The 1. 5 Best Sci- Fi Movies Of The 1. If sci- fi came of age in the 1. B- movies about giant insects and films that raised real- life questions about man’s place in the universe, and married in the 1. Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Star Wars–which combined elements of both schlock and high brow philosophy–it had a family in the 1. Perhaps it’s no wonder, then, that so many sci- fi masterpieces hit screens in the ’8. Films which combined schlocky adventure, scientific theory and domestic life dominated the decade. Maybe too, that’s why so many of the genre films of the era focused on children and families.
Find the latest movie reviews from Empire, the world’s biggest movie destination. Discover Empire's take on the latest cinema, Blu-ray and DVD releases. If sci-fi came of age in the 1950s with B-movies about giant insects and films that raised real-life questions about man’s place in the universe, and married in the.
Critics are loathe to find another decade that produced so many classic sci- fi films. With names like Spielberg, Lucas, Cameron, Dante and Scott all on creative highs, directors began making personal films which used elements of science fiction to make audiences reexamine the world around us all. Perhaps that’s why audiences still line up today for the endless string of sequels and reboots of titles first popularized more than 3. Granted, the ’8. 0s had its share of sequels—some of which even landed here among the masterpieces. For the most part though, the decade saw original films become cultural landmarks, forever changing the cultural zeitgeist. Here then, are The 1.
Best Sci- Fi Movies Of The 1. Honorable mentions: 2. Videodrome, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Gremlins, Akira, Spaceballs, Poltergeist, The Thing, Robo. Cop, Weird Science, Cocoon and.
Predator. 1. 5. Repo Man. Cult filmmaker Alex Cox spearheaded this little- seen gem, which starred a young Emilio Estevez and acclaimed character actor Harry Dean Stanton. A satirical take on teens of the 1.
Otto and his mentor Bud, a car repo man. Otto gets caught up in a weird (even by the standards of science fiction) conspiracy involving aliens, the government and a Chevy Malibu. Hijacks ensue as Otto tries to repossess the Malibu, which contains radioactive alien corpses. Repo Man pokes fun at the fads of the 1.
It also sends up Los Angeles, with its car- obsessed, elitist and cliquish population. Sporting a great punk soundtrack, the movie became a surprise critical and commercial hit, and maintains a rabid cult following today. Pda Formats The Overnight (2015) Review Film.
Repo Man would introduce Alex Cox as a unique and ambitious director, and afford him the clout to make his next film, the cult drama Sid & Nancy. Tron. Disney made a rare foray into science fiction in the 1. Tron. Taking a chance on first- time director Steven Lisberger, the studio decided to fund his ambitious and technologically innovative story about a man who discovers another world occupied by computer programs. The film combined early CGI with traditional animation and back- lit rotoscoping. The combined process created a world made of energy, where programs surged with light and dueled in video game gladiatorial matches. Though a modest hit on release, Tron won a devoted cult which only grew over the years. The film proved quite prophetic.
More than 1. 5 years later, The Matrix would utilize a similar premise and become a smash—society had finally caught up to the concepts Tron introduced. A big budget sequel in 2.
Brazil. Terry Gilliam’s esoteric nightmare Brazil became the subject of controversy before it even opened in the United States, owing to a dispute between Gilliam and studio Universal over the content of the movie. Though it played in Europe to wide acclaim, Universal feared Brazil would alienate American viewers with its dystopian setting and dark themes. Of course, Universal also overlooked the fact that Brazil contains some wild humor, and that its unique style would make it an instant cult classic. Director Gilliam eventually got his way, and Brazil went on to become one of the best—and most overlooked—sci- fi movies of the decade.
The film pokes fun at a totalitarian bureaucracy so dysfunctional and ineffective that air conditioner repairmen have become terrorists! Loaded with surreal imagery, astonishing set design and featuring a fine (and rare) lead performance by Jonathan Pryce, Brazil may not satisfy everyone’s tastes like the two films it’s sandwiched between on this list, though that doesn’t make it any less of a great film. The Fly. David Cronenberg never gets enough credit as a master filmmaker, nor as a master of science fiction.
For proof look no further than his 1. Videodrome (one of our honorable mention films) and his masterpiece, the 1. Vincent Price film, The Fly. Cronenberg re- imagines the schlock sci- fi into a modern context, providing more backstory and scientific theory to give the story credence.
He also casts two fine actors, Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, in the leads, who help sell the otherwise ridiculous premise. The Fly also benefits from state- of- the- art special effects by Chris Walas to make the transformation of the lead scientist into a fly more spectacular and frightening. Cronenberg injects the story with his biopunk sexual symbolism, which only adds to the creepiness of the film. Goldblum delivers his best performance in the role of Seth Brundle, the ill- fated inventor of a teleportation machine which accidentally combines his DNA with that of a fly. The film would become a runaway hit, winning an Oscar for Walas’ effects and wide acclaim for Goldblum and Cronenberg. The director would later gravitate back to smaller, more cerebral films, though his work on The Fly remains some of the best of the era. The Abyss. James Cameron had a hell of a decade in the 1.
Hollywood A- list. Download 7 Witches (2017) Movie In Hd. He capped off his run of success with the wildly ambitious offering The Abyss.
Set aboard an underwater oil rig which discovers evidence of alien life, the film featured a diverse and interesting cast and ground- breaking special effects. The movie would also become known for its cost overruns, hellish working conditions, and for Cameron’s treatment of the actors. Star Ed Harris refuses to discuss the film, confessing that he broke down in crying fits after filming.
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, meanwhile, suffered a nervous breakdown! The Abyss flopped on release, in part because of heavy competition from Tim Burton’s juggernaut Batman, and in part because Fox released an incomplete version of the film to theatres.
For DVD, Cameron restored several key scenes and completed several effects to complete the film. When viewed as a whole, however, The Abyss is nothing short of spectacular. The Dark Crystal. At first glance, The Dark Crystal barely qualifies as sci- fi.
The plot revolves around a mystical crystal, prophecies, spells and magical races. But, as the opening narration makes clear, the events take place on another world. The odd sciences peppered throughout the film—a celestial observatory, draining the life out of slaves, etc.—add an ominous sci- fi layer to the fantasy proceedings.
The strange mix of fantasy and sci- fi only add to the film’s mystique, however. Simply put, it’s a totally unique and widely overlooked masterpiece. Conceived by Muppet mastermind Jim Henson, his longtime collaborator Frank Oz and fantasy artist Brian Froud, The Dark Crystal plays as a live- action film without any humans on screen. Henson and Oz, who co- directed, accomplish their story using only puppets that startle with their life- like qualities. Loaded with breathtaking visuals, the movie also introduces unique characters like the witch Aughra and the race of evil Skeksis in its creation of a rich world of mystery and fantasy. Unique, innovative and captivating, The Dark Crystal deserves a place alongside the other classics listed here. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.
Paramount tried to again capitalize on the popularity of Star Wars with this first Star Trek sequel. Contrary to popular belief, The Wrath of Khan did not intend to reinvigorate the Trek franchise and result in a whole series of films.
In actuality, the movie tried to cap off the series with a proper finale, as symbolized by the death of Spock.