WELCOME TO THE SCI-FI TOP 100!

Our second Top 100 is the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. From 'This Island Earth' to 'Independence Day'. 'Metropolis' to 'Minority Report'. Check it out, and if you think we're missing something, leave us a note on our forum! Parts 1-3 (100-25) is now up, and part four will arrive soon, in the mean time, if there's anything here that you'd like to view, then why not see if we have it in stock?

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Top 100 Sci-fi Movies

50. The Fly (86)

Another entry that wouldn't be out of place in the top 100 horror, this gory remake of the '58 classic as little in common with it's predecessor.
Sure the teleport machines are still there, but instead of the likeable family man who contracts the head and arm of a fly, we now have a dedicated bachelor scientist, who initially becomes superfit and agile, before (grotesquely) turning into a humanoid insect.
Director David Cronenberg (never one to sperate his personal feelings from his work) again displays his apparent obession and disgust for sex and the human form; the horrific transformation scenes seem to bare a parable to the AIDs virus which dominated the newspaper headlines in the mid-eighties.
Gore fans surely won't be disappointed, but the haunting poetry of the orignal is lost. But this is a dark and horrifying film, and will unsettle you for days after.
Stars Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis also appeared in 'Earth Girls are Easy' together. Goldblum's character is called Brundle (as in fly).

49. Minority Report (2002)

Fun edition to Spielberg's amazing portfolio, as murder is eliminated by the pre-crime squad.
You see, Tom Cruise and co. have the ability to see into the future (with the help of three telepathic pre-cogs), and arrive at the scene of the crime before it even occurs.
Naturally, this "perfect" system goes arse-about-tit, and Cruisey is implecated by the pre-cogs, and becomes the victim of his own system.
Of course, if you spend time analysing the storyline, you find plenty of plotholes (as well as recieving a colossal headache), but the real reasons this hits the top 50 is for the incredible action sequences and the outstanding special effects. There's also a interesting support cast too, including Ma Von Sydow ('The Exorcist'), Colin Farrell ('Daredevil') and Samantha Morten (who hails from Nottingham, UK, as does your favourite website!).

48. The Thing (82)

Technically, this should be classed as a horror movies, as it relies on scenes of horrific mutation and mutilation, but...
This is of course, a remake of the much loved 1951 'The Thing...From Another World' (which also appears in our Top 100), but, boy what a different approach by director! Gone is the mouth-watering dialogue (indeed star Kurt Russell is a man of few words), amnd in are some of the most imaginative, mind-boggling, stomach-churning effect EVER seen (thank Rob Bottin).
Setting in snowbound military resaerch post in the Antartic, the freezing temperatures mean the humans as just as much isolated and trapped as those in aboard the Nostromo in 'Alien'. Here, the alien is able to morph into any form, and often disguises itself as one of the men. This combination of chlostrophobia and horrifying Special effects make this the stuff of nightmares.
This marks a third ground-breaking movie for cult director John Carpenter (after 'Assult on Precinct 13' and 'Halloween'). If you haven't seen this, you should, it's a film you will never EVER forget.

47. Blade Runner (82)

A popular futuristic detective story in the film noir tradition, with a post 'Star Wars' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' Harrison Ford.
He plays a washed up private dick, hired to locate and destroy a group of android replicants in Los Angeles of 1999, a gloomy, rain-soaked metropolis filled with floating, garishing advertisements and overrun by hover car traffic.
The androids include beautiful Sean Young (who Ford falls for) and psychotic Rutger Hauer, who confronts Ford in the violent conclusion.
The original print includes narration by Ford (in true Noir fashion) and an unrealistic happy ending. In 1992, the director's cut version removed these elements, making the film a WHOLE lot darker (maybe too depressing for some).

46. Godzilla (54)

(This positioning is for the orignal Japanese 98-minute version, not the American 81 minute version featuring Raymond Burr).
A poetic, sometimes devastating parable of the Hiroshima bombing. The H-Bomb is replaced by a 50 meter-high mutant dinosaur, named Gojira (a combination of the words Whale and Gorilla).
When A-bomb testing unleashes the beast from it's slumber, it totally levels Tokyo. A scientist who has created an oxygen eating machine, the only thing that could stop the beast, is reluctant to use the weapon for fear that man will use the weapon in war.
The tragic ending is a far cry from the 'Ultraman' style sequels to come (about 22 in total!). Ironically, Godzilla would become a huge cinema icon in the US, the country whoses bombs Gojira is a metaphor of.

