Rob Ager's top 25 sci-fi movies of all time

[@collativelearning]

A lot of commenters obviously not watching the video and just responding to the list provided in the comments section. Please note that, as stated in the video at the beginning, this is a personal list and my criteria are not about which are the best movies generally, but which in my personal opinion have the better sci-fi concepts with entertainment value as the secondary factor. A lot of my fave movies that happen to have a sci-fi element, such as merely being set in the future, didn't make the list because I didn't find the sci-fi ideas to be as impressive as the other genre appeals of those movies - eg, Predator's appeals lie mainly in the action and horror genres, Starship Troopers' appeals lie mainly in the action and social satire genres etc. I'll also add that for those who object to the inclusion of some children's movies, sci-fi doesn't have to be dark and serious. It can be fun too. Thanks folks :)

[@felixcournoyer6085]

some people know they'll get more views in the comments than if they made a video of their list :P

[@MrHEC381991]

It's a shame you have to remind people for the second time about this. Keep up the good work, Rob.

[@swanofnutella4734]

Fun video. While I'm not really feeling the efficacy of your choices as I was your horror choices I'm not going to jump on your back for that as much as I would what you are framing as 'plays to'/constitutes actual science fiction. You cited a few times how some premises were more "social commentary" than "sci-fi" but I disagree with this criteria. As I view it, social commentary is intrinsic to science fiction. Science fiction is, at it's core "What would society be like if you introduced X?" (even if that ends up being a society of one, ala Silent Running.) Logan's Run (whether you like the film/book or not is not the point) was written in large part as William Nolan's frustration as a teacher to precisely make this distinction vs. a story that simply bathes in sci-fi trappings, like some books of the time did and later Star Wars would famously do. That said, I ultimately don't care and am personally happy to classify even a sci-fi 'flavor' fantasy like Star Wars as actual science fiction, but it seemed like certain entries moved up or down your list based on this criteria of yours that seemed at odds with criteria on either side of the spectrum. Granted this is all highly pedantic on my part and I'm only chiming in here for the sake of conversation, not bickering. Enjoyed the video, as always and now I'm wondering what my own list might look like. Cheers.

[@swanofnutella4734]

PS: Glad to see Star Trek 1 enjoy a cozie spot, as I agree it's highly under-rated. Though I'm sad to see Quiet Earth didn't make an entry at all. I would have imagined that would be in your wheelhouse. Maybe you haven't seen it?

[@WILLNOTCOMPLY72]

Congrats Rob!! You deserve it and so much more!! Your channel should be in the millions! Hard work..intelligence and insight and education are all here for us to enjoy. Thank you and well done mate.

[@peregrinec5477]

Fun story. I was 7 month pregnant when I saw, Prometheus, in the theater upon its release. We saw it in 3-D. But, my baby was super active when encountering sound he was just doing cartwheels. Oh, during that ONE scene... I don't want to spoil it for folks who haven't seen it yet...My husband looks over at me and he sees I'm super freaked out, holding my belly. He says, "I bet you are the only person here who experienced this film in 4-D." :D

[@kellymartin8090]

I’ve waited over 40 years to hear someone say the things about STTMP as I do. Thank you. I think this Star Trek movie was made in the true concept of Star Trek. Star Trek has always been about the inner voyage and this movie explores that concept better than any other ST movie to date. My favorite Star Trek movie! By the way I think you did a fine job on that list. Pleasantly surprised you put Runaway and The Abyss on your list. A couple of my favs as well.

[@Ali-gw2yd]

25 Runaway 24 The Abyss 23 Gattaca 22 Fantastic Voyage 21 Aliens 20 Rollerball 19 Prometheus 18 The Terminator 1&2 17 The Andromeda Strain 18 The Empire Strikes Back 15 Blade Runner 14 The Last Starfighter 13 The Thing (1982) 12 Upgrade 11 A.I. Artificial Intelligence 10 Forbidden Planet 9 Total Recall (1990) 8 Wall-E 7 Alien 6 THX 1138 5 The Outer Limits (1963 TV Series Season 2 Episode 5) 4 Moonraker 3 The Matrix 2 Star Trek The Motion Picture 1 2001: A Space Odyssey

[@CoronaTwerking]

Thenks

[@evilspeak5702]

Lazy, a pro would provide timestamps for each film.

[@jayf6360]

Good guess.

[@hanniffydinn6019]

Balti Pasta no, time stamps will now get you demonetised ! So he’s done the correct thing, blame you tube !

[@evilspeak5702]

@@hanniffydinn6019 Since these video's aren't monetised it's a moot point.

[@DrCreepen]

You won me over as soon as Runaway made the cut; fantastic concept, well executed and utterly possible premise.

[@rupeoverlay3153]

The robot spiders always scared the shit out of me

[@TC_Smitty]

Ditto

[@SimplyAustins]

Congrats on the 100K mate! Got to say you are my go to channel for finding hidden gems and rethinking some of the classics. Awesome channel and highly underrated! I'm with you on the Abyss thing too. Great film for its day, and although the pacing and length is a little off, it just doesnt seem to have aged well either. One of the few times I would say a remake of this would be great as the concept if first class. I did also like A.I. I think its a great Sunday afternoon flick. Easy watching but with lots of depth. Its amazing how many of these flicks I watched back in the 80-90s on channel 4 Friday nights when they would have some kind of Cinema club. Godzillas, old 70 movies, modern indie films... kind of like what Film 4 was when it started. I miss those days...

[@jakeslaughter7201]

I’m so glad Wall-E is on this list. I rewatched it a few weeks ago and found myself thinking about how it really is an amazing science fiction movie.

[@davidlean1060]

I's an excellent film and a great way to teach kids about the dangers of 'group think'. It's 2001 for pre adolescents!

[@Olliebear38]

Hi Rob. Love the inclusion of "Moonraker" on the list. Very unexpected and its mere mention is inspiring me to rewatch it ... Right now. "Attempting re-entry sir"

[@markkelly8674]

Watch out for the change after Jaws crashes the cable car and the girl helps him push the wheel off his head then flashes a smile. Originally she had braces which is why Jaws smiles back with his metal teeth.

