15 Best Sci-Fi Movies Of The 2000s, Ranked – SlashFilm

The 2000s had been a golden period for science fiction. Developments in moviemaking expertise allowed filmmakers to create extra immersive worlds and futuristic characters. This culminated with “Avatar” on the finish of the last decade, one of the vital bold sci-fi motion pictures of all time. James Cameron ushered in new tech to make an alien species really feel prefer it was proper there standing in entrance of the digital camera — and that also solely scratches the floor of what was achieved throughout this time.

It goes with out saying that the perfect sci-fi motion pictures of the 2000s continued doing what the style does greatest: commenting on the world as we speak with concepts solely potential tomorrow. Whether or not it is “The Host” honing in on air pollution or “Minority Report” showcasing a terrifying future the place individuals are arrested for crimes they have not dedicated but, these movies give us quite a bit to consider. And never for nothing, however in addition they are usually quite a lot of enjoyable within the course of. 

Listed here are the perfect sci-fi motion pictures of the 2000s, ranked.

Tastemakers wish to say that “Avatar” is the preferred movie nobody remembers. Nevertheless it actually should not be laborious to recollect a reputation like “Jake.” Nonetheless, “Avatar” deserves extra credit score than it typically will get, as a result of even when the story’s a dime a dozen, “Avatar” spawned a model new franchise in an leisure panorama that is typically too reliant on pre-current mental property.

It seems like James Cameron used a fundamental story define as an excuse to mess around with new, rising VFX expertise. Actors like Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña had been capable of present photorealistic performances so that each element of their face can nonetheless of their Na’vi skins. That is all potential due to Weta Digital, which might go on to work with the brand new “Planet of the Apes” motion pictures (and their lifelike apes) in addition to a slew of Marvel motion pictures. 

Plus, with a field workplace haul within the billions, “Avatar” bought individuals excited to see an unique sci-fi flick in theaters. There’s one thing to be stated about that, and for pushing the medium of movie ahead, “Avatar” is completely top-of-the-line sci-fi movies of the 2000s. 

Of course, not each science fiction movie winds up being of “Avatar” proportions. Some go unappreciated throughout their time, which is what occurred with “Treasure Planet.” It is a infamous Disney flop that retells Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” however with area ships as an alternative of pirate ships. 

Whereas it is typically thought-about one in every of Disney’s closing 2D animated tasks, it really has extra 3D than you may assume. The film’s beautiful to behold, like when Jim Hawkins (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) surfs by area with nebulae within the background. The beating coronary heart of the movie is the friendship between Jim and John Silver (Brian Murray). Jim lastly discovering a father determine inside Silver, who encourages to turn out to be the person he was at all times destined to be, is bound to convey a tear to your eye. “Treasure Planet” has garnered a cult following since its launch, so whereas the prospect of a comply with-up (or perhaps a stay-motion remake) appears far off, we are able to at the very least get pleasure from what we’ve now. 

2003’s “Save the Inexperienced Planet!” is the supply materials for 2025’s “Bugonia,” which wound up with a Best Image nomination on the 2026 Oscars. Nonetheless, if you happen to like that movie, you actually ought to give “Save the Inexperienced Planet!” a shot. It is the identical premise, the place a conspiracy theorist hatches a plot to kidnap a CEO, believing they’re really an alien decided to destroy Earth who should be stopped. 

The movie’s a masterclass in combining a number of genres without delay: science fiction, thriller, horror, and comedy. It is a wild experience your entire time as your sympathies swap from one character to the following as you find out about every one and what they’ve achieved to others. If any movie deserved a remake, it is this one, contemplating the idea of conspiracies has solely grown extra prevalent within the 20 years between “Save the Inexperienced Planet!” and “Bugonia.” When you watch each, you’ll be able to dissect how the endings differ and decide which one is extra miserable in your thoughts. 

Loads of science fiction tends to focus extra on the “fiction” somewhat than the “science.” All you must do is have a personality say “quantum” a bunch of instances and name it a day. However “Primer” is the uncommon, wonderful exception.

Author, director, and star Shane Carruth really has a level in arithmetic and labored as an engineer earlier than making “Primer.” The movie follows two guys who by chance invent a type of time journey after which talk about the ethical ramifications. It is the very definition of laborious sci-fi that cares deeply to get the details proper (or as proper as they are often about as one thing as theoretical as time journey).

You may want an explainer to kind by all the assorted timelines in “Primer,” however it’s a wildly creative piece of cinema — and it solely value $7,000 to make. Whether or not you are searching for one thing outdoors of the mainstream or are a filmmaker making an attempt to see how one can make a cool film with not a lot cash, “Primer” is well worth the watch. 

Steven Spielberg is accountable for some unbelievable science fiction movies, from “Shut Encounters of the Third Sort” to “Jurassic Park.” Because of this, 2001’s “A.I. Synthetic Intelligence” tends to get misplaced within the combine. Should you can look previous the divisive ending of “A.I.,” you may discover one thing completely charming in there. 

