Top 10 Sci-Fi Movies That Make You Think
"BestFantasyBooks.com guide to the Best Top Intellectual Sci-Fi Movies"
You want to find those science fiction movies that make you think? I'm not talking about those over-the-top action
flicks full of force powers, wookies, and Terminators. I'm talking about some serious Sci-Fi that makes you ponder some
deep questions about reality, humanity's future, and life itself. No cheap thrills here.
We're talking about Sci-Fi that opens your eyes to the “what if” questions that we face. If you are looking for some deep, thought-provoking, dystopian science fiction movies, you've come to the right place. I've added some new recommendations this update (March 2011) to the bottom of the list.
You might also like the Top 10 Science Fiction Movies list.
#1: Children of Men (2007)
A recent movie that gives us a glimpse of a terrible dystopian future without hope: humans can no longer reproduce. This dark future is just realistic enough to send chills up your spine. With current headlines monopolized by failing economies, terrorist attacks, and global warming meltdowns, the dystopian future presented by Children of Men may just be more then science fiction...
#2: Blade Runner (1982)
The dystopian future presented by Blade Runner is one scoured by social decay; it's an intense and prophetic look at a world plagued with some of the realities we face today: overpopulation, globalization, climate change, and genetic engineering. Without a doubt, Blade Runner has had dramatic impact on literary, scientific, and cinematic pop culture, and the stark reality presented by the film and accurate, if accidental, prediction of a future close to ours is nothing to sneer at.
#3: Gattica (1995)
In a world increasingly becoming influenced by genetic research, this movie has some terrifying relevance: what if you could be discriminated, not on the bases of race or color, but by your very genomes? This movie came out in 1995 and was way ahead of its time. The plot, characters, and questions explored make this film a must watch.
#4: The Matrix (1999)
The world is a machine and reality is a fake; this action packed thriller really makes you question your perception of reality. With the increasing role computer technology plays in our lives and the ever expanding computer breakthroughs, it's not that much of a stretch to imagine the scenario presented by the matrix becoming a reality. It may be plausible but it could certainly be possible (minus Neo).
#5: Equilibrium (2002)
Clearly drawing influence from George Orwell's famous dystopian novel 1984, Equilibrium is a thought provoking look at a dystopian future where human emotion is repressed in exchange for peace and harmony. Besides being a really cool action sci-fi flick that seamlessly combines gun fighting with martial arts, Equilibrium presents a world where human emotions are trapped beneath a daily dose of drugs. No emotion results in a grey world void of any passion; there is no war, no conflict, and everybody lives under the harmonious rule of a one party government. In this "perfect" world, art is evil because art embodies creativity and passion, two powerful emotions at odds with the government's mandate.
#6: Contact (1997)
What would happen if we were contacted by an alien intelligence? This movie presents the most realistic first contact scenario and its ramifications on human society I've yet seen.
#7: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
This movie explores several idea but the most prominent (and famous) is the idea of an AI rebelling against human masters. 2001: A Space Odyssey is the most realistic portray of this. To some extent, this idea has been handled by other movies (Terminator series for example), but 2001: A Space Odyssey gives the most realistic scenario. This is a movie that has contributed to literary, social, and cinematic culture and should not be missed by any science fiction fan.
#8: A Clockwork Orange (1972)
A Clockwork Orange is based on the famous novel by Anthony Burgess and tells the dystopian story about a boy Alex, his unlawful and violent lifestyle, and psychology's blundering attempt to cure his tendencies. This story is a cautionary tale against using psychological techniques to reprogram the human psychic. It's also one of the most violent and disturbing films ever to grace the screen. Not suitable for children. If you are into intellectual movies, this one is one of the tops.
#9: The Truman Show (1982)
What if your entire life was a scripted event and you the unknowing star of the biggest reality TV show on earth? What's really disturbing about this movie is that I'm sure there are some greedy executive types waiting to try this on some poor child in the near future. You may be looking at next wave of reality TV...
#10: Vanilla Sky (2001)
Another movie that questions the perception of reality, but unlike the Matrix, the questions are more subtlety nuanced. Vanilla Sky centers around one character whose perfect life becomes a living nightmare. Normally I pan Tom Cruise movies, but this is a very mature (and as much as I hate to admit it, well-acted) and nuanced film about love, reality, and dreams. It's one of those movies that you have no idea what's really going on until the very end. This is one film that you will either love or hate. It also proves that buried under all that couch-jumping, psychology-hating Scientology weirdness, Cruise is actually a pretty good actor. In short: if you want a complex, thought-provoking film with many layers, Vanilla Sky won't disappoint.
Other Recommendations
Here are a few more science fiction movies that will have your head spinning! Some of these may end up being your favorite cerebral science fiction movies.
What if you were an astronaut who woke up with no lights, with no memory of who you were and why you were on the ship. And what if you were not alone... This movie does a great job at looking at some deep rooted human fears, such as loneliness, loss of memory, claustrophobia, and fear of the unknown. Good movie!
Sci Fi noir in the style Blade Runner that asks some interesting questions. It's a cerebral movie with a lot of action. And it's just cool,
Can't say too much without ruining the plot, but this one is twisted. An astronaut with a 3 year contract to work on the moon by himself, starts to hallucinate as he nears the end of his long stint alone. But what seems to be may not actually be what really is...
What if Apes had evolved instead of humans? A thought provoking classic.
The dark side of time travel!
What is the meaning of being human. Solaris is one of the most interesting Sci Fi flicks I've seen in a long time.
What if aliens landed on earth, not as conquers, but refugees. This question is addressed in loving Peter Jackson detail.
Do you have your own "thinking" science fiction movie recommendations? Share your comments below!
The Truman Show was released in 1998. not '82
Hi, thank you for your list. The only movie i haven't seen from the list is Solaris, which i'm gonna check out right now 
I wanted to make a comment about Vanilla Sky, although the movie was produced by Cruise is a story by Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar, the original movie is called "Abre los ojos" (Open your eyes), it's very worth it to find this movie, 100 times better than the Cruis version. Curiosity, Penelope Cruz plays the same chracter in both Amenabar's movie and Cruise remake.
Butterfly Effect ftw!
Loved Equilibrium. Definitely an underrated flick. It has huge parallels to Fahrenheit 451 as well as 1984. See this movie if you haven't already.
Pandorum!!!!! PANDORUM!!!!!
District 9.