Every movie genre has had its impact on the history of cinema as a whole with single breathtaking scenes, and the most beloved movies of each of those genres have shaped what came after it. Epic moments, after all, can be found anywhere and, ultimately, all genres sit in a continuous dialogue with one another, borrowing from each other all the time. However, it can arguably be said that epicness comes just a tad easier to ge Sci-Fi

than to any other kind of story.

The subject matter definitely helps, since the stakes in sci-fi usually go from high to galaxy-ending. The visuals and music also play a considerable part in the effect, making for sci-fi movies with unique concepts and stellar execution. All these elements come together to create some of the greatest grand moments in sci-fi and in cinema, several of which stand among the best epic sci-fi movies of all time.

10

Worm Ride

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Dune: Part Two was, rightfully, one of the most anticipated movies of 2024, even though Denis Villeneuve was snubbed when it came to the Oscars. The cliffhanger at the end of the first movie sees Paul Atreides in the aftermath of a devastating upheaval of the life he has always known, with several roads opening up to him. Dune: Part Two is the story of which road he ends up taking, filled to the brim with incredible cinematography, bone-shaking music, and a series of epic, terrible moments as Paul rises and rises.

While several of Dune: Part Two‘s show-stopping sequences have a darker tint to them — since Paul is indeed finally taking his revenge, but also unleashing holy war on the universe in the process — there’s one that is just unequivocally awesome. That’s Paul finally learning to ride a sandworm, something that all Fremen warriors can do. The scene is a masterful buildup of tension, both story and music-wise, that soars triumphantly when Paul emerges from the sands holding steady to one of the great Old Men of the Desert.

9

Biking (Flying) Across The Moon

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is one of the most iconic sci-fi movies ever produced, one that slots right into the canon the genre had already built up by the ’80s, but that also shaped all movies that would come after it, especially if those movies feature some kind of alien creature. E.T. has its fair share of absolutely iconic lines and scenes that ingrained themselves in audiences’ collective imagination, perhaps none as much as the one that has become the undisputed symbol of the entire movie.

What happens when Elliott and E.T. are trying to look for the place where the latter’s spaceship crashed in the forest isn’t just iconic, it’s downright epic. E.T. uses its powers to levitate Elliot’s bike, and he cycles it in the sky, the cape of his Halloween costume streaming behind him and John Williams’ best movie music swelling in the background. The shape of Elliott in his costume and E.T. disguised as a ghost silhouetted against the full moon is arguably one of the most immediately recognizable images in the entire history of cinema.

8

“This Little Maneuver”

Interstellar (2014)

Interstellar was somewhat polarizing upon its release, but what can’t be denied is the grandiose scale at which it operates. Relying on somewhat accurate science and an incredibly simple concept at the core of its story, that human love is one of the most powerful forces we know capable of transcending time and space, Interstellar is filled with incredible space imagery and brilliant performances that are enough to keep anyone glued to the screen for the entirety of its almost-three-hour runtime.

Among the many epic sequences that can be found in Interstellar, none is as gripping as the slingsH๏τ maneuver that Cooper and Brand attempt across the wormhole Gargantua. Not only did it generate countless memes, but this scene is one of the emotional climaxes of the story, with Cooper sacrificing himself to give Brand a chance to reach the planet that is going to be humanity’s new home. Hans Zimmer’s powerful soundtrack for the Christopher Nolan movie, heavy with the organ that is Interstellar‘s defining instrument, completes the picture.

7

Darth Vader’s Rage

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Darth Vader is possibly the single most iconic character in the Star Wars franchise. Everything about Vader is peak character design, from his terrifying mask to his cape to his voice to his red lightsaber, which cuts such a stark contrast with the blue and green ones of Luke and Obi-Wan in the original trilogy. Darth Vader is, and rightfully so, one of the greatest cinematic villains to ever walk on stage, and yet audiences didn’t really see his full terrifying potential until almost 40 years after his first appearance.

At the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, rebels try to escape with the plans of the Death Star even as Imperial troops board their ship. In the dark ship’s corridor, audiences hear first Darth Vader’s unmistakable mechanical breath and then the red gash of his lightsaber as he goes on an absolute rampage that truly does justice to his power and reputation. It’s horrible and yet undeniably epic, as technology and narration align to give Star Wars fans a true look into who Vader really is during his years as a faithful servant of the Empire.

6

Spock’s Death

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)

The second feature-length movie of the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan came as a true shock to audiences by going after one of the Enterprise’s most beloved and iconic new members: Leonard Nimoy’s Commander Spock. Even though Spock would come back to life and join the Enterprise again in the following movies, the emotional punch of his death remains one of the most epic and touching moments of the entire franchise.

