bummer.

[@thisweekinmarshall8324]

@@terrytalksmovies At or about that time, we were having nuclear war drills at school (the Cuban Missile Crisis) and AEC representatives showing us how to decomtaminate food affected by fallout at summer camp, so movies like On the Beach, Fail Safe, and, of course, Dr. Strangelove were pretty on the nose for me.

[@rsacchi100]

@@thisweekinmarshall8324 I would put Dr. Strangelove on top, then Fail Safe, then On the Beach. Strangelove & Fail Safe have that real time feel to them.

[@doug2424]

I saw Edward penishands...

[@AlanEmmons-qw6bg]

Don't forget seven days in May not really science fiction but potential science (political) fact! Even more frightening than fiction!😳. Because we might live it sooner more likely than later.

[@captlazer5509]

A good list! Some I haven't seen in ages. A hidden gem, The Quite Earth. Watched on VHS in the 80's and recently checked out again. A more meta last man on Earth story. The ending is up for grabs as to what happened.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I saw it in Wellington where it was filmed. That was fun.

[@jackfriend4u]

really like "The Quiet Earth" and one thing that impressed me about it was its epic score...like the score seems as if it were meant for a much bigger film- though harder to get "bigger" when it comes to apocalyptic themes, but as you know The Quiet earth pays out a much smaller, intimate level, a three hander with a big idea as its background setting. but that music! it manages to have me on the verge of tears every time! and pretty sure from memory it's main powerful theme is used twice, topping and tailing the movie.

[@martinradcliffe4798]

Planet Of The Vampires is a true classic. Not seen The Power- need to put that right.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Definitely do.

[@somthingbrutal]

the day the earth caught fire is an absolute classic

[@terrytalksmovies]

Yep. So meticulous in its speculation, too.

[@keithf_]

It so is

[@benefitthirteen]

"Planet Of The Vampires", "The Day The Earth Stood Still", "Creature From The Black Lagoon", "Forbidden Planet", "The Time Machine", "The Day The Earth Caught Fire", "The Valley of Gwangi", "Mothra" (we did a chronological run through all the Toho films, interweaving a few esk films like "Latitude Zero" into the mix last year) - so much nostalgia for one sitting. I understand we now have a Barbarella remake on it's way. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I don't have many expectations.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I'll wait and see on the Barbarella remake. It's not fair to judge without a lot more info.

[@benefitthirteen]

@@terrytalksmovies Wasn't judging; just proceeding with caution.

[@joseluisherreralepron9987]

I do have a DVD copy of "Planet of the Vampires". I cannot find "The Power" on any format. I saw it when I was a child; I remember Arthur O'Connell's face in the centrifuge...as a child that image would never leave my mind.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Warner Archive put out a DVD of The Power years ago, if that's any help.

[@dondragmer2412]

Saw this movie on the big screen when I lived in Tokyo, Japan, when I was a kid (I guess I am about ten years older than you, Terry). What a blast! My dad was an airline pilot there stationed at Tachikawa AFB. Used to watch the Peanut girls on tv on Japanese variety shows. Dad actually knew a fellow American service member who had small roles as a Navy officer in this one.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Cool. Lots of US military people had side hustles working for Toho tokusatsu and kaiju movies.

[@attichatchsound-bobkowal5328]

These choices have my unsolicited seal of approval! I remember seeing "The Power" and "Valley of Gwangi" at the drive-in. I saw "The Creature of the Black Lagoon" in 3d! The next day we saw John Carpenter's "The Thing" at the Drive-in - good times! Notable the"The Creature" has the greatest "Sting" monster theme ever! I need to check out "The day the Earth caught fire"

[@terrytalksmovies]

The Day The Earth Caught Fire won't disappoint you.

[@MovieVigilante]

We had a channel here in Canada called the Space station that used to play Flesh Gordon all the time and I watched it every time. The stop-motion animation is fantastic and it's a very funny movie. 4D Man (1959), and Island of Terror (1966) are two of my favourite sci-fi films.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Both cool movies. I have a strange fondness for Flesh Gordon.

[@stephenwodz7593]

The Incredible Shrinking Man!

[@terrytalksmovies]

Good choice.

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

Susan Pleshette was a really versatile actress. Comedy, drama, TV, Film always did the work and was interesting.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Yep. Always dignified.

[@themagus5906]

She was my hottie when I was a kid. Her and Teri Garr.

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

@@terrytalksmovies She also: 1) thought about her work; and 2) had a really subversive sense of humor about the material and a subversive sense of humor (combined with genuine understanding) about her collogues. Her interviews reminded me of members of my family . . . .

[@joseluisherreralepron9987]

"Gattaca" is such a wonderful, striking film. I saw it in the cinema and it never left me. I just watched it again recently and it means even more now.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It works because it's a universal story about privilege and why it's always wrong.

[@jackfriend4u]

The Day The Earth Caught Fire was a real good find! only saw it for first time a few years back and thought it was terrifically played out at a real sober pace.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It has a credible feel to it that more than compensates for the 1960s special effects.

