It takes a lot for a movie to be considered a true masterpiece, but there are a few sci-fi gems from recent years which can claim this status. Many of thebest sci-fi moviesof the last 20 years have reached a rare level of prestige, winning awards and being tagged as classics. They have also helped to redefine the boundaries of the sci-fi genre, either by incorporating other genres or by creating entirely new concepts.
Movies likeEverything Everywhere All at OnceandEx Machinashow the potential of sci-fi to create experiences like no other genre, especially when directors pursue their unique visions. Often, it’s the most original movies which are the ones that get described as masterpieces. Even if these movies explore seemingly familiar sci-fi concepts, they can find interesting new ideas.
It’s not too common for a sci-fi movie to win the Oscar for Best Picture, butEverything Everywhere All at Oncedeserves this honor. The multiverse adventure from the Daniels fuses sci-fi with elements of martial arts movies, and it throws in plenty of absurd comedy too. The result is a genre-stretching masterpiece that raises some deep questions while still being relentlessly entertaining.
Best Costume Design
Shirley Kurata
Themeaning ofEverything Everywhere All at Onceis closely tied to the moments which seem to flaunt the fact that they are devoid of traditional meaning.The Daniels have a boundlessly creative approach to the multiverse, dipping in and out of bizarre realities at such a rapid pace that sensory overload can take over. The story is crafted in such a way that audiences are invariably left with the impression of a few simple truths, salvaged from the absurdRatatouilleparodies, sausage fingers and googly-eyed rocks.
Hertakes place in a near-future with advanced artificial intelligence, where machines are convincing enough to get real emotional responses out of people. Joaquin Phoenix’s charming performance as a writer anchors Spike Jonze’s romantic satire, and this allows the director to pursue a few unexpected paths in the story of a man who falls in love with an AI, all the while failing to appreciate the real people around him.
Her’s gorgeous visual design has given it a unique appeal, when so many other futuristic sci-fi movies age terribly.
Herseems to be getting more and more prophetic as time passes and more people seek the predictable safety of AI in favor of the rough edges of the human experience. Its gorgeous visual design has also given it a unique appeal, when so many other futuristic sci-fi movies age terribly.Hertakes inspiration from older fashion trends and technologies, creating a vision of the future that seems strangely familiar.
WALL-Eis one ofPixar’s best moviesof all, andit’s certainly one of their most ambitious. While it sticks to the studio’s tried-and-tested “what if X had feelings” formula, it feels original and daring in ways that aren’t too common for major Western animation studios.WALL-Efeatures a largely silent protagonist, and extended scenes that take place with no words whatsoever, placing more emphasis on the visual storytelling and the beautiful design.
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WALL-Ealludes to several sci-fi classics, most notably Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odyssey,but it has become just as beloved as any of its influences.WALL-Eis built around the idea of change, which provides an uplifting vision for the future amid the ruin of environmental devastation. It’s also frequently endearing and hilarious, keeping its audience entertained as it constructs a fully-realized world.
Under the Skinstill doesn’t have the kind of audience that it deserves, but Jonathan Glazer’s growing stature in Hollywood in recent years has gone some way to redressing this issue.Under the Skinwas a box office bomb, and its slow, cerebral style certainly won’t appeal to everyone. Scarlett Johansson stars as a strange alien that stalks the British countryside in search of men to prey on, but no brief description can doUnder the Skinjustice.
Under the Skin’s enchanting rhythm and droning soundtrack create a dreamlike atmosphere at times, and Glazer often frames his subjects at such a distance that genuine human connection is impossible.Under the Skinhas been analyzed ever since its release, but different people have come up with wildly different, even conflicting interpretations. The alien’s role as both a victim and an aggressor means that most explanations ofUnder the Skinfall flat.Regardless of how anyone internalizes its meaning,Under the Skinis still a sci-fi experience worth having.
Denis Villeneuve could be credited with several sci-fi masterpieces in his career. Of course, his twoDunemovies finally created a popular adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal novel, but he also took on the daunting task of directing a legacy sequel toBlade Runner, and he surpassed all expectations.Arrivalcame before both of these successes, but it’s just as polished and just as cerebral.
Denis Villeneuve could be credited with several sci-fi masterpieces in his career.