For starters, Stanley Kubrick was going to direct the movie at first earlier than it bought into Spielberg’s fingers. Following Kubrick’s demise, Spielberg pushed ahead and made positive to infuse some Kubrickian influences within the story. The result’s one thing that has Spielberg’s grandeur and emotion with Kubrick’s stone-chilly logic and darkness. 

A robotic able to love, David (Haley Joel Osment), goals to be an actual boy in order that he can lastly love. There is a eager for acceptance all through the movie that even us people can relate to, as all of us really feel remoted from each other sometimes. It could not have been the sort of movie individuals anticipated out of Spielberg on the time, however there’s one thing particular right here that is price appreciating, nearly as if Kubrick and Spielberg had been each actually behind the digital camera making this haunting movie. 

Director Bong Joon-ho by no means passes up a chance to supply social commentary. His Best Image winner “Parasite” famously explored dynamics between various social courses, and his 2006 kaiju film, “The Host,” makes use of the conventions of its subgenre to discover environmental degradation. The creature’s solely created resulting from American forces dumping formaldehyde right into a South Korean river, which is definitely based mostly on a real occasion (sans monster, in fact). 

The energy dynamics seen in “The Host” nonetheless hit house all these years later. Not solely is america accountable for creating the monster, however when Music Kang-ho (Park Gang-du) learns an excessive amount of, scientists emerge to lobotomize him to maintain him quiet. It is not merely a monster film the place you witness a bunch of gore and carnage. The creature’s a manifestation of the very actual evil that exists when nations overtly commit acts of violence towards different nations with no second thought. “The Host” follows within the big footsteps of “Godzilla,” utilizing monsters to supply perception into the world we at present stay in. 

There is no shortage of kids’s motion pictures with robots in them. Robots are enjoyable! However few of them have ever provided the sort of depth showcased in Pixar’s “WALL-E.” There are many “WALL-E” moments that go proper over youngsters’ heads, just like the ever-looming hazard of company greed threatening the very nature of our existence. Earth has turn out to be a desolate wasteland, with WALL-E (Ben Burtt) cleansing up all of the trash till it finds indicators of flowers rising as soon as once more, permitting people to return. 

Along with the social themes, “WALL-E” can be only a pitch-good love story, as WALL-E turns into smitten with EVE (Elissa Knight). In the meantime, the entire people on a spacecraft have mainly turn out to be robots themselves. They do not do something aside from sit round and watch screens, and the film’s B-plot focuses on them reclaiming their humanity. 

Do not get me flawed; “WALL-E” remains to be quite a lot of enjoyable with ample jokes for youths to get pleasure from. Nevertheless it exemplifies what Pixar does greatest. It takes youngsters’ motion pictures conventions and pushes them to their limits to supply a narrative that may really get kids (and their dad and mom for that matter) really desirous about what they noticed and hopefully talk about it after. 

Disaffected youngsters in all places rejoiced when “Donnie Darko” grew to become a cult favourite. It explores concepts surrounding time journey, providing a really totally different story from what the sci-fi subgenre usually affords. Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) barely escapes a horrible accident after which discovers that actuality will finish in 28 days. Alongside the way in which, he experiences terrifying visions of somebody in a rabbit costume haunting him. With out giving something away, the ending of “Donnie Darko” can have you instantly eager to rewatch the movie to determine simply what the heck was taking place the entire time. 

What’s wonderful is that point journey nearly feels secondary to “Donnie Darko.” As an alternative, the movie hones in on concepts of alienation, notably what any teenager inevitably feels whereas coming of age. He does not slot in along with his household and buddies and fears dying alone. However in fact, all of us have to be taught to depend on others, and that is exactly the journey Donnie embarks on. 

Science fiction tends to be synonymous with big spectacle. You anticipate to see robots combating aliens or one thing fantastical. “Moon” takes a step again, utilizing sci-fi ideas to inform an extremely intimate story that lives and dies by Sam Rockwell’s central efficiency as Sam Bell. He is an astronaut who’s spent three years on the moon and discovers one other model of himself that could possibly be a clone. Both approach, he wants to determine what is going on on. 

The titular setting on the moon enhances Sam’s emotions of isolation. He is been by himself for thus lengthy and simply needs to see his spouse and child once more, however the thought of one other him being on the market calls into query all these concepts surrounding id and the way distinctive all of us actually are, particularly from the angle of an all-highly effective firm. 

Are all of us disposable cogs in a machine the place if we die, a company will simply rent somebody to interchange us the following day? “Moon” disposes of the spectacle, and makes use of its style to inform a narrative inherently human.

Most superhero motion pictures wind up being thought-about science fiction by advantage of getting cool lasers and such. However “Spider-Man 2,” which stays the perfect superhero film of all time, genuinely feels prefer it’s making an attempt to say one thing about science. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), who turns into the villainous Doc Ock, is making an attempt to supply limitless vitality to the world when an experiment gone flawed fuses mechanical tentacles to his again. His work threatens all of New York, forcing Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) to cease him. 

Doc Ock is a darkish reflection of what Peter Parker needs to be. He has immense mind, and but he cannot see how his work can hurt others. Whereas that is taking place, Peter’s struggling along with his powers seemingly going away, and he decides perhaps New York can be advantageous with out Spider-Man. 

