Buzz
NOTE: This is the revised list. The original version was poorly received due to my ranking method based on Rotten Tomatoes freshness and my decision to include films like The Sixth Sense, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, and Princess Mononoke. After considering the feedback, I've updated the list by removing those three movies. To keep the list at 20, I’ve added Contact back in, despite my personal dislike of it.
Although the 1990s saw major advancements in sci-fi film technology, the decade is sadly marked by a lack of truly great sci-fi films in the post-Star Wars era. Many films based on well-regarded sci-fi books or other established materials—such as The Postman, Starship Troopers, Contact, Sphere, The Phantom Menace, Lost in Space, Star Trek Generations, Judge Dredd, Aliens3, and Godzilla—missed the mark in execution. (Quick trivia: How big was Godzilla while stomping through New York? Apparently, even the filmmakers didn’t know.)
Here is a selection of the best sci-fi films of the 1990s. On the bright side, at least half of these films were not massive, high-budget blockbusters. And, like the 1980s, some of the finest sci-fi films were Japanese anime. Notable exclusions: Apollo 13 (it’s based on real events, not sci-fi), the whimsical Being John Malkovich (more fantasy than sci-fi), Total Recall (more silly than serious), and Independence Day. Despite the flashy special effects, patriotic speeches, and entertaining characters, Independence Day ultimately felt absurd. The movie's three most glaring issues: the technologically advanced aliens relying on our rudimentary satellite system to coordinate their attack, the explosion of the colossal mother ship near Earth without any harm to the planet, and Jeff Goldblum hacking into the alien mother ship with his basic laptop. These flaws severely diminish the overall experience.
20. The Arrival 1996
It took me some time to fully appreciate this Charlie Sheen-led sci-fi thriller. Co-starring the late Ron Silver, The Arrival is an action-packed movie where Sheen plays radio astronomer Zane Ziminski, who picks up what seem to be alien signals. After being mysteriously fired for presenting his findings, Ziminski finds himself tangled in a conspiracy leading to a chilling revelation. Surprisingly, it's better than it sounds, and when it comes to first-contact films, The Arrival outshines the pompous Contact and the often-ridiculous Independence Day.
19. eXistenZ 1999
A unique blend of cyberpunk and the then-popular virtual reality tech, the British-Canadian film eXistenZ skillfully delves into the fusion of reality and fantasy. Players literally 'jack' into a virtual reality game by inserting a connection into their spine. Talk about a truly immersive experience!
18. Contact 1997
The reason I didn't rank Contact higher is due to one significant flaw: its one-dimensional characters. A prime example is Jake Busey's character, whose motivation to destroy the first 'Machine' is outright ridiculous. Overall, the film—and its source novel by Carl Sagan—feels like a long, unfocused, and rather ignorant critique of religion. Still, the movie is intriguing and tackles a real debate: Did Jodie Foster’s character truly travel through space in the blink of an eye? The final 15 minutes alone make enduring the rest of the film worthwhile.
17. The Fifth Element 1997
Admittedly, this is a guilty pleasure, but unlike most over-the-top, high-budget action flicks, this movie never takes itself too seriously. The first time I watched it, I had so much fun that the silliness and confusion didn’t bother me at all. When I tried to view it critically the second time, I still ended up having too much fun to care. If you try to take it seriously (like you might with Independence Day), you'll dismiss it as bloated nonsense. But if you accept it as a light-hearted, action-packed, space-faring popcorn flick, then it’s an absolute blast. Bruce Willis stars as Corbin Dallas, a weary cab driver and former elite soldier (great name, by the way) who becomes the protector/love interest of the 'supreme being'—the universe’s sole hope against an enormous ball of pure evil. The whole cast clearly had a fantastic time making this film, including Ian Holm as the bumbling priest, the late and legendary Byron James as Dallas' former commanding officer, Gary Oldman as the diabolical villain, and Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod, a flamboyant 23rd-century pop diva. For me, Chris Tucker is the highlight of the film (though some may dislike his character).
16. The Truman Show 1998
The Truman Show is a fascinating film where Truman (Jim Carrey) unknowingly lives his entire life as the star of a hugely popular reality TV show about his life. But when a stage light unexpectedly falls from the sky, Truman begins to suspect that his reality isn’t quite as real as he thought it was. (Try saying that 10 times fast.)
