Here are my other favorite:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-25-Intelligent-Sci-fi-Movies/lm/R3UTDFK5G0C9CY/ref=cm_lmt_fvsy_f_3_rysdsd1

Joe, Imlay, USA

I have been working on I think the best scifi I've ever seen, but I'll leave my personal endeavours out. And get to the point, well, there are alot of great videogames that could be made into great scifi films, such as: Halo, Gears of war or Mass Effect. Among others.

Phil, Los Angles, USA

Even as Sergio Leone reinvented the Western, someone out there needs to reinvent sci-fi for the movies. PLEASE, no blasters, no references to 'life force,' no rubber foreheads, no space battles, no severed extremities, no smart-aleck robots, no plot-holes big enough to fly a starship through, and please...no prequels, reboots, or re-imaginings. Gah! It seems like the more technological power film-makers have to create, the less they *can* create. At this point I would proudly stand in line to see any sci-fi movie that proclaimed itself: "CGI FREE!"

J Hoover, Springfield, MO

Wing commander needs mentioning, Gattaca, Blade runner, reign of fire, stargate, fifth element, Don't start me on how BAD I robot, bicentennial man or starship troopers all were; I love the books for all three. I also read the book that inspired blade runner a few years ago and hated it but I still don't see why the film industry insists on making the story of a book and then ignoring the book totally. Contact was a good book and a good film as the things that were changed made it short enough to be a film but the point of the story was the same. Well said marc from Montreal, the TV/film industry spends a significant amount of money making shows/movies that aren't successful because they don't advertise them so no-one knows they are on until it hits shops. Do they do this to justify in some twisted way that sci-fi shouldn't be made because they don't think it's profitable?!! MAKE MORE FIREFLY

Jayne, Walsall, England

no love for total recall? a great sci fi movie and possibly one of arnies best. even if it is a movie of a PKD movie

richter, london,

... and also: Chris Marker's 'La Jetee', Godard's 'Alphaville'. Even Cocteau's 'Orphee' plays like science-fiction. And what about the great Canadian 'steampunk' - retro - sci-fi tv series,
'The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne'? [Co-produced with the UK but never shown here!] Or BBC tvs utterly brilliant 1970s Nigel Kneale horror-sci-fi 'The Stone Tape'? Or the BBC's lost 'A for Andromeda' (which I and many others have seen!)? Or Bava's superbly stylish and resourceful 'Planet of the Vampires' made on a minuscule budget in Italy? But '2001' is probably the greatest science fiction film ever made. I also believe that it will never be surpassed. It really does go 'beyond the infinite.'

Philip Davies, Aberystwyth, Wales

Have to go along with lots of the choices, but 3 glaring omissions:

- Strange Days
- Contact
- Total Recall

Peter, Warwickshire,

Aliens. Best movie ever made.

Lee, USA,

I agree with the classics of 2001, Alien, Blade Runner, but also especially remember Solaris and Silent Running among the many sci fi films I've seen. Years ago I saw a TV version of The Martian Chronicles that had an introduction I'll never forget: beautiful structures with sails traversed a landscape. I've never seen this version again and now wonder if I was dreaming it?

BJ Sutherland, Victoria, Canada

I love Blade Runner and that one where Bruce blows up a giant peanut in space and his daughter marries the man with the chin.

steph, Altrincham, cheshire

What happened to Ridley Scott's first film, I believe it was called The Keep?
Set in the period of the 2WW it featured a terrible force contained at a Tibetan? Monastry? Is it available?

Stephano, Cingoli, Italy

Geeks...all bloody sci-ficion geeks. Go read a book--not a sci-fi book.

JJ, London,

I saw the first Star Wars film after seeing the trailer on News at ten one night. It fired my 16-year-old imagination which had, until then, been restricted to books of the genre.

Then, 5 years later came Blade Runner which simply blew everything else into the weeds with sheer atmosphere. I've pre-ordered a DVD of the new cut and wait with pleasure and anticipation to be completely overwhelmed again.

Simon, Lytham St Annes, UK

Dark Star
2001
12 Monkeys
Original Planet of the Apes
Blade Runner (Final Cut!)

Don Dealgan, Dubai,

My favourites are Blade Runner and Alien, but I never tire of watching This Island Earth, the original versions of The Time Machine, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, Village of The Damned and War Of The Worlds, The Andromeda Strain, Them (which still terrifies me almost as much as Alien), The Thing From Another World, The Thing and The Day The Earth Stood Still.

I was very disappointed with Sunshine. It had a great idea, but, as with so many modern movies, the actors mumbled, so I could not make head or tail of what they were saying. Consequently I lost interest about halfway through.

Many years ago I saw a film called Five, about the last five people left alive on earth and would like to see that again.

The TV serialisation of Day Of The Triffids is far more interesting than the movie version, which seemed to abandon the book early on. I would love to see movies made of other John Wyndham books such as The Crysalids, The Kraken Wakes and Trouble With Lichen.

Hendrik, Hove, East Sussex

Someone mentioned The Forbidden Planet as it inspired Star Trek. Surely a better inspiration for Star Trek was A E van Vogt's Voyage of the Space Beagle (1950), complete with a science officer with logical thought processes.

Also Fox settled out of court because Alien bore too much similarity to one section,according to Wikipedia

Paul, London,

Forbidden Plant, the 1956 film that introduced the iconic Robby the Robot and starred Leslie Nielsen at a reatively early part of his career, broke significant ground with its incredible special effects including the "Id Monster" animated into a live action film and its first use of an all-electronic score for the complete soundtrack. The story holds up well even today, since it is loosely based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, as it did when it was first released. I can watch it endlessly and never get enough of the Krell marvels that appear during the ride into the heart of the big machine that is the legacy of a dead civilization. Its definitely my favorite.

Robbie Barish, New York, NY, USA

just would like to mention THX 1138 for what it is worth.

chris v., arnold, md

I'm not suggesting that these are the best ever sci-fi films, but these are personal favourites and ones that have stayed in my memory over the years:-
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Planet of the Apes (the original not Tim Burton's version!!!)
Silent Running
Alien
Aliens
Twelve Monkeys
Escape from New York
The Thing (and the original The Thing from Another World)
Back to the Future
The Time Machine (the original 60's version!)
Forbidden Planet
Soylent Green
The Terminator
Dark City
Gattaca
Fahrenheit 451
I also have a soft spot for Flash Gordon as well but I was only 9 when I first saw it in the cinema!

John Jensen, Tavistock, UK

I have to add Minority Report to the list. Not the greatest, but worth a look especially for the sequence where Tom Cruise gets his eyes replaced; loved the doctor!

Larry, Washington, DC

Soylent Green..
Tragically believable Grim view of an overcrowded world where the rich elite live above the massed and filthy, desperate, proles..Hhmmmmm..
Dated now, but when first out, if only more people had taken the message to heart.

Richard, Melbourne, Australia

'Alien',
'Village of the Damned(1960 version)' then
'The Fly'(1986)

M.Griffin, Banbury, England

Both by Ridley Scott:-

Blade Runner and Alien.

Matt Somerton-Rayner, Chichester, UK

One film that I can watch over and over and always enjoy is THX1138.

Sadly, there's not much else original out there, with the exception of the recent, "The Fountain". That was beautiful.

Dave K, Memphis, TN

Yes I agree with Charlie los angeles. Silent Running for me is the best sci fi film. Simple story with superb models and effects by Trumball, way ahead of it's time

Michael, Calgary, Canada

I'm surprised at the number of people who, apparently, don't realise how many classic 50s, 60s and 70s science fiction films were thinly-disguised Cold War paranoia/propaganda. I would love to see a film version of The Forever War - but I wouldn't regard it as anything other than what it is - a satire on the Vietnam war.

My point is this. 'The Love Boat In Space' is 'The Love Boat' in space. I don't care how futuristic it looks, or how many really cool robots it's got. 'Romeobot And Julietbot' is just 'Romeo And Juliet', whether it's 16th Century Verona or 29th Century Venus.