[@jackfriend4u]

@@terrytalksmovies the only effect i ever recall in it looked more like a still/painting and was kinda cool given the few seconds it appeared. and that was just London's highest building tops peeking out of a massive fog bank...in this case i think it was supposed to be steam. and i realise that in fact London and outlying areas were often clouded with smog (pollution), but there was really no way to get above that and photograph it effectively for real in the daylight. I've got a thing for fog!! i even wrote a movie based around the 1952 smog disaster that brought London to a halt and killed hundreds. I like to think of it as my one "disaster movie' but it doesnt at all play out like a R.Emmerich type...more of a "Stroll Casually for your Lives!!" Fog is wonderfully atmospheric but its isn't exactly a fast and impactful form of weather like a tsunami-- no folks running down the streets screaming "It's coming!"

[@robsyers8647]

The Valley of Gwangi! When it aired on TV in America, I was a little boy. The problem? It started at my bed time. I cried, and it shook my parents, they told me I wasn't throwing a tantrum, but stood there crying, looking betrayed, by my loving parents! We watched it, and my mom fell in love with the tiny horse!

[@terrytalksmovies]

Gwangi needs a 4K release. 😉😀

[@timoliver4548]

I love The Power. Thanks for suggesting it as a favourite. Seems to be a forgotten movie now. Really Love it’s late 60s modernity & wish we had a blu ray. Also agree everything with you regarding The Time Machine with the splendid Rod Taylor. A truly wonderful film that does indeed make one feel warm & upwardly positive. I watch & enjoy both these fabulous films at least once every year.

[@terrytalksmovies]

That sounds like fun, Tim. Rod Taylor was such an underrated actor, too.

[@timoliver4548]

Absolutely. I Love Rod’s performance in Hotel (1967), another for the blu ray wish list.

[@merky6004]

As a TV watching kid (who is now about Terry’s age) my father would stop watch The Time Machine w me. Turns out he had a thing for the actress ever since he saw the film in the theater years before.

[@ellingtonhilligas]

I would have to add Fantastic Planet, The Thirteenth Floor, and Westworld. Some excellent picks there! Had not heard of The Power and the Tenth Victim. Looking forward to checking them out.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Hope you enjoy them, Clay. 😀

[@bsharp3281]

"The Creature from the Black Lagoon" is immersive in a way that's more like movies are today than they were in the 50s. 50s movie studios poored out productions that were more like stage plays on film than a Kubrick or Spielberg experience; so, it was light-years ahead of its time. It was filmed in 3D, so its precocious filmmaking style may not have been intentional exactly, but it makes the movie standout above the rest. I love every frame!

[@terrytalksmovies]

It has a magic beyond its B picture origins.

[@nunyabizness6595]

Its also the last of Univeral's monster pics. Or was in from American International? I might be mixing up studios.😮

[@eddstarr2185]

The first episode of Doctor Who, in 1963 was, "An Unearthly Child". That's the same year as one of my favorite British sci-fi/horror movies, "Unearthly Stranger", 1963. John Neville plays a scientist who discovers that his newlywed wife is an alien disguised to look human as part of a possible invasion of Earth. But what is she really? Are there others like her and if so, how many? That question and the unbelievably eerie ending to this movie make me wish someone would finally post it on KZbin. The final scene is truly unsettling!

[@terrytalksmovies]

It is. There's a good blu-ray edition out recently.

[@random007nadir]

I love Flesh Gordon. It's so silly, but so surprisingly well made, and genuinely funny.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Absolutely. Total gonzo 1970s fun.

[@FTA4evr]

Good picks. I would add Howard Hawk's The Thing from Another World. Also a few of the many movies featuring monsters mutated by atomic radiation, such as Them starring James Whitmore. When you flashed the picture of the two girls who summoned Mothra I could almost hear them singing: "Moth-a-rah" in their high sweet voices.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Mothra is such deep fun. I went with the movies I love. There are many more I like, but love is a special movie category.

[@dogzdad123]

The Thing from Another World and Them….more than just honorable mentions!👍

[@erikramaekers63]

Them is awesome and the score unforgettable.

[@redjjj213]

Thanks for a great list. I’d forgotten about The Power I love that film as I do Forbidden Planet, The Time Machine and The Day the Earth Stood Still.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Time for a rewatch.

[@rgmax6205]

Great list Terry! There are a few I haven’t seen in decades, have to find and rewatch them. One of my favorites is The Green Slime. The movie is unintentionally funny made even more so by all the actors playing it serious. Plus it’s got the greatest psychedelic theme song ever. Made in Japan with a all western cast, it’s good fun.

[@themagus5906]

After reading "Farewell to the Master", watching DTEST takes on a whole new vision. Especially when Gort revives Klaatu. It goes to the central story that the machines have surpassed the humans. "We created a race of robots", says Klaatu. He did not reveal that the robots have assumed power over the humans.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Yep. It's a singularity situation.

[@jeffmartin1026]

A great list with great reasons. I would add The Incredible Shrinking Man to the last for the special effects and the end sequence.

[@terrytalksmovies]

There are always more to add to lists like this.

[@KarlBunker]

Yeah, The Incredible Shrinking Man is great and I love the end sequence. Even as a militant atheist, those final words still get me misty-eyed: "To God, there is no zero. I still exist."

[@terrytalksmovies]

@@KarlBunker there's too much god in 1950s American science fiction.

[@theproplady]

@@terrytalksmovies Science Fiction is by its very nature, deeply religious. What are powerful aliens, if not a stand in for God? They'd certainly qualify as gods under the pagan interpretation of the word. Pilgrim's Pass has an interesting (non-propaganda) video essay on why Sci Fi is inherently religious: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5OVfH2GjM-baMU

[@keithf_]

I read recently that director Jack Arnold was amazed that actor Grant Williams didn't win an oscar for his performance. I think Williams is terrific in the movie, so I can see where Arnold is coming from.

