My Top 15 Sci-Fi Movies of All Time

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Interstellar had me bawling like a baby - yeah, “Dad tears”. And that soundtrack! Best of Zimmer. I hope the new Matrix film will recapture the magic of the first one. “No R-rated films unless they’ve got Arnold Schwarzenegger in them” - ha ha! Awesome to hear your picks, Mike, and I hope you’re feeling better!

[@mikesbookreviews]

I finally realized about a year later that folks with kids were much more affected by Interstellar than those without.

[@sohansahoo4203]

Interstellar is one of the best Christopher nolan movies for me.It is very streamlined compared to Tenet. I wish Tenet could have captured the same feeling for me by giving character based moments instead of sci- fi spectacle.Interstellar represents the balance between character based moments and sci- fi spectacle for me.

[@superbloodwolfmoon2597]

Contact Interstellar Blade Runner 2049 The Road Warrior Minority Report Revenge of the Sith I know the Star Wars prequels get a lot of crap, but their my childhood's Star Wars and I love them.

[@lepragunner1586]

I'm surprised that Blade Runner (either the original or 2049), Arrival and The Martian weren't on your list, but hey, to each their own. They are definitely on mine. Anyways, great picks overall Mike, glad that we share the same passion for sci fi cinema. It is probably my favourite genre along with fantasy and historical epics (duh)

[@regulah2125]

The power of nostalgia. Makes it difficult to make short lists like this for sure.

[@MistahKurtz1979]

Paul Verhoeven has made some of my favorites: Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers. Probably the best use of squibs in movies too.

[@daviddelmundo2187]

Yes very good movies.

[@chrisconnors7418]

I have Hal's voice clips for various computer functions. An error is "I'm afraid I can't do that". When I turn it off it's, "My mind is going, there's no question about it". I plug something into the USB port, it's "Just one moment please".

[@mikouf9691]

My list would be: 2001 A Space Odyssey, The Abyss, Alien, Aliens, Arrival, Bladerunner, Close Encounters, Edge of Tomorrow, The Fifth Element, Inception, Interstellar, John Carter, The Martian, Mad Max: Road Warrior, The Empire Strikes Back, and Terminator 2. As much as I used to watch Star Trek reruns religiously, as a child, I only ever watched one of the original cast movies (?The Undiscovered Country?)

[@gizmoochi]

Agreeing with your list Mike but I'd like to add Soylent Green, Enemy Mine and Galaxy Quest.

[@bdaigno]

I love Logan's Run.

[@mooshi3951]

one of my favourites is District 9. The transformation the main character goes through is both unnerving and heartbreaking!

[@analuisarex]

One of my favourite aswell. Highly underrated in my opinion. Such a different take on alien related movies.

[@serrasedai]

tbh yes even though it's hard to watch that movie was incredible

[@TysonPJ]

Ok, now I need to know your thoughts on the Blade Runners.

[@ashleydoran8412]

I'm not sure if it counts as sci-fi, but the anime movie Ghost in the Shell is really amazing. I always start my rewatches of The Matrix Movies (including The Animatrix) with the Ghost in the Shell anime movie.

[@kittensmakingcandles]

My Top 5 ================= * The Matrix (1999) * Alien (1979) * 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) * Blade Runner (1982) * Star Wars Original Trilogy, Theatrical Release (1977 - 1980 - 1983) (feel free to reply with your own Top 5)

[@Coley_-_]

I watched Star Wars in sequential order. I loved it. I was surprised that Anakin Skywalker was Darth Vader.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hmm. Interesting.

[@edanmaor]

Great list. I do feel like it's missing some newer films that are also good, the most obvious of them being Arrival, which is absolutely spectacular (the short story it's based off of is even better, but that's not to detract from the movie at all, which is easily in my top 10 sci fi films). Also, The Prestige, if you count it, is one of my favorite films of all time.

[@regulah2125]

A lot of newer ones imo. BR2049, Ex Machina, Edge of Tomorrow, Annihilation, Her, Predestination, The Martian, Upgrade. An older one I was very surprised to not see was Contact. But it's a nostalgia favored list so it's not surprising. I know my list of favorites will look strange 10-20 years from now.