And for all those people who think 'The Matrix' is a decent science fiction film, what about 'Abre los Ojos' ('Open Your Eyes') and its Hollywood remake, 'Vanilla Sky'? Basically the same stuff as 'The Matrix', but without the childish fantasy that everything can be sorted out with cool shades, black leather trench coats, and some sexy looking Kung-Fu.

Patrick Simpson, Oxford, UK

Gojira, aka Godzilla - the original 1954 version. Bleak, thought provoking, updates the oriental dragon mythology with the terrors of nuclear war. A film that resonates today, what with nuclear proliferation and the possibility of a renewed arms race. A minor classic!

Marlow Williams, London, United Kingdom

"Silent Running". A forgotten classic, starring Bruce Dern.

charlie, Los angeles, ca US

Without doubt, the best SCI FI film of all time has to be Return Of The Jedi.

Rudy, Motherwell, Scotland

Most sci-fi stories are just western in outer space anyway. Even Dune, my own personal favorite book and film, comes across like a Russian melodrama. Blade Runner could be likened to any persecuted minority and the irrational fear they engender.

Bob Burn, Sunbury,

Firefly the TV series as well as the movie Serenity. Perfect -- and I wish that they could continue the ideas there...

I find it very hypocritical of Scott to say this about sci-fi films when he in fact ADDED special effects to Blade Runner and is re-releasing it.
Talk about a ploy that is purely based on making money.

I also find it so incredibly annoying when film directors try to make a movie out of a book --- and then they "improve" upon it. The book (written by Dick) was already a classic -- why change anything???

And...where are you Ridley Scott? Westerns are certainly not dead.

Allison, Orlando, FL

Shucks,

I've just seen Children of Men, best sci-fi film I've seen since Zoolander.

Well, maybe not Zoolander, um, Akira? Oh no, silly me, A Scanner Darkly.

Good uns? let's see:

Metropolis.
Modern Times - Chaplin did great sci-fi.
Forbidden Planet.
Brazil.
12 Monkeys.
Dark Star.

In no particular order. There are more, but my brain doesn't work too well when I have eaten too much.

Kidd Garrett, Bristol, UK

Serenity - new Sci-fi for a new age. Based on reality, not aliens. Much like Blade Runner - because robots are becoming our reality. The characterization and the myth is what makes the story - set it in space, and it makes it Sci-fi.

I like Ultraviolet, too.

alice, LaSalle, us/il

Dark Star will always be my favourite. Gentle blend of humour, pathos and hope.

Shirley, Middlesbrough,

The best movies to come out of the "big business cinema" machine in recent years are the LOTR series and Narnia. This proves that a classic novel can be made into a good film if they are sure they can make money doing it.

There's no reason this can't happen in science fiction. Peter Jackson could do it as long as he's had his fill of things like King Kong.

I think it's unlikely that anyone will bother, so it's up to the indie film guys. That's the only hope for science fiction film right now.

Kevin Calvert, Calgary, AB Canada

Joss Whedon's Firefly Tv Series and the BD Movie version Serenity ... hugely funny, intelligent, brilliant storylines and a wonderful cast of characters / actors. What a huge mistake to cancel the tv series... Joss it's not too late to make another movie!!

Many many great sci-fi stories still to be told... many of John Wyndham's need a fresh airing and Asimov's Foundation series (at least the original 3 books) should be made into a movie.

Westerns date badlyl because they belong to a specific time and place; sci-fi is always around the corner and happens anywhere in the Universe so... not quite the same, Sir Ridley. But I have to say I've never seen a bad Scott movie by either brother.

David M, Alameda, USA / California

The original "Alien" was the best sci-fi ever made.
The sequels were embarrassing idiocies.

Second best was "2001."

hp, austin, tx

A Scanner Darkly is a film we study in science fiction class today, and that was made yesterday, so there are still good sci-fi movies, you just have to look hard enough....

Thomas Bechmann, Stavanger, Norway

"Primer" Starring Shane Carruth and David Sullivan. Two brilliant engineers build a crude time machine in their garage. The two start using the machine without the other's knowledge. There are no special effects to speak of. This movie survives on the story and the fact that the science IS there.

Roman Coke, Port St Lucie, Florida

Big field sci fi - Blade Runner is hard to beat, but you can't leave out Mars Attacks.

stuart munro, seoul , korea

Wait, what? Black Hawk Down isn't sci-fi? And they tried so hard... Just like Saving Private Ryan and Titanic... Bombast all around.

Kidding aside, I think the best sci-fi movies are 2001 (for reasons mentioned in the article and Hal.) and Akira. Akira is sci-fi without being to blatant about it. Nobody drives a flying car and nobody carries a laser gun in his back pocket. Existential questions about power and friendship set in Tokyo of the future. No, animations aren't just for kids.

A.Z., Woerden, The Netherlands

For low-buget, high-imagination sci-fi genius, you only have to go as far as 'Primer'. It requires repeated viewings not just because the film is so good, but because the non-linear plot and the film's sheer complexity merits extra attention. It's low-key, highly-intelligent and powerful stuff, with a highly disturbing final set all set to a mesmerising sound track, penned I believe the writer, director, producer and principle actor Shane Carruth. In the top five sci-fi films of all time, if not the top three.

Donald Smith, London, UK

There was a time during the demise of the western that there were stories with "real" characters and "real" dialog. Sci-Fi has not reached that plateau. We may have a few more years, maybe a decade before it goes the way of the western. I myself am looking forward to some good story lines in Sci-Fi in the future.

Charles, Kingsland, Texas

Actually, 99.9% of Hollywood doesn't know a thing about Sci-Fi, they make movies that are Hollywood's CONCEPT of Sci Fi.

There are many, many, many examples of bad sci fi movies, and many many examples of great Sci Fi novels, but Hollywood, when it does adapt a good story, screws it up. And they mostly overlook good written works and create crap instead. So, Scott may be right about the movies, but only because Hollywood keeps turning out the same crap, not because of the genre itself. Case in point - Invasion.

Ken, Allentown, PA

I broadly agree with Scott, though I have seen some outstanding Science fiction over the years.

I think that what has happened recently, though, is a kind of pincer movement on the film industry in general.

Firstly, over the last two decades there has been a definite cultural trend towards a kind of anti-intellectualism in the west. I don't remember anything like the violence exhibited towards clever kids occuring when I was young, but nowadays the idea of being clever and being involved with science seems difficult to project to a mass audience.

Secondly, I think that when 2001 was made, science was more open and acessible, and it was at least more likely that there would be the ability to consult with real scientists, as described in the article above, to form something striking and drawn from the real.

It's getting more difficult to make the films touch reality; and more difficult to find an audience.

ILots of reasons to return to the 1960's era of writing...

Mark Grindell, Shipley, WEST YORKSHIRE

Rollerball--the original, not the brain dead PC remake. Soylent Green--gets better every time I see it. Logan's Run--same thing. 12 Monkeys--as good as any time travel piece ever done. Fahrenheit 451--simply classic. The Quiet Earth--contemplative perfection. Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1978 version)--best movie ending ever. Mad Max--set the standard. Other classics include 28 Days Later, Brazil, A Clockwork Orange, Lathe of Heaven. More fun to be had in They Live, THX 1138, V for Vendetta, Forbidden Planet, Death Race 2000, Blue Sunshine, and Enemy Mine. These movies are from many eras and aren't unified by theme (though I favor post-apocalyptic and anti-totalitarian). Some are original and others are remakes or use oft-revisted themes. However, all are just plain made well and are internally consistent. As Theodore Sturgeon noted, 90% of science fiction is crap because 90% of everything is crap. That includes movies.

Robert P. Churchill, Laurel, MD

Original Star Wars "unedited" and "unimproved" i.e. ruined by Spielberg.

Adrian, Aldershot, England

Westerns and sci-fi are not dead. It's just that nobody has any new ideas!

Peter, New York, USA

The Matrix was the most exciting science fiction film of recent memory. In fact, although going against popular opinion, the entire matrix saga (film and animations) was, in my opinion, an powerful epic with a great modern theme that the world we see around us is put there to blind us from the fact that we are all slaves to it. I also think the TV show Battlestar Galactica (the new version) is some of the freshest and bravest (suicide bombers) sci-fi I've seen in a long time. Anyone else agree?

