Science fiction is among those genres that rose rapidly in the film world. First, when there was no cinema sign, the genre existed in the novels like Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish. But eventually, it appealed to people so much that it gradually started evolving into movies.
The first movie labeled as Sci-Fi was George Méliès’ Le Voyage Dans la Lune (1902), considered the genre’s pioneer. The Sci-Fi genre has improved throughout these years, and now some movies shock us with their groundbreaking special effects. So, if you love Sci-Fi movies, we’ve got you covered. Below is the list of 10 best Sci-Fi movies on HBO Max.
Image Courtesy: IGN
Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Director: Zack Snyder
Writer: Chris Terrio, David S. Goyer, Bob Kane
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
IMDb Rating: 6.4
Runtime: 2hrs. 32mins
It’s an American superhero film based on the DC comic and a sequel to the 2013 film Man of Steel. The film is a second installment in the DC Extended Universe. It was released in the US on March 25, 2016.
The story starts when Superman arrives in Gotham, and people worry about the Dark Knight roaming Gotham during his stay. Then, it depicts how they were fighting each other, and the next minute they had to fight together against a big evil.
Image Courtesy: Britannica
The Wolverine
Director: James Mangold
Writer: Mark Bomback, Scott Frank
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Tao Okamoto
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Runtime: 2hrs. 6mins
It’s a 2013 superhero film from DC comics featuring its hero named Wolverine. Wolverine is the sixth part of the X-Man movie series and the second in the Wolverine trilogy. Critics gave it largely favorable reviews, praising the action scenes, cinematography, and Jackman’s acting.
Its story follows Wolverine when he travels to Japan to see an old buddy whose life he once saved. But he finds himself caught up in a yakuza and mutants conspiracy.
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Aquaman
Director: James Wan
Writer: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Will Beall, Geoff Johns
Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Runtime: 2hrs. 23mins
Aquaman is a 2018 movie based on the DC character with the same name, and it’s the sixth part in the DC Extended Universe. The film earned $1.148 billion globally and became the highest-grossing DC movie and the 24th highest-grossing film of its time. In addition, Aquaman received the Chinese American Film Festival Award for Most Popular US Film in China.
Arthur, the Atlantean kingdom’s half-human prince, embarks on a mission to avert a conflict between the sea and the land.
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Justice League
Director: Zack Snyder
Writer: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Chris Terrio
Cast: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa
IMDb Rating: 6.1
Runtime: 2hrs
It’s an American superhero film by DC comics superhero team with the same title. Justice League is the fifth part of the DC Extended Universe. It is considered one of the most expensive films but garnered mixed reviews from critics.
Bruce Wyne’s faith in people is rekindled and driven by Superman’s unselfish act. However, to face a more dangerous rival, he enlists the aid of a new recruit Diana Prince.
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Surrogates
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Writer: Michael Ferris, John Brancato, Robert Venditti
Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Ving Rhames
IMDb Rating: 6.3
Runtime: 1hr. 29mins
This American Sci-Fi action movie is modeled on the 2005-2006 comic book series of a similar title. The film first launched in the US on September 25, 2009, and people gave mixed reviews.
The surrogate’s story follows the police officer forced to leave his house after ages to investigate several murders. This movie is set in an advanced world where people communicate with other people through surrogates. Now the officer must find out who is out killing the surrogates.
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The Matrix
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Writer: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Runtime: 2hrs. 16mins
It’s an action sci-fi movie that dominated the box office in 1999. On a $63 million budget, it made nearly $460 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film ever. Later, two feature-length prequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, were released in 2003 due to the film’s success.
It depicts a grim future in which intelligent machines have built a realistic simulation called the Matrix. They use people’s bodies as an energy source while keeping them controlled. They have unwittingly trapped people inside them. Thomas Anderson, a computer whiz going by the name “Neo,” the hacker, discovers the truth. He soon joins forces with Matrix escapees in an uprising against the machines.
Image Courtesy: The Boston Globe
Ender’s Game
Director: Gavin Hood
Writer: Gavin Hood, Orson Scott Card
Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld
IMDb Rating: 6.6
Runtime: 1hr. 54mins
It’s an American military Sci-Fi film based on a novel with the same title by Orson Scott Card. the film garnered mixed reviews from the audience. It didn’t do well at the box office.
Ender’s game’s story follows a young man, Ender, appointed to command the battle against the Formics, an alien race. He must stop them as they have invaded Earth in the past and caused immense harm.
Image Courtesy: IMDb
Passengers
Director: Morten Tyldum
Writer: Jon Spaihts
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Runtime: 1hr. 56mins
It is a 2016 American Sci-Fi film, and critics praised its visual style, production value, and cast performance. The film earned $303 million worldwide. Later, Passengers was nominated for the Best Original Score and Best Production Design at 89th Academy Awards.
Its story focuses on two passengers traveling in an interstellar spacecraft. The massive interplanetary spacecraft carried loads of people to a colony 60 light years from Earth. The plot is that those two passengers wake up 90 years early from their artificial sleep.
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Contagion
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Z. Burns
Cast: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Runtime: 1hr. 46mins
Contagion is a 2011 American thriller grossing over $136.5 million compared to its $60 million budget. Critics praised its concept, performances, and storyline. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the movie encountered a surge in popularity.
Its story follows the outburst of the contagious virus, and people find them in the middle of a pandemic. Meanwhile, the healthcare experts and CDC are struggling to find a cure.
Image Courtesy: Great! Movies
The Butterfly Effect
Director: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
Writer: Mackye Gruber, Eric Bress
Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Melora Walters
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Runtime: 1hr. 53mins
It’s an American Sci-Fi thriller that was a commercial success and earned $96 million on a $13 million budget. The film received a nomination at the Saturn Awards for Best Science Fiction Film.
It’s a story about a man, Evan Treborn, who experiences blackouts during important occasions in his life. As he ages, he discovers a way to access these forgotten moments. He finds a mystical means of changing his life by reading his notebook.