[@fithfath3615]

I like the list Mike, but this is a category that could go on forever there are some excellent films out there such as: Pitch Black, Escape From New York, Flash Gordon, Blade Runner, Akira, Robocop (the original not the pale watered down remake), Hardware, The Fifth Element (a family favourite), Mars Attacks, Starship Troopers, Dredd, Lost In Space, Galaxy Quest (this did Star Trek better than Star Trek), District 9 and Equilibrium to name a few. I also have to say I did enjoy the Dune film from the 80's even though it missed so much. It would be cool to do a B Movie list, there are so many excellent fun films that could be added to that. (Tremors, Evolution, 8 Legged Freaks, Them to name a few)

[@kahlbutomacfarland]

I don’t think you can get 2001 until you’re middle aged (or with acid). The goddamn boldness of this movie, multiple 30+ min runs with no dialogue, the vision to depict space and being on the moon so accurately before the actual moon landing. Kubrick is the GOAT, plain and simple. And you need help if watching mankind make its first step to humanity doesn’t get you teary, don’t talk to me, lol.

[@schnellergeist]

I probably watched the three Star Wars movies (those other six are NOT Star Wars) 1,000 times before I was 10 - thanks VHS!

[@EricMcLuen]

A few random films for honorable mention. Silent Running Deus Ex Equilibrium Road Warrior

[@larryladeroute971]

Flash Gordon is probably my most watched scifi movie. It's not for everyone but always at/near the top of my list.

[@REChronic54]

I'm 23 and I grew up watching Arnold S. movies. T2 and Predator were my favorites and still are; I quote them so many times. Call it questionable parenting but man, I wouldn't have known about these movies if not for my parents.

[@JLchevz]

Predator is fucking badass, one of my favorite movies, I watched it with my dad too and we still love it, fantastic stuff.

[@readingreignbro5680]

Flight of the Navigator was a nostalgic favorite of mine. I wouldn't show it to anybody nowadays though 😆. Great list. Might not be my list, but I'd def watch any of these pretty much any time.

[@mikesbookreviews]

“Compliance!”

[@readingreignbro5680]

@@mikesbookreviews Yes!🤣

[@wendigo3140]

God bless you Mike! Your taste in books & films is very similar to mine and I can always count on this channel for excellent recommendations

[@emennt7656]

Great list ! I'd add A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Contact maybe Gattaca and Animatrix (it goes deeper into exploring the notion of Computer simulation and it blew me away with all the ideas)

[@TeamSnitchSeeker]

Gattaca definitely seems to be very prescient. Really compelling film that didn't get enough credit when it came out.

[@ernstbrehm1135]

Roddy Piper was my favorite wrestler of all time!!!

[@leenaylor400]

Good list, Aliens,Predator & T2 would be in my top 10 favourite list of films, have you ever watched a film called Dark City?

[@CulainRuledByVenus]

You should continue collecting physical media. The self-appointed WrongThink police are retro-editing movies just as "sensitivity readers" are being hired for their "service" of dictating what portions of classic literature should be edited or updated. Sometimes for less serious reasons, like what George Lucas did to his own Star Wars movies in 1997. Sure the effects were relatively cheap back then, but those original movies are what charmed us, cheesy effects and all. Now, the originals are super hard to find, and then only on VHS for ridiculous prices. We're looking at a similar situation with almost anything else that's being "updated for modern audiences."

[@jayaprakash387]

I wanted you to see dune first and make this but ok.

[@joseph_b319]

Great list!! Every movie you picked i would pick as my top 15. Here are a few add ons. The Abyss, i pick Predator 2 over Predator 1, i too would call Jurassic Park my Star Wars. I seen JP The Lost World and Event Horizon in the movies back to back. And here is a great cult sci-fi movie that is not ever talked about, Moontrap, very difficult to find. The only place i can watch it is someone uploaded it to youtube.

[@edwardtaylor5207]

Nostalgia plays a big part in my choices..I agree with all your picks (although I havent seen close encounters!) some i like that weren't mentioned include Short Circuit, Blade runner new/old, Elysium and Equilibrium.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Love Short Circuit. So many good quotes.

[@sjkrum320]

All great movies! I think I quote all these films EVERY DAY! Say to your Amazon device "Alexa, open the pod bay doors" if you haven't already found that Easter egg, it'll make you laugh. GET TO THE CHOPPER!!!!!

[@dpeady78]

Even just the other day, my wife noticed a cut on my arm, she said “You’re bleeding” The ONLY appropriate response: “I AINT GOT TIME TO BLEED….”

[@mikesbookreviews]

Well played.

[@mosselyn5081]

I think it's impossible for people born more recently to imagine the impact of the first Star Wars movie. I was 15 when it was released. I, too, would have watched it over and over, except you know, I wasn't old enough to drive and you had to buy a movie ticket. :) I can't think of anyone I knew who saw it and wasn't totally blown away by both the story and the special effects. 40+ years later, I still remember that feeling.

