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Jun
23

The greatest sci-fi film of all time is…

by Shaun Davis

1320esb_key_d5-0220rgb1SciFiNow is offering all website visitors, magazine readers and forum dwellers the chance to assist in a debate. We need you to help answer that perennial question, the one that has plagued genre fans for decades: what is the best sci-fi film… ever?

To make things a little easier, we ask that you write down ten of your favourite movies situated specifically in the sci-fi genre. Following this, all answers will be put through a rigorous scoring process and the winning candidates will be included in a special feature.

To answer, you can either head over to our specified forum thread, post your answers on the message board situated below, or email us at scifinow@imagine-publishing.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing your answers.

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46 Comments »

  • J. Patrick Stublen said:

    The Empire Strikes Back.

  • Adam Seely said:

    While a sound argument can come from the place that “Star Wars” is more “space fantasy” than “science fiction”, the Star Wars saga (Episodes I-VI) brilliantly depicted the sci-fi theme of man vs. machine in its story of Anakin becoming Vader, and later his son, Luke redeeming him.

    I would like to be clear that unlike other polls or lists that may credit “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” with the distinct honor of being the best, it is the entire Star Wars saga that deserves the top spot. Lucas’ masterpiece is one film, expertly told to a generation over years through episodes a la the Saturday morning matinees of yore. George Lucas redefined filmmaking with the original film, yes, but the entire story deserves the top honor of greatest science fiction film….ever. May the Force Be With Us All….

  • River said:

    1. ALIENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    2.Blade Runner
    3.Alien
    4.Serenity
    5.Terminator Salvation
    6.The Terminator
    7.Resident Evil
    8.Ghost in the Shell
    9.Planet of the Apes
    10.Sky capting and the world of tommrow

    …and top of the wearwolf films is…
    Ginger snaps the beginning (it just has to be said, awsome wearwolf movie)!!!

  • Elizabeth said:

    Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    Star Wars: A New Hope
    Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
    Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
    Terminator
    Terminator 2
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    Back to the Future
    Ghostbusters
    Back to the Future 2

  • p whitby said:

    1. Star Wars
    2. Alien
    3. The Empire Strikes Back
    4. Aliens
    5. Blade Runner
    6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
    7. Robocop
    8. The Terminator
    9. Star Trek II : The Wrath Of Khan.
    10. Star Wars Episode III : The Revenge Of The Sith

  • izikavazo said:

    Don’t you think that picture will kinda skew the results? I don’t disagree I think that SW is the best Sci-fi movie, but still.

  • John Einhaus said:

    Greatest Sci Fi film of all time is with out question 1977 STAR WARS. It was and still is ground breaking and so many movie still mimic and copy aspects used in the film from over 30 years ago.

  • Stuart Tullis said:

    10. The Last Starfighter
    9. The Clone Wars
    8. E.T.
    7. Star Trek (J.J. Abrams)
    6. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
    5. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
    4. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    3. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
    2. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
    1. Star Wars (Also known as Star Wars: A New Hope)

  • Bonnie Sizer said:

    My top 10 sci-fi films:

    1. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
    2. Star Trek (2009)
    3. Blade Runner
    4. Ghostbusters
    5. Star Wars IV: A New Hope
    6. Mars Attacks
    7. The Day the Earth Stood Still
    8. Alien
    9. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
    10. Back to the Future

  • KS said:

    Truly it’s all 6 Star Wars Movies as a unit as they are essentially part of 1 sci-fi masterpiece, but if I had to pick one of them, then it’s Episode IV.

  • Alexander Sives said:

    Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
    Blade Runner
    Star Trek (2009)
    Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope
    Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
    Star Trek II – The Wrath of Kahn
    X-Men
    Aliens
    The Last Starfighter
    Tron

  • Chuck Paskovics said:

    DuH! Star Wars! Hands down!

  • simon fransher said:

    1. Star Wars – Episode 3 – Revenge Of The Sith

    2. Alien 3

    3. Star Trek – First Contact

    4. Aliens

    5. Star Wars – Episode 4 – A New Hope

    6. Star Wars – Episode 5 – The Empire Strikes Back

    7. Star Trek – 6 – The Undiscovered Country

    8. Star Trek – Generations

    9. Alien

    10. Predator

  • Frank F said:

    1. Alien

    2. The Empire Strikes Back

    3. Star Trek – First Contact

    4. Alien 3

    5. Terminator 2 – Judgement Day

    6. Terminator Salvation

    7. X3 – The Last Stand

    8. Aliens

    9. Terminator 3 – Rise Of The Machines

    10. Revenge Of The Sith

  • Nivenus said:

    “Best” is difficult to decide as everyone will have a different opinion about what it means to be the best? Most culturally significant? Hands down, A New Hope. Most imaginative? Perhaps 2001, Ghost in the Shell, or Blade Runner. Personal favorite? That, will of course, vary from person to person.

