The overabundance of movies and TV shows to choose from is one of the biggest “problems” in the age of streaming platforms that have dominated the entertainment industry. People can get stuck for hours on end, scrolling through the endless libraries of films the platform they’re currently using offers, unable to make up their mind on which one is most worthy of their time.
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As one of the leading platforms,HBO Maxcertainly fits that description. Science fiction fans should certainly be overjoyed to find an overwhelming number of choices, from big-budget blockbusters tounderappreciated gems that escaped their attentionat the time of release. Narrowing down this streaming giant’s sci-fi offer is a daunting task, but it certainly turns the choice of what to watch on any given evening into a much simpler task.
10Blade Runner 2049
The long-awaited sequel to 1982’sBlade Runneris a true treat for any science fiction fan that likes to dabble in the cyberpunk aesthetic. The first film is considered by many to be a genre-defining work, andBlade Runner2049is definitely a worthy successor. It’s also a must-see title for film noir enthusiasts, as it offers a futuristic spin on the classic crime drama conventions.
Another worthy reason for seeing this movie is the cast. Ryan Gosling’s performance as “K” is particularly noteworthy, while Harrison Ford reassumed the role of Rick Deckard as if no time at all had passed since the release of the originalBlade Runner.With rumors of aBlade RunnerTV show in the works, now is perhaps the best time to dive deep into this masterfully crafted universe.
9Tenet
Christopher Nolan’s most recent movie has divided audiences and critics alike, with some going as far as to claim that the movie was “incomprehensible”. The time-bending thriller is certainly confusing and does take some time to dissect, but it is still one of the better sci-fi flicks of recent years.
The movie revolves around the aptly-named Protagonist (John David Washington) manipulating the flow of time to stop an imminent attack that threatens the very future of humanity. It may sound a little basic for a Nolan movie, butTenetdoes play around with some very interesting time travel and physics concepts, such as the grandfather paradox or the second law of thermodynamics.
8Inception
Another mind-bending movie,Inceptionis one of those stories that will have viewers at the edge of their seats for its entire duration, all the while trying to figure out what exactly is going on on the screen. Fans of the genre consider it to be a modern classic due to its enthralling premise. The star-studded cast consisting of Leonardo DiCaprio, Elliot Page, and Tom Hardy certainly helps, as well.
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The plot follows Cobb, a professional thief who infiltrates his targets' dreams to extract information. Promised to have his criminal history erased in exchange for implanting an idea into a target’s subconscious, he begins to assemble a team to pull off the stunt. It sounds simple on paper, however, it proves to be everything but. As the movie follows Cobb through different “dream levels” to achieve his goal, things get slightly convoluted, to say the least.
7Jurassic Park (1993)
The franchise may have gotten a reboot with 2015’sJurassic World(starring Chris Pratt), but it’s the originalJurassic Parkthat remainsthe best entry in the seriesto this day. The action-packed film directed by Steven Spielberg is still plenty of fun to watch despite being nearly 20 years old.
Jurassic Parkreceived an Academy Award for its special effects back in 1994, but the visuals in this movie continue to look great in 2022. The custom-built, life-size dinosaur models and animatronics work that went into creating this movie put most of the expensive CGI-filled flicks to shame.
6Contact
A part alien-focused sci-fi story, part philosophical treatise on the conflict between religion and science, Robert Zemeckis’sContactis an underappreciated gem that never really got the recognition it deserved, despite casting Jodie Foster and Matthew McConnaughey as the main characters.
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Viewers tired of filmmakers' over-reliance on CGI when telling science fiction stories will certainly appreciate the subtlety ofContact’sapproach to the subject of aliens and humanity’s response to discovering them.
Despite underperforming at the box office,Mad Max: Fury Roadwent on to win six Academy Awards and gain near-universal praise as one of the greatest action movies of all time. Tom Hardy’s and Charlize Theron’s performances as Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa respectively have also done a great deal in helping this movie win critics' hearts.
In addition to being a fantastic movie,Fury Roadwas also accompanied by an excellentMad Maxvideo game that exceeded everyone’s expectations as a game based on a film.
4A Clockwork Orange
Stanley Kubrick is a precursor of modern science fiction cinema. His innovative ideas are still being used in modern cinematography, even decades after their first implementation.A Clockwork Orangemay not have been groundbreaking in terms of the special effects used, but it did push the boundaries of the kind of stories the science fiction genre could tackle.
A violent tale of crime and disturbing commentary on inhumane psychiatry methods,A Clockwork Orangewas initially banned in several countries, including the UK, where its action took place. Despite the initial obstacles, it gained a cult following and was recently selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
3The Matrix
Back whenThe Matrixwas first released in 1999, it took audiences and critics by surprise. The special effects used in the movie were far ahead of its time, and the dystopian plot that it followed hit disturbingly close to home.
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Fast forward to 2022, andThe Matrixis more relevant than ever. With our society moving further and further into the digital world, and the major tech companies toying withthe ideas of virtual universes, revisitingThe Matrixtoday is definitely not for the faint of heart.
2Independence Day
Granted, Roland Emmerich’s movies aren’t particularly renowned for their multilayered plots and well-written dialogues. On the other hand, they never pretended to be more than extremely enjoyable popcorn movies, andIndependence Dayis perhaps the best example of this.
It follows Will Smith, an elite pilot, and Bill Pullman assuming the role of the President of the United States, as they scramble to save planet Earth from an ongoing alien invasion. The best part ofIndependence Dayis undeniably the breathtaking visual effects depicting the large-scale destruction of the planet and massive UFOs.
12001: A Space Odyssey
Entire shelves of books have been written on2001: A Space Odysseyand its impact on filmmaking in general. Through the use of innovative (at the time) technology, such as rotating sets, zero-gravity effects achieved by suspending the actors on wires, and more. It may show its age now, but the fact that it was created in the 1960s is nothing short of unbelievable.
The fact that on top of the meticulously designed and executed special effects,2001: A Space Odysseymanages to tell an engrossing, interplanetary tale that touches upon themes of existentialism, human evolution, and artificial intelligence makes it not only the best science fiction movie available on HBO Max but also one of the best films in the history of cinematography.