[@pavo1394]

Saw Flesh Gordon when I was a little kid and a bunch of us snuck into the drive-in. The only movie on your list that I haven't seen is The Power. I'll definitely have to check it out.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's a really bold movie which was let down by 1960s film-making technology.

[@moknbyrd]

Love Rod Taylor's The Time Machine. I saw a commentary about how many modern people are disrespecting these old movies for something called "Born sexy yesterday". I think one can look past it's dated sensibilities and see a VERY good film. :)

[@terrytalksmovies]

Born sexy yesterday is a valid critique but this movie has so much heart outside that.

[@geraldmartin7703]

I saw the movie in the theater as a kid. I was terrified that the world would end in nuclear war in just six years, 1966.

[@SwillinGrog]

Some great selections there. "The Power" has me intrigued. I must get a copy of that. "This Island Earth" and "X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes" would make my Top 15.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Good choices.

[@22many77]

I really enjoyed Planet of the Vampires thanks to your rec!

[@terrytalksmovies]

Always a pleasure to steer people toward the good stuff.

[@palmercolson7037]

Nice list. A few movies that I have failed to see so far. One movie I would add to the list would be Quatermass and the Pit aka Five Million Years to Earth. The story unfolds as the scientists investigate and reveals its rather startling premise and then all Hell breaks loose on the world.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's good. One of Hammer's best.

[@edheliosz]

When did you move to Victoria? I’ve always been here in Melbourne. Remember seeing Flesh Gordon at the drive-in. I’m sure it played at the Dendy.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I came down here in 1990.

[@MarcColten-us2pl]

Definitely a solid episode. I didn’t even bother to keep count of the movies. I just watched you present them. There are only two or three I disagree with (Gattica, Vampire Planet, the Fifth Element) which could have been replaced with a better choice, but otherwise every one you showed is on my list of personal favorites. Thanks, it was a great episode to watch.

[@terrytalksmovies]

My pleasure.

[@rsacchi100]

An interesting mix of the traditional and offbeat. In The Time Machine incorporating WWI, II, & III IMHO gave it an advantage over the book and the remake. You're right about The Fifth Element having an addictive effect. When the Flash Gordon movie came out they re-released Flesh Gordon. The Flesh Gordon advertisement had a disclaimer that the movie wasn't related to the Flash Gordon serial, "or that piece of art playing down the street." Family story about Barbarella. My aunt who often went to movies without knowing anything about them took her son with her. My cousin was just the right age and personality to voice his feelings at the opening scene; "Wow! What a picture!"

[@terrytalksmovies]

Going in to see movies blind is a great way to expand your taste in cinema.

[@rsacchi100]

@@terrytalksmovies I took my son to see The Wind Rises for extra credit in the animation class he was taking. Knew nothing about it, except it was made in Japan. Loved it.

[@TeatroGrotesco]

Always on the lookout for good Suzanne Plechett (sp) films. She stole my attention in The Birds. Underutilized Actresses throughout her career.

[@terrytalksmovies]

[Imprint] just released A Rage To Live which she starred in. She was fantastic in that one.

[@keithf_]

You're right about Susan Plechette in The Birds. Nice looking, great voice, and yes a character that draws your attention.

[@edheliosz]

Another great list Terry. Some of my favourites there. Especially They Live. I’ve always liked Gattaca, even bought the soundtrack. I’ve always liked The Last Man On Earth (1964). Plus any of the ‘ants’ films (Phase IV) etc. Fantastic Voyage is a film from my youth but I’d don’t know if it still holds up Tod.

[@terrytalksmovies]

The Last Man On Earth is extremely underated.

[@ianburns9365]

Great choices, Terry! I'm an Australian of a similar age to you, and so many of these films were 'one-offs', seen once late at night on TV (or only ever seen as stills in a movie book or magazine). Thankfully, we lived to see VHS, DVD, BD and 4K bring these to us again. The Valley of Gwangi was a personal favourite of mine, too. Harryhausen was the OG!

[@terrytalksmovies]

Willis O'Brien was the OG. Harryhausen perfected the art. 😀

[@ianburns9365]

@@terrytalksmovies - Valid point, Terry! The Lost World rocks.

[@lindaloe]

FORBIDDEN PLANET IS MY Favorite SY FI 🎬 Movie!

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's so influential, too.

[@markreid657]

Mine too

[@creech54]

Great selections! I like them all and like 2/3 of them a lot! Scariest scene in "The Power" (IMO). Arthur O'Connell goes through the swinging door in the short wall and into his office - camera pans to the desk while he looks for something - pans back to the door - now a head high solid wall - pans back to the desk as he gets a chair to stand on - pans back and the wall is solid all the way to the ceiling! All done in one continuous (quick) take.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Yep. That scene works. Dead simple to do but effective. It plays against our expectations of reality in a fun way.

[@tonyausten6839]

Rod Taylor was one of my favourite actors much under-used.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Rod had such chops as an actor, too.

[@windupgamecat]

Mothra is absolutely one of Toho's best films. Frankie Sakai is a great comic actor of his time, and he adds plenty to it.

