Top 10 Best Science Fiction Movies in American Cinema

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is an iconic American science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Melissa Mathison.

The story follows Elliott, a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial named "E.T.", stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings try to help E.T. return home while secretly protecting him from their parents and the government.

Released on June 11, 1982, by Universal Pictures, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial quickly became a blockbuster hit, surpassing Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all time with $792.9 million in earnings. It held the record for years until Spielberg's Jurassic Park was released.

Considered one of the greatest films of all time, E.T. was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry in 1994 due to its cultural significance.

IMDb Rating: 7.9

Tomatometer Score: 99%

Audience Score: 72%

Alien (1979) - Alien: The Space Monster is a landmark American science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott. The story follows a seven-member crew aboard the spaceship Nostromo who intercept what they believe to be a distress signal from another vessel. However, the signal is actually a warning of vicious creatures from an unknown planet. As the crew realizes too late, there is no way to turn back, and one by one, they are picked off by the terrifying alien lifeforms.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and continues to be hailed as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. In 2002, it was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry due to its historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance.

Alien, a classic space horror, inspired numerous films and other media. The Xenomorph has since become one of the most iconic and terrifying movie monsters. Released in 1979, when CGI was still in its infancy, most of the film's elements were physically created, including the Xenomorph, which only adds to the authenticity and horror, making it feel like the creature could jump out at you at any moment.

IMDb Rating: 8.5

Tomatometer Score: 98%

Audience Score: 94%

Star Wars (1977) - Star Wars: A Galactic Battle is an iconic American science fiction adventure film, first released in 1977. Written and directed by George Lucas, the film centers around the Rebel Alliance, led by Princess Leia Organa, and their mission to destroy the Galactic Empire's Death Star. The conflict disrupts the isolated life of farm boy Luke Skywalker, who inadvertently comes into possession of a pair of droids carrying stolen plans for the Death Star. As the Empire launches a relentless search for the missing droids, Luke embarks on a journey with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to help the Rebel Alliance and rescue Princess Leia from the clutches of the Empire.

Star Wars premiered in the United States on May 25, 1977. It grossed $461 million domestically and $314 million internationally, totaling $775 million worldwide. At the time, it surpassed Jaws (1975) to become the highest-grossing film ever.

The film garnered ten Academy Award nominations, winning in seven categories. It was later preserved by the U.S. Library of Congress for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

IMDb Rating: 8.6

A Clockwork Orange (1971) - A Clockwork Orange: The Human Machine is an American science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess.

The film is a disturbing mix of violence, sexual assault, and classical music, set in a near-future Britain. It follows 15-year-old Alex Delarge, a natural-born delinquent with three main obsessions: violence, rape, and Beethoven's music.

A Clockwork Orange explores a microcosm of society, depicting uncontrollable crime, a generation hooked on drugs and sex, and a corrupt, morally bankrupt government. The film delves into themes of dehumanization, the clash between religion and politics, and the erosion of personal freedoms.

This film is not for the faint-hearted, as it contains graphic violence and explicit scenes. The chilling combination of these brutal moments set to Beethoven’s symphonic music has sparked both admiration for Kubrick’s daring direction and a deeper appreciation for the disturbing harmony of the visuals and soundtrack.

IMDb Rating: 8.3

Tomatometer Score: 88%

Audience Score: 93%

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - A Journey Through Space is an epic science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick and released in 1968. Written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, the film was inspired in part by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel."

The plot follows a crew journeying to Jupiter aboard a spaceship, accompanied by an intelligent computer system named HAL, after they discover a mysterious black monolith that may influence the future evolution of humanity. The film explores themes of existentialism, human evolution, artificial intelligence, technology, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

A Space Odyssey received four Academy Award nominations and won for Best Visual Effects. It is widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential films ever made. In 1991, it was selected for preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress due to its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

IMDb Rating: 8.3

Tomatometer Score: 92%

Audience Rating: 89%

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) - The Body Snatcher Invasion is a 1956 American science fiction film directed by Don Siegel.

The plot follows an extraterrestrial invasion that begins in the fictional California town of Santa Mira. Alien plant spores fall from space and develop into large seed pods that have the ability to create duplicates of every human. When these pods reach full development, they mimic the physical traits, memories, and personalities of nearby sleeping people, but their duplicates lack human emotions. A local doctor discovers the silent invasion and makes efforts to stop it. The film is highly regarded for being an allegory of the invisible fears during the Cold War, as the United States and the Soviet Union were in constant political and military conflict.

In 1994, the film was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.

IMDb Rating: 7.4

Tomatometer Rating: 98%

Audience Rating: 85%

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - The Day Earth Stopped Turning is a black-and-white American science fiction film produced by Julian Blaustein and directed by Robert Wise.

The film tells the story of Klaatu, an alien who has undergone a significant evolution to survive the climate changes on his home planet. Klaatu arrives on Earth to assess whether humanity can stop the environmental destruction they have caused. When his attempts to speak before the United Nations are blocked, Klaatu and his companions decide that humanity must be wiped out for Earth to survive. The fate of humanity rests on Dr. Helen Benson and her son Jacob, who must convince Klaatu that humanity is worth saving. But it may already be too late.

In 1995, the film was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry for its cultural significance.

IMDb Rating: 5.5

Tomatometer Rating: 95%

Audience Rating: 87%

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - Terminator 2: Judgment Day is an American science fiction action film. The story centers around Sarah Connor, her 10-year-old son, and their protector from the future, as they try to prevent Judgment Day, a future event when machines begin exterminating humanity. The sequel picks up after the first film's defeat, with Skynet sending an even stronger robot to eliminate Sarah and her son, John Connor. This time, however, they are protected by the original Terminator, who has been repaired by the resistance and sent back from the future.

The production of Terminator 2 required a massive budget of $102 million, making it the most expensive film ever made at the time. A significant portion of this budget was allocated for filming and special effects. The film won four Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects.

IMDb Rating: 8.6
Tomatometer Rating: 93%
Audience Rating: 95%

Back to the Future (1985) - Back to the Future is an American sci-fi adventure comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis and released in 1985.

The story follows Marty McFly, a teenager who accidentally travels back to the year 1955. There, he meets his young parents and inadvertently becomes his mother's romantic interest. Marty must fix the disruptions he's caused in the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love, with the help of the eccentric scientist, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd), who built the time machine. Additionally, Marty must find a way to return to his own time, 1985.

Back to the Future premiered on July 3, 1985, grossing over $381 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1985. It won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, and received five BAFTA nominations, along with four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. The film also won an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, and it was selected for preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress in 2007.

IMDb Rating: 8.5

Tomatometer Rating: 97%

Audience Rating: 94%

Blade Runner (1982) - Blade Runner is a groundbreaking American sci-fi film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the novel by Philip K. Dick.

The plot centers around Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former police officer who is tasked with hunting down rogue androids. Initially reluctant to return to work, Deckard is forced to take on the mission when four rebellious replicants hijack a spaceship and head back to Earth. The film explores deep philosophical themes, such as the value of memories, the fleeting nature of life, and the blurred line between reality and artificiality. It prompts profound questions about identity, existence, and the meaning of life.

What makes Blade Runner compelling isn't just the action scenes but the film's intellectual depth, which often transcends the original novel. It challenges the viewer to reflect on complex questions about life, consciousness, and what it means to be human.

IMDb Rating: 8.1

Tomatometer Rating: 89%

Audience Rating: 91%