The sci-fi genre encompᴀsses everything from action-packed blockbusters to intelligent slow-paced dramas, but there are still certain movies that should be seen as unmissable. These essential sci-fi classics have helped shape the history of the genre more than any other films, from the genre’s first steps to the modern day.

The history of sci-fi is closely linked to the history of cinema, with Georges Méliès’ short film A Trip to the Moon now recognized as a vital building block in the early days of the medium as the first true science fiction movie. This trend has continued ever since, with sci-fi often at the forefront of the biggest changes in filmmaking theory and technology.

Metropolis (1927)

Metropolis was one of the first feature-length sci-fi films ever made, and it helped shape the future of the genre like no other movie. Looking back almost 100 years later, it’s clear to see how elements of Metropolis have made it into other sci-fi classics, like the ugly concrete dystopia and the sleek, emotionless robot.

While Metropolis has its gaze fixed on the future, it’s sculpted by allusions to much older media. The costumes, sets and grand style all take inspiration from opera, while the art design is also influenced by cubism. It may not be as entertaining to modern audiences, but Metropolis‘ impact is undeniable.

Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla helped invent the kaiju subgenre, which has spread far from Japan in the decades since. It was also important for other reasons, which explains how it stands out from the pulpy B-movie style that characterizes most sci-fi movies from the 1950s. The genre wasn’t held in high regard back then, but Godzilla has stood the test of time.

Godzilla is an allegory that explores Japan’s collective trauma following the Second World War, particularly the impact of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The original Godzilla movie has been surpᴀssed in the franchise’s lengthy history, but this doesn’t make it any less important.

Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Planet of the Apes was a big step forward for the sci-fi genre, as it uses a unique premise to explore pressing social issues like segregation, class consciousness and the conflict between science and religion. Finally, sci-fi movies caught up with literature and began to shed their previous reputation as sensationalist entertainment.

Although Planet of the Apes is an intelligent, thought-provoking piece of science-fiction, it doesn’t neglect its duty to entertainment either. The famous ending of Planet of the Apes sums up the way that it can grip its audience while developing a fascinating exploration of its themes.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Not many films have shaped the sci-fi genre as profoundly as 2001: A Space Odyssey, and its impact is still apparent in modern hits like Interstellar, Ad Astra, Gravity and The Martian. Released in the same year as Planet of the Apes, 2001 marked a turning point for sci-fi, as the genre started to be taken more seriously.

2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s best movies, and it’s another example of how he can master any genre he turns his hand to. A lot of the enigmatic imagery from 2001 has become iconic, but the film’s intelligent themes have proven to be just as influential. The way it depicts AI was decades ahead of its time.

Star Wars (1977)

Star Wars turned sci-fi into epic mainstream entertainment, paving the way for more spectacular blockbusters in the following decades. It’s also noteworthy for setting the blueprint for other sci-fi franchises, which would come to rule the box office before too long.

It’s hard to separate the original Star Wars from the behemoth franchise that it created, but looking back at the first movie alone reveals a disarmingly intelligent spacebound epic. George Lucas’ incredible worldbuilding is fully-formed from the beginning, and it’s likely that the slate of upcoming Star Wars movies will still reckon with the original film’s power.

Alien (1979)

Alien wasn’t the first movie to blend sci-fi with elements of horror, but Ridley Scott’s classic fused these two genres like never before, so that each one directly informs the other. The iconic design of the alien and the eerie, dark hallways of the Nostromo have inspired other sci-fi horror movies ever since.

The body horror of Alien is one thing that makes its outer space horror story feel shockingly relatable and relevant. This all comes down to the design of the xenomorph, and the way that its inhuman mesh of organic and seemingly mechanical parts perfectly symbolizes the terror of unknown frontiers in science.

Blade Runner (1982)

Just like with Alien, Blade Runner saw Ridley Scott using sci-fi to put a new twist on a familiar genre. Whereas Alien has been described as a haunted house story set in space, Blade Runner is a gritty film noir detective thriller, set in a polluted dystopia ruled by corrupt corporations. This aesthetic is just one of Blade Runner‘s many contributions to the genre.

The clash between the familiar and the otherworldly is just what Blade Runner is all about, as a detective has to track down a rogue group of synthetic humans. This sets up an intriguing drama about what it truly means to be human, and how memory, experience and social acceptance can define a life.

Akira (1988)

Akira was a landmark in the sci-fi genre, but it was also a huge turning point for animation, proving that the medium didn’t have to cater to children. Akira mixes a thrilling sci-fi concept with some of the most exciting and viscerally powerful animation ever made. It remains a shining light for what the medium can achieve.

Akira captures a distinct kind of dystopian urban sprawl that many other movies have sought to emulate, with buildings framed to look as if they’re constantly closing in on the characters and piling up on top of one another. There’s a cynical side to Akira‘s social satire, even if it often looks hauntingly beautiful.

The Matrix (1999)

There were plenty of sci-fi action movies before The Matrix, but not many that used their sci-fi premise to create a unique style of action. The Matrix incorporates Eastern influences to create a style of martial arts that pushes the film’s computer simulation concept to thrilling places.

While The Matrix is known for its jaw-dropping action, it’s just as revered for its intelligent themes. Not many sci-fi movies can combine both blockbuster spectacle and thought-provoking drama, but The Matrix strikes the perfect balance. It paved the way for more cerebral big-budget sci-fi in the 21st century.

Arrival (2016)

Arrival is a great example of where pure sci-fi cinema is in the 21st century. Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Ted Chiang’s short story has an immense sense of scale, but everything is geared toward the story’s intriguing themes, which question the nature of language, memory and connection.

Arrival‘s brilliant twist cements its status as a modern sci-fi classic, putting it in the same camp of cerebral, patient drama as Ex Machina and Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. Action-packed sci-fi blockbusters are still big business, but Arrival represents the next step down in terms of budget, as breathtaking visual effects are no longer reserved for the most expensive releases.