[@terrytalksmovies]

He's definitely fun in it. This is like the rabbit hole of manzai comedy in Japan I keep diving down into. I can spend hours link-hopping to understand the incredibly long and complex history of Japanese comedy. BTW, glad you're enjoying Osaka. Sal and I could happily live in an area like Shinsaibashi East.

[@grantman7181]

gattaca had to watch 3 times so layered and deep hard to believe danny devito was involved good stellar recommendation terry

[@terrytalksmovies]

Directors like Andrew Niccol and Vincenzo Natali are incredibly underrated.

[@m.e.3862]

I loved Gattaca. Real insight into the effects of technology teamed with a great production design reminiscent of Alphaville and the humanist conclusion was the optimistic vision of hope that we needed after seeing this dystopia. Your other picks are also on my longtime list and I'm going to add Upgrade as a newer entry as well as Creation of the Humanoids (thanks for that recommendation, Terry! Really like that film😊)

[@terrytalksmovies]

My pleasure. Some idiots are looking at a Gattaca streaming series. I hope it doesn't happen.

[@MarcoGonzalez-tn1vc]

I love your picks, definitely a couple of movies on there that I need to check out. A little surprised to not see Robert Wise"s "Andromeda Strain" on your list, it blew my mind as a kid and most of it holds up pretty well to this day.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Can anyone love The Andromeda Strain? Like, yes but love?

[@Neil070]

​@@terrytalksmovies I do, but then I read the original book. Film stays pretty close to the source material

[@theproplady]

@@terrytalksmovies The Andromeda Strain had hard sci fi at a time when it wasn't too popular. Not to mention it had a woman scientist who wasn't just eye candy or a love interest, but a good, strong character. The set design was very memorable, and reminded me of Dante's Inferno, the way the colors got "cooler" as the levels descended. Some people think the ending was weak, but I think it was made that way to emphasize that it wasn't the life form that was the real threat, but human being's tendency to make war and build weapons of mass destruction.

[@nunyabizness6595]

Andromeda Strain came at a time when i was starting to get into reading other than comics and Trek stuff. That, Day of the Jackel, Tom Sawyer and Catcher in the Rye and Boulle's Planet of the Apes. Weird assortment of books to read out the gate.

[@john-r-edge]

Terry. I wonder if you have ever considered adding a document camera to your recording setup. These are not expensive ($150 say) and won't take much of your desk. You often show off the packaging & co and they would be shown more clearly, in focus etc. Not complaining of course. Happy to chip in to help with costs.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Thanks so much for the generous offer, but I am looking at alternatives. This video was a re-do as the first one didn't work. I recorded it late at night. I have a bunch of cameras.

[@erikramaekers63]

Flesh Gordon has great stop motion fx from David Allen ( Q,Puppetmaster etc)The Day the Earth Stood Still is a masterpiece.Planet of the Vampires color cinematography is superb.Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of my all time favorite movies.Millicent Patrick should have won a special Oscar for the design,instead Bud Westmore took all the credit.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Millicent Patrick is finally getting respect.

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Great list. Has me putting some of these on the list for future purchase. Cheers

[@terrytalksmovies]

There are Amazon affiliate links in the video description if that will help you find them. 😀

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

The Day the Earth Caught Fire had a brief bit part by Michael Caine as a London Bobby. It was right before Zulu in 1964.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Yep. Blink and you'll miss it.

[@kimberlyborowiak9779]

Two great ones; "The Day the Earth caught Fire" particularly the way the events are seen and reported by everyday people who have no control or knowledge of what is happening. The audience discovers piece by piece like the hero. "The Tenth Victim" was great and a lot of fun for it's silliness. The sixty stuff seems more alien than the futuristic bits. However it should have ended about five minutes earlier.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Yep but I still love The 10th Victim. That crazy world is immersive.

[@tobyhines7587]

Great list, I've seen all of them some a lot more than other ones.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It was fun to compile.

[@John-x7r7p]

All excellent choices❤

[@terrytalksmovies]

Thanks.

[@BobPond-l7z]

Love all your choices... Some gems with Gwangi angd Time Machine....

[@terrytalksmovies]

Thanks Bob. I'm thinking of doing a follow up video about more movies I love.

[@doccyclopz]

Great picks Terry! My list would be very similar with maybe the additions of: It! The Terror from Beyond Space The Thing from Another World / The Thing 82' + a couple of sentimental picks: When Worlds Collide This Island Earth

[@terrytalksmovies]

I covered some of those recently so I tried to sprinkle other films in the list.

[@doccyclopz]

@@terrytalksmovies How could I forget Dr.Cyclops, Cheerio !

[@terrytalksmovies]

@@doccyclopz I covered it in a previous video, too. Great flick.

[@williamblakehall5566]

SOLID LIST. Gattaca is always worth a reminder. A KZbinr who calls herself Retro Nerd Girl has done a long review of Planet of the Vampires, which she and I dig. You have to love astronauts dressed up like a biker gang. I'm not that into The Tenth Victim, but I would dare to recommend a possible alternative -- 2001's Series 7: The Contenders, starring Brooke Smith, perhaps best remembered as that Senator's daughter Jodie Foster was trying to save at the end of The Silence of the Lambs. Cheap but good, I find it to be a masterful satire of reality TV. Somehow my watching your list reminded me of two other movies, not necessarily very good but very distinctive. One is Fantastic Voyage -- the recent passing of Raquel Welch has put a bit of a spotlight on that -- but another is Crack in the World, a thoroughly gonzo movie about Earth (eventually) giving birth to a second Moon. The Creature From the Black lagoon was of course my gateway drug as a little boy, between that and the original Outer Limits plus the original Star Trek I was hooked on science fiction for life. As for The Power (1968) ... hey, at least it introduced me to a cool musical instrument known as a cimbalom. Thanks, Ter.