[@theducksneezes4987]

Who wants Rob Ager's Best Action Movies?

[@collativelearning]

Gotta do that one

[@Mo_Ketchups]

Like the guy w the “casual shirts” gag, I’m down for Ager Top 25 Anything. He’s in my Top 25 Limeys list for SURE! 🦆✌️

[@malloid]

I had to come back after watching Upgrade (2018) and say... WOW! IT IS PHENOMENAL! Wow, wow, wow! I would even be tempted to put it at the top of the list. 100 minutes of pure, unadulterated imagination, excitement and just beautiful cinema. Rob - thank you for the recommendation. Everyone should see Upgrade - I'm in shock it was so good!

[@conceptualmessiah01]

I had to come back after watching Upgrade (2018) and say... WOW! IT IS AVERAGE! Lol. The pace is bad. The edition is bad. It's a good movie deep down but the execution is not great. If you are a snob, avoid it.

[@magicbus63]

My Top 10. 10. The Running Man 9. Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan 8. The Terminator 7. Total Recall 6. Blade Runner 5. Alien 4. 2001 A Space Odyssey 3. The Empire Strikes Back 2. Terminator 2 Judgement Day 1. Planet Of The Apes (1968)

[@IIrandhandleII]

Running man hah nice!

[@theboardwalkclub4185]

@@IIrandhandleII thats a good list braj

[@michaelaiello9289]

I would have added Dark City, The 5th Element, Predator, Twelve Monkeys, Robocop, Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green, Starship Troopers, The Omega Man, A Boy and His Dog (Harlan Ellison story), Under the Skin. Solaris 1972 maybe. Also John Carpenter's Dark Star is a definite maybe. Zardoz is worthy. And if you're going to add entire TV series, Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica (from the 2000s) would be keepers. I will take another look at ST:TMP, but I have my doubts. Ditto for Moonraker, which I haven't seen since it came out in 1979. I've seen most everything else on the list, with the exception of Prometheus and Upgrade. Thanks, Rob, for another great video.

[@jzarunski]

Like this list a lot.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

Upgrade is actually streaming on Cinemax and what's even better is that HBO/Cinemax have joined the likes of Showtime, Amazon and Netflix by streaming in the correct aspect ratio which is a big deal for me. Now, if only Starz would join the club

[@DubSun33]

Am I losing my mind?!? Why has no one named the best sci fi movie of all time? HEAVY METAL Loved Rob's list btw.

[@michaelaiello9289]

​@@DubSun33 written by Dan O'Bannon (Dark Star): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_Metal_(film). "Adult animation".

[@TheRagingwerepanda]

Love your additions, the ones I don't see yet that work for me are Inception, Moon, Terminator (1 and/or 2), Primer, Dredd, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

[@clausdemwohnzimmer]

Wow. When you put Moonraker there, I thought you were completely insane. But then you Star Trek The Motion Picture happened and I just have to give you immense props. I agree with this so much. What a criminally underrated masterpiece.

[@BFSOM]

How absolutely dare you not mirror my exact top 25 scifi movie list 😡

[@iNezerroth]

How much brown coupons did you recieve for this post?

[@jamesstewart7736]

🤣😂🤣

[@WokeBegone]

He assumed you wouldn't care because you're dead

[@BFSOM]

@@WokeBegone he's an anti deadite 😡

[@BFSOM]

@@iNezerroth 6

[@CNCTEMATIC]

"Moon" would be in my top 10. Pure SciFi, great, deep, thought-provoking themes. A fantastic story; for me its one of those films I can watch over and again and still be entertained. The two stars are Sam Rockwell, with an amazing performance, and Clint Mansell's incredible score. A new take on the AI character with Gerty. Brilliant execution all round on a tiny budget.

[@Gos1234567]

CNCTEMATIC shite film FFS

[@9000ck]

It is a damn good creepy film.

[@hangedups2608]

gerry o sullivan HOWS IT SHITE ?

[@jibicusmaximus4827]

I thought it was too but I recently dug it back out, it is very derivative, a 70's pastiche almost, I did enjoy it more second time though, also as for an actual list I would suggest K Pax as a great sci fi, also featuring Kevin Spacey.

[@HenryFordOfficial]

it's pretty simple and predictable, but was more interesting than most movies of the last 20 years

[@brucehilton1662]

The original "The Day the Earth Stood Still" should be in the top 10 maybe. That was a heck of a concept and a nice execution of it.

[@imouse3246]

Amen. Perhaps the moral message was too much?

[@billthecat2410]

Your right on that one. The first one was great, the second time around,,, not so great..

[@doug209]

I just realized the difference between THX 1138 and Blade Runner 2049 is 911.

[@collativelearning]

Don't tell the conspiracy buffs, they'll go crazy

[@funkoxen]

I find that fact to be extremely deep. thank you.

[@bRETTfAVREatgbnyjmni]

So that means George Lucas was behind 9-11 🤣

[@MCCrleone354]

Whaa!!!? You just blew my mind!!! I am however still open to BR 2049 being a bad film. Rob did not convince me with his "Plot Fails" video. He has said that he has things to say about 2049's dialogue, directing and visual style.I wonder what he has to say about the dialogue. I think I could learn from that as an aspiring script doctor. Admittedly one line from Wallace seems to be too on the nose in explaining the parallel between runaway slaves and replicants. This was more subtle in OG Blade Runner. The line is, "Every leap of civilization was built on the back of a disposable workforce, but I can only make so many." I am not sure that is true (It's strange that a billionaire is reciting Marxist, one dimensional cliches to robots), nor do I know what Wallace thinks "expendable" means.

[@josephpurdy8390]

The escape from New York. In the first 15 minutes. The President of the United States plane crashes into the capital building. The protagonist played by Kurt Russell. He lands a glider on one of the twin towers in New York city. The movie was released in the early 1980s.