[@Rogue_VI]

Yep. At 8 years old, that was the first movie I ever saw in theaters twice. And the first movie that I ever saw with lines around the corner. It was simply amazing.

[@alliem9404]

Going to have to add some of these to my to watch list :)

[@BigDaddy13515]

If you consider dystopian movies as sci-fi my list would be twice this size lol. Great list though. Blade Runner would be at the top of mine along with these.

[@RICHIEV333]

Back to the future was one of the best-written movies of all time. In the first 10 minutes or so they had to establish 20 to 30 different things in the present timeline that would all be addressed or called back, in the past timeline then some of them were carried through and were addressed a final time in the new, changed present.

[@andrewpopely9511]

Great list Mike. The only film I would add would be 1951’s The Day The Earth Stood Still. One of my favourite SF films of all time.

[@wheeljack0]

Check out 'Nobody' that came out this year. Its amazing, just our type of film. No pc rubbish, violent & great story.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Is that the one with Bob Odenkirk? We watched it. Just fantastic.

[@wheeljack0]

@@mikesbookreviews Yep, that was the one. Glad you liked it.

[@Someguy385]

By "xenobites" I think you meant xenomorphs, haha. You melded them with Hellraiser's cenobites

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah it happens.

[@johntencate4781]

we need a top 10 sifi books vid (maybe you've already done one, idk). could do numbers on the channel and would help me pick some starter series.

[@stevenmccart8502]

The thing , Blade Runner , GATACA , Silent Running , Clockwork Orange , Brazil , Minority report , A.I. , Close encounters of the third kind , Soylent green.

[@HeNnEsSy_HiCcUpS]

No bladerunner or alien?

[@wardo1602]

Great list! My Top 15 would have included Inception, Gattaca, and Minority Report. Some honorable mentions: Pi, Sunshine, Primer, Europa Report, Snowpiercer, Moon, Total Recall,

[@DylanDoesBooks]

I quite enjoyed Edge of Tomorrow as a modern Sci-fi. It's not usually my genre but I found that one quite captivating! I am surprised you like Event Horizon, it's certainly not a 'great' movie but there's something about that movie that I actually love. Who could forget the line 'Where we are going we don't need eyes to see', such a good line! I only watched it for the first time this year too.

[@MattGrimmett]

The ONLY thing I'd do different here would be to add District 9 and 2001. Certainly in place of Predator. BUT, what hits as our faves is a subjective art so I get it. I understand the disgruntlement with 2001 and agree with some of it but the philosophical implications of the movie are as equally compelling to The Matrix & interstellar.

[@CRohrscheib]

Any movie with time travel/worm holes/multiple universes/or any theoretical physics is an automatic watch for me. Scary aliens isn't my favorite but friendly aliens like in Contact or Arrival is always a big win!

[@The_Living_Shadow]

I agree Star Wars... what Disney starwars? I know nothing of dis Diss-knee... there is only one thing after ROTJ, and that is The Star Wars EU. And yes that includes all the prequel Era EU as well. Kylo Ren? Never heard of her...

[@SuperBondfan007]

The hard part is a lot of the popular ones like Star Wars are series and it's tough to pick one. I'm one of the few who loves all 9 Star Wars, and both Independence Day films, and all the Transformers live-actions. For some singleton films, I'd probably go with Mars Attacks! great sci-fi comedy, Judge Dredd (the Stallone version actually), and Armageddon. Now I haven't seen some of these in a while, but I definitely remember loving them all, and seeing them several times on TV (Most of them I never saw in theaters, having only discovered them when I was older through TV with the exception of Episodes 3, 7, 8, and 9, and one of the original live action Transformers)

[@eddya7894]

I hear you about the bootlegging.... When I was a kid, my parents used to wait till a film came out on cable TV (usually HBO), and they'd tape it from the TV to VHS. I first got the Star Wars trilogy that way. I still have those tapes... almost unwatchable, but nostalgic!

[@adamborst]

I'm slightly afraid to re-watch movies down that I have kids because of the "dad tears". I love the Matrix, possibly my favorite movie of all time, it's top 3 regardless of genre. That said, another sci-fi that I really love, but not because it's good, but because it's fun, is Starship Troopers. Thanks for the list, it was awesome.

[@parthkulkarni3468]

well dune might enter this list of yours

[@serrasedai]

No SF list without Arrival and Gravity is complete. Those are the best science fiction films of the last 20 years, and they came out in 2016 and 2013.