Tim McEvoy, Dublin, Ireland

Loved Serenity

Doug, Poplar Bluff, MO

If "On The Beach" or "Five" count as SciFI, those would be my choices. "The Last Star Fighter" wasn't bad either. Sorry Sir Ridley, but 2001 was more entertaining in book form than as a flick. Asimov's "Foundation Trilogy" might be an interesting project.

Pete Redner, Lodi, NJ

Every movie genre has been covered to saturation. Yet, new movies come out all the time. All is done, but there's still room for more. E.g. would any director care to treat me to a no-expenses-spared adaptation of some of Jack Vance's works ? Although I enjoy nearly every decently made s.f., I nominate The Fifth Element for its gaudy enviroment, witty oneliners and over the top actors. Imagine that movie with a more sophisticated story...

Patrick Lemli, Rotselaar, Belgium

2001.
no contest.

Malcolm Scarratt, Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada

There are dozens --hundreds, really-- of classic science fiction novels that could make great movies if anyone in Hollywood could wrench their attention away from Philip K. Dick for eight seconds. Childhood's End, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Stranger in a Strange Land, Caves of Steel, Ender's Game, Ringworld, The Forever War... there's no shortage of good stories out there.

Stephen, Seattle, wa

Ridley, I love the guy, but he's off his rocker. Sci-Fi is NOT DEAD. Great films such as The Matrix and Serenity (this one being both a Western AND a Sci-Fi movie) disprove his logic.

I nominate THE MATRIX as the best Sci-fi movie of all time. Most thought provoking movie ever, all genres mixed together. 2001 was great, but was long winded and left even the best intellectuals wondering what was going on.

DAVE ID, Montreal, Canada

Serenity/Firefly: A western AND Sci Fi

shw, bath, UK

The Wild West is over but we'll never run out of the Future.

Joe Schembrie, Bellevue, WA

Although not really a sci-fi fan, I've long felt that Blade Runner, in the whole, is the greatest movie ever made - It lacked nothing, great actors, a frightening artistic vision, and a soundtrack that is still awe-inspring after 25 years. Hauer's end-of-life soliloquy is one of the best all-time moments in film. The genre may be "dead", but I'm confident Sir Ridley is the person who could resurrect it.

Marco, Miami, USA

I hope Serenity is one of the examples of bad movies that Ridley's talking about. No substance whatsoever, along with all those Riddick movies.

Kurt Munro, Edinburgh, Scotland

First of all science fiction isn't dead, but it does ned some better script writing in many areas. We need more movies like sunshine. As for best science fiction movie ever well for me this is a wierd one, my favorite one is Star Wars episode 6 because I found it to be the most entertaining, but as for the best in terms of actual mov ie quality, it would have to be Star Wars Ep 4. It pioneered the space epic we know today. The Firefight of Independence day, the epic scope of the new War of the Worlds, the rebirth of Battlestar Galactica even the epic mass capital ship battles of Star Trek were all because of what the original showed us was possible, no other movie has pioneered or even shown us possibilities of these things like Star wars did. Sure 2001 is considered excellent in terms of writing and realism (I ignore the 2001 portion) but it's also pretty dull, it didn't spark as much imaginations as Star Wars did. Star Wars Inspired not only science fiction but culture itself.

max, ottawa,

I don't think Science Fiction is dead. It's just that all Hollywood movies these days are crap--not just sci-fi movies.

Brad P. Severance, Indianapolis, IN

I recently saw perhaps the best science fiction film I have ever seen, called "Man From Earth." There was no CGI or alien makeup, just fantastic dialog and a thought-provoking plot. The screenplay was done by Jerome Bixby, whose credits include epsiodes of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone, and it is truly amazing. There's nothing fancy - it almost all takes place in one room, but it is very thought provoking and intelligent. I'll also second the earlier recommendation for Gattaca, another more philosophical-oriented rather then effects/action-oriented film.

As a disclaimer, Man From Earth is touring film festivals in the US, so who knows when it might get to the UK.

Richard, Boston, US

Mr. Scott's mostly right - Hollywood doesn't really know how to do sci fi anymore. But I think that's an indictment of their corporate strategy - choosing bankable formulas over creativity. Still, some good, original sci fi films *do* get made. As great as Blade Runner is (one of the best sci fi films ever done), I'd put 2006's <b>Children of Men</b> right there with it. And to reinforce my point above...Universal was very leery of making the film, despite Alfonso Cuarón as director. And sadly their fears about its bankability turned out to be true: It didn't make a lot of money. But then...neither did Blade Runner. Neither did Gattaca. Good sci fi films aren't what the masses want. They want hot chicks, robots, and explosions. And while hot chicks are always a requirement(!), a good sci fi film doesn't *need* the others every time out. There have been some great sci fi films over the past 15 years. Gattaca was a great sci fi film. 12 Monkees. Dark City, etc.

David, San Francisco,

I agree what some of Mr. Scott is saying. But to put the Matrix with some of the other film as rehashing the old is insulting!
The Matrix is one of the best films ever made. But with the Matrix
you generally take away from the film with who you are as a person.
And that I can't explain to you , you have to see it for your self.

Morris Rhodes, Brooklyn, NY

Maybe he thinks that Sci-fi movies are stake, but Sci-Fi TV is just getting started. Please see Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, Kyle XY, and the many many sci-fi shows that are breathing new life into the genre.

jen, Knoxville,

'Primer' - mind twisting SF about a couple of engineers running a start up tech company that stumble upon a technique for time travel. Completely unlike any other movie. 'Pi' by Darren Aronofsky. Like 'Blade Runner', these movies in their own way redefine SF for a new generation of filmmakers and viewers. SF is not just about robots and spaceships (though I personally am just fine with robots and spaceships!) - as long as people are interested in the possibilities of the future and of the human mind, there will always be a demand for SF movies that explore these possibilities. Ariel Cinii is quite correct - the studio SF formula is tired - but SF itself is doing just fine!

Huw Bowen, Warwick, UK

To those of you who get your information about the existence and/or viability of "good" sci-fi from the mainstream media: yes, it is dead. In other, more important news, "Hairspray" has been remade. Don't miss it!

Franklin Underton, Mabaggitch, Indiana

the empire strikes back

samia, kuwait,

I always love to watch the original "War Of The Worlds" movie and also love to watch "Forbidden Planet". Tthought that the Tom Cruise remake was okay but not up to the original. I also think that "Star Wars" was great too. Enjoy most of the old scifi movies, even the goofy ones. One reason I think I liked the older scifi movies is that there is a semblence of reverence for God that the others do not have.

linda, phila, pa, usa

I thought Sunshine was a great sci-fi flick and Alien/Aliens were also classic sci-fi/horror films which have been repeatedly cloned with no where near the same results. I know it's not a movie, but the new Battlestar Galactica on the sci-fii channel is also a great show which I think shows sci-fi isn't dead on TV either.

Doug, Newport, PA

It is Scott who is tired, an vastly overrated director who owes his fame largely to trendy politically-correct accidents (like casting Sigourney Weaver in Alien, for a role that was originally designed for a man) or other people's talent (Crowe's great performance in Gladiator). The first Matrix film was solidly original SF in concept, in addition to the superb CGI. Jurassic Park was structurally SF and a fresh concept as well. The Star Wars saga (especially the last three released) is an excellently made saga about the decline of a free society (eerily prescient of events that have happened in the USA and UK). And Serenity carries over similar concepts from the Firefly TV show about societal decline. One gets the impression Scott simply dislikes that more recent SF movies are more skeptical of the humanistic underpinnings of the past films he likes or did.

