The fact of the matter is that science fiction isn’t for everyone. For some people, these stories about futuristic technology, space exploration, and blaster standoffs are just a little too out there, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no sci-fi film that will manage to satisfy their cinematic cravings. Thankfully, there are some sci-fi masterpieces out there with the power to make any sci-fi hater wonder, “Do I like sci-fi now?”
From Oscar-winning cultural phenomena like Everything Everywhere All At Once to romance dramas like Her, these are films that take the typical sci-fi tropes that some people find unappealing and twist them upside down in all sorts of interesting ways. They’re still sci-fi through and through, but presented with such a unique package that those who think they hate the genre might just be surprised by them.
‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)
Few movies are wilder than Everything Everywhere All At Once, the surprise indie hit that went on to win an admirable seven Academy Awards. It’s a film about everything: family, aging, generational trauma, existential dread, and cultural differences are but a few of the themes it deals with, and any film with such a vast thematic scope requires an equally sprawling collection of genres. Fittingly, Everything Everywhere collects genres like Infinity Stones.
The film is a heartfelt family dramedy, but also a martial arts fantasy, a surrealist comedy, and—of course—a soft sci-fi multiversal adventure. It’s still one of the best sci-fi movies of the 2020s so far, but the fact that it covers so much ground in both tone and scope makes it far more digestible for people who don’t love pure science fiction. They’ll get all the clever world-building and cool technology without any of the lazy exposition dumps.
‘The Martian’ (2015)
One of the best hard sci-fi films of the last 25 years, Ridley Scott‘s The Martian is one of the most fun space adventures of the 2010s. The special bit? This sci-fi tale is no ordinary space adventure, where humans and their alien companions travel through the galaxy. Instead, it leans more toward the sci than the fi, telling the tale of an astronaut’s struggle to survive on Mars after being left behind while NASA tries to get him back.
Matt Damon‘s performance is incredible, the script has the perfect balance between tense set pieces and character-driven humor, and the fact that the film is so concerned with its human heart rather than with pure genre thrills should also definitely help. For people who are more willing to tolerate sci-fi that stays more within the realm of the possible, The Martian is a must-see modern gem.
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
The Matrix is just about as far as one can get from the realm of the possible when it comes to sci-fi, but it matters not: it is still one of the most entertaining and mind-blowing movies ever made. With its cutting-edge visual effects and its transgressive allegory about the trans experience, the film certainly did revolutionize science fiction, but it arguably left an impact on the action genre even more.
Some sci-fi dislikers are much likelier to tolerate a film that’s all about its action sequences, and intelligent though The Matrix‘s quieter moments may be, it’s certainly a non-stop, action-packed spectacle. It’s the best sci-fi film of the ’90s, a groundbreaking achievement in blockbuster filmmaking that every cinephile should check out at least once, no matter how they tend to feel about sci-fi. Twenty-six years later, The Matrix is truly mandatory viewing.
‘Alien’ (1979)
In space, no one can hear you complain about sci-fi being “boring.” Sci-fi horror isn’t a particularly common subgenre, but whenever a new one comes out, it typically ends up referring back to the genre’s gold standard: Ridley Scott’s Alien. One of the scariest movies set in space, this classic proves how terrifying science fiction horror can be when reliant on atmospheric world-building.
Saying that the movie’s legacy was huge would be an understatement. Alien is a paragon of the genre, and even people who typically dislike sci-fi should be able to enjoy it as long as they love horror and monster films. The Xenomorph is one of the best villains the genre has ever seen, Sigourney Weaver‘s Ripley is a truly legendary heroine, and Scott’s understated approach to tone and atmosphere is a spectacle to behold.
‘Children of Men’ (2006)
Disaster movies don’t just need to be about Earth-shattering natural catastrophes or burning buildings; they could also be about a mysterious epidemic that renders the world infertile. That’s precisely the premise of Children of Men, one of the best disaster movies of the last 100 years, and probably the best Hollywood film that three-time Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón has ever made.