Arrival’s non-linear timelineis a stroke of genius, using the audience’s own assumptions against them to deliver a cunning twist. The structure is far more than a gimmick, though, as it directly plays on the major themes ofArrival,exploring its fascinating concept in a way that encourages further meditation.As usual, Villeneuve accompanies this interesting story with some jaw-dropping sci-fi visuals.
Before making his directorial debut withEx Machina,Alex Garland made a name for himself as a writer, on projects like28 Days LaterandSunshine.Ex Machinashows what Garland is capable of when he has the freedom to execute his own artistic vision, and it became an immediate classic.Ex Machinauses a simple premise to explore a self-contained character drama with a sci-fi twist.
Garland sets up an intriguing mystery, but he keeps some twists and turns in store for his audience.
Alex Garland’s moviesare known for the unsettling atmospheres that he creates, andEx Machinashows where it all started. Just as Caleb tries to discover Ava’s level of sentience and her true motives,Ex Machinaengages in a battle of wits with its audience. Garland sets up an intriguing mystery, but he keeps some twists and turns in store for his audience, ending with a devastating sucker punch that makesEx Machinaone of the best movies about AI ever.
In animation and in sci-fi, anything is possible, andPaprikadelivers on this boundless potential better than almost any other movie.Satoshi Kon’s final movie has often been noted for its similarities toInception,which came out four years later. Both movies imagine worlds in which new technology allows people to infiltrate dreams, and there are several superficial links which make it seem as though Nolan was directly paying tribute toPaprika.
Paprika combines sci-fi and surreal dream logic, more so thanInception.The plot can be hard to follow and the logic hard to justify, but this is just what makesPaprikasuch a convincing depiction of dreams. It’s also a visually rich movie with very few parallels, as it finds new ways of reinventing familiar imagery with the fluidity and ephemeral nature of dreams.Paprikais the perfect intersection between animation and sci-fi, and it must be seen to be believed.
Bong Joon-ho had already built up a large audience and a prestigious reputation beforeSnowpiercer,but his English-language debut introduced him to more sci-fi fans all over the world.Bong Joon-ho’sMickey 17will mark his return to the genre, and his first movie since his Oscar-winner,Parasite,but it won’t be easy to matchSnowpiercer’s quality and originality.Okjawas met with more lukewarm reviews.
Snowpiercersucceeds in telling a story with as much momentum as the train that confines the characters.
Snowpierceris based on a French graphic novel by Jacques Lob, but Bong makes some bold artistic choices to make the story his own. With a superb ensemble cast and an intelligent mix of CGI and practical effects,Snowpiercersucceeds in telling a story with as much momentum as the train that confines the characters. The sci-fi premise is used to dissect class, not just as it exists in modern society, but as it manifests in the minds of all people.
In the three decades that George Miller spent away from hisMad Maxfranchise, he became known for directing children’s movies likeHappy FeetandBabe,so a return to the wasteland seemed like a dramatic gear shift. Not only did Miller prove that he hadn’t lost a step, but he delivered a reboot that was even more exciting and adventurous than any of the originalMad Maxmovies.
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Mad Max: Fury Roadhas been recognized as a masterpiece of practical stunts and explosive action, but its sci-fi worldbuilding is also highly admirable. There are interesting details to uncover throughoutMad Max: Fury Road,and there are strange unanswered mysteries for fans and franchise newcomers to ponder.Fury Roadpresents just one small slice of a fascinating world, all while dragging the audience along on a propulsive adventure.
Children of Menwas a box office flop at first, but it has since been recognized as one of the best sci-fi movies of the 21st century.Years later, its influence on the genre can still be felt.Other movies have clearly taken inspiration fromChildren of Men’s naturalistic worldbuilding, its immersive long-takes for action sequences and much more. Alfonso Cuarón’s dystopian thriller looks even better in hindsight.
Children of Menis a post-apocalyptic thriller like no other.
Children of Menis a post-apocalyptic thriller like no other, since the global catastrophe isn’t brought about by nuclear warfare, the outbreak of a zombie virus or any other traditional sci-fi trope. Instead, the societal collapse comes about as a result of a declining birth rate, which is a much more real and pressing concern in many countries.Children of Menexaggerates this idea, but it suggests that the line between order and chaos is thinner than most people imagine.
