11 Sci-Fi Movies That Completely Changed How We See Reality

There have been a handful of sci-fi films that have influenced how people perceive and interact with the world around them. Cinema and stories in general have always had a way of shaping public opinions and conveying ideas to their audiences. Nineteen Eighty-Four, the works of Shakespeare, and Frankenstein are just a few that continue to be studied, and provide inspiration many decades after they were first released.

Similarly, there are landmark movies that change the idea of what is possible in cinema, and many of these movies come from the sci-fi genre. Sci-fi allows the depths of imagination to be explored and impossible ideas to take shape, unlike any other category of film. Movies like Metropolis, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Matrix all continue to shape the future of film thanks to groundbreaking concepts, the use of new technology, and visionary creative teams.

11 Metropolis (1927)

Pioneering Science Fiction In Silent Monochrome.

Metropolis was one of the first sci-fi movies ever made in 1927. The German film was directed by Fritz Lang and written in partnership with Thea von Harbou. The premise is a simple dystopian where people living above the surface and in tall buildings experience all the best that life has to offer, while those below work ceaselessly to keep the lights on. The movie, its visuals, ideas, and story continue to inspire and inform many other popular shows and music in references to the film appearing in the popular media. Everything from Madonna in Vogue to Queen with ‘Radio Ga Ga’ has adapted elements of Metropolis.

10 Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)

Sometimes Seeing Is Not Enough.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers follows Dr. Miles Bennell as he returns to his small town only to find people appear to be being replaced. This classic sci-fi movie coined the popular phrase “pod people” and inspired several remakes, and adaptations of the story such as The World’s End in 2013, Assimilate in 2019, and Invasion in 2021. Beyond direct adaptations, Body Snatchers’ influence can be seen in any story where people stop behaving like themselves and are replaced, such as Marvel’s Secret Invasion, John Carpenter’s The Thing, and many other projects.

Related: 10 Times Aliens Were Secretly Behind Everything In Movies

9 The Time Machine (1960)

The Future Is Not As Bright As He’d Hoped.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells inspired several adaptations, but the first in 1960 had a knock-on effect on many future films. Although it wasn’t the first representation of time travel in film, it was the first to enjoy such widespread success. The film won an Oscar and set a new bar for sci-fi stories to live up to. The film featured a far-future dystopia, advanced technology, monstrous creatures, and a twist of fate after centuries of war. Inspirations from earlier works like Metropolis can be seen in the separation of society from those above and below the ground, and The Time Machine in turn inspired many future sci-fi stories.

8 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

When Technology Turns Against The Humans.

Prior to 1968, many sci-fi stories explored humanity falling into despair, humans that fell prey to their pride or arrogance, and subjected other humans to life as slaves. 2001: A Space Odyssey shifted the focus of sci-fi stories from the humans as both protagonist and antagonist to seeing technology like AI become an antagonist in its own right. HAL 9000 is the robot assistant designed to aid the crew of Discovery One, but the computer begins to turn against them. This idea of self-aware AI attacking humans in sci-fi movies has continued to inspire and influence many other shows since.

7 Solaris (1972)

When A Planet Tries To Connect To Its Inhabitants.

Solaris, based on the novel by Stanisław Lem tells the story of a small crew of scientists on an alien planet who begin to experience odd visions and hallucinations. The film explores the concept of an alien species, in this case, the planet, trying to communicate with visitors. The crew becomes delusional as the visions they face change the reality around them, and they come to accept this new fate. A false reality, imprisoned in their own thoughts, this concept went on to inspire many other themes explored in sci-fi such as The Matrix and Inception where reality can’t be trusted.

6 Blade Runner (1982)

How Far Has Technology Developed?

Blade Runner calls into question the development and advancement of technology and whether it can reach a point where it becomes indistinguishable from actual life. Today, advancements in AI, deep fakes, simulated voices, and more make it hard to know when things are real, or simply generated by a computer. The world hasn’t quite gotten to the point where robots are indistinguishable from humans, but technology and its rapid advancement appear to be making clear strides toward that outcome. Ridley Scott captured the idea in this action-packed thriller which went on to inspire many more stories like it.

Related: 8 Most Important Blade Runner Stories The Movies Didn’t Show You

5 The Terminator (1984)

Time Travel, AI, And Murderous Robots.

Bringing together some of the elements from many of the previous films, The Terminator by director James Cameron, delivered a thrilling story about AI utilizing time travel to protect itself. This is a clear evolution and amalgamation of the earlier films and shows how closely knit some elements of sci-fi are. Each film that adds to the genre on this level appears to impact and influence the future of the genre and shape how people view technology, its potential uses, and the dangers of it all.

4 The Matrix (1999)

When Reality Becomes The Program.

The Matrix by the Wachowski sisters was a defining moment in sci-fi cinema. The term “matrix” is now commonly used to reference the system the world exists in, and some people suggest that the movie could have more truth to it than might be obvious at first. Although that seems far-fetched, the influence and impact of this movie cannot be overstated with “red pill,” “blue pill,” and other concepts that have entered the mainstream thanks to the film. The Matrix puts all of reality into question and inspires many more stories about false realities in the years following.

3 A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

When Robots Grow To Experience Independent Emotions.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence raises questions about what it means to be real. David, a robot boy was adopted into a family going through emotional turmoil after the loss of a child. David grows to love his family, but through a series of miraculous events, the original child is saved and David is eventually cast out. A.I. takes a close look at this juvenile robot with his immature emotions and asks what it is that separates him from humans. With the growth of AI and other technology, this question continues to be at the forefront of discussions today.

2 Inception (2010)

What Makes Reality Real?

Inception by Christopher Nolan pulls together an incredible cast to create an epic sci-fi story that dives into dreams and tries to understand what reality truly is. Cobb discusses the idea of implanting original thoughts into others through their dreams and minor nudges of influence. This persuasion and investigation into where ideas come from and what is or isn’t real is extraordinarily philosophical and warps viewers’ sense of reality as the characters leap through levels of consciousness. Inspirations from earlier movies like Solaris, Blade Runner, and The Matrix again appear here, and this film continues to influence and inspire in its own right.

Related: What Inception Means (& How It Works In The Movie)

1 The Creator (2023)

At What Point Are Robots Considered Real?

The Creator manages to take the core idea of A.I. and the deep philosophical approach of Inception to explore further questions about reality, robots, and who is responsible when robots malfunction. The movie sees a massive division between advanced robots and humans, specifically from the US, when the robots launch an aggressive attack on humankind. Many other nations protect the robots, and it is revealed that the attack was a result of human error. The lines between humanity are blurred when robots express genuine emotion and humans become monsters trying to cull an entire species. The Creator could well shift the conversation and representation of robots in an increasingly divisive society.