15. Star Trek: First Contact 1996
The eighth installment of Star Trek stands as the best since 1982’s *Wrath of Kahn*, and it’s the only *ST* film with the *Next Generation* crew that truly resonates beyond the fanbase. Packed with themes reminiscent of *Moby Dick*, *First Contact* sees our heroes fighting the Borg to secure Earth’s future. While a bit cheesy in some moments (like when Dr. Cochran remarks to the Enterprise crew: “You’re like astronauts… on some sort of star trek!”), the script remains strong, and the action keeps you on the edge of your seat.
14. Men in Black 1997
*Men in Black* became an unexpected blockbuster in the 1990s, adapted from the comic book series of the same name. It’s pure, unadulterated popcorn cinema, and it’s one of the finest examples. Agents K (Tommy Lee Jones) and J (Will Smith) work tirelessly to keep Earth safe, maintaining it as a 'Casablanca without the Nazis.' The stakes rise when an alien bug (played by Vincent D’Onofrio) causes chaos. More 'fi' than 'sci,' this flick remains a top-tier, fun sci-fi experience. One of the standout moments: When J dons his black suit and sunglasses for the first time, he tells K, 'The difference between you and me is I make this look good.'
13. Jurassic Park 1993
Based on Michael Crichton’s gripping novel, *Jurassic Park* brought the awe and terror of cloned dinosaurs to the big screen. The movie introduced audiences to one of the deadliest creatures ever: the velociraptor. With an iconic John Williams score, groundbreaking special effects, and a typically nerdy yet endearing performance by Jeff Goldblum as Ian Malcolm, *Jurassic Park* is a thrilling ride that holds up today. The film is necessarily less complex than the book, and some scenes—like the T-Rex attack—might leave you scratching your head (seriously, where did that cliff come from?). A memorable exchange: Hammond, attempting to justify the chaos, says, 'All major theme parks have delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked.' Malcolm’s witty response: 'Yeah, but John, if the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don’t eat the tourists.'
12. Edward Scissorhands 1990
This imaginative fairy tale is one of the most memorable sci-fi films in recent history, featuring Johnny Depp as Edward, a scientist's unfinished creation. After the untimely death of his inventor, played by the legendary Vincent Price, Edward is left with blades for hands. His chance encounter with a local Avon saleswoman, played by Dianne Wiest, leads her to discover him and ultimately introduce him to a suburban life. It’s essentially a modern take on the classic *Frankenstein* story.
11. La Cité des enfants perdus The City of Lost Children, 1994
This French film, unlike the others on this list, presents a unique dystopian tale. A mad scientist kidnaps children to steal their dreams in a dark and surreal world. If you’ve watched the director’s equally bizarre post-apocalyptic work, *Delicatessen*, you’ll know what kind of strange, grotesque experience awaits. This film is anything but conventional, offering a psychological sci-fi thriller that’s sure to keep you captivated.
10. Twelve Monkeys 1995
Bruce Willis plays a convict sent back in time to help solve the mystery of a devastating supervirus that decimated Earth in the mid-1990s. His investigation focuses on a radical animal rights group led by Brad Pitt, but is he following the right leads? This critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic film is based on the 1962 short film *La Jetee*. (Check out my list of notable sci-fi films from the 1960s.) What I enjoy most about this movie — apart from the wonderful Madeleine Stowe — is the fact that nothing is quite as it seems.
9. Galaxy Quest 1999
This uproarious parody of *Star Trek* doubles as an excellent adventure-in-space film in its own right. In fact, it might even be a better *Star Trek* movie than many of the official ones. Tim Allen stars as the William Shatner-esque lead of a cancelled TV show called *Galaxy Quest* (clever, right?). He and his fellow cast members spend their days attending sci-fi conventions — that is, until they’re abducted by aliens who believe the show was real. The film lovingly mocks and exaggerates popular sci-fi and *Trek* tropes, including Sigourney Weaver’s character, who played the show’s token eye candy.
8. Gattaca 1997
*Gattaca* is a rare breed of modern sci-fi film that focuses on thoughtful, serious themes rather than relying on special effects and explosions. Ethan Hawke portrays Vincent, a man born without genetic engineering, which makes him an instant outcast in a society that values genetically enhanced children. In this world, natural births like Vincent’s are considered inferior to genetically 'perfect' ones. Vincent eventually switches identities with the 'perfect' Jerome, allowing him to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut, while Jerome, in turn, gets to experience the freedom of sleep. This film is well worth the watch for its thought-provoking narrative.
7. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade 1999
If you've followed my previous lists of sci-fi films across various decades, you'll notice a trend: I gravitate towards films depicting dystopian futures. Among these, Jin-Roh stands out as my personal favorite, and it ranks as one of the finest films in any genre. Loosely based on a manga, this film imagines an alternate post-war Japan where an elite paramilitary force called the Kerberos Panzer Cops operates above the law to combat terrorism. The protagonist, Kazuki Fuse, is paralyzed by fear when he encounters a 'red riding hood'—a bomb courier for the terrorists. The girl detonates the bomb, causing massive destruction, but a friend saves Kazuki from certain death. As a result, he’s ordered back to training, where he begins a complex relationship with the twin sister of the girl who died. Jin-Roh is a beautifully crafted film, entirely hand-drawn, and brimming with symbolic depth. The Panzer Cops are outfitted like WWII German soldiers, including their helmets and MP-42 heavy machine guns. The film draws inspiration from the grim original version of the Little Red Riding Hood tale, not the sanitized Grimm Brothers version. In summary, Jin-Roh is an exceptional cinematic experience.
6. ? (or: Pi) 1998
This critically acclaimed movie, which won a Sundance award, is somewhat obscure in mainstream circles, leaning more towards psychological thriller than pure sci-fi. I’d be lying if I said I understood all the theories and mathematical concepts explored in the film. Still, Pi (?) delves into the life of a paranoid, reclusive mathematical theorist whose world unravels after he discovers a formula that predicts the stock market. The movie culminates in a chilling, grisly climax.
5. The Matrix 1999
The Matrix's first installment remains a groundbreaking experience, unlike its muddled sequels. In this mind-bending journey, Neo, a programmer and hacker, embarks on a search for The Matrix. However, as the saying goes, "be careful what you wish for," Neo soon learns that his reality is nothing more than an artificial construct created by machines that use passive humans as a source of power. Neo ultimately discovers that he is 'the One,' destined to end the machines' reign for good. This film's influence, especially in terms of its groundbreaking special effects, is undeniable.
4. Dark City 1998
A man awakens in a hotel room, with no recollection of his identity or the purpose of his stay. Soon, he finds himself running from mysterious beings known as 'the Strangers.' As the plot unfolds, he realizes he possesses psychokinetic abilities. The Strangers, capable of manipulating reality, time, and memories, are actually parasitic aliens conducting experiments on human nature. The movie explores whether a person's inherent nature or their life experiences are more influential in shaping who they are. Often referred to as 'the thinking man’s Matrix,' this 1998 film was praised by Roger Ebert as the year's best.
3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991
Terminator 2 is undeniably one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made, and here's why: Firstly, it's a rare example of a sequel that actually improves upon the original. Secondly, T2 surpasses its action-packed premise to deliver a thought-provoking narrative. In this installment, the T-800 Terminator, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is sent back in time not to kill, but to protect John Connor. The antagonist, the liquid-metal T-1000 (played by Robert Patrick), is an unforgettable foe. What truly elevates this film is its exploration of humanity, with moments such as Sarah Connor’s reflections on how the Terminator proves to be a surprisingly good father figure for John. Linda Hamilton's portrayal of Sarah Connor in this film is much more complex than the character’s first appearance. She is no longer the fragile damsel but a woman who has been hardened by nightmarish visions of the future, bringing her to the edge of savagery. The chilling dream sequence of a nuclear war remains one of the film’s most haunting moments.
2. Ghost in the Shell 1995
If Akira was the definitive anime success of the 1980s, Ghost in the Shell undeniably claims the spotlight for the 1990s. This cyberpunk masterpiece is so mind-bending that its influence remains immeasurable. Based on the manga of the same name, Ghost in the Shell delves into profound questions about what it means to be human in an era of advanced technology. The story follows Motoko Kusanagi and her partner Batou, two cyborgs who combat sophisticated criminals. Motoko embarks on a search for the mysterious 'puppet master,' grappling with existential questions along the way. Violent at times, yet deeply philosophical, this film is essential viewing. Initially, it was my top pick, but I moved it to number 2 at the last moment.
1. Open Your Eyes 1997
This Spanish sci-fi thriller was met with critical acclaim upon its release. The plot follows Cesar, a man severely disfigured in an accident, as he experiences a series of disorienting events. After killing a woman he believes to be his former lover, Cesar discovers that following the accident, he had been cryogenically frozen — with unsettling consequences. Open Your Eyes was later remade as Vanilla Sky in 2001, with both versions featuring Penelope Cruz, though the original is widely regarded as superior. It holds a spot at #84 on the Online Film Critics Society’s Top 100 Sci-Fi Films list.