[@terrytalksmovies]

My pleasure, William.

[@Bent-Ed]

That Flesh Gordon poster is next level. I picked up one from a Qld seller - website at All About Movies. I think he may still have a couple and at a reasonable price too

[@terrytalksmovies]

I saw that. I'd get it if I had the wall space for it. 😀

[@thx113thx]

Great list my favorites Village of the Damned 1960 , This island earth,Forbidden planet absolute classic, Planet of the apes, 5 million years to earth , Them 1954 , The incredible shrinking man sfx amazing, fie d without a face

[@terrytalksmovies]

Great choices!

[@rudolfrieder186]

"Five Million Years to Earth" was great as well as the other Quatermass films and series

[@gregsug1640]

I remember seeing a double feature of Barbarella and Flesh Gordon in the 70s as a teenager. Surprised they let me in...😎

[@terrytalksmovies]

Good double feature there!

[@georges8348]

I've seen all these movies! What's that say about me? On my list of movies I love are; Seconds 1966, Immortal 2004, The Satan Bug 1965, Brother John 1971 and Fellini's Satyricon 1969. I'll say not more about them in case you haven't seen them. Thanks for the work you do Terry.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Seen them but they're good choices.

[@billlummus6810]

Great Job, Terry........

[@terrytalksmovies]

Thanks, Bill.

[@sarabrucker7847]

Great list! One of my favorites is eXistenZ, which had the misfortune to come out after The Matrix. Very accessible for a Cronenberg film, hilarious jokes about gaming, sex and addiction, meta jokes about actors’ roles (Ian Holm picks apart the game console like he did the facehugger in Alien), great plot twists.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Look in the science fiction playlist on the channel and you'll find eXistenZ.

[@erikramaekers63]

Rabid is also a accessible Cronenberg movie along with The Fly and Scanners.

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

Julie Adams was a good actress. Again, very versatile. She was also a woman who in later life was a great (and funny) storyteller in various retrospective on her career. Also, hard life, she was the child of alcoholics, but by all accounts a good gal, who was widely liked in the industry.

[@terrytalksmovies]

She was indeed.

[@knelson885]

Great list, I was thinking maybe CQ might be on it. It has that Grooviness factor 😊

[@terrytalksmovies]

CQ is fun, too

[@celestepalm6949]

Maybe you've already heard of this one, but I was pleasantly surprised by Disney's 1974's 'The Island at the Top of the World.' It's not perfect but the storyline is arresting & the lost culture it highlights is surprisingly well done & compelling for a live action Disney adventure of the time. The visuals are quite impressive. Not really sci-fi but still action-packed adventurous fun. Give it a chance if you haven't already.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I covered it in a video a couple of years ago. Most of the characters were pretty bland, IMHO.

[@celestepalm6949]

@@terrytalksmovies Yeah I saw that back when I was a wee bean. Obviously easier to please then. If it was colorful I liked it.

[@brianartillery]

Lovely airship, though. Those early ones always fascinated me.

[@davidpirkola1547]

Hey, Terry. I won't try to come up with 15 random SF movies I love, just because it would be a little too arbitrary (so many!). I will throw in a couple though: FIRST MEN IN THE MOON is another favorite, a different Wells adaptation AND starring Edward Judd; and a couple films that may or may not be hidden gems, BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET and REPO MAN.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I'm getting a reissue of Repo Man from Umbrella Entertainment, soon. I'll be reviewing it.

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

Nice list. They Live, very cool, lots of P.K. Dick vibes. And the Roddy. Dark Star, Dr. Strangelove, Rollerball, Blade Runner, A Scanner Darkly, Alien, Soylent Green, 2001, Starship Troopers, Pandorum, Doomsday.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Great choices.

[@allenlovell1604]

I'd add " Silent Running [ An Eco- fable ] ; Zardoz with Sean Connery; Day of the Triffids ; Fantasric Planet [ A quirky Animated Adult Movie ] ; Wizards ; Lost Conttinent [ Hammer Films where castaways find a whole bunch of Weird People and even Stranger Ceatures ! " Tobor the Great too! I'm a baby-boomer and I watched a bunch of clasic sci-fi and fantasy films ! !

[@terrytalksmovies]

Silent Running suffers from the dumb protagonist problem. He couldn't figure out for a long time that plants need sunlight.

[@kimberlyborowiak9779]

I always considered "Scanners" to be a remake or a heavily inspired by movie to "The Power".

[@terrytalksmovies]

Inspired by, definitely.

[@BrianRPaterson]

Good selection. I saw Gwanji on TV as a kid when I was sick in bed with flu or sonething. It cheered me up no end. As an ex journo, The Day The Earth Caught Fire is a special film. Cheers

[@terrytalksmovies]

Glad you liked the video, Brian. 😀

[@doug2424]

I have the exact same copy of time machine with George Pal. I saw the 10th victim, and i read the book too.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Nice. The 10th Victim is such a groovy movie.

[@doug2424]

I liked john dies at the end too, I read both books I got the second book from the library and I think the name of it is There's spiders in this book.