[@stevenstewart782]

After reading Pierre Bouilles Planet of the Apes, I'd really like to see a more faithful adaptation Charlton Heston movie Pretty close But had some major changes that

[@nyppo]

I actually prefer Terminator over the sequel, but I get it. Thouhg they are two different type of movies. Also when when Murph hits her dad with "because my dad promised me...", I was done. Gets me every damn time.

[@gerarddonohoe5806]

On a personal level I would add-2010, Dune(yes the David lynch movie). Blade runner & Solaris(the original 1972 Russian version & not the Clooney version) Of course 2001 & event horizon would be in there as well as the original version of The day the earth stood still..

[@adventureswithJacqui]

Definitely agree about The Day the Earth Stood Still!

[@gerarddonohoe5806]

@@adventureswithJacqui I watched it again a couple of nights ago and I'm still amazed at how well its held up, Michael Rennie is fantastic as Klaatu and oh boy that music... Sends shivers down my spine..

[@yorkshirelasstracey5383]

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... Or the one" I can recite that script word for word and this breaks me everytime. Great choices here Mike most of them are on my top ten sci fi films of all time.

[@bobgdn]

I remember our vcr tape of Return of the Jedi was super fuzzy during Leia’s bikini scenes from excessive rewinding and pausing.

[@Paul_van_Doleweerd]

Just recently saw (a heavily edited) Attack The Block on television, it's quite a lot of fun. And even if it's not live action, I think Akira is pretty high on my list.

[@Grendelbc]

There are a lot of really good flicks on your list. My list of all time favorites would have to include Forbidden Planet, The Thing From Another World and Them.

[@anitadangler9537]

No criticism whatsoever about your list. I'd just like a better look at your t shirt.You always have cool ones!! 😊

[@pimpmykultur3198]

The Martian, Gravity and the Abyss are missing... and I can assure you, Dune 2021 would be on this list as well. I saw it two weeks ago and it blew my mind.

[@lukeskywalker6809]

My 10 Favorite sci-fi movies: 10. Avatar 9. Contact 8. Matrix-trilogy 7. The Terminator & T2 6. Alien-trilogy 5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind 4. 2001: A Space Odyssey 3. Star Wars Original trilogy 2. Back to the Future-trilogy 1. Blade Runner

[@lukeskywalker6809]

RoboCop, Total Recall, The Thing (1982)

[@RedFuryBooks]

Great list! One of my favorites that you didn't mention is Ex Machina - so thought-provoking.

[@KalleVilenius]

But Mike! You made a dreadful mistake. "I can't let you do that" is a quote from Tron, not 2001. Hand in your nerd card. The greatest time-travel film of all time (no pun intended) is either Primer or 12 Monkeys, but The Girl Who Leapt Through Time holds a special place in my heart. Solaris and 2001 are the best films about first encounters. Bunch of different anime films like Redline, Wings of the Honneamise, Metropolis, Patlabor 1&2 and Memories (specifically the Magnetic Rose segment) are some of the best sci-fi I've ever seen. Total Recall is the go-to Arnold sci-fi. Obviously can't have a list like this without Jurassic Park. Bringing back woolly mammoths is completely different from bringing back dinosaurs, you know. We were always above mammoths in the food chain. Stalker and Annihilation are two films that are very, very different from one another but they're both variations on the same set-up of a group of people entering an area of abnormality and what they encounter there.

[@moominkomet]

Love your list! Primer doesn’t get enough love.

[@KalleVilenius]

@@moominkomet Probably a little too difficult to follow for general audiences. The timelines were well thought out.

[@dougmoore883]

Primer is fantastic and I don't think Magnetic Rose gets enough love at all.

[@Rogue_VI]

@@moominkomet I didn't care for Primer. It was a bit too convoluted for my taste.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I absolutely love the matrix and the sequel 🌟💖💝 Terminator 2 is a great sequel definitely better than the first 💯

[@gegamst7323]

My two favourite sci-fi movies are Jurassic Park 1 and Close encounter of the third kind. I saw them both in theaters when they came out and I've rewatched them many times. I never get tired of them. Star wars has never been my thing even though I love both the Star Trek and Stargate franchise. Go figure.

[@katieamarsh]

I watch Prometheus over and over again. I love it so much. This was a great video Mike, solid content all week.

[@Dmitry___S.]