The movie’s sci-fi elements are never at the forefront of the narrative, and viewers who dislike the genre are bound to appreciate that. Instead, Children of Men shows how sci-fi can support a deeply human story full of powerful sociopolitical commentary, proving that there’s far more complexity in these kinds of stories than some people tend to give them credit for.
‘Her’ (2013)
Far ahead of its time, Her is Spike Jonze‘s most recent film as a director, a movie that provocatively explores romance in the age of AI. This approach makes it one of the most powerful sci-fi movies ever, supported by a hard-hitting retrofuturistic aesthetic, Joaquin Phoenix‘s beautiful (and often gut-wrenching) performance, and Scarlett Johansson delivering one of the best voice performances of any 21st-century film.
Her sees sci-fi as a subtle tool to provide its story with a believable backdrop.
As much of an allegory for long-distance relationships as it is a study of technology, loneliness, and intimacy in the modern age, Her sees sci-fi as a subtle tool to provide its story with a believable backdrop. For audiences who usually find the genre easier to handle when it’s quieter, more restrained and thought-provoking, this unforgettable romance drama is a fantastic gateway to more introspective science fiction.
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
Back in 1979, George Miller revolutionized both Australian cinema and low-budget action filmmaking with Mad Max. The movie was followed by two sequels, but it would take a whopping 30 years after the third installment for a fourth Mad Max adventure to be released. The result? Fury Road, one of the most delightfully over-the-top action films ever made, with precisely the kind of wild and unpredictable world-building that one might expect from Miller.
There are action films that are just too much in all the right ways, and among them, Fury Road reigns supreme. Its post-apocalyptic approach is very unlikely to bother sci-fi haters, as long as they can appreciate non-stop action driven by surprisingly powerful character arcs. High-octane, visually striking, perfectly edited, and unexpectedly complex for a movie that seems so simple on paper, it’s an absolute modern-day masterpiece of the genre.
‘Interstellar’ (2014)
When it comes to talking about sci-fi movies that would serve as perfect introductions to the genre, the conversation is never complete without talking about the filmmaker who started so many people on their cinephile journeys: Christopher Nolan, whose space epic Interstellar is praised by some as the single greatest film in such a stacked filmography.
Interstellar is pure sci-fi, and it’s not particularly subtle about it. So, what about it could possibly change the mind of someone who dislikes the genre? There’s the fact that it’s one of the most moving sci-fi films out there, for one. Its emotional power and universal themes should be able to appeal to anyone, and its world-building is so vast and expansive that it’s impossible not to admire it. Nolan really focused on making a space adventure capable of entertaining any kind of audience member, no matter their taste.
‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was truly a once-in-a-lifetime blend of elements: Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet giving some of the best work of their respective careers; Michel Gondry directing with endless flair and profound emotion; and Charlie Kaufman delivering one of the smartest and most creative scripts of any romance movie. With that kind of creative team, it’s no wonder that it’s typically praised as the best sci-fi romance ever made.
It might just be the best sci-fi film of the 2000s, a deeply moving study of the power of memories and the messy nature of relationships. It’s romance and intricately human drama first and foremost, and its sci-fi elements only serve as a tool for Gondry and Kaufman to show off their originality even more. As such, fans of romance flicks who dislike sci-fi are quite likely to watch this Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and realize that the two aren’t as incompatible as they might have thought.
‘The Truman Show’ (1998)
Rule of thumb: When Jim Carrey does sci-fi, you pay attention. Back in the ’90s, Carrey was on top of the comedy genre, and critics and audiences alike had him labeled as “the funny guy who does funny faces.” Then, in one of the most brilliant lightning strikes of casting genius, the actor was cast as Truman Burbank in The Truman Show, the first time that Carrey demonstrated that he was just as skilled at dramatic acting as he was at comedic acting.
But aside from Carrey’s performance—one of the best comedic performances ever snubbed for an Oscar nod—The Truman Show has all other sorts of factors that also make it the best possible gateway film for non-fans of sci-fi. For one, its genre elements are very contained and used sparsely, director Peter Weir instead focusing a lot more on making this a character piece about existentialism and the power of modern media. The Truman Show has aged like fine wine, and it’s guaranteed to contribute to changing the minds of those who think they hate science fiction.
Source link