[@Joncl]

I’ve never heard of Gwangi 😮 I must look it up!

[@terrytalksmovies]

You have to see that.

[@bartholdy74]

As always, I enjoyed your list. One film I like is The Visitor from 1979. It’s an Italian film that rips off popular American films, such as The Omen & Close Encounters, & it has a lot of famous actors, such as John Huston, Shelley Winters, Glenn Ford, & a very young Lance Henriksen. It’s one of those Italian films where nothing on the poster appears in the film. I like it because it’s so wildly insane. It has everything from space Jesus to a bird with a switchblade beak. Very little in the film makes sense, but it’s so febrile that I can’t help but be mesmerised by it. 😸

[@terrytalksmovies]

The Italian title is even better: Stridulum

[@bartholdy74]

@@terrytalksmovies Love it. 😸

[@magusxxx]

I watched this decades ago and recently streamed it on Peacock. I forgot how freaky it was.

[@theproplady]

Rifftrax made a commentary for this movie awhile back. One of the plot points involves the good guys forcing the mother to abort her child who turns out to be Satan, or something. It was pretty crazy.

[@bobbysimcox]

WOW, Gwangi!!! Yeah, I saw that one on the Big Screen when I was a Lil Kid, round 8-9 yrs old! Had a Huge Crush on Gila Golan which started when I first saw her in Our Man Flint!!! A Coloring Book of The Valley Of Gwangi was released Before the movie was, so I read through it and had High Expectations for the Flick, and for once in my life, the Film Exceeded my expectations!!! Pure JOY!!! 😃😃😃❤❤❤

[@terrytalksmovies]

Cowboys + Dinosaurs = Bliss.

[@r0kus]

I've seen about 2/3 of your list, and you chose some really good ones. Not that I would like them all, though, but your explanations of what attracted you to each one was very interesting. Of the ones I have seen, my two favorites would be _Flesh Gordon_ and _The Day the Earth Stood Still_ (TDtESS) My two least were _Gattica_ and _Creature from the Black Lagoon,_ both of which I found to be very boring. The rest of the ones which I've seen were all pretty good. TDtESS was one of the first, if not the first, movie to show on the American NBC network in the early 1960s. For many years the TV networks did not show movies, but in the early 1960s NBC started their regular movie feature, _Saturday Night at the Movies._ I remember because this was where I first saw TDtESS. (There were movies on TV, but they were either shown by independent stations or on Saturday & Sunday afternoons or late at night.)

[@terrytalksmovies]

It spans a few genres.

[@angelawossname]

I don't watch a lot of movies, I get bored. But I love Forbidden Planet. It's great. My son and I had a movie marathon years ago where we watched every movie mentioned in the opening song of Rocky Horror, and I was pleasantly surprised by Forbidden Planet. My very favourite sci fi movie ever is a German film called Dreamship Surprise. I don't pretend to have sophisticated tastes.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's about the movies you love. Don't worry about taste unless you watch only Star Wars movies, in which case, see your GP. 😉

[@PsilocybinCocktail]

I have my DVD of 'Forbidden Planet' down by the side of my chair as I speak. I watch it a couple of times every year. First seen at age fifteen and never forgotten.

[@portland-182]

I'd add 'Invasion' starring Edward Judd an overlooked small gem of a sci fi movie. I'm also very fond of the Peter Cushing movie, 'Island of Terror'. 'This Island Earth' follows the plot from the first half of the book, and then soars to pulpy excellence. (and is better than the book). 'Fantastic Voyage' is always worth a watch too.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Getting a decent copy of Invasion to watch is difficult. I'll have to try again.

[@Murdersville]

If i remember rightly Judd was being groomed for stardom, however, he apparently pissed away that opportunity. According to Val Guest he was a pain in the ass and his own worse enemy.

[@portland-182]

@@terrytalksmovies Cheapish for decent second hand DVD in the UK - do you have a PO Box?

[@terrytalksmovies]

@@Murdersville He had alcohol addiction problems. Never a good match with celebrity.

[@terrytalksmovies]

@@portland-182 in the video description. Let me know what you need for it.

[@MorristheMinor]

Couple of points about 'The Day The Earth Caught Fire' - Michael Cain was in an uncredited role as a policeman, also Lord Beaverbrook, who owned Express Group Newspapers at the time, initial agreed with taking part in the film, which featured actual members of staff, but was said to be unhappy about the result. Finally (I promise) Edward Judd was in another great British sci-fi movie in 1966, Invasion. This was written by Robert Holmes and he reused a lot of the plot elements in Jon Pertwee's first Doctor Who story - 'Spearhead from Space'. The company which made the film, Merton Park, usually made very low budget crime thrillers however, 'Invasion' doesn't feel low budget and is actually quite intelligent.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I am sourcing a copy of Invasion to watch. 😀

[@MorristheMinor]

@@terrytalksmovies Watch Doctor Who - Spearhead from Space afterwards and you'll see what I mean. Also another influence on Jon Pertwee's Doctor was the 1969 British film - 'The Bodystealers'. It not does it reuse the Dalek Spaceship from 'Dalek -Invasion Earth', but the female lead seem to have been an influence on the 3rd Doctor's first assistant, Liz Shaw. (OK, promise I will now stop going on about Dr Who)

[@terrytalksmovies]

@Andrew Haddow I don't much like Dr Who.

[@MorristheMinor]

@@terrytalksmovies Sorry, I'll shut up about it, then.