What contributes to making Spock’s death such a pivotal scene, besides the performances given by both Nimoy and William Shatner as Captain Kirk, is the fact that it happens right under Kirk’s eyes. The relationship between Kirk and Spock has always been the core of Star Trek, and this scene, with Spock slowly succumbing to radiation poisoning just one clear door away from Kirk, brings that relationship to a new level of emotional closeness.

5

Tears In The Rain

Blade Runner (1982)

Ridley Scott masterfully blended science-fiction and noir in Blade Runner, which is hands down one of the most famous and beloved sci-fi movies ever made. Everything about it has become iconic in the years that have pᴀssed since its release, from its dystopian, neon-colored cities to its rough protagonist Rick Deckard, played brilliantly by sci-fi legend Harrison Ford. What truly elevates Blade Runner, though, is its final scene.

In the final confrontation that Deckard has with Rutger Hauer’s android Roy Batty, whom he has chased throughout the entire movie, the latter delivers one of the most striking monologues in movie history. Not only does it hint at a much larger world than what audiences have seen, one where ships are on fire over the shoulder of Orion and battles are fought near the Tannhäuser Gate, but it’s filled with so much longing and regret that it can’t help but linger even long after the movie is done.

4

Bullet Time

The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix is another pivotal movie in the history of the sci-fi genre, the first one in a long franchise and a story filled with symbolism and philosophical references that have had fans debating pretty much since the flagship movie’s release. It helped popularize a whole series of concepts — like the by-now infamous red pill — and filmmaking styles, the most iconic of which takes its name from what has to be The Matrix‘s most epic moment.

During the confrontation that Morpheus’ crew has with Smith and his agents, Keanu Reeves’ Neo finds himself facing the wrong end of a gun. When he is sH๏τ at, he bends down to dodge the bullets in a scene that has become known as “bullet time” and that is exactly what movie epicness is made of. Neo’s frozen pose, the bullets sailing by, his coat flapping behind him — everything contributes to making this relatively short scene one of the most influential in sci-fi history.

3

The Final Reveal

Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Planet of the Apes was one of the first great sci-fi successes, becoming a box-office hit and a critical darling all while launching a franchise that continues to this day. The movie’s relatively straightforward story focuses on a crew of astronauts that crash lands on a planet where apes are the dominant species while humans are speechless primitives. Throughout Planet of the Apes, though, tension is constantly building as protagonist George Taylor tries to figure out on what planet they are exactly.

That tension peaks in the movie’s final scene, which remains an epic moment as one of the best sci-fi movie twists ever. That’s because Taylor and Nova, the human woman he previously saved, stumble across the unmistakable remains of the Statue of Liberty — and Taylor understands that they aren’t on a strange planet but on Earth, thousands of years in the future. It’s one of the most masterful reveals in history, one that still manages to pack an emotional punch even though audiences know it’s coming.

2

The Star Destroyer

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

There is simply no understating the colossal impact A New Hope — back then simply Star Wars — had on the history of sci-fi and cinema as a whole. The Star Wars franchise is one of the longest-living, still active today, with all its correlated stories and merch and pop culture influence, and it all started back in 1977 when A New Hope opened in medias res with what remains one of the most epic scenes of the entire sprawling narrative.

Opening right in the middle of the action, with only a little contact given by a text crawl — set to one of John Williams’ most iconic music themes — is something that Star Wars has kept on doing. It’s a good choice that immediately draws audiences into the story, which is what happens at the beginning of A New Hope. Princess Leia’s ship moves away from the camera and is immediately followed by the slow and menacing Imperial star destroyer, which fills the entire frame. It gives a very clear understanding of the situation and its high stakes.

1

The Star Child

2001: Space Odyssey (1968)

Ambitious, symbolic, and complex, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is another movie that influenced many and changed the history of sci-fi. It popularized a series of concepts that have become genre staples, from incredibly intelligent supercomputers that revolt to the idea of the horror of being trapped inside a ship floating in space when things begin to go terribly wrong. Just as it happens in so many other movies, the most epic moments of 2001: A Space Odyssey are its beginning and its end.

Both scenes feature a mysterious black monolith, appearing seemingly out of nowhere and for still-unclear reasons. The final appearance of the monolith is bound to stay in audiences’ minds for a long time after the landmark sci-fi movie’s end credits since it’s fundamental in the transformation of the main character, Dr. Dave Bowman, into the star child, a being surrounded by light who then floats away above Earth.