Sci-fi has been a staple of cinematic history since the early days of Hollywood. The genre explores concepts that go beyond reality’s capabilities, making film the perfect medium for these types of stories.On-screen sci-fi first garnered widespread popularity during the 1950s, mainly due to technological advancements and stylistic changes.However, it’s had a strong presence in cinema since the beginning of the 20th century. Georges Méliès' 1902 masterpieceA Trip to the Moonis often cited as the earliest and most iconic sci-fi picture.
Since then, the genre has grown considerably. Severalnew sci-fi movies are coming out in 2025that will surely be successful in theaters.Time and again, projects of this nature dominate box office numbers and captivate audiences.Sci-fi also holds the title of the highest-grossing film ever made,Avatar, which will continue its story with thenew sequelAvatar: Fire and Ash. In consideration of the genre’s history, the early 2000s were filled with great releases, and many of them will turn 20 next year.
10Sky High
Directed By Mike Mitchell
Mike Mitchell’s 2005 superhero comedySky Highis a forgotten gem that receives too little credit given how fun it is. Althoughit’s not a traditional sci-fi film by any measure, the presence of superhumans and baby-creating plasma rifles gives it enough content to fit the bill. Despite its more lighthearted nature, the movie is downright hilarious and deserves a shout-out.ASky Highsequelwas originally put into motion but unfortunately got canceled.
Sky Highis set in a world where certain humans are born with miraculous abilities.Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) is the son of two mighty heroes and is just starting to get his powers.Consequently, he is sent to “Sky High,” a floating school for gifted students. As Will makes friends and becomes stronger, he starts to discover that there are dangerous motives behind his peers. The movie doesn’t take itself very seriously, but it only adds to its likability.
When it comes to superhero movies, the first, or techinically second, attempt at aFantastic Fourfranchise is typically the laughingstock of the genre. There are a myriad of complaints surrounding the movie, especially compared to modern superhero films. Although it’s far from perfect, the hate towards the project is a bit excessive. Certain criticisms have merit, but all things considered,Fantastic Fouris one of the most enjoyable sci-fi films to come out in 2005.
The 2015 version ofFantastic Fourwon three Razzies awards, including Worst Picture, Director, and Remake.
Fantastic Fouris a perfect example of a movie whose lack of substance doesn’t detract from its entertainment value. If someone watches the film with certain expectations of story quality, then they’ll probably be disappointed. However, beyond the rough narrative exterior,there is a lighthearted adaptation of the heroic team’s origin that’s filled with laughs.Hopefully, Marvel’s dreams of creating a blockbuster about these superheroes will come true withFantastic Four: First Stepsin 2025.
8Zathura: A Space Adventure
Directed By Jon Favreau
When it first hit screens in 2005, Jon Favreau’sZathurawas slammed with horribly negative critical reception. While it might’ve been expected to be a family classic, it was a massive flop upon release.The Space Adventure movie had a heavy budget of $65 million but only managed to bring in $58 million worldwide, causing significant losses. Most people considered it to be a blatant rip-off of the belovedJumanjiand were consequently deterred from giving it a chance.
Thankfully,Zathurahas slowly started to get the recognition it deserves. Although the premise is essentially a copy and paste of its jungle predecessor, the film is elevated by a sci-fi-themed twist. As brothers Danny (Jonah Bobo) and Walter (Josh Hutcherson) continue to play their galactic board game, the obstacles they face become increasingly more creative and whimsical.All in all, the movie takes its source material in an imaginative direction.While there unfortunately hasn’t been a sequel, the parent franchise will continue its modern adaptation inJumanji 4in 2026.
7The Island
Directed By Michael Bay
Considering the star-studded cast and high-octane director, it’s a surprise thatThe Islanddidn’t make more of a splash after its 2005 release. The film has predominantly flown under the radar for the majority of its existence. Despite the lack of popularity, this sci-fi action is incredibly entertaining and criminally underrated.The story surrounds a dystopian research facility that holds a shocking and sinister secret.At the front lies Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) and Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson), who are inhabitants of the compound.
10 Sci-Fi Movies That Are Considered Masterpieces
While some critics look down on the sci-fi genre, there are still a few undisputed masterpieces of the genre which receive universal praise.
The outside world is supposedly contaminated, and each week, there is a lottery to determine who will go liveon a “safe” island.Lincoln ultimately discovers that the island is used for organ harvesting and surrogate pregnancies, which kicks off a crazy sequence of events. When it comes toMichael Bay’s movies, TheIslandmight not make it to the top of the list, but it’s still a solid action flick and a hidden gem.
