The genre of science fiction has always been something I gravitated toward. From “Aliens” to “Star Wars” to “E.T.,” science fiction has provided a level of comfort no other genre has shown me. Given my love for it, I thought it only appropriate to rank and write about what I think are the 10 best sci-fi movies of the past decade.
Note: There may be slight spoilers, so if you’re looking to get into sci-fi or even just watch a good movie, come back and read the blurbs after watching!
1. “Arrival”
Not only is this my favorite sci-fi movie, but it is my favorite movie of all time. The film is based on a short story called “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang and follows a linguistics professor chosen to help humanity communicate with aliens that have mysteriously appeared. Amy Adams is amazing in this film and shows her versatility as an actress with such a serious topic. This is the type of movie where you notice something new each time. Without giving too much away, the aliens appear to give humanity a gift, one that is present throughout the film without the watcher realizing it. Once you realize what the twist is, it changes the way you think about the current climate of our world and makes us wonder how we can apply the lessons in this movie to our reality.
2. “Blade Runner 2049”
Like “Mad Max,” the original “Blade Runner” is a sci-fi classic, and the sequel to it manages to be even more captivating. “Blade Runner 2049” picks up years after the first movie and follows Officer K as he goes on a journey to work through a groundbreaking discovery he’s made. Like the movies on this list, the computer-generated imagery, or CGI, is incredible, and coupled with the soundtrack, makes it hard to look away from the screen. Ridley Scott’s contribution to the sci-fi genre is expanded with this film, and it has set the bar high for what a sci-fi movie should be.
3. “Interstellar”
By now most people know of the film “Interstellar,” and for good reason. The soundtrack and many scenes from the movie are still seen in social media clips today. The film also toils with what our future will entail if climate change continues to get worse, and if we can continue to stay on Earth. Matthew McConaughey was fantastic in his role as Cooper, bringing raw emotion and longing into the movie. The premise of the film is shown as one thing and ends up being something completely different, sticking with you after watching. The amazing soundtrack of this movie was composed by Hans Zimmer, who also did the soundtracks for “Dune” and “Blade Runner 2049.” His work pairs perfectly with the sci-fi genre and is a highlight of “Interstellar.”
4. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
The first Avatar film broke boundaries in terms of CGI in movies, and “Avatar: The Way of Water” broke whatever boundaries were left. Not only are the visual effects better than in the first movie, but it is genuinely the most visually stunning movie I’ve ever seen. The movie also picks up right where the first movie left off, and the stories are seamlessly tied together. The politics and mystery James Cameron creates in this movie fits perfectly and greatly enhances the characters and everything around them. I can’t wait for more Avatar movies, and wouldn’t be surprised if the upcoming ones knock out some movies on this list.
5. “Dune”
Like “Mad Max,” “Dune” is a reimagining of the series of the same name written by Frank Herbert. This movie came out in 2021 and retells the contents of the book almost perfectly. Not only was the casting spot on, but all of the concepts and places mentioned in the book are shown with complete accuracy on screen. “Dune” is a very serious and dense read and the director was able to convey that tone in the movie through stylistic choices like the soundtrack, character designs and machinery. Even though I’m disappointed the film had to be broken up into two parts, it was ultimately a smart decision because the director was able to establish the intricate universe “Dune” is set in while also retelling the story.
6. “Mad Max: Fury Road”
Anyone who is a sci-fi fan knows of the original “Mad Max” movies. Instead of being a sequel, this movie is a reimagining of the story, and it is told brilliantly. The story is set in a dystopian future ravaged by a severe climate. Not only does this movie give us a scary peak into a possible future, but it also shows humans reconnecting with their humanity. For a movie like “Mad Max: Fury Road” to be better than the cult classic “Mad Max” series means the director did something right. This film also stands out because they were able to create an alternative main character, Furiosa, and have her be just as captivating as Max, the movie’s namesake.
7. “Ex Machina”
While there may be a few thrillers on this list, “Ex Machina” holds the title in my mind as the best psychological sci-fi movie. It’s produced by A24, which makes sense because it’s amazing. This movie not only plays with the concept of artificial intelligence, or AI, which is a very popular topic right now, but also toils with what would happen if AI was able to outsmart its makers. Watching this movie feels like watching one long “Black Mirror” episode, and it’s one of the few times I’ve been unsettled by a sci-fi movie.
8. “Avatar”
“Avatar,” a film directed by James Cameron, is one of the most impressive feats accomplished in film history. Not only does the CGI look breathtaking, but for the year this came out, no one had seen anything like it. The methods of motion capture used in this film were innovative and created a visually stunning product. This movie would be higher in the list, but given it’s the first of the series, there was a lot of world-building to be done while also telling a story. Be that as it may, the story mirrors “Dances with Wolves” and shows the lengths colonization can reach given the proper technology. This film is a must see.
9. “Tron: Legacy”
This film is an underrated piece of cinema and a sequel to the original “Tron” movie that came out in 1982. The movie follows Sam, who journeys into the Tron game by mistake. In there, he is confronted by a visually stunning landscape governed by the laws of the video game. The CGI used in this movie stands the test of time, and in addition, the soundtrack is done by Daft Punk, which is a big reason why this movie is on the list. “Tron: Legacy” manages to turn a video game adventure into a gripping, serious story about protecting the world from a dangerous entity living within the game. This movie received too much criticism when it came out, and it managed to do something not a lot of sequels do: be better than the first .
10. “Super 8”
“Super 8” is a film written and directed by J.J. Abrams and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. That alone should make you watch this movie. The story follows a group of teenagers in the 1970s as they accidentally cause a train to derail, unleashing a dangerous presence. This film is stylistically versatile and manages to capture the spirit of the ‘70s without it feeling kitschy. Another reason I like this movie is that the plot is constantly unfurling, never letting you know where it’s going next. “Super 8” manages to tie in a very emotional story into its sci-fi elements without adding too much fluff, which is a very hard thing for movies of this genre to achieve.