    All in all, I think a few films stand out to me as possibly the “best.” Empire Strikes Back is one of them, though more because that is a well-structured and entertaining story that fills a nice wedge between the first and third Star Wars films than because of anything specifically science fiction-ey. For the same reasons I’ll strike out Serenity, whose plot was a mess even if it had nice character moments (I loved Firefly BTW). Aliens is a nice contender as well, as is Wrath of Khan.

    What these films have in common is they’re entertaining, imaginative, and significant to our culture all at once. Which one is the best, I think, depends on your point of view. But they’re all great films.

  • James Rundle said:

    Mine would be:

    Forbidden Planet
    The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
    Solaris (1972)
    Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
    Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
    2001: A Space Odyssey
    The Thing From Another World
    Alien
    This Island Earth
    Children Of Men

  • Zebulon Zippan said:

    1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
    2. Alien
    3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

  • Martin said:

    If we can say STAR WARS SAGA then that is my Number 1, if not

    1 Star Wars IV New Hope
    2 Star Wars V Empire
    3 Alien
    4 Blade Runner
    5 Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    6 2001
    7 The Day the Earth Stood stilll (original)
    8 Forbidden Planet
    9 The Abyss
    10 Star Wars III Revenge of the Sith

  • dudelove said:

    1) Predator
    2) Blade Runner
    3) Alien
    4) Total Recall
    5) Aliens
    6) The Terminator
    7) Demolition Man
    8) Terminator 2: Judgment Day
    9) The Thing
    10) Children of Men

  • Chris said:

    1. Solaris (1972)
    2. Blade Runner
    3. A.I.
    4. Stalker
    5. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
    6. Alien
    7. Forbidden Planet
    8. La Planete Sauvage
    9. 2001: A Space Odyssey
    10. The Man Who Fell To Earth

  • Dan said:

    1. Star Wars III: Revenge Of The Sith
    2. Star Wars IV: A New Hope
    3. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
    4. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
    5. Star Wars II: Attack Of The Clone
    6. Star Wars VI: Return Of The Jedi
    7. Star Wars The Clone Wars
    8. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
    9. Back To The Future Part II
    10. Star Trek First Contact

  • Jtunes said:

    1. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
    2. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
    3. Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
    4. Star Wars IV: A New Hope
    5. Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
    6. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
    7. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
    8. Aliens
    9. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
    10. Alien

  • bryan said:

    1. Star Wars IV: A New Hope
    2. Star Wars V: Empire Strikes Back
    3. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
    4. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
    5. Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
    6. Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
    7. Matrix
    8. Aliens
    9. Predator
    10. The Day The Earth Stood Still (original)

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  • Lynn said:

    1. Aliens
    2. The Terminator
    3. Alien
    4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
    5. The Matrix
    6. 2001: A Space Odessey
    7. Solaris
    8. Star Wars- Empire Strikes Back
    9. Bladerunner
    10. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951 version)

  • Predator82 said:

    1 Predator
    2 Aliens
    3 Terminator 2
    4 Event Horizon
    5 Star Wars VI
    6 Star Trek 6
    7 The Thing (1982)
    8 Mission to Mars
    9 Red Planet
    10 I Robot

  • melissa said:

    1. Star Wars – Episode 3 – Revenge Of The Sith
    2. Star Wars – Episode 4 – A New Hope
    3. Star Wars – Episode 5 – The Empire Strikes Back
    4. Star Wars – Episode 6 – Return Of The Jedi
    5. Star Wars – Episode 2 – Attack Of The Clones
    6. Star Wars – Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace
    7. Star Wars – The Clone Wars
    8. Transformers (2007)
    9. Transformers – Revenge Of The Fallen
    10. Terminator 4 – Salvation

  • Jason A said:

    1. Star Wars 4

    2. Terminator 1

    3. Transformers

    4. Alien 4

    5. Alien 3

    6. Transformers – Revenge Of The Fallen

    7. Star Wars 3

    8. Terminator 4

    9. Alien

    10. Aliens

  • Oz said:

    The Empire Strikes Back!

  • Tryfan915 said:

    1. Alien (1979, Ridley Scott)
    2. Blade Runner (1982, Ridley Scott)
    3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Stanley Kubrick)
    4. Sunshine (2007, Danny Boyle)
    5. Children Of Men (2006, Alfonso Cuarón)
    6. Brazil (1985, Terry Gilliam)
    7. Alien³ (1992, David Fincher)
    8. Dark City (1998, Alex Proyas)
    9. The Terminator (1984, James Cameron)
    10. Twelve Monkeys (1995, Terry Gilliam)

  • Markie said:

    Wow, this is soooo difficult, as my top ten changes regularly.

