Cinemas may be dominated by superhero movies these days but there’s still room for sci-fi. The great thing about the genre is that it can take on so many different forms whether that’s a thriller, horror movie, or even comedy (just look at Ghostbusters or Men in Black).
When it comes to thrillers, though, there are a lot of different movies which could fit into that category and singling out the greatest of all-time isn’t a particularly easy task.
However, to celebrate the release of Flatliners on DVD and Blu-ray on the 5th of February, we’ve chosen some of our favourites and we think you may be surprised by some of the choices made here. So, from movies set on Earth to space, the future, and more, these are the best of the best.
7. Flatliners
Flatliners became a cult classic after being released in 1990 and it’s actually a surprise that it took seventeen years for a remake to reach the big screen. After all, the concept of exploring what happens after we die is a fascinating one, as are the ramifications of that.
With an impressive cast made up of names like Ellen Page, Diego Luna, and James Norton, last year’s Flatliners took the ideas introduced by the original and ran with them in a very satisfying way. It’s one of those movies which will keep you hooked throughout too.
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), the talent behind the camera was just as impressive as that in front of it and it’s well worth checking out.
Flatliners is currently set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 5th
6. Looper
Before helming a sci-fi masterpiece in the form of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, writer and director Rian Johnson delivered the truly amazing Looper. Time travel is always confusing but the filmmaker ensured that it made sense and used it in some very inventive ways.
Exploring the concept of “Loopers,” assassins who kill people from the past before ultimately taking out their future selves to close the loop, this thrilling movie kept us on the edge of our seats as we waited to see how it would all come together. It ended perfectly!
5. Inception
After delving into Batman’s world with The Dark Knight Trilogy, Christopher Nolan set his sights on the sci-fi genre for one of the most visually stunning movies to ever grace the big screen. To call it a game changer would be an understatement and it was certainly thrilling!
Taking us inside dreams inside of dreams, the fact Nolan managed to make sense of this complex and interwoven tale is a feat in and of itself. As a filmmaker, he outdid himself with Inception and used a mixture of practical and CGI effects to blow moviegoers away.
4. Aliens
An argument could be made that Aliens fits more into the category of “horror” than “thriller” but the fact that director James Cameron decided to make action the focus of this amazing sequel ensured that it had a different feel and played out very differently.
Sure, there were some jump scares here and there and the Xenomorphs were as terrifying as ever but this was a thriller at heart and it remains the franchise’s high point after Ridley Scott’s latest efforts were such a letdown. If only Cameron wasn’t so busy with Avatar!
3. The Matrix
The sequels may have been a disappointment but The Matrix was revolutionary when it was released and the story of Neo proved to be an awful lot of fun to follow as he did battle with the sinister Agent Smith. This truly was the Wachowski siblings at their very best.
Computers – and the internet, in particular – were such a new concept at the time The Matrix was released that seeing what might become of technology proved to be a fascinating and thrilling experience which took us on a rewarding and epic journey.
2. Ex Machina
Many movies have used A.I. as a means of keeping us interested in a story but few have done it as well as Ex Machina! Alex Garland’s gorgeous film introduced the world to Alicia Vikander and her performance ensured we were invested in seeing how this played out.
Of course, being a great sci-fi movie means it had a lasting impact and the fact that Ava left her creator and apparent love interest behind to rot made sure we didn’t forget just how dangerous A.I. can actually be and why it’s probably best not to ever actually trust it!
1. Blade Runner 2049
Putting the sequel here as opposed to the original may prove divisive for some but there’s no getting around the fact that Denis Villeneuve delivered a masterpiece (which was visually more exciting than what Ridley Scott gave us and an awful lot more interesting).
Blade Runner 2049 may not have made much of an impact at the box office but those of you who chose not to check this one out missed a story full of twists and turns and a worthy successor to a movie many consider a masterpiece. Simply put, it was near perfect!
What’s your favourite sci-fi thriller? Feel free to let us know your thoughts down below.
