The sci-fi genre is known for its capacity to explore cerebral concepts, but the best sci-fi movies also balance an emotional story with their intelligent themes. Movies like Arrival and Blade Runner can make audiences think long after the credits roll. Having an emotional hook is an important part of getting people invested in the first place.

In the 21st century, technological advancements have meant that sci-fi is often reduced to blockbuster spectacle. While this has its place, it doesn’t truly deliver on the potential of the genre. Sci-fi movies are generally more moving and memorable when they have well-written stories, and the aesthetics are a secondary concern.

10

Arrival (2016)

Denis Villeneuve’s Non-Linear Story Looks At Time And Determinism

Denis Villeneuve has been one of the most interesting directors in the sci-fi genre for years now, starting with Arrival. Adapted from a brilliant short story by Ted Chiang, Arrival follows a linguist who is tasked with deciphering a complex alien language. It uses sci-fi to deconstruct the power of language and the way that it shapes our perception of the world.

The true meaning behind Arrival doesn’t reveal itself until late on in the story, but it has a seismic impact when it does. Eric Heisserer’s script does a great job of unfurling some cerebral concepts while simultaneously maintaining a keen focus on the story’s emotional weight.

9

Blade Runner (1982)

Ridley Scott’s Classic Is Still Just As Emotional

Blade Runner has shaped the sci-fi genre more than most movies, with its dystopian aesthetic as well as its intelligent dissection of artificial intelligence and what it means to be human. Due to the latest advances in AI technology, Blade Runner has become even more relevant over the years.

Blade Runner is based on a Philip K. Dick novel. Although it makes plenty of changes, it still blurs the line between the natural world and the artificial. Roy Batty’s iconic speech captures much of what makes Blade Runner special, as it urges audiences to think for themselves about universal human experiences.

8

WALL-E (2008)

Pixar’s Sci-Fi Masterpiece Has A Couple Of Heartbreaking Moments

Pixar’s best movies can always be relied upon to deliver some heartbreaking moments, and WALL-E is no exception. Although the story follows a rusty trash compactor robot, it has a lot to say about what it means to be human, and how personal connection is the most important thing in the world.

The scene in which WALL-E’s memory is wiped is up there with any of Pixar’s most emotionally devastating moments, but WALL-E has a lot more going for it than just its ability to make its audience cry. It’s also an environmentally conscious parable asking the audience what the future of humanity should look like.

7

The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant Has Something For Audiences Of All Ages

Before he became one of Pixar’s go-to directors, Brad Bird mastered 2-D animation with The Iron Giant. Very loosely based on the children’s book by Ted Hughes, The Iron Giant tells the story of a young boy’s unlikely relationship with a giant robot from outer space. Despite this seemingly spectacular set-up, The Iron Giant is surprisingly tender.

Although it was a box office bomb at the time, The Iron Giant has since been recognized as an animated sci-fi classic. The backdrop of the Cold War gives the movie a charming aesthetic, but it also raises the stakes, and ensures that there’s a lot to chew on for both adults and children alike.

6

Ad Astra (2019)

Brad Pitt Delivers A Stirring Performance

Ad Astra deserves a lot more love than it got when it was first released, since it ranks alongside the best space exploration movies ever. While others like Gravity and Alien may offer more edge-of-your-seat thrills, Ad Astra‘s slow, methodical pace allows it to tell a story with maturity and intelligence.

Ad Astra is a unique blend of Heart of Darkness and 2001: A Space Odyssey, with Brad Pitt starring as a disillusioned who ventures into space to find his long-lost father. There’s an intense emotional thread that runs throughout Ad Astra, propelling scenes which would otherwise be too static. In this way, director James Gray creates an excruciating tension.

5

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)

The Planet Of The Apes Prequels Mix Action And Emotion

Not many people asked for a prequel series to the Planet of the Apes franchise, especially considering how the sequels to the original movie seemed to get progressively worse. Against the odds, the prequels have been a big success, and this can be traced back to the smart approach of Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

While Rise of the Planet of the Apes lays the groundwork for a long story about the downfall of humanity, it also follows a personal story about a scientist whose father’s degenerative brain disease slowly turns him into a stranger. The personal touches make Rise of the Planet of the Apes far more emotionally resonant than the rest of the franchise, kickstarting a new era that focuses on characters more than action and complex sci-fi concepts.

4

Okja (2017)

Bong Joon-ho’s Environmental Fantasy Leaves The Audience Thinking

Okja demonstrates Bong Joon-ho’s penchant for toying with genre conventions. What starts out as an enchanting fable in the vein of My Neighbor Totoro soon takes a dark turn, almost as jarring as the one Bong masterfully deploys in Parasite. The whimsy is crushed by an urgent message about corporate greed and environmental destruction.

Okja has a few splashy, outlandish performances, especially those of Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal. However, these caricatures take on a grotesque quality as the truth behind a fairy tale plot starts to sink in. Okja reveals its hidden meaning as a conflict between colorful corporate propaganda and the grim, gray reality.

3

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Steven Spielberg’s Sentimental Classic Has Been Imitated Countless Times

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial became the highest-grossing movie ever for a few years, and it’s still regarded as one of Steven Spielberg’s finest movies. The director’s trademark sentimentality is put to good use in E.T., as he tells a touching story of the bond between a young boy and the peculiar alien he meets.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial uses its sci-fi premise to tell a deeply personal story about isolation and friendship. This makes it stand out from other sci-fi movies in some ways, as it’s dedicated to creating a grounded portrait of childhood aspirations and imagination. E.T. and his perplexing magic are merely extensions of this idea.

2

Children Of Men (2006)

Alfonso Cuarón’s Thriller Has Personal And Universal Stakes

Children of Men takes place in a near-future where a couple of decades of global infertility has pushed society toward the brink of collapse. This is a unique concept for a sci-fi dystopia, and it feels much more realistic than a zombie virus or a total nuclear apocalypse.

Children of Men comments on the flimsy social contract which holds our society together, suggesting that people will resort to factionalism and violence in times of trouble. The story also works well on a personal level, and the presence of the miracle baby comments on humanity’s need for symbols and stories.

1

Her (2013)

Her Tells A Human Story About Machines

Her takes place in a gorgeous vision of the future, tinged with the aesthetic sensibilities of the 1960s and 1970s. This retro look makes Her surprisingly relatable, and its story of artificial intelligence never looks like it’s trying too hard to appear futuristic. Joaquin Phoenix delivers an outstanding performance as a man who falls in love with an AI system.

As people gradually look to AI for more of their day-to-day needs, Her has become strikingly prescient. Although this is often a dystopian theme, Her is a life-affirming story about the inimitable sancтιтy of human connection. The movie’s strange relationship isn’t based on extreme technological advances, but a modern sense of ennui.