John, Jamaica, NY

The Matrix just works on so many levels, those who do not appreciate all of its subtleties will of course not realise the such things as the feasability of 'the science' behind the fiction is irrelevant. Besides, who are they to say that AI could never progress to the point presented? All representations of the future are conjecture and I personally find it easier to accept the dystopic future of The Matrix to that of 2001. From its superficiality as a cool action film to the far deeper sub-text of racial discrimination and encompassing much in between, including advanced theoretical work by those such as Baudellaire, The Matrix was not just a Sci-Fi film but a film for everyone.

Benjamin, Manchester,

Ariel Cinii, hear-hear! There are a wealth of authors from this decade and the last (thinking Charles Stross, Greg Egan, etc.) whose works are mindblowing; naught but the limitations of Hollywood producers' mentalities "kill" science-fiction. Well, and defeatist directors. Note the re-surge of the BBC's "Doctor Who" - it's become somewhat "science-lite", but it still presents concepts well and is drawing both acclaim and viewers.
Isaac Asimov's greatest books are still untouched; Frank Herbert's "Dune" got a movie and two mini-series. Shame, Mr Ridley Scott; science-fiction is not dead; only your ability to interpret it est mort.

Peter Petroff, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Well Ridley Scott ought to know, because neither of his two SF films are real science fiction! Alien was conceived as 'Jaws In Space', made to cash in on the success of Jaws and Star Wars. Original or what?! Bladerunner is a film noir thriller, the point of which is that the 'good' guy isn't really any better than the 'bad' guy (Roy Batty says as much during the film). And it isn't about humanity, it's about 'reality' and our perception of it, a prominent theme in most of PK Dick's writings. As a PK Dick fan, I'd nominate A Scanner Darkly as the best film adaptation of any SF book. Closely followed by Michael Radford's '1984', which makes Bladerunner look like what it is - a "cooled-up" retread of The Stepford Wives. For SF written directly for the screen, I can't decide between Dark Star and Terminator. Yes, I know Terminator bears a suspiscious similarity to several previous works; but then, an amazing amount of science fiction is just variations on Frankenstein.

Patrick Simpson, Oxford, UK

Serenity, attempting to revive the Western and Sci-Fi genre on it's own.

Chris, Oakville, Canada

He's a brilliant director but he is wrong. '28 Days Later', shows that the sci-fi thriller is alive and well. So does 'Sunshine' by the same director.

Michael Ledwith, Evanston, Illinois, USA

Serenity is a fantastic movie in my opinion. One of the best.
Some of the Star Trek films are fantastic, but they're sort of hit and miss.
Star Wars is universally great.

I want to see a film based on any book by Stephen Baxter. He is my favorite science fiction writer, all of his stuff is amazing. If they made a movie of any of his stuff, I'd see it at least 3 times.

Josh J., Atlanta, Georgia

bruce, the quality of a film does not depend on how closely it sticks to the book from which it is taken. and, if nothing else, the film has a better title. :0)

jem, london, uk

As much as I admire Ridley, I think he's somewhat disappearing up his own event horizon. OK, so there are many blockbuster "sci-fi" films, mainly because they provide an easy vehicle for Hollywood to do what it does best - throw vast sums of money at something and make it flashy. But there have been many very good science fiction films recently, because the genre of science fiction is as fluid as the fields of science itself. I'd count "28 Days Later" as science fiction - it isn't set in the future, but it does require a fictional science plot device to get it working. What about the recent "Sunshine"? I thought it was mesmerising. And the recent film "The Fountain" is a superb piece of film making. In a more independent vein, try "Pi" for pure sci-fi intrigue. To conclude - Ridley, you should get out more and stop resting on your laurels.

Matt, Brighton, UK

Primer - now that's the direction sci-fi should be headed - on a shoestring budget but with a wealth of imagination. You have to watch it ten times to work out what's going on but it's a work of simple, quiet genius. A short film perhaps (but at perfect length) - it's magnificently acted, directed and edited; the final clip is just too unnerving for words. And the music is - like the film - understated but magical.

Donald Smith, London, UK

Yes, Blade Runner - also Terminator and Terminator 2, Alien and Aliens, Pitch Black, Close Encounters, Dune.

Klaatu, Los Angeles, USA

Aeon Flux is a great scifi. I would also throw the likes of Minority Report, Equilibrium, Solaris, and 6th sense out there. With that being said there are long periods between quality scifi nowadays but no shortage of Action movies

chris, chicago,

Code 46
Gattaca

Science Fiction films about characters in a hypothetical environment. Not just CGI

Marc, Phoenix,

May I be allowed to nominate three films:

1. Thirteenth floor

time travel and reality questioning: are we virtual beings in somebody's computer?

2. Blade Runner

no need to comment, great movie

3. The Matrix

Even more horrible than Orwell's 1984

logical, Caracas, Venezuela

I could list dozens of excellent Science Fiction novels but very few films. The major film studios aren't likely to make films about intelligent caterpillar like creatures traversing a world where gravity ranges from 3G to hundreds of G (Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement). Makes a fantastic book but the lack of violent action just wouldn't attract the film makers. My advice is forget the cinema and grab a good Science Fiction novel instead. It's more rewarding, entertaining and will open your horizons!

Mike Hodges, Epworth, UK

Blade Runner easily makes my top five all time favorites list.

Sorry, I like the "voice over" and the "happy ending" much better than the "Director's Cut".

Tom McNaughton, Toledo, Ohio

The overall problem with the SF film genre is that they are simply seen by the studios almost as an easy licence to print money at the box office - throw in effects and fights, but forget about the story. The reason why "ALIEN" and "BLADE RUNNER" are still popular today is because there was a texture to them and a story which engaged the audience. James Cameron has consistently shown that this can continue with "ALIENS" and "THE ABYSS". On a more up-to-date note, Joss Whedon took up this mantle with "SERENITY" - pity it was never the success it deserved to be. Although I can agree that the "STAR WARS" series are not SF per se, they are fine examples of simply how much fun the genre can be.

Faves: Blade Runner, Aliens, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Serenity, The Empire Strikes Back, Natural City, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, Planet of the Apes, Forbidden Planet, etc.

Wendy Scott, Kettering, UK

I think sci-fi movies (good sci-fi) are just changing directions, away for the horror and action film influence and more towards movies that say something interesting about the possible direction we are headed. we need more movies like Primer, first matrix, dark city, 13th floor, pi, im even going to include ghost in the shell, animatrix , and other anime that do a better job of discussing the interplay of tech and humanity. movies are just doing a bad job of it. but people still want to see good science fiction.

infonut, bethesda, MD

"It is not the science-fiction genre which is dead, but rather the studio formula for science-fiction which needs to be tossed"
Says it all really - Ariel is right on the button.
And it's not just Sci-Fi, Hollywood, pardon the pun, appears to have lost the plot, as regards delivering engrossing, thought provoking films. And it's not as if there isn't plenty of material out there on which to base a movie - my personal Sci-Fi suggestion would be Iain Bank's "Consider Phlebas", the prologue alone is worth a $100 million feature based on todays miserable offerings. Lastly, if my, and many of my friends opinions are anything to go by, Mr. Scott should be congratulated on Blade Runner - Graham's comments are echoed by us all - a worthy successor to the "2001" crown.
C'mon Scottie, stop moaning and keep working!
(P.S - I.m no relation either!)

Keith, Hythe, Kent., UK

I third that - Serenity!

Paul, Portsmouth, USA

Danny Boyle's new movie, Sunshine, is spectacular.

Jonathan, Atlanta,

Sci-fi is dying because the underuse of good writing and acting it seems. Recently, every sci-fi movie and series that has done well put more focus on plot and character development. Great examples of this from recentish TV/Movies are:
Firefly (didn't do well until it hit DVD unfortunately)
Battlestar Gallactica (Lots of plot, and just enough action)
Gattica
Stargate
Farscape (bad special effects)

The problem here of course is that in the movie theater, the director/writer only has ~2 hours to get his plot across, so instead of making the effort to have this happen, plot is tabled for eye candy. Because of this, we've had a long string of movies all trying to be the next Matrix, where eyecandy rules the film and things like acting and plot are happily forgotten during the distraction. Sci-fi will probably continue to hold a big TV following, as character development and plot are easier to do when you have 24 45-minute episodes to do it in.

