Sci-fi movies push the boundaries between fact and fiction and take us to worlds beyond our wildest fantasies, from the vast, unexplored territories of our imaginations to the big screen.
If the future world, robots, aliens, outer space, and time travel make you grab popcorn and sit behind the screen, then these lists are your golden finds.
These movies are celebrated by film critics and are destined to be box office triumphs, remaining timeless in the hearts of their audience.
I have listed the top 10 movies out of 250 sci-fi movies based on novels available to viewers.
10. Annihilation (2018)
| Director | Alex Garland |
| Writer | Alex Garland |
| Cast | Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez |
| Release Date | February 12, 2018 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
Annihilation is a sci-fi horror thriller movie based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer.
The movie is about scientists who go to a secret area called “The Shimmer” where alien forces have changed the growth of animals and plants.
The movie plot follows a biologist who signs up for a dangerous and secret tour into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don’t apply.
On the journey, an unexpected expedition team consists of a psychologist, a biologist, an anthropologist, a surveyor, and a linguist. What they find is something completely beyond human understanding.
Moreover, cinephiles might love this movie because of its experimental approach to humans and its original themes.
9. The Maze Runner (2014)
| Director | Wes Ball |
| Writer | Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, T.S. Nowlin |
| Casts | Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter |
| Release Date | September 19, 2014 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
“The Maze Runner” is a science fiction film based on James Dashner’s 2009 novel of the same title.
The movie revolves around a teenager named Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) who is dumped at the center of a giant labyrinth with several other youths.
The surprising change in the movie is that everyone who ends up there can’t remember their past life.
Moreover, when Thomas quickly demonstrates his ability, he gets promoted to Runner status and is grouped up with Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), the only female.
And there is a saying inside the maze,
If you’re trapped in the maze over night, the Grievers get you and you die.
Every day, youths must find their way out of a difficult situation inside the Maze to stay alive and face unexpected dangers.
This gripping science fiction movie will surely keep you hooked. Even though its plot may seem similar to other movies, it’s so well-crafted that you can’t stop watching.
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
| Director | Stanley Kubrick |
| Writer | Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke |
| Casts | Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood |
| Release Date | 3 April 1968 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 sci-fi film inspired by Clarke’s 1951 short story “The Sentinel.”
The movie is about human evolution and depicts a journey to the Moon, Jupiter, and beyond to demonstrate how human evolution could occur.
A tribe discovers a mysterious monolith that teaches them to use tools. Later, Millennia, astronauts on a mission to Jupiter, confront a rogue AI and uncover another monolith that affects human evolution.
This leads to a surreal journey through space and time, ending with a transformative encounter for astronaut Dave Bowman.
The movie is amazing because it showcases stunning special effects and a groundbreaking visual style, making it look realistically futuristic even today.
You will definitely love this movie as it features stunning visuals and a profound plot that makes you reflect on where we came from and where we are headed.
7. Arrival (2016)
| Director | Denis Villeneuve |
| Writer | Eric Heisserer |
| Casts | Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker |
| Release Date | November 11, 2016 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
Arrival is based on the 1998 novel Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang. The movie begins with Louise Bank’s(Amy Adams) daughter Hannah dying at the age of twelve due to cancer.
The movie involves Louise Banks, a linguist, who learns an alien language that changes her perception of time and foresees her future daughter’s life and death.
Louise then joins the US Army team in Montana, where the aliens had landed. After research, she finds out that the aliens communicate using written symbol language.
Moreover, she decodes the aliens’ message of unity, preventing global war.
She used her knowledge to write a book called “The Universal Language,” which helped people learn an alien language and see time differently.
Despite knowing her future, she embraced it and accepted love and loss as part of her life’s journey.
You will enjoy this movie for its deep story about time, choice, and love. It’s not just about aliens; it’s about how we connect with others and make decisions.
6. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
| Director | Dough Liman |
| Writer | Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth |
| Casts | Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton |
| Release Date | June 6, 2014 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
Edge of Tomorrow is a sci-fi action film based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill.
The movie, featuring Emily Blunt (Rita Vrataski) and Tom Cruise (Major William Cage), is set in a future where aliens have taken over much of Europe parts.
The movie’s plot revolves around Major William Cage, who is trapped in a time loop and relives a battle against alien Mimics.
Despite losing the looping ability, Cage succeeds and awakens to a Mimic-free world, meeting Vrataski.