I remember loving 'Mr Nobody', where an old man in a deathless society tells different ways of how his life would go after his parents divorced. It spoke to me at a time, because I used to overthink stuff and was very indecisive. Needs a rewatch! Also, the new Dune film is pretty good...

[@MilesWilliams88]

Mr. Nobody is underrated for sure!

[@andrew4437]

Game over man! Game over!

[@neondemon5137]

You could have top 100 and still miss out on some great movies.

[@adventureswithJacqui]

I was at the cinema yesterday watching a Time to Die, and I actually thought back to when I went to see Star Wars as a kid. There was only 1 screen at the cinema and we had to queue for 2 hours to see it. How different things are today! I also remembered crying my eyes out when Vadar died in ToTJ! Prior to Star Wars all we had were old 50's and 60's sci-fi films which I still hold dear to my heart. the original the Day The Earth Stood Still was always my favourite and the invisible monster in The Forbidden Planet always terrified me. Still does if I'm honest lols!

[@chrismueller8795]

Thank you for mentioning Star Trek 2 really good movie

[@stevenzegarelli6940]

What about "big trouble in little china" maybe border line sci fi 🤔

[@paulroach2548]

Love predator one of the first films I can ever remember watching

[@randomdude3620]

No Bladerunner? No Ex-Machina?

[@bungski2234]

Hello

[@foodini666]

Great list. Going to seek out They Live, only one I haven’t seen.

[@bookishb]

I would add arrival to this list.

[@jasonkendrick681]

No shame at crying at E.T.

[@Blueberry0736]

Yaaay!

[@dailycarolina.]

My favorites are :Arrival , Avatar (2009), A Quiet Place, Wall - E, Star Trek : into darkness, Back To The Future trilogy, War of the Worlds (2005), The Fifth Element, Evolution (2001) and Avengers : Endgame.

[@dinocollins720]

Make like a tree... and get outta here lol

[@Ulmo90]

Quite a few that I haven't seen yet, perhaps I'll pick up 2001 A space Odyssey or Aliens soon. For my list, I would add the bed Dune movie as well as Avatar and Edge of Tomorrow

[@whutzat]

I could KISS you for including "They Live" Sadly, we're now living in that movie!

[@currangill430]

No Blade Runner???

[@nilsbylander]

Great list! Havent seen some of them, will check them out for sure! Missing Arrival and Contact, but hey you cant have it all I guess. Back to the future never clicked for me though, guess Im too young 😄 Event Horizon omg such memories... ❤️

[@brentasmith]

"Say hi to your mom for me."

[@mikesbookreviews]

He’s the best. And yeah, I use that line on my kids all the time.

[@epiphoney]

Interesting theory about what the monolith is from 2001 by Collative Learning. It's not what you'd expect: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4TSZ6aVrdedasU I've always liked Silent Running with Bruce Dern. Maybe the message is a bit heavy handed, but the robots are cute and the song at the end by Joan Baez is good.

[@Alpharius]

The Matrix has been switching back and forth with Fellowship of the Ring as my favorite movie for 20 years now, I love that movie, so great choice Mike. Lots of awesome picks here.

[@malazansapper1085]

I just knew you would leave out Suburban Commando. Shameful, Mike. Just Shameful.

[@daviddelmundo2187]

Guys check Gattaca.

[@starwarsfan9575]

I like Avatar.. cannot wiat for the sequels. You never bet against Mr Cameron. Also Blade Runner 2049 is one of my favourite films of all time

[@cmmosher8035]

Mile claims to a Roddy Pipper but doesn't include Hell Comes To Frogtown. For shame.

[@Rogue_VI]

Nice list. I like/love most everything on it. However, I absolutely hated Event Horizon. I felt so many of the scary parts were just so contrived. There were far too many noisy scene changes designed to scare you and they were annoying.

[@teksnotdead902]

Awesome list.

[@moominkomet]

Totally agree with this list! 2001 is a family favorite. Love that movie! Glad you included They Live! A great movie. Some of my favorites are Repo Man! Best car on the lot! Another movie my mom took me to when I was 5. It burned it’s way into my mind for life, Fantastic Planet is a trip!

[@goodknight37]

Arrival.

[@avsambart]

This came at the perfect time. I've been on a scifi movie kick for weeks and needed more movie recs. Unfortunately I've watched most of these 🤣 but I'll be getting to Predator and Close Encounters soon.

[@bradkrick8254]

Great list. Interstellar is my absolute favorite. That ending wrecks me every time. Being a dad changes you!

[@robertharcourt7650]

It's amazing that we have such sililar tase Mike. I guess you're my brother from another mother ;)