[@MrDman21]

A.I. is the bleakest Pinocchio story I've ever seen. XD

[@Grnademaster]

Yeah. The loneliest and most depressing ending to a movie I've seen.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' has been, and remains, a real favourite of mine.

[@Facelessman254]

I'm always disappointed with the ending myself

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

@@Facelessman254 What ending would you have preferred ?

[@haro82]

One of the greatest sci fi films for sure. Love it.

[@ianfindly3257]

MY noteworthy absentees .. . The Man Who Fell To Earth Silent Running Alphaville Wizards This Island Earth Metropolis The Illustrated Man The Quiet Earth Westworld Things To Come Barbarella Morons From Outer Space Gandahar Dark Crystal Enemy Mine Flash Gordon (1980) Zardoz

[@deputyVH]

Morons from Outer Space??? :D

[@ianfindly3257]

@@deputyVH I thought we could do with a FUNNY one or two in there.

[@DavyDredd14]

I would add : Logan's Run (1976) to your list.

[@ianfindly3257]

@@DavyDredd14 Agreed

[@hr3800]

PHASE 4

[@ianhartley395]

Thank you very much for your fascinating channel! I actually enjoy the odd times that I don’t like your take on a subject: it challenges my own assumptions. Your series on the Shining was incredible. Content creators like yourself are more important than you may realize. Watching the news and the madness out there makes it too easy to think we are nothing more than a planet of “murder monkeys” haha! Insightful content like this helps a person have a little faith. Thanks again for the mind food during these shut in times!

[@oo0TristansTransit0oo]

I always add Logan’s Run into a high position. Nice list anyway.

[@nicokarsen6131]

The art direction makes me hate that movie, LOVE everything else about it.

[@brandonkarcher23]

@@nicokarsen6131 I tried watching Logan's Run last night and just couldn't do it for that reason. It just doesn't hold up well at all. I guess I really should watch it though, since I've never seen it.

[@nicokarsen6131]

@@brandonkarcher23 Agreed

[@hazardous1990]

A.I is underrated in my opinion.

[@withche07]

yeah.

[@threethrushes]

It's quite long, and I'm not sure it has great repeatability. I remember being quite touched by it at the time of watching though.

[@starwarsroo2448]

It wasn't what people expected, it is a very clever movie

[@Optics2024]

Great film. Personally I love the Pinocchio concept, kind of heart breaking.

[@chatteyj]

@@starwarsroo2448 boringly so, I think Hollywood went through a period in the noughties of overly clever films that I think people grew tired of to the extent that they found them too 'preachy'

[@davidrolston2249]

I have only recently become aware of this channel, but I thought this was a great and bold list. I agree with many of these films although I have to admit there are a few I haven't seen, like Moonraker. I loved that you included Upgrade, which I saw in the theater with my son, and which blew us away at the time. There are a couple of films that would be on my personal list, I thought I'd mention. Many other comments have listed Primer. Considering the micro budget alone, it's a brilliant film and one that is rich with the type of detail that has drawn you to other films you've done analysis for. While I didn't read every single comment, having scanned the majority, I didn't see anyone else bring up District 9, which is a film I have seen numerous times, and is incredible sci fi, with some fascinating allegorical and social commentary. As you did in some of your picks, I'd go out on a limb and suggest that Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best Sci-fi films of the decade, were it not lumped into the rest of the Marvel series. I enjoyed Ex Machina a great deal, and am really loving Garland's current series on FX-Hulu Devs. Personally I don't think any all time top 25 sci fi list can exclude the original Planet of the Apes. I also think that you have to include at least one Cronenberg on this list, be it The Fly, Videodrome or Existenz. A couple of criminally underseen recent films that are "Upgrade" level good: "Morgan" and "Sound of My Voice". Sound of my voice in particular is a genre bender that really surprised me on a number of levels. Along the lines of some of your more controversial picks, I think you could pick one of the Riddick films and put it on a top 25 list. Many people have brought up 12 Monkeys, although I didn't see anyone mention that it was based on a famous french short La Jette, but seeing how you had several dystopian films on your list, I think it's worth mentioning that Gilliam's Brazil is that rarity -- the Dystopian Sci Fi black comedy, and it would be nice to see it get some recognition for it's ambition and prescience. Close encounters of the 3rd kind should be on any top 25 sci fi list. And I'll conclude by saying that Edge of Tomorrow is just a stupendous tour de force film, that was simply missed by far too many people, and would easily make my personal top 25.

[@MichaelVLang]

A couple that I think are underrated: Minority Report Iron Giant Interstellar: had some actual science in it via Kip Thorne, and was thought provoking, mostly... Contact: the same Soylent Green: watched it recently and it still holds up, taut story and good acting 2010: great cinematography and very believable cast and warm atmosphere Outland: I remember when it came out, it looked epic and the FX are excellent...story, eh, not great. Dune: so weird and strange, but also with a great cast and the pain of making it seems to be revealed in the movie.

[@princezzpuffypants6287]

Dune ruined Sting for me. I can only ever see him in those Nazi Youth underoos..... made the mistake of watching that for the first time when I was sick and on strong meds. Bad mix! 😂

[@Epiousios18]

I just watched Contact. I really enjoyed it. Arrival and Interstellar owe a lot to that movie, and it raises a lot of interesting questions itself.

[@brianhiles8164]

The movie _Interstellar,_ you say -- appalling! Like the movie _Gravity,_ _Interstellar_ is for me unwatchable because its physics is utterly flawed... _despite_ Thorne being attached to it. _And,_ I read the book he wrote of his contribution to Nolan's work. Did he not watch the resultant movie? Being a physicist, I could theoretically contact Dr. Thorne himself and give him a piece of my mind, but why? This brilliant scientist has to be theoretically aware of the movie's flawed conceit that it presumes to be faithful to "real physics." In this, I am _not_ talking of the movie's third act. Utterly, utterly appalling, but not more so than the matter of the undiscriminating viewing masses who fundamentally base their opinions on having been seduced by its notable soundtrack, cinematography, and grand vision. And I should know, being _also_ a filmmaker.

