# compilinga SCIENCE fiction movie list **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2001, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828 "2001-09-05T08:05:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FEotU](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@FEotU](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FEotU)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/1 "2001-09-05T08:05:07Z")
I’m making a list of science fiction movies (for no good reason) and would like people to post their choices for consideration. Note: the word science in the subjest line is capitalized, so all the Star Trek, Star Wars, Alien1-4,Jurassic Parks and Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind need not apply. For starters: 2001 2010 Contact The Andromeda Strain Colossus:The Forbin Project Destination Moon ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/2 "2001-09-05T08:22:07Z")
Stuff like Star Wars and Star Trek is classified as “Space Opera”. That’ll help you make distinctions 'tween them in the future. _Blade Runner_ is generally accepted (by most everyone I’ve talked to, anyway) as good **science** fiction. Also, though it contains many Space Opera elements, _The Sixth Day_ is SF-ish enough to be included in the list (it poses the question “What if mass human cloning was possible?”, and then shows how that power could be abused). ---
**Author:** ![steeljaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@steeljaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steeljaw)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/3 "2001-09-05T09:00:36Z")
uuuuuhhhh, Happy Gilmore. I mean, how did he get a swing like that? Just kidding. How 'bout Event Horizon. Even though it is probably more horrorish than sci-fi. sorry ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/4 "2001-09-05T09:04:55Z")
Gattaca, perhaps? Would you consider the “Meteor Scare” movies we had a few years back (Armageddon et al) to be sf? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/5 "2001-09-05T13:49:50Z")
I se **c** ond **t** he nomin **at** ion for **Gattaca**. Two others that should be considered are **Dark City** and **Metropolis**. not fiction, but **Apollo 13** , **October Sky** , and \*\*The Right Stuff \*\*. Brian ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/6 "2001-09-05T14:00:59Z")
A really interesting little film is **Cube**. Much more of a character study than a pure science fiction film, but very interesting nonetheless, and I think the setting and mysteries qualify it as SCIENCE fiction. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/7 "2001-09-05T15:27:29Z")
aegypt wrote: > [@](#): > > Would you consider the “Meteor Scare” movies we had a few years back (Armageddon et al) to be sf? _Deep Impact_, yes. _Armageddon_, **NO!!** ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/8 "2001-09-05T15:29:47Z")
SPOOFE wrote: > [@](#): > > Stuff like Star Wars and Star Trek is classified as “Space Opera”. Weeeelllll … _Star Trek_ at least **tries** to be science fiction. Sometimes. _Star Wars_, though, isn’t even SF in George Lucas’s opinion, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/9 "2001-09-05T15:51:35Z")
A.I. The Time Machine would both probably qualify Enemy Mine Powder probably wouldn’t but I thought I’d list them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/10 "2001-09-05T22:55:01Z")
_Ghost in the Shell_ fits somewhat well. _Dark City_ is more debatable, you need to swallow psychic powers, but its themes of memory transference and creation go down easier. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/11 "2001-09-05T23:02:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*_Star Wars_, though, isn’t even SF in George Lucas’s opinion, as far as I know. \*\* I’ve heard Lucas call it a fairy tale: the innocent farmboy, the old wizard, the evil king (emporor), the damsel in distress (for the origianl film at least), etc. Of course, I’m still a little fuzzy on the difference between SCIENCE fiction and films like Jurassic Park, Close Encounters, etc. Does Soylent Green, Planet of the Apes, or The Lawnmower Man count? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/12 "2001-09-06T00:36:36Z")
**Creator** (great SF with NO F/X) The Day the Earth Sttod Still Forbidden Planet Panic in the Year Zero RoboCop The Terminator Aliens Metropolis The Thing\*\* (both versions) \*\* ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/13 "2001-09-06T01:30:43Z")
Hmm, hard SF must be one of the rarest of movie genres. Nevertheless, here are some that haven’t been mentioned yet: Alien Nation Fantastic Voyage Johnny Mnemonic The Matrix Silent Running Solaris Scanners Things to Come Total Recall War of the Worlds When Worlds Collide Westworld ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/14 "2001-09-06T01:43:47Z")
Would **Dark Star** count? Or **Galaxy Quest**? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/15 "2001-09-06T04:22:30Z")
**Contact** ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/16 "2001-09-06T05:12:33Z")
Buckaroo Banzai. Rocky Horror Picture Show. Jaws. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/17 "2001-09-06T05:39:14Z")
Anything with the word “Quatermass” in the title. _The Man With X-Ray Eyes_ _Destination Moon_ _Zardoz_ (Some semi-neat ideas executed very poorly) Can’t think of any more right now. ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/18 "2001-09-06T05:52:30Z")
Demon Seed THX 1138 Brainstorm Iceman ---
**Author:** ![FEotU](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@FEotU](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FEotU)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/19 "2001-09-06T06:10:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aegypt \* > \*\*Gattaca, perhaps? \*\* Definitely, I forgot about that one. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_ss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c77e96/32.png) [@jack\_ss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_ss)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilinga-science-fiction-movie-list/79828/20 "2001-09-06T06:23:33Z")
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