Greg, Oak Creek, WI

Without a doubt, Blade Runner is my favorite sci fi film of all time. I can't think of any better.

John, Kingston, NY

The Matrix without a doubt. A brilliant and original sci-fi. A fusion of popular culture, literary references and even religious themes - it's a multi-layered film that is just loads of fun to watch. The filmmakers ruined everything though, with their money-grubbing sequels.

I'm a big fan of Star Wars but I must say Episode 1 was a complete waste of film.

SB, London,

Blade Runner and Alien have to rate among the best sci-fi ever. For its day, Forbidden Planet is also right up there, as is The Day the Earth Stood Still. Would LOVE to see a GOOD Robert A. Heinlein adaptation... especially The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

Bob, Herndon, Virginia

Serenity for sure

mark, Bristol, UK

Ridley is from the old generation, thinking the next generation can not do better. TV sci-fi is where the new ideas are coming from. 4400, heros, the TV version of Dune. the comment about getting nasa to design the spaceship - how's that science fiction? we like science FICTION not fact.

S Speilberg, california, USA

The original Alien. It may not ask many existential questions, but the artistry of it was flawless. The pacing was perfect, H.R. Giger's biomechanoid motif was unbelievable and terrifying, the special effects were indredible, and the sets were amazingly realistic. It looked like people USED them, and let's face it, the reactor self-destruct mechanism was COOL.

In my opinion, no film has ever matched Alien in these categories, not even the popular sequel, Aliens. Certainly, Aliens was also an amazing movie, and a personal favourite. But Alien was the first, and that meant it didn't need to deal with backstory, didn't need to spend the beginning of the movie creating a connection from the previous film.

I think Alien was as much (or more) of a success because of H.R. Giger than Ridley Scott. To this day, the visions that pour forth from Giger's nightmares continue to terrify me. I desperately hope that if/when they make Alien 5 (assuming AvP 2 is a success), they get Giger onboard.

Adam Zey, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Lyn Haslam - good selection. I'd add Solaris, both films also Metropolis and as I think most would agree Bladerunner as one of the superlative pieces of SF cinema.

Shane Osmond, Fremantle, Oz

2001: A Space Odyssey by far is the best sci-film ever made and is timeless. It is beautifully shot and the special effects are better than computer generated effects. The story is more plausible than what has been offered before and after the movie was released. It makes you question our existance and how so insignificant we are in the cosmos.

Shaun Fowler, Hull,

Gene Roddenberry was quoted as saying "Our limitations for story are bounded by the limits of space itself" (paraphasing). I think there is a lot of truth in that - folks just need to let their imaginations soar - There is still much to be explored within this genre.

SciFiFan01, Los Angeles,

Serenity - a new sci-fi universe filled with new ideas

Ciber, southampton,

What about Children of Men? That's a modern classic of Sci-fi. Granted there have been a few stinkers but there have been plenty of very good sci-fi movies too.
I think a lot of the best Sci-fi has been on TV though. Two of the best shows of recent years in any genre have been Battlestar Galactica and Firefly (should never have been axed).

Jack, London,

Blade Runner, StarWars ep IV, Aliens and Matrix ... movies that I will never tire of.

Geo, Glasgow,

I dont feel like Serenity is a new concept, especially Malcom Renolyds. Fillion has even said he owes everything to Harrison Ford. Perhaps if Firefly hadnt pulled off space western so cheaply (something I know isnt there fault so much as the budgets) it would have stood out more, but I never feel likSlightly, but not really. Its more sci-fi. Serenity touches on the "space western" theme of the show. Which means the two undermine each other. Firefly always felt cheap but with a cool concept hovering in the background, and Serenity didnt feel like Firefly.

As for the sci-fi genre being dead, its an inevitability. Original storytelling is almost dead. I like good sci-fi like Danny Boyle's Sunshine that takes a concept and story thats been tried before and failed, and makes it engaging and interesting. It was like watching a good version of Event Horizon.

Theres my two cents.

Jeramie Clark, Sacramento, California

Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself With Tea (1977), a Czech movie about a plot to go back in time and give Hitler atomic weapons. Genius.

Tim Footman, Bangkok, Thailand

The Time Machine, This Island Earth, Forbidden Planet, War of the World and Metropolis as far as the pre 2001 Space Odyssey selection go. Blade Runner is simply magnificent for its atmosphere. Alien is brilliant for its suspense. For sheer fun, Escape from NY and Escape from LA. From time to time 12 Monkeys, Terminator, Dark City . and Aliens are fine. The 60-80's Logan's Run, Outlander, Westworld, Soyent Green, Rollerball do not seem to have aged that well. Stay away from On the Beach as this is one of the most depressing stories ever told.

Arnold, London, UK

I think in some ways Blade Runner was really an improved version of 2001 (given how dated HAL appears compared to a cyborg.) I also think the Dune renditions (both) represent a good translation of great SF novels to the screen. And I think Stargate fired the imagination in a way no film had in a long time (hence the hunger for an episodic series to see "where else can we go?") Good SciFi films usually come from good SF books, of which there is no shortage (I would personally love to see a Hollywood version of John Christopher's Tripods trilogy). The challenge is getting Hollywood to not only buy the book but to do it right (both Dune and Blade Runner were hacked to pieces.) LOTR proves that you can do a reasonably faithful screen adapation of a great book (fantasy or SciFi) and the multiple versions of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells (good & bad) are testaments to their enduring appeal. I admire Sir Ridley, but I think he has given up on the patient too soon.

Luke M. COrnelius, Carrollton, Georgia. USA

Strange thing to quote because he was filmed at ComicCon (check YouTube) as saying his next two projects would preferably be a sci fi movie and a traditional western. This was a few months ago.

Cam , London, England

Only one* nomination in the responses for Planet of the Apes,
that suprised me, though not a fan personally I admit to enjoyiing Beneath the Planet of the Apes, not least for the lovely twist at the close.

So far so overlooked, Logans Run, for it's reprentation of our fears about ageism, set in a different time and dimension but wrapped in a chase movie.

For absolute delight to eleven year olds, any list must have :
The Time Machine (1960) and This Island Earth.
*Actually two nominations for The Planet of the Apes, but they were both from Lyn in Alameda.

Francesco, London, UK

If the sci-fi genre is dead, guess who killed it? Corporate jugheads, not lack of ideas.

Josh Weadon had this wonderful world created, full of ideas and had no budget...he worked on a 'verse full of potential and a story line that rivals even Blade Runner...what happened? Some corporate jughead canned the show because it did not have the gazillion viewers junk food TV has...it was only a minimum of a couple million viewers per episode for a show that received absolutely no exposure nor decent marketing...sob

Firefly was, is, simply brilliant and has what most if not all sci-fi movies/shows lack these day: a story line and likable characters with a personality of their own.

Marc, Montreal,

Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back.

The definitive episode in a saga that redefined the sci-fi genre.

Gary , Belfast,

As a great sci fi fan, I find this an impossible question. However, here is a little list: 2001, Blade Runner, Escape from New York, the first Alien, the original War of the worlds, Flash Gordon for sheer fun. Could go on, but that's enough. Star Wars et al, aren't really sci fi proper but perhaps belong more to fantasy. Nothing wrong with that. Ps to your correspondent from Texas Graham, I'm with you all the way, but the musician is Vangelis: he is Greek... John Carpenter's own music is not bad either.

Frances Brunton, Florence, Italy

Sunshine and The Host both have something to add to the Genre. With the Clooney re make of Solaris worth considering

Raymo, Byron Bay, NSW

While I agree with Ridley Scott wholeheartedly, I find it somewhat ironic. Ridley Scott's Alien movies used a minimally developed SciFi backdrop for a horror movie. It's about 20% SciFi and 80% horror. Also, the author of this article states the Kubrick and Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey is about a, "world of malevolent computers..." If you study the movie, it is apparent that the HAL9000 computer is not so much an evil, malevolent monster like Ridley Scott's Alien as a study on the interaction of a new artificial consciousness with human beings.