45. Westworld (73)

Landmark sci-fi with an iconic performance by Yul Brynner as the robot gunslinger.
In the titular futuristic amusement park, adults get to live out their fantasies in various zones, including Western, Medieval and Roman worlds. The androids that occupy these zones start to malfunction, attacking and killing the humans.
Directed and scripted by Michael Crichton, this follows similar themes to his later novel, 'Jurassic Park'. It's a thought-provoking, anti-technology theme, which transfers well to the screen.
A down side, however, are the perfomances of leads Richard Benjamin and James Brolin, who seem more like robots that the Brynner and friends.

44. Fahrenheit 451 (67)

Legendary French director Francois Truffaut came to England to directed this imaginitive version of Ray Bradbury's novel.
In the totalitarian future firemen now have the responsibilty of destroying literature, which it's believed corrupts the mind.
One such fireman, Montag (Oscar Werner) rebels, recieves punishment (ala '1984'), and eventually finds peace with the book people, who have each remembered the entire contents of one book each, and recite to each other.
A interesting swipe at censorship, that is often deliberately wierd (Julie Christie plays two roles identififiable by different hairdos). German horror veteran Anton Differing co-stars.

43. The Day the Earth Caught Fire (61)

End of the World from the perspective of the British press.
U.S. and the U.S.S.R. bomb testing causes the Earth to drop of of it's orbit and hurtling towards the Sun.
As the governments prepare to make one last attempt to save the planet, panic sets in amongst the British public, teenagers prepare to have one last party, and newspaper editors prepare two headlines: 'World Saved' 'World Doomed'.
An intelligent look at how the Cold War could have gone, made in a time when many really did fear armageddon was a real possibility.

42. The Creature from the Black Lagoon (53)

Just when we thought we'd seen the last of the Universal monster series, this classic creature feature started off another movie cycle.
The plot's interchangable with 'Frankenstein' 'King Kong' or 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', with the titular star falling fatally in love with the beautiful female lead (in this case, Julie Adams).
What makes this a stand-out in it's own right is the incredible creature custom (by Bud Westmore and Jack Keven) and the superb underwater photography.
Directed by the mastermind of fifties sci-fi, Jack Arnold, it stars Richard Denning and Richard Carlson, who do decent jobs.

41. Invaders from Mars (53)

After young David sees a 'meteor' crash in the field behind his house, he begins to notice the adults around him (including his parents) acting very strange.
It turns out that the humans are being controlled by giant green martians, who take orders from a tentacled head in a glass tank...
This nightmarish family film would make DR. Suess or Roald Dahl proud. An allegory for the lack of understanding between kids and adults has become a huge cult favourite.
The martians are unforgettable creations, and the technicolour and German Expressist influences add to a somewhat surreal film. Fifties veterans Leif Erickson, Arthur Franz ans Morris Ankrum star along with young Jimmy Hunt.

40. Destroy All Monsters (68)

The ultimate monster movie!!! Never before (or since) have some many wonderful creations graced the screen!
Aliens take control of all the Earth's monsters, who are conveniently gathered on Monster Island. The baraclava clan E.T.'S use the monsters to attack the world.
Godzilla invades New York, Mothra attacks Peking, Rodan attacks Moscow, Manda attacks London and Gorasauras attacks Paris! When the Earthlings regain control of the creatures, the aliens send Ghidrah to battle Godzilla and pals!
The best of the Japanese monster movies, there are 12 man-in-rubber-suit stars, including the Son of Godzilla, Angulas, Asiga, Baragon, and Varan!

39. The Men in Black (96)

The movie based on the Marvel comic-book based on the urban myth concerning a group of secret Government agents, whose task it is to defend the Earth from alien invaders.
Tommy Lee Jones is the veteran of MIB, who sees cop Will Smith as his potential replacement. Together, Smith and Jones set out to foil a plot to conquer the Earth.
This comedy hit moves at such a break-neck speed (thanks to Barry Sonnenfeld) that it really does feel like a comic book on screen, and the CGI is amazing.
Funny, exciting, visually stunning and very memorable, this is one of the best films of the 1990's. MIB II came out in 2002, and was a big letdown.