    As a definitive list as of today it’s got to be:

    1. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
    2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
    3. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
    4. Back to the Future II (Can I have whole franchises in here please?)
    5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (it is fantasy)
    6. Aliens
    7. The Matrix
    8. Predator
    9. Jurassic Park
    10. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

  • lovlid said:

    Enough with the star wars. Only two of them were any good, the rest were adverts to sell toys.
    1. 2001:A Space Odyssey. Real Science Fiction.
    2. Alien. A true beginning to adult Science Fiction.
    3. Blade Runner. Jaw dropping sequences many would like to copy.
    After that you can throw in Gattaca, The Twelve Monkeys, Children Of Men, Soylent Green, Silent Running, The Day The Earth Caught Fire and Quatermass And The Pit, in any order you like.
    Without sounding like a snob, most of the films being chosen, and there are some great films among them, are just too popcorn to be Science Fiction. Dont get me wrong, I love watching them, but a good SF movie should make you Think and go Wow, not just go wow.
    I also agree with izikavazo, the lead photo could be influencing the fanboys.

  • Andy said:

    1. Alien
    2. The Thing
    3. Terminator
    4. Aliens
    5. Star Wars- Empire Strikes Back
    6. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
    7. The Matrix
    8. Blade Runner
    9. The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
    10. Laputa: Castle in the Sky

  • Jones said:

    2001
    Blade Runner
    Akira
    Planet Of The Apes
    Solaris (1972)
    Metropolis
    Forbidden Planet
    Alien
    The Thing
    The Day The Earth Caught Fire

  • JP said:

    1. Empire Strikes Back
    2. A New Hope
    3. Return of the Jedi
    4. Terminator 2
    5. Blade Runner
    6. The Matrix
    7. The Last Starfighter
    8. Transformers
    9. Serenity
    10. Ghostbusters

  • James said:

    10) TRON
    9) Close Encounters of The Third Kind
    8) E.T.
    7) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
    6) Planet of The Apes(Original)
    5) Star Wars Ep.III: Revenge of The Sith
    4) Terminator 2
    3) Aliens
    2) The Matrix
    1) Star Wars Ep.V: The Empire Strikes Back

  • Brendan said:

    1. Terminator
    2. Blade Runner
    3. Star Wars (Original)
    4. Wrath of Khan
    5. Species
    6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    7. Star Trek (JJ Abrams 2009)
    8. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
    9. 2001 A Space Odyssey
    10. Lord of the Rings (Fellowship of the Ring)
    Honorable Mention: Terminator 2& 3, Planet of the Apes, A Clockwork Orange, Species, Soylent Green, Logans Run.

  • phil said:

    1. Terminator 4 – Salvation

    2. Star Wars – Episode 4 – A New Hope

    3. Star Wars – Episode 3 – Revenge Of The Sith

    4. Alien 3

    5. The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

    6. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

    7. Transformers – Revenge Of The Fallen

    8. Terminator 3 – Rise Of The Machines

    9. Aliens

    10. Predator 2

  • phil10 said:

    Phil10 was the name I put not Phil

  • ChrisTookeyFan said:

    Top Science Fiction film?

    2001: A Space Odyssey

  • monkey1981 said:

    ive got to go with the following in no particular order-

    1.transformers

    2.transformers revenge of the fallen

    3.pitch black

    4.alien 3

    5.the matrix

    6.starship troopers

    7.cube

    8.dark city

    9.the fith element

    10.the thing

  • CaptainSubtext said:

    Purely based on my own taste, my list would be;

    1.ExistenZ
    2.Twelve Monkeys
    3.The Fly
    4.Aliens
    5.Blade Runner
    6.Total Recall
    7.Scanners
    8.Robocop
    9.Predator
    10.Terminator

  • Indico said:

    1: The War Of the Worlds (George Pal Version)
    2: The Time Machine (Original version)
    3: The Quiet Earth
    4: Blade Runner
    5: Strange Days
    6: Screamers (Based on a Philip K. Dick story)
    7: When Worlds Collide
    8: The Fly (BW Version)
    9: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (Stars Ray Miland)
    10:The Lathe Of Heaven (LeGuin story)

  • Joel78 said:

    1.Metropolis
    2.King Kong (Original)
    3.The Day the Earth Stood Still (Original)
    4.Planet of the Apes (Original)
    5.2001: A Space Odyssey
    6.Star Wars
    7.Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    8.Bladerunner
    9.Aliens
    10.Children of Men (or is this horror?)

  • Colduo said:

    1. Star Wars (A New Hope)
    2. The Empire Strikes Back
    3. Blade Runner
    4. 2001 A Space Odyssey
    5. The Matrix
    6. Terminator 2
    7. Revenge of the Sith
    8. War Of The Worlds (original)
    9. Forbidden Planet
    10. Return of the Jedi

    Special mentions to Aliens, Wrath of Khan, Truman Show, Dark City and Pitch Black

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