Evan, Durham, North Carolina, USA

..look...after 70 years of these films..it is not unusual that the genre is dead, pooped out...the great ideas are all used up.....like Beethoven was not duplicated after his death, that was the golden age that is dead.

john, norton/ohio, USA/OHIO

Its highly disingenuous of Scott trying his best to hammer nails into the (non-existent) coffin of s/f. Perhaps Scott's ego demands that he corners the market as The Great s/f director?

Anyway, Westerns simply had less to say to audiences. S/F has far more scope and (with horror and fantasy) is arguably is the predominant form of popular fiction.

Serenity proves there is massive scope for studios to listen to the target market. Gattaca and Children of Men prove that the studios can make their money back.

That said s/f is always going to be a harder sell than (say) a teen comedy movie.

THARG, SQUAZZZZUPPPPFFFF, ZZZEERRMMMOOOONNN

Sunshine- The first sci-fi thriller that explores the concept of spirituality permeating the physical world. God is in the details!

Rod, Madbury, NH

2001, of course, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet, Destination Moon ----- and the winner is: Fahrenheit 451!

L G Knight Duquesne, Lebanon, Ohio, Dominion of Greater Virginia

Clearly Ridley hasn't seen 'Primer' yet, probably the best 'pure' sci-fi movie ever made.

Other sf films I like are 2001 and Blade Runner of course, the classic 'Silent Running', 'Dark City' (much better than The Matrix), 'Minority Report', '12 Monkeys', 'A Scanner Darkly', 'The Fountain'.

I've heard very good things about 'Robot Stories', and I'm looking forward to 'Southland Tales'.

sf fan, future town,

the criticisms of sci-fi are criticisms that could be made of pretty much any film genre. there are a few good films with interesting issues, stories and characters. the rest is just dross, pitched at the mass of unthinking idiots who will pay to see any old "blockbuster". most of the best films are those that the artists struggle to get made or distributed. however, if sir ridley doesn't like what's on offer, he's in a position to do something about it. blade runner is one of my favourite films of any genre. to mention films like the matrix or star wars series in the same category is simply insulting. there is no reason why sci-fi can't deliver the best elements of other genres, just adding a creative setting.

jem, london, uk

Serenity and its Space Soap Opera ilk are not real scifi and the reason its dying.

Jay Schubirng, Milwaukee, USA

Sunshine, directed by Danny Boyle.. Original story line, great atmosphere. Maybe not in the top 5, but defintaly up there..

Dave Malins, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

When your "old" you`ve been there, seen it, done it, a new generation of media and film makers will always " change it "
Nothing is new or ever stays still. The best as atmosphere is the bench mark film Blade Runner. There will be others...

jason, kassel, Germany

Blade Runner. I can still watch and enjoy every second after all these years. The voiceover was poor though, supposedly because Harrison Ford really objected to having to come back and do it. But I own both versions of the film so I can avoid it. :D

Chris, Cincinnati, OH, USA

"It is not the science-fiction genre which is dead, but rather the studio formula for science-fiction which needs to be tossed. "

This is a true statement. The formula machine in the film industry is what is hurting genres like sci-fi, fantasy (which I'm not a big fan of), and horror. There are lots of ideas out there, but few willing to take the risk to realize them because they don't fit the typical mold.

Pedro, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Forbidden Planet (1956): Inspired Star Trek and fits Ray Kurzweil's singularity in that Morbius boosts his brain only to discover primitive forces within him overpower reasoning.

Perhaps science fiction should move to graphic novels, manga and anime as the 21st-century pulp fiction. I prefer Ghost In The Shell to the Matrix; and besides, it fits budgets better.

John Robinson, Rumford, Maine, USA

Bladerunner for me and I have to say that the narration helps the story along - I hated the Directors cut and cannot wait to see the original again in the autumn

Douglas Kell, Birkenhead, UK

Ridley Scott needs to watch Children of Men and the current Battlestar Galactica series. Just because he has no new ideas for sci fi doesn't mean they don't exist.

Glen, Sydney, Australia

Yes, Bladerunner, Alien, but also John Carpenter's "The Thing," and "The Fly," "Star Trek, the Final Frontier," and ya gotta love "Men in Black," "Armegeddon," and "Independence Day." I sure hope science fiction is not dead. Even bad science fiction beats most contemporary car chase movies.

pam cosmo, La Pine, Oregon

Science fiction, by and large, doesn't exist in movies or on television. Most of the stuff that passes itself off as such is in reality trash that someone who doesn't understand sci-fi *thinks* is sci-fi. The Star Wars series of movies, while entertaining, isn't good sci-fi. Star Trek isn't. Even the movie 2001, which contains interesting bits and pieces, and comes from the pen of Arthur C. Clarke, was made incoherent by Kubrick. Not to say that some movies branded as "science fiction" aren't good. The first Alien film was entertaining as a claustrophobic monster-in-the-dark thriller, as the second Alien film was good as an updated war movie. But science fiction? Uh-uh, sorry. If you want to make a good sci-fi movie, start with an established sci-fi author, then make sure the guy making the movie knows sci-fi, and doesn't think of it as something like "Wagon Train to the Stars". Please, spare me!

Tom Brown, Gilbertsville, PA

As a great sci fi fan, I find this an impossible question. However, here is a little list: 2001, Blade Runner, Escape from New York, the first Alien, the original War of the worlds, Flash Gordon for sheer fun. Could go on, but that's enough. Star Wars et al, aren't really sci fi proper but perhaps belong more to fantasy. Nothing wrong with that. Ps to your correspondent from Texas Graham, I'm with you all the way, but the musician is Vangelis: he is Greek... John Carpenter's own music is not bad either.

Frances Brunton, Florence, Italy

As 'dead' as westerns? The best thing I've seen on tv for years in any genre is DEADWOOD! Last years CHILDREN OF MEN is arguably the best sci-fi movie since SOLARIS, and the recent SUNSHINE isn't too bad either.

Chris Hodgson, Chelsea,

I think he's right. I have read many hundreds of wonderful science fiction novels and short stories, but science fiction films are rarely of any interest at all. There's no subtlety in them, and there's an overwhelming reluctance to include anything approaching scientific integrity - presumably from fear that that'll bore their audience. (Judging by yesterday's GCSE paper, perhaps they have to dumb the science down...) In recent years we've had some enjoyable action and horror movies with science fictional trappings - 28 Days Later, for instance. But actual science fiction films tend to be poor remakes of good films (Solaris), poor remakes of terrible films or TV shows (Lost In Space) or simply terrible (Sunshine). The last major film that made any real effort to engage with a cool scientific idea was Jurassic Park - 14 years ago! If you want originality you need to look at indie films like Cube and Pi. Meanwhile, fantasy movies are better than ever before.

Paul Beardsley, Havant, England

"2001 - A Space Odyssey" was the best ever with "Alien" running a close second. Ahead of its time, 2001 captured first a cult audience and then the general public. The film's subtlties, including its length, made it a complete scifi film.

Jon, Seattle, Washington

Serenity, and Firefly as a whole was NOT filled with new ideas. It was a mishmash of other genres with a superficial sci fi premise.

John, Kingston, NY

I like Sci-fi for its thought provoking and future thinking aspects. These just DON'T transfer over to the media of movies at all well. 99% of so-called sci-fi movies end up action flicks which ruins any 'intelligence' contained in the original story. Movies are a VISUAL media, stories are a 'mind' media. To successfully pull off a sci-fi story would take genius and require a different audience than the box office crowds now targeted. Blade Runner is about as excellent an example as one can find in movies. Star Trek, the Next Generation's scripts were very good and Firefly had lots of 'heart' but fell FLAT on intelligence (not cast). It does not surprise me that works of William Gibson have only been made into 'entertaining' flicks. It seems that anyone with intelligence reads for satisfaction and watches movies strickly for entertainment.