38. The Quatermass Experiment (55)

The first of Hammer's superior sci-fi trilogy, and boy, what a start! Know in the US as 'The Creeping Uknown', this is the tale of Professor Quatermass, who attempts to discover what happened to a crew of astronauts who seem to have disappeared in space.
The only survivor appears to be suffering from shock, but in reality, he has been taken over my a alien entity.
Chillingly done, it evokes memories of 'Frankenstein' as the towering astronaut sets out on a killing spree.
In the usual attempt to secure U.S. box-office receits, this English film stars American Brian Donlevy as the Professor. Followed by 'Quatermass II' and the unforgettable 'Quatermass and the Pit'.

37. Andromedia Strain (70)

A film based on a novel by Michael ('Jurassic Park') Crichton and directed by Robert ('Day the Earth Stood Still') Wise should disappoint, and thankfully, this doesn't.
It's an excellent story of a deadly virus brought back from space which threatens to wipe out mankind.
Like 'Phase IV', it's features limited dialogue and endless sound effects, which add to the sinister feel of an unperceivable threat. Great special effects by Douglas Trumbull.

36. Solaris (72)

Not the Hollywood dumped-down version, but the orignal Russian epic; the best of the many films inspired by '2001'.
Astronauts aboard a space station experience hallucinations, and encounter characters from their past.
It's long (2h 45m) and visually stunning, and should please fans of artistic and philosophical film. Based on a novel by Stanislaw Lem.

35. It Came From Outer Space (55)

One of the fore-runners for the aliens-on-Earth films that so captured the public imagination after Roswell and endless newspaper reports of UFOs in the late 40s, early 50s.
Richard Carlson plays an astronomer that witnesses an alien orb crash in the desert. The Xenomorphs are friendly, bug-eyed aliens, who make clones of locals to repair the damaged ship.
Carlson tries to convince people they are friendly, without much success. A parable for tolerence, this was one of the first tales of friend alien visitors.
Based on "The Meteor" by Ray Bradbury, it also stars Kathleen Hughes, Barbara Rush and Charles Drake.

34. Them! (54)

Ah...the Fifties! Tin-foil visions of the future, man-in-suit aliens, dinosaurs and mutants on the rampage, and of course giants of all types. But this was the first and possibly best of the mutated-giant-attacks-mankind movies!
50-foot ants leave a trail of destruction in the New Mexico desert, in their search for sugar (honestly!).
Good special effects and a tense atmosphere help establish this as the best in it's genre. After this, the cinema became infested with giant octopus', spiders, birds, locusts, scorpions, people, mantis...
Edmund Gwenn, James Arness, James Whitmore, Onslow Stevens, and even Leonard Nimoy compete against the wonderful model ants (not cheap back-projects - take note Mr. B.I.G.!).

33. Twelve Monkeys (95)

Although possibly Terry Gilliam's best work yet, this dark actioner is suprisingly lacking in humour for a film by an ex-Phyton.
Where this film does succeed, however, in abundance is in it's portrait of the evils of man and the corruption of politics.
Bruce Willis plays a convict sent into the past to prevent the destruction of mankind by a rampant virus.
Other unforgettable characters are played by Brad Pitt, Madeline Stowe and Christopher Plummer.

32. Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (53)

First and best of the dinosaur invasion films of the 1950's. A fictional thunder lizard (a Rheasarous) breaks out of the ice after an atomic bomb test in the Artic.
Needless to say, it heads towards the U.S. to cause endless damage and eat a few people.
Animated by the great Ray Harryhausen, the Rheasarous is one of the finest monsters of the 50's as it strolls around New York City devouring the Big Apple's inhabitants.
Directed with skill by Eugene Lourie and starring familar genre faces Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, King Donavan and even Lee Van Cleef. Partically based on 'The Foghorn' by Ray Bradbury.

