Science Fiction
Science fiction as a genre of film making has been an element of the cinema experience since the earliest days of the motion picture industry. These films have explored a great range of unique topics, including many that cannot be readily presented in other genre. Science fiction films have been used to explore sensitive social and political issues, while often providing an entertaining story for the more casual viewer. Today, science fiction films are in the forefront of new special effects technology, and the audience has become accustomed to displays of realistic aliens, space battles, energy weapons, faster than light travel, and distant worlds.
This genre has produced many memorable films, as well as a number that can be considered mediocre or even among the worst examples of film production. It took many decades, and the efforts of talented teams of film producers, for the science fiction film genre to be taken seriously as an art form by many critics. The very best of these films may be scrolled below, or for Sci-Fi TV Series, select the green 'Televison Shows' heading on left, and then the 'TV Sci-Fi' option.
Batteries Not Included (1987)
6.6/10
Director: Matthew Robbins
Starring: Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Elizabeth Pena
When an unscrupulous real estate developer sends thugs into a deteriorating tenement to get rid of the last five residents, they need nothing short of... Read more
Battle Beyond The Sun ( Nebo Zovyot ) (1959) / Star Pilot ( 2+5: Missione Hydra ) (1966) (1959)
7.6/10
Director: Francis Ford Coppola, Pietro Francisci, Mikhail Karzhukov, Aleksandr Kozyr
An americanised version of Nebo Zovyot was the product of Roger Corman's acquiring the rights to the Russian film and exploiting it for all the specia... Read more
Battle for Terra (2007)
6.6/10
Director: Aristomenis Tsirbas
Starring: Brian Cox, Danny Glover, Dennis Quaid, James Garner, Luke Wilson, Amanda Peet, J...
Aka 'Terra'. When the peaceful inhabitants of the beautiful planet Terra come under attack from the last surviving members of humanity adrift in an ag... Read more
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
5.5/10
Director: J Lee Thompson
Starring: Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Severn Darden, Claude Akins, John Huston
Earth confronts its ultimate destiny in the fifth and final chapter in the ape saga. Chimpanzee leader Roddy McDowall must confront enemies both human... Read more
Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
5.8/10
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ramon Rodriguez
A Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) puts his planned retirement on hold when he's called back to active duty to fight an unexpected enemy: an alie... Read more
Battlefield Earth (2000)
7.5/10
Director: Roger Christian
Starring: John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Barry Pepper, Kim Coates, Kelly Preston
John Travolta's dream project is an adaptation of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's Sci-Fi novel. Set in the year 3000 tyrant Terl (Travolta) is a... Read more
Battleship (2012)
5.8/10
Director: Peter Berg
Starring: Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano, Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Kitsch, Rihanna , Brook...
Based on the classic board game, this sci-fi actioner concerns an alien armada from an Earth-like planet that arrives on our world in response to a NA... Read more
Battletruck / Deathsport (1982)
Director: Allan Arkush, Harley Cokliss, Henry Suso
Starring: Annie McEnroe, Claudia Jennings, David Carradine, Michael Beck, David McLean, Ja...
A Double Feature of Future Mayhem! 'Battletruck' (aka 'Warlords of the 21st Century') (1982, 91 mins) - After the Oil Wars, gasoline has become a prec... Read more
Beginning Of The End (1957)
3.8/10
Director: Bert I Gordon
Starring: Peter Graves, Peggie Castle
Audrey Ames, an enterprising journalist, tries to get the scoop on giant grasshoppers accidentally created at the Illinois State experimental farm. Sh... Read more
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1969)
6.1/10
Director: Ted Post
Starring: James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Charlton Heston
The second film in the simian series features James Franciscus as an astronaut searching for his missing comrades, only to find the ape rulers and a m... Read more