When it comes to the sci-fi genre, there are plenty of disastrous doomsday movies in which the world ultimately gets destroyed. In the case ofTheHitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the Earth is demolished within the first few minutes of the runtime.Based on Douglas Adam’s book franchise of the same name, the 2005 comedy film is a certified classic.The plot follows Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman), who is approached by his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) with some shocking news.
It turns out that Ford is an alien trying to save Arthur from the planet’s impending destruction. The two escape on a spaceship into the stars, where Arthur discovers just how crazy the galaxy is.Although the movie isn’t completely faithful to its source material, it’s not meant to be an entirely thoughtful adaptation. Rather, it uses the basic fragments of the story and builds them around a narrative that’s laid back and funny. It’s one ofthe best sci-fi comedies of all time, and the absurd humor holds up nicely.
Chris Wedge’s 2005 sci-fiRobotsis one of those films that always pops up in the old DVD organizers. It never seems to be mentioned in the discussion of thebest animated movies, which is a shame considering how well-crafted of a work it is.The story is set in a world where humans are absent, and populations are made up of sentient robots.Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) is a young robot who dreams of being an inventor and working for the legendary Bigweld (Mel Brooks).
Rodney eventually joins up with new friends to get to Bigweld but quickly discovers that things within the company have changed for the worse.Robotswas ahead of its time in many ways.It’s rare for modern animated movies to have a premise as unique as this one.The humor is also extremely well-thought-out, with a blend of jokes that both children and adults will appreciate.
Serenityis a continuation of the 2002 sci-fi series,Firefly,a space western about a small transport crew amidst the aftermath of a futuristic universal civil war. Although the show had a relatively short existence, its popular story picked up three years later with the 2005 film. Upon its release, the movie went relatively unnoticed. During its theatrical run, it had a worldwide gross of $40 million against a budget of $39 million, which wasn’t impressive.
Considering thatSerenityhad a great premise that made it applicable to those who weren’t familiar with its source material, it’s a surprise that the film wasn’t more successful.There were a few inconsistencies concerning the continuity of the show, but overall, it’s a quality work of sci-fi that is bolstered by a great cast.Even without having seen the series,its cinematic follow-up offers an entertaining story on its own. In celebration ofSerenity’s20th anniversary, theFireflycast recently had a reunion.
In the discussion of fan-favorite sci-fi movies,War of the Worldsfrequently makes an appearance.It’s one of the biggest-name blockbusters of the genre, and it’s got all the right components to meet the criteria. The film has excellent source material, an intriguing concept, and a heavy enough budget to bring the vision to life. The story follows Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise), a divorced father going through the motions.
War of the Worldsis based on H.G. Well’s 1898 sci-fi novel of the same name.
Things take a drastic turn when hectic events start to signal an alien invasion. When it comes toSteven Spielberg’s best movies,War of the Worldsisn’t one of the top contenders, but it’s a refreshing change from his typical style.The world is incredibly bleak and unforgiving, but it fits the tone of the narrative nicely.It’s all about the chaos and hysteria that would surround a potential nonhuman threat, and the film captures these emotions to the fullest extent.
2Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith
Directed By George Lucas
Without a doubt,Star Warsis the largest cinematic sci-fi franchise to ever exist.George Lucas effectively created an entire universe with these films,which has grown to insane lengths over the years. The original trilogy is universally loved, but in terms of the prequels, audiences are typically divided. Many people claim they weren’t necessary to begin with, while others think they round out the story.
Despite any conflicting opinions on where it should be ranked amongStar Warsmovies,Episode III - Revenge of the Sithwas one of the greatest releases to come out of 2005, and it’s arguably the best installment of the prequel trilogy.The film finally brought Anakin’s (Hayden Christensen) transformation into Darth Vader to fruition, which audiences were dying to see.Even though it was far from perfect, the finale gives an epic sendoff to this early chapter of the saga.
In terms of sci-fi movies that will be celebrating their 20th birthday in 2025, James McTeigue’sV for Vendettatakes the cake.The film isn’t talked about nearly enough considering how high the quality is.Based on Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s graphic novel of the same name,V for Vendettaimagines a dystopian version of London plagued by fascist government practices.
V for Vendetta’s Movie Adaptation Cut Its Most Prophetic Detail
The Wachowskis’ 2005 film V for Vendetta may have been a watershed moment in superhero cinema, but it lost something crucial with one excised element.
The story follows a masked vigilante known as V (Hugo Weaving), who begins to chip away at the regime using unique acts of terrorism. Although the movie was later released to general audiences in early 2006, it made its first major premiere in December 2005. With an epic leading character, nuanced plot, and captivating fight sequences,V for Vendettachecks all the right boxes.Compared to its source material, it’s a bit more lighthearted, but it’s undoubtedly a thoughtful adaptation and worth a watch.