Jain Daugh, Medford, Oregon

Couldn't the same theory be applied to all genres? Personally, I will never tire of sci-fi or westerns. I can even stomach Battlefield Earth! I think the greats have already been mentioned (namely "Bladerunner" and "2001") but I'll add "The Thing", the old "Time Machine" and "Aeon Flux", which ticks all my boxes (as does "Serenity", I must say). I've also always liked "The Andromeda Strain" but I seem to be alone. All time favourite - if I'm forced to pick one - has to be "Soylent Green".

Big Al, Edinburgh,

Overall I disagree with Mr. Scott. I blame the beige vanilla flavored stupidity of the Star Trek franchise for sucking the life and all available funding out the genre. In any case there is still some life in the subject. We should remember that both Heroes and Lost are well inside the boundary of science fiction and have really caught the public Imagination. Scott says that Sic If is as dead as the western. Clearly he hasn’t seen Deadwood. My hope is that HBO will eventually have a crack at a decent Sci-Fi story and produce something as good as either Rome or Deadwood. After all there are plenty of great stories out there waiting to be told. I challenge Mr. Scott to have a crack at any of Iain Bank’s culture novels. What films they would make!

Andrew, Melbourne, Australia

I like Gattaca too, one of the few films I can think of that shows the prejuidice us short-sighted people face!

Go Colliers Wood!

Jim, London, Colliers Wood,

From Blade Runner to Next, Philip K. Dick's SF has been the source of some of the best ( and not so good ) science fiction films of the last 25 years. Primarily because you have to think about the meaning behind the story in order to come to a full appreciation of it. I have no doubt that we shall continue to see more of his output appearing in movie form in years to come. Personally, I'm waiting for somebody to tackle The Man In The High Castle...

Putting aside films based upon PKD's work, my other all-time favourites, in no particular order, are Dark City, Dark Star and 2001, with an honourable mention for Terminator 2.

Mick, Cardiff, Wales

Serenity Joss Whedons film sequel of the cult classic series Firefly. Mixing the two unpopular genres of American western and Scifi. A film that was everything the star wars prequels should have been, with character driven plots, with a few gags thrown in.

Martin, Darwen, Lancashire

Westerns are dead? :(

Gabriel Casey, Belfast,

I would love to direct snow crash

bill mirra, milton, ma.

Dark Star is wonderful, a low-budget John Carpenter film from 1974 which still makes me squirm in parts. I read that most of it was filmed in a garage. Another favourite is Outland, from 1981, which has Sean Connery as a marshal on a mining colony on Jupiter's moon, Io. He is trying to find the reason for a number of mysterious deaths but finds himself up against 'the company' and, finally, fighting for his life. Really gripping.

Miranda, Brigg,

My top 3 - Bladerunner, Alien, and Dark Star (hilarious sci-fi spoof by John Carpenter).

GLS, Liverpool,

The 1956 version of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", of course.

Jack, Berkeley, Ca.

Children of Men Serenity

Rick, Portland, Oregon

The Empire Strikes Back: It's ruined only by three ill advised prequels. And one sequel.

J, London,

I would have to agree that 2001 Space Odyssey is one of the best sci-fi films ever. But is the genre really dead? No, as the potentiality of a really good sci-fi film is still there. Clint Eastwood showed that the Western can have potential with 'Unforgiven' a few years back, so if it is possible with a Western then it is still possible with a sci-fi or even a period drama to produce a film that conveys more than the genre might imply. Special effects are not everything. One of the best philosophical sci-fi films of recent years is 'Bicentennial Man', a beautiful excursion into the world of AI and the possibility of a soul in a man-made being. Not to mention the question of immortality vs mortality. A beautiful science fiction film, well worth a second look.

Bob, Gloucester , UK

The Thirteenth Floor has not been mentioned. Why not?

Holly Hill, Richmond, VA

It's mostly a tv series, but Babylon 5 needs to be on any list of good science fiction. Good acting, music, special effects and writing that pushed SF TV to the next level.

Actually, I would take Ariel's comment one step further. The best place for doing good science fiction is on tv or video: the limited special effects budget forces greater creativity and you have more time for good dialogue and plot. Too bad the Sci-Fi channel does mostly B-movie retreads.

Michael, Pueblo, Colorado, US

Dark Star written by Alan Dean Foster and Directed by John Carpenter. Off beat story of spaceship stabilising planet systems by blowing up unstable planets. Great characters- injured captain being preserved in cyrogenic chamber, a stargazing member who spends all his time watching the sky, a ex-surfer who dies surfing into the atmosophere. A great tense & funny scene in lift well when a ball alien life form is tickling a crew member hanging over the edge. Best of all scenes is when one of the intelligent bombs used to blow up the unstable planets gets jammed & the crew are attempt to convince it to stop blowing itself up by engaging in philosophical conversation a la Descartes. You don't need special effects.

William, Doha, Qatar

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, A Clockwork Orange.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Brazil.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Ridley Scott ought to know, he helped kill it! Alien is just 'Jaws In Space'. Bladerunner is a film noir detective thriller; its science fiction content isn't much more than The Stepford Wives, it just looks cooler. Written science fiction is still the best. Film makers can now put anything they imagine onto screen, they just aren't imagining very much. For book adaptations, I'd pick A Scanner Darkly and Michael Radford's 1984. Written for the screen, it's Dark Star.

Patrick Simpson, Oxford, UK

Though not a particular fan of the science fiction genre, I still love the 1960s version of The Time Machine.

Actually, I would probably be keener on SF films if they were about interesting ideas and great storyliness rather than gore, action and special effects. Too many are simply westerns set in space!

Janet Davis, Sydney, Australia

The original 1956 INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS was the best horror/scifi film and has been remade into the most outlandish and stupid imitations since. The next best political scifi film ever made was THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL because of cold war messages, intelligent writing and terrific actors.
People still remember lines from both films today.
FROM INVASION: "They're here!! There everywhere!!!! Watch out!!
FROM BODY S." KLATU BARADA NIKTAU
Name a line from a science fiction movie other than those two after 50 years!

Sennit Forde, HALF MOON BAY, California

Sci fi is a much broader concept than westerns. Its a sandbox of possibilities, where as a western is a single time and place (which, I'll bet, still could have a good movie made in it). We still still get good sci fi now and then. Dark City is an example of great sci fi. Serenity/Firefly is good due to awesome characters and story telling regardless of its sci-fi setting. And, although not a movie, Battlestar Galactica has great sci fi ideas as well as story and characters.

Caleb, Tucson, AZ

whoever cvt of windermere is, you have it cold. I cry every time I watch that scene. Which one is the human? Where is the dignity? Who died?

David Bennett, Chelsea, canada

Best Sci Fi Movies 1) Bladerunner- Still a powerful movie and watchable 2) Alien - Treated Sci Fi as real. Visceral and still frightening 3) 12 Monkeys - Intellegent, thoughtful and suberb acting.

Rob, Calgary, Canada

Serenity is just overpraised formulaic TV hack-writing...Whedon's crew of the Betty from his terrible "Alien Resurrection", spliced onto sophomoric Buffy-level unbelievable characters.

Sir Ridley's comment is fairly baffling, given that he's executive producing a remake of a sci-fi classic ("The Andromeda Strain"), AND has just produced a western ("The Assassination Of Jess James"). Mr Scott recently gave an interview in which he stated that it's "just been found that digital degrades". I can only wonder of somebody's been switching his trademark cigars with something more potent.

In terms of recent science fiction, "Solaris", "The Matrix", and even "I Robot" had something worthwhile to say. Maybe it's about time Sir Ridley put his money where his mouth is and returned to developing something in the genre that made his mark.

Peter, Los Angeles, CA

The Matrix 2 and 3 had to be the some of the worst sequels ever made. They were totally incoherent.

Jeff, Chicago,

Stalker

By Andrei Tarkovsky. Absolutely brilliant sci fi by the Soviet era master.

Not just one of my favourite sci-fi's, but one of my favourites full stop.

Ben, London,

I'm with the Stephen Baxter suggestion. Or maybe Excession by Iain M Banks

J, London,

That's interesting - I never knew Ridley Scott was a pompous, self-deluding jackass. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sunshine, Solaris, and A Scanner Darkly are just four of the recent sci-fi films that that come to mind as having been significantly better than Blade Runner. Not that Blade Runner's a bad film, mind you, just not as good or as original as any of those four.