[@instinctivelychelsea2905]

Yes I found interstellar to be extremely thought provoking.

[@davidlean1060]

@@princezzpuffypants6287 Did you have to re watch it just to make sure you didn't hallucinate Sting in those pants?!

[@joeschmoe233]

Thank you for putting Gattaca on your list, one of my personal favorites that is both thought provoking and actually realistic.

[@deebeeinto]

Agreed! Very underrated. Also...late 90s. Jude Law and Ethan Hawk weren't in a lot of lead roles in the early 1980s.

[@vibovitold]

@@deebeeinto yeah well, I beg to differ. This movie sets out to tackle an important ethical problem, but doesn't even try to make any dilemma out of it. There's no "devil's advocate" attempt AT ALL. Everything is totally black and white. This system of discrimination is evil, period. "Thought provoking" as in, aimed at provoking a single thought, apparently. OK, and in the final scene - SPOILER ALERT, obviously; well, the movie is like 25 years old - the guy with a heart condition (if I remember) finally joins the space crew, having beated the system. "Because it was his dream...", ooh. Well, but what about responsibility for the rest of the crew? What will happen if his heart gives out after the launch? (Didn't they mention he's living on borrowed time?) Isn't it a major hazard for everyone's life?? Are those health checks there solely for discriminatory reason, as the movie seems to imply? "BuT tHis iS mY cHiLdHoOd dReAm so fuck everyone", seems to be the message. I admit it's been a while since I watched the movie, and I may not recall every single detail with accuracy, but I remember sitting there stupified at the end, thinking "what a pile of bullshit". Of all the obvious angles they could have gone for, to me this was the most naive and unconvincing . And if you like Jude Law and late 90s, and s-f from that era, "eXistenZ" runs circles around the hamfisted "Gattaca" in my opinion.

[@9000ck]

its a great movie, i agree, but the plot holes are pretty cringy.

[@JDODify]

I actually really like Star Trek The Motion Picture too. I remember watching it all the time as a kid (I mean in the 80s when I was less than 10) over and over again. I love the special effects sequences (which still work today) as I got older I started to really appreciate the concept more.

[@trutwijd]

Same here - I personally think the "hate" for it is exaggerated, I see lots of praise for this movie.

[@Redmenace96]

Directed by the genius Robert Wise? The movie had a lot of heart (for a Trekkie) and was well made.

[@MuseionArt]

Solid list! Many of these are favorites of mine. Nice to see Star Trek TMP, THX 1138, and Moonraker get some love!

[@bamm3707]

The fact that he even had to say the whole intro warning really goes to show where the internet is and how little it's ever changed lol.

[@ButchCurry]

The Andromeda Strain is one of those movies I've seen about a dozen times because it used to be on all the time when I was a kid and I'd always get caught up in it. It's the movie that I was expecting to come into the comments and say, "But what about this one?" about.

[@FirstLast-ve6jg]

Absolutely and maybe Close Encounters. Maybe the presenter is a bit too young..

[@Bonez0r]

I don't know what you're talking about, The Andromeda Strain is number 17 on the list.

[@ButchCurry]

@@Bonez0r Yes, that was my point. Read my comment again.

[@davidlean1060]

I'm not sure how the movie does it, because it is just men in rooms trying out this and that in order to study what the deadly virus is. There are no stars in it, there's no action to speak of, but I find all the procedural stuff gripping every time I watch it.

[@jayf6360]

Star Trek The Motion Picture is so underrated it's a crime. The thing about it is that you don't find out the space cloud is an Earth probe from the past until the very end of the movie. It was a great twist I thought. Glad he included Forbidden Planet, love that one, the sound alone blows my mind every time I watch it, over sixty years old.

[@collativelearning]

For years I've been wanting to do a full analysis of Star Trek TMP. Made a ton of notes on it already. Amazing movie.

[@jayf6360]

@@collativelearning I look forward to it.

[@mobiusklein9140]

Nice list, thanks. One of my favourites is "Soldier" starring Kurt Russel, certainly one to seek out if you have not seen it.

[@ligeiaztomb2755]

One of the most under-rated sci-fi films is PHASE IV directed by Saul Bass. (Yes that Saul Bass) It is very easy to write it off as a B movie, but the story is pretty great, and rooted in science. The macro photograohy is AMAZING (ants) and being a Bass piece, you can pause it anywhere and have a graphic image perfect for a poster. Wall-E is a great addition to the list.

[@TheGreatAlan75]

"Runaway" had a pretty good performance by Gene Simmons of KISS. he had a really devious look

[@larky368]

Andromeda Strain was the most realistic and best written sci-fi but Quatermass and the Pit (TV Version) was absolutely terrifying and brilliantly written and acted.

[@edcliffe2988]

WOOHOO! Rollerball made the list. I can be happy now. Some favourites of mine would include Logan's Run, I'm a Star trek fan and I think STMP gets too bad a wrap, plus the opening scene and music is worth the price of admission. Disappointed that Duck Dodgers in the 24th 1/2 century. A sci-fi classic.

[@omerresnikoff3565]

2:53 Runaway (1984) 5:30 The Abyss (1989) 7:30 Gattaca (1997) 9:48 Fantastic Voyage (1966) 13:14 Aliens (1986) 15:05 Rollerball (1975) 16:46 Prometheus (2012) 18:30 Terminator 1 & 2 (1984, 1991) 19:47 The Andromeda Strain (1971) 21:22 Star Wars Trilogy (1977, 1980, 1983) 22:31 Blade Runner (1982) 23:44 The Last Starfighter (1984) 26:29 The Thing (1982) 27:59 Upgrade (2018) 28:55 A. I: Artificial Intelligence (2001) 31:02 Forbidden Planet (1956) 33:45 Total Recall (1990) 35:14 Wall-e (2008) 38:11 Alien (1979) 41:33 THX 1138 (1971) 47:09 The Outer Limits (S2E5): Demon with a Glass Hand (1964) 50:50 Moonraker (1979) 55:35 The Matrix (1999) 57:12 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) 1:01:06 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

[@nexussix7933]

José Ignacio Cuevas Barrientos I remember runaway as a kid great movie the villain was a bit over the top.