31. Seconds (66)

This parable for man's search for his true identity is extremely well directed by John Frankenheimer, and features one of the most horrify, depressing finales ever filmed.
Bored banker John Randolph is offered a total change of life by a mysterious group, and after endless amounts of transplants and surgery, emerges as the super-handsome Rock Hudson.
He embarks on the new life promised him, leaving behind him his tiresome family, becoming an artist and falling in love with the beutiful Salome Jens. However, when Rock yearns for his former life, the corporation see him as a failed experiment.
A career best performance from Hudson and a total lack of humour make this very believable and throughly shocking. An oft neglected film that is essential viewing.

30. Planet of the Apes (68)

One of the sci-fi genres most famous films, the now familar ending was a huge suprise at the time.
Charlton Heston stars as the astronaut who crashlands of a planet inhabited by Apes. Lots of soul searching for the viewer as we see reflections of the our own behaviour in the monkeys.
Brilliantly acted (it's possibly Roddy McDowall best performance despite being buried only a monkey mask), it's co-scripted by non-other than Rod ('Twilight Zone') Sterling.
Followed by four sequels ('Beneth the Planet of the Apes' was next), a briefly lived TV series and a disappointing Tim Burton re-make. 'Damn you all to Hell!'

29. Forbidden Planet (56)

Sharepeare, the star of the 'Naked Gun' spoofs and 50's cheese may not seem like a winning combination, but this visually exciting space adventure based on 'The Tempest' moved the boundries of special effects.
Leslie Nielsen leads a futuristic rescue mission to Altair IV, where they meet crazed genius Morbius (Walter Pigeon) and his sexy, mini-skirt-wearing daughter (Anne Francis). Best of all, they encounter Robby the Robot; a wise-ass, wobby-armed dome-headed, lovable android.
The rescue team battle the (animated) Id monster, uncover Morbius' manical plans, and get generally outshone by Robby.
Tremendous fun, 'Forbidden' helps establish the 1950's as the golden age of sci-fi. Featuring an oft copied electronic score by Louis and Bebe Barron. Robby went on to star in 'The Invisible Boy' (57) before being revived for Irwin Allen's 'Lost in Space' TV series in the 1960's.

28. Mad Max II: The Road Warrior (82)

Non-stop action and an incredible road chase sequence make this sequel superior to the first (and third) edition to this amazingly popular triolgy.
After avenging the murder of his family in the first film, Max has become a real tough bastard. Clad in leather, he wanders around post-apocolyptic Australia seraching for oil.
When he stumbles on an oil works-turned-fortress, he helps the friendly community there battle off a gang of punk anarchist bikers who want the oil for themselves.
Not as dark as the original, this is pacier and more exciting, with a slightly comic-book feel. Called 'The Road Warrior' in the US, it helped establish it's star (Mel Gibson) as a major Hollywood player.'Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome' was released in 1985 and starred, er, Tina Turner.

27. THX 1138 (71)

To quote Michael Weldon's Psychotronic Film Guide: "See what the director of Star Wars really feels about things!"
Forget cute 'droids and ewoks, this look at a sterile, mechanical future is dark, dark, DARK!
Robert Duvall as THX is imprisioned for refusing to take the drugs that keep man passified. The ruling machines imprision him. He escapes (with reluctant companion Donald Pleasence), and attempts to reach the unseen surface of Earth with immobile-faced robot police pursuing. Somehow, you just know they'll be no happy ending!
George Lucas' first feature is an extended version of his USC project, which was funded thanks to Francis Ford Coppola.

26. This Island Earth (55)

Although spoofed by the popular 'Mystery Science Theatre 3000 - The Movie', this is still a classic, probably why Michael T. Nelson and his robot pals had such a hard time making aughs from it.
Top Earth scientists (Jeff Morrow and Faith Domergue) are sent strange, highly advanced equipment. When they assemble what turns out to be a interplanetary communicator, and make contact with the large-headed Exeter (Jeff Morrow) from the planet Metaluna.
In a great display of (then) top of the range special effects, the scientists travel to the planet, where, among other delights, they meet the iconic bulb-headed mutants.
In spectacular technicolour, this exciting and visually fascinating adventure is credited as the first interplanetary sci-fi, and was co-directed by a unbilled Jack Arnold.

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