Miko, Mikkeli, Finland

What about non Anglo film, like anime. Paprika is supposed good sci-fi and it was made like last year.

Regardless, there's still good American sci-fi, like Eternal Sunshine of the Spottless Mind.

Chris, Pittsburgh,

Two people have already said Serenity, so I'll buck the trend and say that The 5th Element was one of the first DVDs I just HAD to have to start off my collection (and yes, I have Firefly *and* Serenity in that collection). The 5th Element is as amazing visually as it is for the story, the "everything had to be in place at the right time" for the plot points to fit together.

Mander, Upstate, New York, USA

The Terminator series are my fovourite,especially T2..just awesome...Arnie at his best in that movie and so was James Cameron...

Pradeep, Bangalore, India

Jurassic Park at its heart was a sci-fi movie dealing with teh issues of genetic engineering and cloning. For its time Jurassic Park became a landmark movie becasue the special effects and scope of the film were something we have never seen before. The Matrix was more comic-bookish than it was a true sci-fi movie but even so the first Matrix still stands to be one of the greatest movies ever made.

Desi, Valencia, CA

This is all rather dependent upon your definition of science fiction.

Serenity was pretty derivative, I thought, and not "...filled with new ideas." Same goes for the Chronicles of Riddick; interesting characters (for the most part) but the universe they inhabit is nothing original.

Peronally I really enjoyed Dark City, A Scanner Darkly, and The Fountain. I haven't gotten a chance to see Boyle's latest, Sunshine, yet.

And I tend to disagree with Mr. Scott on the opinion that the western is dead. I think that Western films have entered a period of esoteric submission; they just don't sell well to contemporary audiences. Unforgiven was amazing, Open Range was very good too, and it looks as if the remake of 3:10 to Yuma, as well as The Murder of Jesse James... will be high points in the contemporary western scene.

Just my two cents.

Caleb, Catonsville, Maryland/USA

Aren't Westerns supposed to be enjoying a revival at present?
To quote from the Times 'The best autumn films': 'Other trends include a resurgence in cowboy movies'! Admittedly one is a remake (3.10 to Yuma), but Ridley Scott does seem to be a little out on current trends. Maybe sci-fi just needs a Brokeback Mountain?

Add to that the fact that there are relatively few story themes which actually communicate well with audiences, and it is always easy to dismiss films as not saying anything new. One could suggest the same about many forms of media after particularly creative periods (no new ideas in drama after classical times etc.), but things change. The only real novelty comes with a change in the situation of human beings. And there hasn't been one of those for a while (most current issues we've known about for years).

And a second to Serenity as a very good modern sci-fi film (not necessarily the best, but very good). But then Serenity is arguably a western in space...

JS, Cambridge,

My favorites are Alien, Aliens, Blade Runner, Star Wars (Original Triligy), Mad Max, and that is about it. I think the real issue is how directors/producers spin stories they have read because of preassure from movie execs or to make $. Look how many Phillip K Dick novels have been turned into movies and yet the only one I have ever really liked was Blade Runner. Just think of all of the great Sci-Fi lit out there that could make awesome movies! There is Dune (the movie from the 80's sucked, the newer ones are ok), Ender's Game, Battlefield Earth (read the book, it is awesome), and on and on. Yet no one has the $$$ or the balls to make these films they way they should be made. Instead we get crap like Next and Mission to Mars and other utter crap.

Ben, Chicago,

The fith Element
Funny, interesting, well made! in other word out of this world.

vincent caradelli, New York, NY

SF has never been well represented in movies. That's entirely due to directors and studios playing safe, instead of expecting intelligence from their audiences. Intelligent SF is rarely well received by critics and scandalously overlooked by major studios.

SamTherapy, Sheffield, United Kingdom

there have not been many good sci-fi films, i am sorry to say.
there are many good books, but the films never do them justice.
and i am not living in hope of seeing a great one in the near future..

andy, manchester,

I have to go with Blade Runner also. I agree that the majority of science fiction movies are formulaic action movies dressed up in futuristic garb, but there is some good work out there. Serenity has been mentioned twice -- if you want real story and depth of character you can't go wrong with that one.

Nas, Toronto, Canada

Serenity. Hands down one of the best sci-fi movies.

Andrew, Worthington, OH,

Blade Runner's "androids" were actually biological constructs, kind of like a clone grown from an aggregate of parts. Also, the book, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" did a better job of showing the problems of a true android, no empathy. They would kill or main animals on a regular basis just to see the poor creatures reaction. Decker was needed because the replicant's were indeed a danger to normal people.

Bill H, Holt, MI, USA/Michigan

I am sorry, no good recent sci fi films? Has he not seen "Sunshine"? Blow's "Blade Runner" out of the water.

Emma, Cambridge,

Serenity is both Western and SF - so perhaps doubly dead in Scott's view.
SF writing is actually having a renaissance currently - perhaps because it involves more abstract or political ideas is what's keeping it from feeding into the big, dumbed down screen.

Andy, Edinburgh, UK

Serenity. Kind of ironic when you consider RS's 'Western' comment...

Liz Ford, Manchester, UK

As others have said, Serenity. The problem is Hollywood is remake happy. Hell the Invasion was just Invasion of the Body Snatchers redone. It was depressing then, its depressing now. As it gets cheaper and cheaper to do special effects on your home computer, you will see alot more movies made by amatures on youtube and the like. After all, thats how sci-fi got its start.

Lou, Madison, WI USA

Fifth Element and Serenity

Vince, Charlotte, NC

Apart from Bladerunner and 2001, there is also The Thing which is John Carpenter best work I think.

But for the best Sci-fi currently, try TV. The re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica is probably the best there is now. (Serenity which some mentioned here originated from TV - the series Firefly.)

hazh, Oxford,

serenity is ok, but to me is no more than a rehash of star wars, the whole western-in-space feel ... my own personal fav sci-fi films include the original star wars trilogy - the exuberance of the relatively unknown actors and the cutting edge effects blew my mind when i was younger; the matrix (first one) for its questioning of reality/control, and kick-ass action sequences; alien/aliens, the best creature horror sci-fi. too many so-called sci-fi are storyless cgi-driven wrecks, or cheesy to the point of vomit. the whole point to me is that there should be some sense of plausibility or realism, which is why is is SCIENCE fiction - otherwise it is a fantasy film surely ...

elizzar, nottingham, uk

They forgot to mention that 2001 is strongly based on the excellent novel by Arthur C Clarke and that surely contributed to movie's success. By the way the spaceships are perfectly described in the book, no need of NASA experts for that.

About Matrix: could be a good sci-fi movie, but it's only focused on special effects.

Thomas, Paris, France

Neither BladeRunner nor 2001 were "blockbuster" releases; both had fairly slow openings. In those days that was acceptable - studios were willing to make their money over long sustained runs.

Nowadays (for reasons never entirely explained) a film simply HAS to be an opening weekend record breaker. Films which don't look like they will be get "fixed" by studio management until it's certain that they'll get huge initial audiences or they'll get canned. The long term watchability of the films isn't considered important.

I don't think the genre is dead - it's just that Hollywood can't really make sci-fi movies. They start out as ideas films, but ultimately just become chase and explosion movies so that the trailers can be loud and exciting.

There's room in the indie market for films unconcerned about opening weekend sales figures - "Primer" is a brilliant example of a low-budget thoughtful sci-fi film and the technical barriers to entry are now low enough that more can follow.

Katie, Cambridge, UK

Films like 'Sunshine', Fith Element, and 'Minority Report' push the envelope - but ultimately the sci-fi element needs to have a story behind it before it can work as a film.

The best sci-fi in recent years, including 'Serenity', are character driven, rather than effects driven. I disagree that sci-fi is a dead genre - rather it is need of rejuvenation and decent scripts - just like any other cinematic genre.

Rachel, York,

Serenity / Firefly - somehow this suberbly-crafted merging of two "dead" genres breathes new life into both.