[@terrytalksmovies]

@@MorristheMinor no, it's okay to be passionate about something. It's just that Dr Who isn't my jam.

[@carlrenzi]

I've seen all these movies and love them as well.

[@terrytalksmovies]

They're rewatchable, too.

[@williamjackson6705]

Valley Of Gwangi came out when I was 11. I never got to see it until I was in My 20s. Loved it though.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's such Saturday matinee fun.

[@mauriciogutierrez2145]

Wow that mothra boxset is effin gorgeous, great video BTW

[@terrytalksmovies]

Thanks Mauricio. We saw it in the window of a great shop in Sydney called Hum and Middle-Aged Geek Grrrl bought it for me. She knows what I like. The extras and the book that came with it are 100% worth it, too.

[@digitalpollution]

Great list Terry, I have not seen The Power it sounds interesting

[@terrytalksmovies]

The Power is a hidden gem. Not perfect but really interesting.

[@bobbysimcox]

"Multipass, Multipass!!!" BRILLIANT!!! 😉😃😇❤❤❤😄😄😄

[@terrytalksmovies]

The Fifth Element is fun.

[@Murdersville]

I would put in a word for a couple of 1960's British B movie cheapies, The Earth Dies Screaming (1964) and the Unearthly Stranger (1963). Dumb me, Unearthly Stranger was a previous hidden gem of yours.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I like The Earth Dies Screaming, too. An SF alien invasion movie in a little English village.

[@Justin_Kipper]

I'll admit to seeing "Flesh Gordon" several times at my local theater as a teen, but not because I thought it was a great movie. I'll always have a special place in my heart for " The Day The Earth Stood Still" because it was my mom's favorite sci-fi movie. Ringo made a good album cover out it too. I've never liked "Planet Of The Vampires". Not every Italian director, no matter how brilliant, needed to be thrown onto the the latest sci-fi/peplum/spaghetti western/whatever trend at the time. "Creature From The B.L." is an absolute classic that rose far above where the dead Universal monsterverse was at the time. I never thought about it as erotica, but hey, different 'strokes' for different folks. "Forbidden Planet" is the gem here. It was the real seed for "Star Trek" type sci-fi. "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" is certainly a movie that will appeal to climate-change fetishists. I think the casting was really good and enjoy it for what it is. I don't have a copy of "The 10th Victim" either, nor have I seen it. I'll just agree that it's a great film based upon the stills. "Barbarella" is a dreadful film; at least Duran Duran's "Arena" had some good music in it. I never thought of Jane Fonda as a sex object, mainly because she looked like her dad but with with makeup and boobies. But like I said earlier, different strokes for different folks. "Valley of Gwangi" was a movie I couldn't see enough of as a kid and I do still love it. The very idea that someone would make a film like this still impresses me. I agree with all that you said about "Mothra". It's a psychedelic film, acid-rock before anyone was even doing acid. "Fifth Element"...I saw it it only once...because...Chris Tucker... Movies like "They Live" having trouble getting made in the US had nothing to do with politics, it was because they usually didn't make money on the drive-in circuit. That was back when studios had to think about things like being profitable.

[@terrytalksmovies]

They Live is a movie with a long tail. The studio is making steady money from it to this day. 😀

[@jamesallard7223]

Ah, we can bond over The Day The Earth Caught Fire, one of my "must own" that I finally tracked down. It is about as perfect a movie in general let alone this genre. As before, I have a quibble, but it is less about the film in question, the Keanu Reeves version of The Day The Earth Stood Still, but because in the U.S. it was released to disc with the original included. THAT is awesome! (And the reason I made the purchase.) Sadly, one of my faves didn't show up, Colossus: The Forbin Project. (Good books, too.) As always, I enjoyed the whole bit, even when we disagree, so thank you for what you do. Stay well, sir, and we'll meet up here again, so to speak.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I covered Colossus previously and yeah, it's great.

[@jamesallard7223]

@@terrytalksmovies I also loved Metropolis (both the "final" cut and the Moroder MTV version), Crack In The World (1965), Things To Come, Altered States, Greenland, Master Of The World, and The Last Man On Earth (even if it is rather plodding, it follows the source novel almost too close).

[@mdcampbell7360]

The Gill Man creeped me the hell out when I saw CFTBL for the first time as a kid. I had nightmares🤣 I still watched it (and Return Of the Creature) though.

[@terrytalksmovies]

The Gill Man had that sense of otherness that makes it creepier.

[@Randall1001]

GREAT choices. Love Planet of the Vampires in particular. I haven't seen Flesh Gordon since college. I own or have seen almost all of these... except for the 10th Victim, which I've read about and have seen clips from... but that's it. I've got to see it. Forbidden Planet would definitely be on my list, but I'd also add Robinson Crusoe on Mars, The Thing from Another World, THEM, the original version of Solaris... and while I'd say I prefer the original Gojira or Rodan over Mothra, for sheer sci-fi nuttiness, I'd have to pick Ghidrah the Three Headed Monster or Invasion of Astro Monster for great kaiju options. I'd also toss in another ant movie besides THEM... Phase IV, a movie I love just for the photography alone.

[@terrytalksmovies]

All good choices.