“Spider-Man 2” has spectacle to spare. The practice sequence stays one of the vital expertly choreographed set items ever in an motion film. However “Spider-Man 2” does not neglect the humanity in each its heroes and villains, and that is one thing sorely lacking from the superhero style as of late. 

“Sunshine” concurrently gives a “man vs. nature” narrative with humanity needing to reignite a dying solar with a traditional “man vs. man” storyline. When the crew of the Icarus II come upon the preliminary spacecraft that was supposed to avoid wasting Earth, they arrive upon a person, Pinbacker (Mark Sturdy), who needs to see humanity die out. 

“Sunshine” affords extra than simply a fascinating story. The whole lot about it’s a feast, from the visible results, which director Danny Boyle went to nice lengths to make as a lot sensible as potential, to the sonic qualities. The soundtrack is extremely underrated, and even simply audio cues just like the noise from the radio transmitter stand out to the place it is extra than simply mere background noise. It informs the story and setting the characters discover themselves in. 

Watching “Sunshine” as we speak, you might be stunned by the unbelievable appearing ensemble, together with Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, Rose Byrne, and Chris Evans. However there’s a lot extra right here to understand in relation to cinematic journeys by area. 

Christopher Nolan’s “Memento” nearly killed “Everlasting Sunshine of the Spotless Thoughts” earlier than it was made, and it is a good factor it did not. Whereas each movies are in regards to the nature of reminiscence, “Everlasting Sunshine” makes use of its central premise to supply profound insights on the character of relationships. Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) break up, and every one undergoes a process to lose all their reminiscences of the opposite particular person. It is a option to numb the ache, and but, they every handle to search out their approach again to 1 one other. 

There is no “fortunately ever after” right here, regardless of having a considerably optimistic message by the tip. There is a ton of ache all through the movie, however that ache is critical to develop as a human being. The distinctive story is complemented splendidly by Michael Gondry’s creative filmmaking strategies.

Environments change in a fashion achieved fully in-digital camera, and handheld cameras lend the movie a good better sense of urgency and intimacy. All of that is in service of a uncooked story that exhibits how struggling is required for progress. 

After the divisive “A.I. Synthetic Intelligence,” Steven Spielberg returned to extra motion-oriented sci-fi with 2002’s “Minority Report.” The movie hones in on a future the place crime is predicted by people with hyper-superior talents, so “criminals” are arrested earlier than the crime is carried out. Nonetheless, Chief John Anderton (Tom Cruise) discovers that he will commit a criminal offense and units out to show the system is flawed. 

The movie tackles lofty ideas like the character of free will, however watching the film as we speak, it is astonishing how a lot it foresaw in regards to the future. Spielberg hosted an “thought summit” with consultants to find out what a sensible way forward for america may appear like. As such, you may have concepts like focused promoting when John’s strolling by a mall. 

Extra hauntingly, some people consider actual-world AI could possibly be used to foretell crime earlier than it occurs. Little do they know there’s a whole film showcasing why that is a foul thought.

There’s been discuss of a “District 9” sequel for years, however actually, the unique movie is such a masterclass in utilizing science fiction to inform all-too-actual tales. Drawing up South African apartheid, the fictional universe within the movie sees aliens land in South Africa, who’re promptly put up in internment camps, separated from humanity. Bumbling bureaucrat Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) will get uncovered to stranger alien materials and begins morphing into one of many insect-like creatures, forcing him to place apart his prejudices to flee authorities seize.

The movie’s offered in a documentary format so something otherworldly is given an air of actuality. That is nothing to say of Copley’s efficiency, who’s a sniveling dweeb at first however then grows to know the aliens he was as soon as advantageous with isolating from essential sources. 

However “District 9” is the perfect showcase for what science fiction does so properly. Apartheid in South Africa led to 1994, however it’s nonetheless important to do not forget that excluding individuals of different races nonetheless occurs on this planet as we speak. By the lens of sci-fi leisure, it turns into much less probably for these occasions to be forgotten. 

“Youngsters of Males” does not have aliens or synthetic intelligence. As an alternative, it exists inside the dystopian subgenre, depicting the 12 months 2027, the place infertility runs rampant and humanity is on the cusp of collapse. Nonetheless, bureaucrat Theo (Clive Owen) will get tasked with escorting a refugee to security, who simply so occurs to be pregnant with what could possibly be the ultimate hope for the human race. 

There’s quite a bit to “Youngsters of Males” that hits near house in our present societal panorama. There’s reference to a pandemic that killed Theo’s youngster years prior, and within the aftermath of stated pandemic, the UK become a totalitarian state that is hostile towards immigrants. 

Thematic resonance apart, “Youngsters of Males” is chillingly lovely to behold. The cinematography from Emmanuel Lubezki is beautiful, and its use of lengthy takes, permitting you to essentially sit with these characters and their world. “Youngsters of Males” presents a low-tech imaginative and prescient of the long run that will not be what most individuals consider after they hear “science fiction,” however its emphasis on characters permits it to take a seat with you lengthy after its over.