For the purposes of blah blah (really to keep Lord of the Rings from completely owning this list) I've decided not to put any "Fantasy" movies here and keep the list limited strictly to science fiction. That means: aliens or some sort of future tech.
1. Aliens
Why? Because it’s quite literally the only good pre-Buffy science-fiction or fantasy film where the heroine kicks major ass. Barring that, the line “Get Away From Her You Bitch” is awesome, the power loader fight is awesome, James Horner’s score is so damn awesome other movies kept using it for trailers for something like ten years. Also, it’s the closest we’ll ever get to a StarCraft movie, unless you took Starship Troopers seriously.
2. Serenity
Why? I will explain using only quotes from the movie. “Well, unfortunately, I forgot to bring a sword.” “We’re gonna explode? I don’t wanna explode!” “Do you know what the definition of a hero is? Someone who gets other people killed.” “And that’s not incense.” “And if I’m wrong, you’d best shoot me now- …or we could talk more.” “A year from now, ten, they’ll swing back to the belief that they can make people…better. And I do not hold to that. So no more running. I aim to misbehave.” “They’re not gonna see this coming.” “I am a leaf on the wind.” “I’m going to show you a world without sin.”
3. The Empire Strikes Back
Why? Where to start. This was the movie where George Lucas got enough to do without going overboard. The asteroid chase was beautiful, but what was arguably even more impressive was the Hoth battle. Also, a Muppet bossed around the main character for half the film and it actually worked. And then there was That Lightsaber Duel, which is the only time in the entire classic series where Vader uses his Force powers against a good guy, telekinetically slamming crates into Luke.
4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Why? It’s the first time, really, that the “space navy” theme really works. Wrath of Khan is an ageing Horatio Hornblower versus Captain Ahab in space, and it is suitably awesome. Also: another James Horner score. And the three-dimensional thinking at the end was, in 1982, long overdue.
5. The Terminator
Why? Its sheer confidence, if nothing else. The story is about one soldier trying to protect the other soldier’s target. The twist is, they’re both from the future and the hunter is an unstoppable robot. Its consistent undermining of our expectations and perceptions rivals the very best of Doctor Who.
6. Blade Runner
Why? Harrison Ford is a robot. Rutger Hauer is the king of death speeches. The atmosphere of the film is incredible. Just for fun, watch the film from Roy’s perspective instead of Deckard’s. All Roy really wants to do is live longer. He just goes about it horribly wrong.
7. The Matrix
Why? The less you know going into this movie (and yes, I know that’s hard today), the more you’ll appreciate. I went in knowing virtual reality was involved and that it more or less invented bullet time, and I still found myself asking “what the hell?” every ten minutes or so. Its sequels are awful, its imitators are awful, but this film is brilliant.
8. Starship Troopers
Why? Aliens with a budget, that’s why. Who missed what point is irrelevant when you consider the film’s plusses: monsters get shot and people get chomped. What’s not to love?
9. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Why? Because the acid-inspired stargate sequence is freakin trippy, man. Watch it while listening to Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” for an extra buzz! Realistically, it’s the only film on this list that actually takes things like weightlessness seriously, and just like Blade Runner, the computer is more human than the humans. It was written by the sci-fi master Arthur C. Clarke, and directed by Stanley “Dr. Strangelove” Kubrick, and neither of them are ever better. It’s so low on this list because the pacing is bloody atrocious, though.
10. Return of the Jedi
Why? Two words: metal bikini.
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