[@dogzdad123]

Terry: Interesting list with the usual suspects. (Not a fan of Gattaca, although the exteriors were shot a few miles from my home) Glad you included at least one TOHO film (I’ll be in Tokyo next spring and will make it a point to visit the studio and look for the murals). I don’t know why but 1970s Omega Man is my personal favorite…first act, minus the human survivors is intriguing. The Vincent Price version had promise, but no budget. Will Smith’s take had a big budget, but lacked some depth and a unsatisfying ending. Question- What SciFi films would you like to be remade, or rebooted? Thanks

[@terrytalksmovies]

I answered the question in the video. The Power.😀

[@dogzdad123]

@@terrytalksmovies Terry, sorry...I meant to ask (besides "The Power") are there any other SciFi films that you would like to have remade. Thanks.

[@terrytalksmovies]

@@dogzdad123 Might make a good future video.

[@willcorlett7630]

Good selection and of course its your choice so you cannot argue against that. Glad to see the Day the earth caught fire make your list as it is for me anyway a much under appreciated film, as is Edward Judd. Gwangi thrilled me as a kid the first time around when I saw it in B&W, then I rewatched it quite recently in colour and somehow it seemed a little off and not up to RHs usual standard Of all yur picks I think the Creature from the Black lagoon might be my favourite. The storytelling is first rate and never mind Barbarella that swimming scene caught my teenage attention. If I were to add a film it might be the Fantastic Planet, a wierd but compelling animated film, whose story is well told and has a lot to commend it

[@terrytalksmovies]

Fantastic Planet is great.

[@Scimarad]

I'm a big fan of Gattaca and especially The Day the Earth Stood Still & Forbidden Planet but The Power is one I've never heard of. Definitely need to look it up. Honestly, I love most of those:)

[@terrytalksmovies]

The Power is a very atypical MGM movie of the 60s.

[@patrickclaeys6512]

@@terrytalksmovies also a good book which anticipated cold war feelings

[@palmercolson7037]

The movie comes across as more of a thriller, but there are good SF bits to it. An example of one of the good bits would be Earl Holliman's little speech in the middle of the movie. I liked it when I first saw it.

[@alastairward2774]

I discovered Planet of the Vampires when I went searching for something that looked as good as Forbidden Planet. I hoped Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets might be a decent partner to the Fifth Element in the same way, but it fell short after that first half hour.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I liked Valerian, in spite of the fact that the leads had no chemistry together.

[@simonatterbury]

As watching your list I was going to suggest The Day The Earth Caught Fire but lo and behold you mentioned. it. The film was shot in the Daily Express offices in Fleet Street (known in the trade as the Black Lubyanka) and when I first started work used to visit it. So would recommend 5 more movies, Them, the brilliant 1950s giant ant movie. Fantastic Voyage with Raquel Welch and Donald Pleasance. British disaster SciFi A Crack In The World with some pretty epic 1960s special effects and great score. Finally 2 from Michael Crichton, Coma that he wrote and directed and also written by him but directed by The Day The Earth Stood Stills Robert Wise, The Andromeda Strain, (he also directed The Sound Of Music and Star Trek The Motion Picture).

[@terrytalksmovies]

Good picks there!

[@keithf_]

Interesting selections, Terry. The Day The Earth Caught Fire Love it. For me, one of the best British science fiction movies ever made. I love the sparkling cynicism of the journos played by Edward Judd and Leo McKern. It might be McKern's finest performance on screen. Always found it strange that the opening credits say 'introducing Edward Judd'. I'm sure I've seen earlier film performances from him. The Time Machine Love it. The scene where George (Rod Taylor) leaves the machine for the first time having travelled to the near future is, for me, the finest scene I've seen in any science fiction movie. He encounters not his best friend Filby (Alan Young) but Filby's grown up son, who imparts information about Filby Snr that George probably would have preferred not to know. For George - and for the viewer, me in particular - it hits right between the eyes that time travel might not be the exhilarating thrill ride one imagines. For me, that scene is a complete wow ! And I think it provides George with the motivation for the actions he takes at the very end of the movie. Some of MY favourite science fiction movies :- The Incredible Shrinking Man, 2001: A Space Odyssey (yes Terry I know), The Andromeda Strain, Alien, Super 8 (some of the best acting by kids I've seen)

[@terrytalksmovies]

Good choices.

[@antonyeastham4564]

I've seen all but Flesh G, I've got most of the others mentioned. I've always loved This Island Earth, original Planet of the Apes, When Worlds Collide, Rollerball, Them, Timecrimes, and my favourite - Aliens.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Timecrimes is great!

[@stephendsullivan]

Surprised and delighted to find THE POWER on your list, because it's a movie I love and it seems like nobody else knows it. Now I need to check if there's an HD or blu-ray of it in the US. Great score, too. Had to work hard to track that down on CD. Good rest of the list, too. I think I've seen all but one, and I may have to rectify that. Don't have a lot of pictures to add off the top of my head -- except maybe 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, a rebuttal to your "all Disney SF is crap" and JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH from the same time period -- assuming you consider those SF and not fantasy. And of course I'll always love WAR OF THE WORLDS (though the ending, same as the book, might bug you, in particular). Great FX, great color, full of suspense and action. Great call on THE CREATURE. RIP Ricou Browning.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I had to scour the shelves and my database to remind myself of some of these films but there are a lot of other films I could've added to the list, too.

[@marcoantoniosalazarmatamor9496]

If there is one flaw in Gattaca is that it needs more Ernest Borgnine.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Just double feature it with The Emperor Of The North. 😉