Out of all the different genres and avenues of storytelling inherent to the medium of filmmaking, no singular genre lends itself to more intelligent storylines and concepts quite likescience fiction. Considering how widely intelligent and highbrow traditional scientific talking points, such as astronomy, biology, and chemistry, are in the real world, it would make sense that fictional science-centric stories would be intelligent as well. While not every sci-fi film is tactfully well-crafted and smart in its storytelling, the genre is home to some of the most defining works of genius in filmmaking history.
From all-time classics that helped shape and revolutionize sci-fi storytelling for generations to modern films that fully delve into intricate and layered scientific concepts,sci-fi has continued to be a go-to genre for intelligent filmmaking. It certainly helps that, if a film is actively attempting to be intelligent and well-crafted in its storytelling, this is equally reflected in the filmmaking, making for an overall compelling cinematic experience. These sci-fi films especially stand out for those seeking a layered story that utilizes its scientific concepts for more than just bland crowd-pleasing fluff.
10’District 9' (2009)
Directed by Neill Blomkamp
While alien invasion stories are a constant and never-ending concept strewn throughout sci-fi storytelling history, many follow the same rudimentary structure and approach to humanity’s interactions with extraterrestrial life. However, sci-fi blockbusterDistrict 9providesan ingenious and much more grounded look at the concept, following a world that has evolved and adapted to a population of sick aliens finding refuge on Earth. The aliens are quickly segregated and confined to a forbidden area by the South African government, with the film’s major plot stemming from this deeply compelling worldbuilding and setup.
While the action directing and distinct found-footage aesthetic of its execution helpedDistrict 9appeal to wider audiences, it’s the brilliantly intelligent storytelling that made the film such a critical hit anda sci-fi cult classic of the 2000s. Therevolutionary approach to an alien storyquickly gave the film a massive stature as a modern sci-fi masterpiece, even getting it a nomination for Best Picture alongside the likes ofInglourious Basterds,The Hurt Locker, andAvatar.
District 9
9’Interstellar' (2014)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Among all the different directors who have made a name for themselves by creating highly intelligent and impactful films,Christopher Nolanimmediately stands out as one of the most beloved and respected. In terms of sci-fi filmmaking specifically, Nolan’sInterstellarhas stood as a pillar of excellence when it comes to intelligent storytelling thatcombines emotion with a dynamic, highly scientific approach. The film follows a team of explorers who attempt to utilize a newly discovered wormhole to revolutionize the possibilities of human space travel, unintentionally setting in motion an event that will forever change their lives.
While many other space exploration stories with entertaining stories are rooted in a space of pure fiction and nonsensical theorizing,Interstellarmakes a dedicated effort tofeel as grounded and realistic in its concepts. From making the visuals as accurate and compelling as possible to making its characters distinctly human in their motivations, it all comes together to make the film a muchmore intelligent approach to a classic space exploration story.
Interstellar
8’Arrival' (2016)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Any film that attempts to tell its story in a non-chronological fashion has to stick the landing in terms of its intelligence to make all the moving pieces and dynamics of the storytelling both compelling and actually make sense.Arrivalaccomplishes this delicate balancing act in spades, using the setup of a non-chronological story as a brilliant jumping off point for its story and characters, even utilizing the very structure of its characters themselves. The film follows an expert linguist (Amy Adams) who is recruited by the military in an attempt to communicate with a race of mysterious aliens, figuring out if they come in peace or are a threat to humanity.
A heightened sci-fi drama dealing with the difficulties and intricacies of communication between species is already intelligent enough for a sci-fi premise. Yet,Arrivalgoes the extra mile in terms ofwild twists and shockingly brilliant revelations. The filmdoesn’t talk down to the audiencewhen it goes through all the dynamic elements of its storytelling, creating both a massive-scale mystery while also managing to make it a compelling,thought-provoking sci-fi experience.
7’Ex Machina' (2015)
Directed by Alex Garland
Concepts of artificial intelligence and their relation to autonomy and free will have continuously been acompelling and intelligent exploration of humanityin the sci-fi genre, and one of the best modern examples isEx Machina. The film largely centers around the autonomy and relationships of a single robotic girl, Ava (Alicia Vikander), and her continued growth and perceived human nature by humans working at the company that created her. However, as she grows more in touch with her thoughts and feelings of the world, things begin to go haywire as the company attempts to shut her down.
Ex Machinawas already receiving a lot of praise from critics and audiences alike for its standout performances, brilliant visual effects, and sci-fi twist on a Shakespearean classic. However, it’s the more intricate and intelligent approach that the film takes towards the emotions and feelings of its characters, both robotic and otherwise, that has helped it stand the test of time asone of the defining sci-fi movies that the 2010s have to offer.
Ex Machina
6’Solaris' (1972)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Soviet filmmakerAndrei Tarkovskyis often touted as one of the most intelligent and layered cinematic visionaries of all time, with many of his films tackling difficult and intricate conceptsand weaving them into masterfully crafted and deeply compelling narratives. One of his most recognizable and widely acclaimed films is the psychological sci-fi filmSolaris, which follows a psychologist going aboard a space station to investigate the mental problems of the scientists on board. However, his questions are soon answered when he finds himself discovering a special type of water that brings out repressed memories and obsessions from people’s pasts.