[@moveforward8163]

Big thanks man!

[@Neavris]

Nice, thank you.

[@graymatters7584]

THX-1138 is not an entertaining film. But it's awesome that they made it.

[@sci-figuy6668]

I’m surprised “Silent Running” didn’t make his list.

[@blaze1148]

Or Starship Troopers

[@brianhiles8164]

@Sci-Fi Guy: Or _Killer Klowns from Outer Space._ I confess I'm being a little sarcastic. Sorry. But come on! It's really hard in one sentence to assert a thesis to a stranger who obviously had a childhood attachment to _Silent Running..._ By the way, I had a major childhood attachment to _Silent Running;_ however, when I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me, and liked "better" movies.

[@mercurywoodrose]

@@blaze1148 or dark star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jotr.9786]

or soylent green, ghost in the shell, johny menomonic

[@sci-figuy6668]

Joseph T. Nias Yes on Soylent Green! After all, 2022 is getting close.

[@EdsLorraine]

I’m so so glad that Star Trek the Motion Picture is on this list. Especially at #2. I’m a Star Trek fan and I’ve seen the hate first hand. It’s really unfair. It’s a great movie.

[@marcopederzoli4939]

I have seen it in cinema when I was a kid and I was blown away!!

[@Ididntaskforahandleyoutube]

It is criminally underrated. As an aside, The Search for Spock is as well.

[@ivorbiggun710]

Not sure why this film is so unpopular. I saw it when it came out in the cinema and I thought it was excellent. Thought provoking and, at times, quite disturbing.

[@Tommykey07]

Forbidden Planet is still amazing to this day. Would love to see a remake though, focusing on the original settlers who discover the Krell's technology.

[@brianhiles8164]

@Tommykey07: Are you aware that a sequel or remake of _Forbidden Planet_ has been planned for at least a decade?

[@altondrew]

Spot on about Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It was the most intelligent installment of all of them...

[@shenotski]

Note, Harlan Ellison sued Cameron for plagiarizing him and won. You can look up a prisoners of gravity interview where he talks about it. Ellison's short story "I have no mouth and I must scream' has the original skynet. ' the two outer limits that were sued over 'Soldier' and 'Demon with a glass hand'. I would recommend 'I have no mouth and i must scream' is my fav short story. Ellison also was a huge influence on Mad Max 'a boy and his dog' is a huge influence on that series and the fallout games.

[@couchpotato3197]

I Have No Mouth's videogame is also really good and worth checking out. It's on Steam.

[@chlebiceksmaslem]

Love these types of videos. Gratz on 100k subs btw. Good stuff, Rob.

[@tylerenns8730]

The name of the writer for Demon With A Glass Hand is Harlan Ellison. He's recently passed away and the episode of Soldier, which is also an outer limits episode was the inspiration for The Terminator.

[@deputyVH]

Another time travel themed Outer Limits episode. I think Rob likes a bit of time travel really ;)

[@davidlean1060]

I recently watched Walter Hill's The Driver and that was also a huge inspiration for The Terminator, especially the car chase scenes.

[@glockensig]

I loved this list..... Unlike his top westerns list!

[@busquets28]

A.I. is absolutely amazing. My second favorite film of all time.

[@anotherblonde]

My fav is Dune the old original lol And am surprized how lines from the dialogue pop up in other films, series, lyrics. ie Flatboy Slim's Weapon of choice "Walk without rhythm/and it won't attract the worm". Congrats on 100K. “The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.”

[@breathingboy]

I would have Minority Report up there. Loads of science-fiction devices: Predicting crime, targetted advertising, new synthetic drugs, getting new eyeballs. It is one of the few Speilberg films I can tolerate.

[@collativelearning]

It's got good sci-fi ideas but for some reason I've never found it very entertaining.

[@TreatzTMA]

Congrats on 100,000 subscribers! Great list spurring many more great ideas from comment section👍

[@MedievalFolkDance]

If Total Recall was in fact the implanted memory, I would love to have seen the moment when he wakes up at Recall and then has to go home to the wife he remembers as being a secretly placed agent, and then to work with all his mates that he remembers killing!

[@derekwallace3871]

I totally agree about Star Trek TMP being towards the top of your list. Star Trek in the 1960's was a science fiction. After Star Wars came out the Star Trek Movies after TMP were made more like Star Wars. Star Wars was a Space Fantasy. If anyone disagrees with that, they should read the top of the 1977 Star Wars Comic Issue 1 "The Greatest Space Fantasy....". I watched Star Trek for SCIENCE Fiction. I watched Star Wars for ADVENTURE. I think Star Trek TMP was the best Science Fiction AND the best Star Trek of all the Star Trek movies. I think most of what followed TMP was not true to Star Trek. Star Trek explored Scientific ideas and Star Wars is Flash Gordon.

[@erictaylor5462]

24:10 "The controls are shot out, we are caught in the moon's gravity! What do ye do?" "We die" Most bad ass line in movie history.

[@AnnoyingMoose]

I absolutely LOVED that moment! It showed that the bad guy was intelligent enough to know when he lost.

[@47Mortuus]

Combining The Terminator 1 and 2 into 1 entry is a crime. They're completely different from each other. Where the first one is a no-bullshit dystopian horror movie with Sci-Fi elements, the second one introduces many elements specifically aimed at male kids and young male teens due to the unintended and honestly unexpected resonance of the first movie with that group. Also the cringy stuff like "i KnOw NoW wHy YoU cRy BuT iT Is SoMeThInG i CaN nEvEr Do" completely takes away from what the first movie depicts a terminator to be like, demystifying the concept in one of the worst ways possible.

[@darthkek1953]

I was OK with him doing that but then he split Alien/Aliens. And Predator 1/2, and RoboCop all merit entries. As does Edge of Tomorrow.

