Here are my top 10 science fiction films of the 1990s, with the reasons why I think they deserve to be on the list:
- The Matrix: Probably the greatest science fiction film ever made.
- Gattaca: Possibly the best hard science fiction film ever made, Gattaca is also incredibly inspirational.
- Jurassic Park: The original, amazing film. I really liked the recent reboot, but this one still stands as the best of the series.
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day: This second film in the series is arguably better than the first. Making the villainous Terminator from the first film the hero of the second was brilliant.
- 12 Monkeys: A mind bending time travel story from Terry Gilliam.
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: A lot of people love to hate the Star Wars prequels. This one, despite its flaws, has a lot to offer.
- The Fifth Element: This Luc Besson space opera is at once action packed and comedic.
- Total Recall: Though corny and over the top in places, this film (unlike the recent remake) manages to stick closely enough to the excellent short story on which it’s based (“We Can Remember It For You, Wholesale”, by Phillip K. Dick) to remain a great film.
- Dark City: This film, often compared to the Matrix, which came out later, is an intriguing science fiction mystery.
- Independence Day: A slightly corny but action packed alien invasion story.
Honorable mentions:
- Men in Black: This humorous “aliens among us” romp is based on the comic book of the same name.
- Starship Troopers: This film is straight up space war. It’s corny in places, but a lot of fun.
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: This underappreciated member of the original cast Star Trek films is a solid entry in the series.
- Ghost in the Shell: An animated film based on the original cyberpunk manga. This will soon be remade in live action, starring Scarlett Johannson.
- Strange Days: A gritty piece of near future science fiction, written by James Cameron.
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