# Your top-10 science fiction films of this century (2000-2023) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 30, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918 "2023-09-30T18:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/21 "2023-10-01T17:32:46Z")
Lots of great movies on this list, but what about _Battle Los Angeles_? It doesn’t have any great philosophical meaning. There is no delving into the aliens’ motivations (they need water?). It’s just a fun-to-watch movie about a group of Marines tackling an unfathomable situation. I get sucked in every time. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/22 "2023-10-01T18:34:12Z")
**Get Out** has brain transplants. That Sci-Fi-ish. Sex slave!!! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/23 "2023-10-01T18:56:00Z")
I will list some, with only the top one ranked. It’s one of the best movies of the past 23 years regardless of genre. **Inception** The others I have liked a lot are: Serenity Predestination Mad Max 4 Blade Runner 2049 Knowing Edge of Tomorrow Minority Report The Martian Everything Everywhere All At Once ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/24 "2023-10-01T18:57:45Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > **3-** Possessor (2020) - I’m a big fan of David Cronenberg’s classic '80s movies, futuristic movies and very stylish movies so this ticked a lot of boxes for me. Right from the opening scene when a character plugs what looks like an audio jack into her head, I was hooked. It’s his son’s movie and I thought it was weird, but not quite great. I think the same of his latest movie Infinity Pool, which is better than Possessor, but just short of being his son’s first great movie. Did you see Infinity Pool? Streams on Hulu in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/25 "2023-10-01T18:58:22Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > **Dune** > The best translation to film of a seminal sci-fi novel. I’m waiting for part 2, but I still like the Scifi-channel one more as of now. But all the best stuff is in the second half of the book… ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/26 "2023-10-01T20:21:13Z")
I am not a huge science fiction guy, but there have been a few since 2000 that I thought were outstanding: 1. Moon 2. District 9 3. The Martian 4. Get Out (I guess we’re allowing it?) 5. Inception And, if I may, one that I absolutely loathed: - Don’t Look Up Finally, this thread is making me want to see Arrival, which looks like it is available on The Net Flicks. mmm ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/27 "2023-10-01T20:30:57Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > You define what is science fiction. For example, if you think that Marvel movies are science fiction, have at it. If you think they aren’t, just leave them off your list and let others make their own definitions w/o arguing. Yes, **Get Out** is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/28 "2023-10-01T21:08:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > It’s his son’s movie and I thought it was weird, but not quite great. I think the same of his latest movie Infinity Pool, which is better than Possessor, but just short of being his son’s first great movie. > > Did you see Infinity Pool? Streams on Hulu in the US. I did see it. It’s also very good but I just didn’t like it as much as Possessor. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/29 "2023-10-02T02:19:01Z")
In alphabetical order because I had a hard enough time picking ten without trying to rank them: The Adjustment Bureau Arrival Avengers: Endgame Children of Men Coherence Ex Machina Inception Looper The Martian Primer No commentary. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/30 "2023-10-02T10:51:05Z")
In no particular order: The Matrix Reloaded (Shut up, I enjoyed it) Gravity The Martian Ex-Machina Interstellar Arrival Edge of Tomrrow A Quiet Place Everything Everywhere Predestination ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/31 "2023-10-02T11:14:01Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > The Matrix Reloaded (Shut up, I enjoyed it) It’s kind of underrated. Despite the boring third movie, I do think they delivered with the second movie, especially once they got out of Zion and re-entered the Matrix. I think the Wachowski’s primary error when they went into the third movie was to assume that we would care about a bit CGI battle involving the survival of humanity. I mean, that’s important…but we really didn’t know all the characters very well and it fell mostly flat. Everything with Neo was fine. Everything else was a dud. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/32 "2023-10-02T11:14:57Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Predestination I’m glad how many have mentioned this. I saw it on a screener DVD before it had gone widespread and am glad others saw and liked it. I don’t know how it holds up to multiple viewings, but I definitely enjoyed the time I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/33 "2023-10-02T11:22:08Z")