[@SatireNGiggles]

"Can you cook" hahahaha! I fookin love ya style mate.

[@davelightman]

Entirely agree with your points about Star Trek : The Motion Picture. I have huge love for Star Trek II, but it's an 18th Century Naval picture - it's not sci-fi. ST:TMP is sci-fi at the grandest scale, and it was executed flawlessly IMHO.

[@abyssgazer9050]

I would love to see list of your favorite comedies of all time.

[@collativelearning]

Been planning one

[@rainer_uncrowned]

Byron Dunbar don’t you mean “U”

[@emilywilliamson1176]

Yes agreed:) love your channel💜

[@ThievesHand]

I wonder if you, Rob, get to read this, but I wanted to say that your videos are always very informative. I like your top 25, but I have to say that I enjoy your analyses the most! This channel deserves to have more viewers.

[@gary8398]

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is underrated and made me a fan.

[@rexremedy1733]

Yes! It was the first Star Trek movie I saw, and I was blown away! An awesome movie!!!

[@trutwijd]

love TMP - first VHS tape I ever owned as a kid. watched it so many times. Still love it.

[@AtticusStount]

unlike the other Star Trek concepts, this one is not regurgitated.

[@kybernetic8]

Star Trek is indeed a great film.

[@ALszaro]

I really like hearing your personal thoughts on why you love specific movies in particular!

[@AdamMetwally]

Where is Stalker? Solaris? A Clockwork Orange? Terry Giliam's Brazil?

[@jocaerbannog9052]

Stalker drags out too much. Solaris is good (only watched it once, though). Clockwork Orange I consider to be more of a crime comedy film, hardly anything futuristic compared to even THX 1138 (released at same year). Brazil is imaginative, but for me below par in terms of story and character development (unless we take it as a grandiose Monty Python film).

[@collativelearning]

i don't consider clockwork sci-fi. It's actually set in the 1970's too. The dates on the newspapers featuring alex's treatment say so lol. so not even in the future as is generally assumed.

[@withche07]

clockwork and stalker werent really scifi solyaris is definitely scifi but its kinda unique brazil is similar to solyaris both are unique dystopias with mixed styles

[@Frog_Cat_]

@Sot P I love Stalker, but I agree with you. It's much more a philosophical film than a sci-fi

[@element1111]

@@Frog_Cat_ I never understood the appeal of Stalker, the movie. The acting is a bit iffy, the narrative becomes plodding in its second half and the philosophical notions aren't particularly strong. The book is not action packed, but it's a veritable thriller when juxtaposed with the movie. I would prefer an interpretation of the story that doesn't stray far from the source material

[@patrickdoherty4527]

Congrats on the 100K subs, Rob. I've been watching your videos since about 2008. The first video I watched was a Mad Max 2 analysis. I've been a fan ever since.

[@brycethemagicguy]

Fantastic list, 2001 is my all-time favorite film! I would also add: - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (not particularly sci-fi, but the memory concept is highly interesting) - Stalker (also not exactly sci-fi but contains some sci-fi concepts) - Ghost in the Shell 1995 - Arrival - Back to the Future - Interstellar - Annihilation - War of the Worlds 2005

[@SirHatchporch]

A great list with quite a few surprises, especially #4. I have a lot of fondness for that film, too, even though it isn't well regarded. I saw #25 in L.A. a year or two ago (in a double feature with "WestWorld") and it was quite a pleasant surprise. One of my favorite obscure discoveries from recent years. #9 is one of my favorite films of all-time and I had a feeling it would be on here. And yes, more lists, please! I love these long videos.

[@vosikthearchpriest4395]

Gotta love 2001 😉 1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 2. Blade Runner (1982) 3. A Clockwork Orange (1971) 4. Blade Runner 2049 (2017) 5. Predator (1987) 6. Alien (1979) 7. Back to the Future Part 2 (1989) 8. Terminator 2 (1991) 9. Metropolis (1927) 10. Planet of the Apes (1968)

[@lesterlemenwater666]

Disagree with the order, but I agree completely with the films.

[@vosikthearchpriest4395]

@@lesterlemenwater666 Thanks, how would you put the films?

[@wombledtv390]

A Clockwork Orange is set in 1971. There is a scene where a newspaper is shown with the date on it. I'm obsessed with the man.

[@bluediamonddirector]

I really enjoyed this list. I have seen 23 out 25 of these films (Gattaca and Artificial Intelligence I need to see). And I have enjoyed them all except Prometheus, however I understand your reasoning for putting it on the list as the concepts are very good, I just didnt care for the execution, I respect your opinion. Your ranking would be different from mine but that's okay, we're all different, loved that you listed Runaway, The Andromeda Strain, Forbidden Planet, THX-1138, and The Last Starfighter, as they dont get enough recongnition. Star Trek: The Motion Picture is underrated, its an awesome film so I was very happy to see it on the list. Demon with a Glass Hand is a bit of cheating as its an episode but its a great story so I dont mind it being listed. Very solid list and I enjoyed listening to you talk about these films. P.S. I am 29 years old and was raised on most of these films, so there are still a few of us younger people out there you enjoy the classics and good solid sci-fi films, just a small piece of encouragement. Keep up these lists, they are a great listen.

[@andrewbutler9533]

Great list! I'm a fan of Collosus: The Forbin Project. I wondered if you've seen it and what you think of it.

[@mercurywoodrose]

shot in berkeley at the lawrence hall of science. great film. its in my list now.

[@Mo_Ketchups]

Loved seeing Gattaca & Abyss on the list. Bonus points for Ager quoting (& laughing at) the last line of Runaway! 👍😂 Excellent takes on A.I. 👏👏

[@Gitfiddle]

Star Trek the motion picture is fabulous! I’ve loved that movie since I was a little kid. Best of the Trek movies. Very high concept film with an amazing twist ending.

[@18vallancel]

Thanks for all your content, Rob. These list videos are a real treat!

