Skip to footer

The 25 best science fiction movies of all time

People have always dreamed of worlds beyond their own, wondered if there was anyone looking back when they looked up at the sky, and worried about what world their children would inhabit. Directors and writers from George Lucas to Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick to Steven Spielberg have imagined what Earth will be like in the future and what else might be out there in the universe.

So what are the best sci-fi movies ever released? Monitor staff worked to create a list that we think reflects the best of the genre. Do you agree with our picks and what movie we chose to take the top prize? Let us know!

Bruce McBroom/Universal Studios Amblin Entertainment/AP
'E.T.' stars Henry Thomas (center).

25. 'Serenity'

Universal Pictures
'Serenity' stars Alan Tudyk (l.), Gina Torres (second from l.), Jewel Staite (third from l.), Nathan Fillion (third from r.), Morena Baccarin (second from r.), and Sean Maher (r.).

Joss Whedon's 2005 film is based off one of the most-mourned canceled TV shows ever, the Fox show "Firefly." Whedon's story follows the crew of the spaceship Serenity, veterans on the wrong side of a recent war who must now take illegal smuggling jobs to survive, led by their captain, Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion). Since this is a Joss Whedon movie, every character gets a quip; viewers are left wanting to know even more about his fictional universe, where characteristics of the Old West and Chinese culture exist side by side. 

According to the Los Angeles Times, the ship was built for the movie using pictures of the original ship from the DVDs of the Fox TV show as a guide.

1 of 25
You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us