It often helps when you have no expectations. I must have stumbled across it on a streaming service and rolled the dice. If I watched it again I’d probably start seeing the flaws, but I might just for Sarah Snook of _Succession_ fame. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/34 "2023-10-02T11:27:21Z")
I saw Predestination knowing nothing other than the title. I also saw The Sixth Sense in the theater knowing nothing other than “Bruce Willis” and its title. Best way to see some movies. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/35 "2023-10-02T13:56:30Z")
- Moon - Her - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Arrival - Ex Machina - Blade Runner 2049 - Edge of Tomorrow - Dredd - The Prestige - The Incredibles (would have been the Iron Giant, but didn’t make the cut) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/36 "2023-10-02T14:09:45Z")
Dune Arrival Everything Everywhere All At Once The Martian Attack The Block The World’s End Dredd Big Hero 6 Avatar Hellboy ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/37 "2023-10-02T14:48:13Z")
Arrival and Everything Everywhere All at Once are smack dab at the top of my list: they’re brilliant and do what science fiction does best, using some weird science idea to explore what it means to be human. I adored them. _Nope_ comes next. Not gonna spoil it, but in terms of the SF tropes it deals in, it deals with them better than any other movie I can think of. Also doesn’t stint on the characters. Then _Fury Road_. Not nearly as thematically rich as the first three, in my opinion, but you don’t get more fun than Fury Road. After that there’s a dropoff for me. I’d probably round my list out with movies I enjoyed but that didn’t really stick with me as much: _Interstellar_ _Eternal Sunshine_ _Get Out_ _The Shape of Water_ _Children of Men_ _Dune_ I could mix and match some other runners-up–all great movies, but not in my top tier. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/38 "2023-10-02T15:07:40Z")
My favorites, more or less in ranked order: District 9 10 Cloverfield Lane Bird Box Arrival Primer Vanilla Sky Inception A Quiet Place Avatar Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Dark City & 13th Floor should be on the list but didn’t quite make the 2000 cut off. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/39 "2023-10-02T15:07:42Z")
Arrival - Thoughtful first contact movie with some cool twists Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse - Cool multiverse story, with trippy animation Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - Scifi action with a good amount of humor Dune - Solid adaptation of (part 1 of) my favorite scifi book Star Wars Rogue One - Best SW of this century, just ahead of Solo The Martian - Suspenseful sci fi adventure The Prestige - Nonlinear storytelling involving two dueling magicians and Nicolai Tesla Europa Report - Suspenseful thriller involving a mission to Jupiter A Scanner Darkly - A story of identity amid a near-future dystopia ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918/40 "2023-10-02T16:19:21Z")
Here are the results so far. The top ten Arrival - 13 votes Edge of Tomorrow - 10 votes The Martian - 8 votes Children of Men - 7 votes Dune - 7 votes Everything Everywhere All At Once - 6 votes Inception - 6 votes Ex Machina - 5 votes Gravity - 5 votes Mad Max: Fury Road - 5 votes Four votes each Blade Runner 2049 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Her Looper Moon The Prestige Three votes each Avatar District 9 Get Out The Incredibles Interstellar Minority Report Predestination Primer Rogue One Serenity Two votes each Cloverfield Dredd Hellboy Knowing A Quiet Place A Scanner Darkly Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse Under the Skin Wall-e War of the Worlds One vote each The Adjustment Bureau Alienoid Appleseed After Yang Asteroid City Attack The Block Avengers: Endgame Avengers: Infinity War Battle: Los Angeles Big Hero 6 Bird Box Border Chronicle Coherence Computer Chess The Congress Day Watch Europa Report The Shape of Water Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack Guardians of the Galaxy Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Immortel Iron Man Let the Right One in Logan The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra The Matrix Reloaded Midnight Special The Mist Nope Outlander Paul Possessor Prey Ready Player One Real Steel Returner Safety Not Guaranteed Sean of the Dead Settlers The Shape of Water Shin Godzilla Sunshine Super-8 Surrogates 10 Cloverfield Lane Terminator Genisys Terminator 3 Tron Legacy Upgrade V for Vendetta Vanilla Sky Watchmen The World’s End [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-10-science-fiction-films-of-this-century-2000-2023/990918.md?page=3)