The movie’s unique story of repeating the same day keeps it interesting, and the strong connection between the main characters makes the movie more meaningful.
You will love this movie for its exciting science fiction battles, surprising laughs, and touching story.
5. War of the Worlds (2005)
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Writer | Josh Friedman, David Koepp |
| Casts | Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto |
| Release Date | June 29, 2005 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
The “War of the Worlds” is a sci-fi movie based on the 1898 novel by H.G. Wells under the same title.
In this movie, Tom Cruise plays Ray Ferrier, a regular guy who takes care of his children, Robbie and Rachel, after splitting up with his first wife, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto).
The family survives, reuniting amidst a world recovering from the alien threat, with humanity’s resilience and nature’s unseen defenses triumphing over the alien menace.
In the movie, aliens from Mars invade Earth, but they become ill from Earth’s microbes. They collapse, demonstrating that even the mightiest can be defeated by unimportant, organic elements.
You will surely love this movie as it is full of action and suspense and shows a family fighting against aliens.
4. Ready Player One (2018)
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Writer | Zak Penn, Ernest Cline |
| Casts | Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn |
| Release Date | March 29, 2018 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
Ready Player One a sci-fi movie which is based on the 2011 novel by Ernest Cline.
The movie is virtualized in the future in 2045 when people seek to escape from reality via a VR universe named OASIS.
The plot takes place after James dies. Through his recorded message, the OASIS owners learn that he wants others to find the first golden Easter egg.
While playing the game inside and finishing the mission, he gets the Copper Key from Anorak, who later named him the High-5 on the OASIS scoreboard.
You might really enjoy the movie for its exciting action, imaginative filming, and great music, which transports the audience to a different world.
3. The Martian (2015)
| Director | Ridley Scott |
| Writer | Drew Goddard |
| Casts | Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig |
| Release Date | October2, 2015 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
The Martian is based on Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name.
In 2035, the Ares III crew lands on Mars, but the story takes a turn when a storm hits, and Mark Watney(Matt Damon), a hurt scientist, gets abandoned on the planet.
Alone, 140 million miles away from Earth, he struggles to survive and does everything he can to live.
After many challenges and a daring rescue mission by his crew, Watney returns to Earth and becomes a survival instructor.
The Martian is a must-watch if you love movies that explore space. It is an inspiring tale of human perseverance and scientific exploration.
2. Dune
| Director | Denis Villeneuve |
| Writer | Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth |
| Casts | Timothee Chalamet, Oscar Issac, Rebecca Ferguson |
| Release Date | October 22, 2021 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
Dune is an amazing sci-fi film based on Fran Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name.
The movie is about a smart and talented guy named Duke(Oscar Isaac) who goes to a risky planet to help his people have a better future.
Duke is assigned to replace Baron Vladimir Harkonnen by the Padishah Emperor Shadam IV as the freeholder of Arrakis, a sole source of “Spice.”
The film shows how bad forces are fighting over a valuable resource on the planet that can help humans reach their full potential.
Additionally, the stunning visuals and the actors’ great performances will make your two-and-a-half hours fly by.
1. Jurassic Park
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Writers | Michael Crichton, David Koepp |
| Casts | Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum |
| Release Date | June 11, 1993 |
| IMDb Rating | IMDb |
Jurassic Park is an American sci-fi action movie based on Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel.
The movie revolves around the fictional island of Isla Nublar, where a wealthy businessman, John Hammond (Attenborough), and scientists create a wildlife park of de-extinct dinosaurs.
However, dinosaurs, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, escape the park during a thunderstorm and start to attack children and eat humans.
The film’s story is about people trying to catch the T-Rex again and hoping for a triumphant end.
The first-ever detailed dinosaur course on screen will surely thrill everyone. It showcases groundbreaking special effects and technology not seen before 1993.
| Movie Name | Box Office Collection |
|---|---|
| Annihilation | 43.1 million USD |
| Maze Runner | 348.3 million USD |
| 2001: A Space Odyssey | 146 million USD |
| Arrival | 203.4 million USD |
| Edge of Tomorrow | 370.5 million USD |
| War of the Worlds | 603.9 million USD |
| Ready Player One | 607 million USD |
| The Martian | 630.6 million USD |
| Dune | 407 million USD |
| Jurassic Park | 914 million USD |