[@nicokarsen6131]

You had me until Prometheus

[@SeanD1847]

I suggested upgrade to you on facebook, glad you watched and enjoyed it so much. Definitely has the potential to be a cult classic in the future

[@collativelearning]

Thanks

[@twaz5786]

I never tire of hearing your voice, Rob... love all of your superb videos❤️

[@nexussix7933]

T Waz oh get a room

[@twaz5786]

Nexus Six No time for the old in/out, love... I’ve just come to read the meter.

[@jwnj9716]

Sometimes he makes mistakes like his Exorcist video where he thought it was a man in the Iraq scenes, it was clearly a woman but still, he makes good analysis.

[@nexussix7933]

Jw Nj I cant believe he didnt like Blade Runner 2049.

[@twaz5786]

Jw Nj I believe we have “met” before... Toshiro Mifune!

[@HarverTheSlayer]

I'll definitely check some of the movies on this list, thanks Robert! Although I'll admit that I was hoping I'd see Ghost In The Shell in it, I really love its take on a concept similar to Blade Runner, and its art direction is just wonderful. (Of course, I'm talking about the original... Last year's adaptation can burn in a fire pit for all I care)

[@johndogwater]

Remember Inner Space, that was kind of Fantastic Voyage 80s style!

[@ThunderChunky101]

Some absolute brilliant picks here, so glad you picked the Motion Picture for 2! I'm not alone... The aesthetics are astounding, the camerawork beautiful, acting top notch, great writing, wonderful cast... It's a very very good film. My one criticism is those *veeeeeery* long shots. Often far too long. Other than that it's wonderful and I've always rated it. Even trek fans dislike this films and I really don't get it. My personal number 1 is Primer. A few thousand pounds can make a film that good?!

[@JanusCycle]

I really like sci-fi thought provokers, thank you. Here are five thinkers to consider. Repo Man Predestination Safety Not Guaranteed Primer The Man from Earth

[@princezzpuffypants6287]

I assume you mean 2010 Repo Man, not 1984, or that horrid musical thing with Paris Hilton?

[@kellyjackson7889]

You ever feel as if your mind had started to erode? Look at those assholes, ordinary fucking people. I hate 'em Charming friends you've got there: Thanks, I made 'em myself. He was, too, you boys. I installed two-way mirrors in his pad in Brentwood, and he come to the door in a dress. The life of a repo man is always intense.

[@malloid]

Superb list! Only films I hadn't seen were Runaway and Upgrade, but I will fix that tonight. Completely agree about AI - the ending is pure Kubrickian brilliance. I was stunned by Teddy being left alone at the end. Total tear-jerker. People who don't get it would never get it because they have no empathy. Totally agree about Star Trek: The Motion Picture - to me, the best Star trek ever. PS. Just realised that Runaway is directed by Michael Crichton. Wow. Never knew that. Did you mention it?

[@jackalope2302]

Did you know that Gene Simmons (from the band KISS) just glared menacingly at the casting director for a few minutes in his audition as the villain of Runaway. Also, we're gonna have to wait for Harlan Ellison to be cremated because he'd crawl out his grave and torment the anyone who'd dare remake Demon with a Glass Hand.

[@collativelearning]

I like him as a screen presence, but he seems too psycho to be a tech wizard!

[@morrighanwermarn-arnburg7333]

Kiss did a movie (1978). Don't watch it.

[@johndawhale3197]

Gene Simmons was also in another cool movie called Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987) with Rutger Hauer.

[@moveforward8163]

Zig Bingham Agree

[@shawnallen9275]

@@ZigUncut: Yeah. Agreed.

[@jotade2098]

Congrats on 100k subscribers Rob, hope you soon have 10x more, you deserve it. BTW, i loved Runaway when I saw it as a child (that heatseeking bullet POV shot blew my mind). Always wondered why it's so forgotten.

[@URBONED]

Intruiged Planet of the Apes wasn't on the list. I love the idea and the commentary that comes from swapping the power between humans and apes. I think the first is the best, but Beneath expands on the world in such a unique and unimaginable way - even if it makes the series a little more silly / b-movie for some. I think Conquest has some of the best sci-fi and political commentary though and is really well executed. Also really appreciate how nihilistic all the endings are. You'd never see a film today end in the way those films do.

[@URBONED]

@@johndawhale3197 hahahaha I love it

[@WAVEFUNCTION_TV]

I'd seen your channel in passing on youtube, but then one of Lex Fridman's podcast guests mentioned you. So i checked your channel out....and damn I'm glad i did. Great great content.

[@UFO_computers]

Completely agree w/you re:both Star Trek MP, & Moonraker

[@Tommykey07]

The problem with Moonraker is that it is a James Bond film. Too much silliness. If the story was made as a straight up sci-fi film that had nothing to do with the Bond series, it would have been a much better movie. Moonraker is undermined by the constant contrived attempts of the villain to kill Bond, and when they would fail, they would just take him prisoner. You are wrong that Moonraker wasn't made because of Star Wars. If you look at the end credits of The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977, it says James Bond will return in For Your Eyes Only. But because of Star Wars, they ended up making Moonraker and then For Your Eyes Only was made after that.

[@dylancressey2529]

Been laid up in bed for the last 4 months due to ill health, and I've been watching Rob's videos on a fucking loop all day and most of the nights. Led me to some great movies. But I'm starting to hear his accent in my sleep . Maybe I should give it a rest for a while. This was a great video by the way. A few I hadn't seen. Got them written down and I'll check them out.

[@julian9898]

Congrats, mate! Ive been watching your material for over a decade! Im sure ill be watching for decades to come!

[@nexussix7933]

Honorable mentions... Enemy Mine Flight of the Navigator Robojox Explorers Sunshine Supernova Red Planet Metropolis (1927) Dune War of the Worlds They Live Blade Runner 2049 AKA a great movie 🙂

[@threethrushes]

Blade Runner 2049 is a legit banger.

[@anotherblonde]

Flight of the Navigator was supposedly based on a true event.