Solarisperfectly executes one of the defining and widely celebrated elements that an intelligent sci-fi film is able to do, by utilizing the world and infinite possibilities of science fiction to comment on humanity and its struggles. Here,sci-fi serves as a tool and jumping off pointfor a larger conversation about identity, the complex nature of humanity as a whole, as well asthe limitations of science in a truly human and psychological endeavor.
5’The Matrix' (1999)
Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski
One of the most influential and wildly impactful sci-fi movies of the modern era that acted as a transitionary moment for the genre as a whole, it’s difficult to say something aboutThe Matrixthat hasn’t been said hundreds of times before. However, between all the groundbreaking camerawork and visual effects and the dynamic themes and messages that can be paralleled to numerous personal struggles, the underlying factor that made the film such an icon is its undeniable intelligence.
Nearly every ingenious aspect and revolutionary decision made by the film comes from a place ofingrained intelligence and tactfulness, not just within the story, but the very filmmaking at its core. It’s a risky decision for a film such as this to be so confident with its intelligence. Alas, in the case ofThe Matrix, where its ingenious execution speaks for itself, it pays off in dividends to make for anendlessly rewatchable and highly intelligent experience.
The Matrix
4’Gattaca' (1997)
Directed by Andrew Niccol
Many sci-fi films often gloss over or don’t give attention to the more specific details of chemistry, biology, and other real sciences of their premise with the storytelling, as the extravagance and excitement of the premise doesn’t need to be bogged down by facts. However,Gattacabrilliantly has a distinctly opposite approach, weaving its entire genius premise aroundthe intricacies of genetics and its parallels and contrasts with human instinct. It blends high-concept sci-fi worldbuilding with genuine scientific elements to make for a viewing experience that isboth intelligent and accessible.
Thesci-fi mystery filmtakes place in a future where humanity as a whole is largely defined and ruled by the hard-coded data of humanity known as DNA and genetic code. It follows Vincent (Ethan Hawke), a dedicated human who is deemed an “in-valid” due to his proposed genetic inability to travel into space. He teams up with a member of the genetic elite (Jude Law) to swap identities so he can travel into space, despite government orders.Gattacais a brilliantly told experience that simultaneously tailors itself to the science of genetics as well as the ingenuity of humanity’s drive for perseverance.
3’Children of Men' (2006)
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
One of the most compelling and emotionally touching dystopian films to be released in the 21st century,Children of Menmakes expert use of its ingenious premise to tell a story of human nature with some of the best filmmaking chops imaginable. It continuously finds ways toreinvent and evolvea classic dystopian settingto bring out the absolute best in terms of sci-fi filmmaking and storytelling. Each shocking moment and sequence builds towards the larger overarching themes and messages, intelligently building towards its legendary, tearjerker final act.
Children of Menhas a simple yet immediately compelling premise, taking place in a future where humanity has lost the ability to procreate, the remaining humans having spiraled downward into chaos and bloodshed. However, when a singular woman manages to be the first pregnant woman in years, a former activist agrees to help transport her to a sanctuary at sea, safe from outside forces, so that the newborn can help save humanity. It’s a timeless and brilliantly told story thatfeels just as emotional and intelligent todayas it did when it was first released nearly 20 years ago.
Children of Men
2'2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
A monolithic titan of sci-fi filmmaking that has stood the test of time as one of the most important films in the medium as well asa complete game-changer for sci-fi storytelling,2001: A Space Odysseyis about as highly praised as a single sci-fi film can be. The film combines top-of-the-line spectacle and visuals with an original story so layered and intelligent that it is still at the center ofreexamination and conversation decades after its release.
It’s this exact style of dynamic and highly intelligent sci-fi filmmaking that2001: A Space Odysseyutilized that helpedpave the way for many great intellectual sci-fi films to follow. The film’s influence and legacy are solidified in the very culture and essence of sci-fi filmmaking, still towering with its intelligence over the decades' worth of films that were inspired by its mastery. Its wild creativity and intelligence-focused filmmaking have made it unapproachable to some viewers, yet this has only proved to make it that much smarter and elusive after decades of examination and theory-crafting.
2001: A Space Odyssey
1’Primer' (2004)
Directed by Shane Carruth
Time travel continues to be one of the most approachable concepts in all of science fiction, with films likeBack to the FutureandAvengers: Endgamemaking great use of the potential of returning to the past. However, rarely does a film truly get into the science and ramifications of what time travel would do, often creating a wide array of paradoxes that are excusable for the sake of filmmaking craft. The clear exception to the rule isPrimer, a low-budget masterpieceand the defining example of a time travel movie thatcovers all variables and possibilities with its story.
Primeris the type of meticulously crafted sci-fi experience that can have viewers frequently finding new elements and aspects to its story and sequence of events, no matter how many times they’ve seen the film. It approaches the very concept of time travel ina grounded and realistic way, not focused on the flair and excitement of it all, but instead showing how it could feasibly apply to a real-world setting.The film issimply unmatched in terms of its intelligent examination of time travel, often even being considered too intelligent by audiences who believe its scope and scale to be daunting.