[@trutwijd]

+1 for Dune.

[@nexussix7933]

J Truts looking forward to the Dune coming to theaters.

[@chatteyj]

@@nexussix7933 Moon ?

[@KrypticWarrior2]

love this channel, real quality doesnt require a lot of special effects

[@NihilisticIdealist]

Nice, but have you seen Dark City?

[@jim22277]

Excellent underrated movie.

[@abyssgazer9050]

@@jim22277 One of the worst edited film ever. Unwatchable

[@princezzpuffypants6287]

You are both right. Despite it's shortcomings, though, I think the film really should get credit for the story and visuals.

[@epichal4883]

@@abyssgazer9050 Unwatchable. See, I fucking hate the pretentious use of that word. Gods of Egypt was unwatchable. Whatever sins Dark City may have, which for fuck's sake I'm willing to bet a lot of popular films share, they were measly and insignificant in my watch. Living in a time when Bohemian Rhapsody can win an Oscar for best editing makes comments like this plain laughable.

[@MCCrleone354]

Rob hasn’t talked about Dark City. It didn’t show up in his great films of 1998. I think he doesn’t like it thinks it is just meh or hasn’t seen it.

[@DontKeeptheFaith]

I'm really digging your stuff, Rob. Your thoughts on the fight in Empire Strikes Back were really subtle.

[@jayj4560]

Grats on 100k.

[@baanibarnes9711]

Just thought of another time travel related movie that is amazing - 'Looper'. Very interesting set up and addresses the time travel conundrum - what if you went back in time and met yourself? And, without spoiling it, the end was perfect, a great personal, selfless act which was the only way to avoid a possible horrible future, one I can watch over and over again. And it's got Bruce Willis in which was probably his best role in his later career, a must see.

[@tigerboy1966]

Yes! I love the first Star Trek movie. I would have found a place for Silent Running though.

[@avidgamer5676]

Congratulations on 100k Rob, really well deserved. Will have to finish viewing this later yet looking forward to it.

[@damiancantalini]

You forgot "Primer". I know you meant to have that on the list.

[@brianhiles8164]

@damiancantalini: Any movie that was written by a mathematician and requires a graph of alternate timelines to understand, should pique the interest of _Collative Learning._ www.thecinemaholic.com/primer-explained/ Or, maybe this is the reason this movie should _not_ be on such a list...

[@trutwijd]

I LOVE that you picked The Last Starfighter, wonderful movie despite it's cheese. And don't apologize for liking Prometheus. It's flawed yes but most movies are, and if you let relax about that it can leave you pondering some questions which is something a good SciFi movie should do. The Thing is amazing but if you're gonna pick a Carpenter SciFi file you should've went with Dark Star! Alien beach balls! Talking bombs! Pinback! I'm still waiting for a video from you on this movie. Generally liked your list, on mine I would probably find room for The Edge of Tomorrow, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind, District 9, Interstellar, RoboCop, Predator, Galaxy Quest, The Road Warrior, and my guilty pleasure Invaders from Mars (1986)

[@samcohen99]

Curious about your thoughts on the upcoming sci-fi films High Life and Ad Astra

[@doctordungus7774]

Ugh, I haaaated Prometheus. That movie has way too many moments where characters do something unfathomably stupid.

[@TheNeedmoneybad]

Prometheus is underrated. Critics and fans were just upset there were no xenomorphs.

[@DeanStrickson]

TheNeedmoneybad No, we’re upset that it’s shit. And I’m not even talking about the awful acting, idiot characters, etc. I’m talking about the moronic retconning that Ridley Scott oversaw. If anyone should’ve know better, it was him.

[@withche07]

prometheus isnt good movie its just mediocre

[@TheNeedmoneybad]

Dean Strickson, quit crying. 😭 The acting was not awful, it was a great cast with decent performances. There were 2 idiot characters and they were the first to go. It’s Ridley Scott’s story. He wanted to explain the origins of the huge alien at the beginning of the original “Alien”. He didn’t retcon anything.

[@TheNeedmoneybad]

Dean Strickson, at least he didn’t turn Prometheus into feminist propaganda, like what happened to the Star Wars franchise.

[@RyanKhanna]

I personally like it, but it's definitely not because people were disappointed there was not enough aliens. Many just found it to be bad, and that's fine.

[@NativeNewMexican]

Praise: Upgrade is AWESOME Your list is damn good. AI was deeper than I remembered, I watched your video on it and cried. Criticism: Time travel is a critical Sci-Fi genre. At least include the first one to do it, The Time Machine from 1960. Looper added a huge twist with the "I can change your current self's body by screwing with your younger self." Millennium also has an awesome premise. Question: Is paranormal science Sci-Fi? If so, Cabin in the Woods has to get a shout out. Recommendations for adding to the list in addition to the 4 listed above: Ex Machina - Turing Test/AI Motivation story Brainscan - way underrated VR Horror Harrison Bergeron - Forced equality dystopian future Timecrimes - Spanish time travel movie that you should see Minority Report - pre-crime is amazing Jurassic Park - Bringing dinosaurs back to life didn't make your list? Tron - Awesome concept and far more interesting than "let's recruit with video games" Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind - Mind alteration better than in Total Recall IMO The Prestige - No spoilers, the concept is damn cool Mr Nobody - Best Butterfly effect story IMO They Live - Awesome aliens vs. humans on earth story w/ amazing quotes Edge of Tomorrow - Time wonky stuff done super well The Truman Show - Interesting concept Equilibrium - a modern 1984 1984 - need I say more? Planet of the Apes (1968) is a classic, first of its kind Ender's Game - poor delivery on the book, but it's ok

[@collativelearning]

Actually that old Time Machine movie was excellent. I forgot about that and it might have made the list. i liked Cabin the Wood too and som of the others you listed there.

[@NativeNewMexican]

@@collativelearning I hope you consider making reaction videos on Patreon, you'd be great at it. If you haven't seen Brainscan, give it a try. It's a little fluffy, but great anyway.