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Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 11th, 2020, 11:30 pm
by duskvstweak
An older list, but one I refer back to every now and then, thought I'd share.
Spoiler: show
1. Children of Men (2006)
2. Ex Machina (2015)
3. Under the Skin (2014)
4. Arrival (2016)
5. Inception (2010)
6. WALL·E (2008)
7. Gravity (2013)
8. 28 Days Later (2002)
9. The Martian (2015)
10. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
11. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
12. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
13. District 9 (2009)
14. Serenity (2005)
15. Looper (2012)
16. Snowpiercer (2013)
17. A Scanner Darkly (2006)
18. Her (2013)
19. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
20. The Host (2006)
21. Midnight Special (2016)
22. The World's End (2013)
23. Moon (2009)
24. Minority Report (2002)
25. Primer (2004)
26. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
27. Cloverfield (2008)
28. Attack the Block (2011)
29. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
30. Reign of Fire (2002)
31. Monsters (2010)
32. 2046 (2004)
33. Donnie Darko (2001)
34. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
35. Sunshine (2007)
36. Pacific Rim
37. The Girl With All the Gifts (2016)
38. Source Code (2011)
39. Another Earth (2011)
40. The One I Love (2014)
I've seen all but Scanner Darkly, 2046, The Girl With All the Gifts and The One I Love.

I've included the list challenge if you prefer that...
https://www.listchallenges.com/top-40-s ... st-century

Plus, the actual article.
https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/mov ... ury-28134/

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 12th, 2020, 7:39 am
by Simonsloth
thanks for sharing. I’ve seen all except Another Earth.

It’s an odd list in that there are some distinctly mediocre films on there, both with critics and the public so not sure how they ended up on the list. Although off the top of my head I can’t think of anything to replace them with!!

Edit: Where is Interstellar?!!

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 12th, 2020, 9:07 am
by Alex79
I've only seen 12 of them (not really a sci-fi fan) but most of those 12 have been excellent. I think District 9 might be my favorite from the list.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 12th, 2020, 9:10 am
by DomsBeard
I've seen 25.

Was it just me but at the end of Gravity
Spoiler: show
was anyone expecting a crocodile to eat Sandra Bullock
World's End I didn't enjoy, Minority Report should be higher and yeah where is Interstellar?

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 12th, 2020, 10:03 pm
by Simonsloth
DomsBeard wrote: May 12th, 2020, 9:10 am I've seen 25.

Was it just me but at the end of Gravity
Spoiler: show
was anyone expecting a crocodile to eat Sandra Bullock
World's End I didn't enjoy, Minority Report should be higher and yeah where is Interstellar?
Yeah I really didn’t get on with World’s end either so didn’t really see it making the list but when i looked at other similar lists it is on them as well!

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 13th, 2020, 2:22 am
by duskvstweak
Just watched A Scanner Darkly. I liked it!

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 14th, 2020, 4:47 am
by Jon Cheetham
Some absolutely blinding films on that list. I've seen 24 of them. Also, every time I'm reminded of Arrival I want to watch it again.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 14th, 2020, 9:08 am
by JaySevenZero
I love sci-fi and I've seen every single one of them (a good portion of them have been on circulation via Netflix which helps). Plenty on that list are what I'd consider modern classics of the genre and some that I still enjoy even if the consensus was they were actually kinda crap (Reign of Fire).

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 14th, 2020, 3:25 pm
by Caligulas Horse
Wow, there have been some great Sci-Fi films this century! I've seen the majority of these, somehow I still haven't gotten to Gravity (I know).

I never take issue with what ends up on these lists but just going to take this opportunity to shout out Coherence, it'd probably be in my top 10.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 15th, 2020, 11:20 am
by Mr Ixolite
Its strange how different people will classify genre; to me, I'd never consider Reign of Fire Sci-fi, nor Guardians of the Galaxy or even Star Wars.

I've seen 25 of these, but in terms of "Harder" sci-fi I'm surprised Annihilation isn't on here. I'd also personally have included Upgrade and DREDD, and the whole new Planet of the Apes trilogy (one of the best trilogies ever?)

As for films with Sci-Fi elements, shout outs to Turbo Kid, Interstella 5555 and Speed Racer, and I'd put Paul over Worlds End any day.

Also, Treasure Planet would definetly be in a personal top 40.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 15th, 2020, 11:37 am
by ratsoalbion
I would agree that GotG and Star Wars are definitely more space fantasy than sci-fi, but I wouldn’t really class as Dredd as sci-fi either. Genre definitions are always indistinct.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 15th, 2020, 1:55 pm
by Alex79
Fairly disappointed not to see Hot Tub Time Machine on there.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 15th, 2020, 4:28 pm
by duskvstweak
Don't forget, the list came out in early 2017. I'd be shocked if an updated list didn't have Annihilation or Upgrade.

I'm a bit annoyed to see Star Wars as well, but not everyone is as strict about that stuff.

I think cheaper costs for decent effects have helped lower budget scifi films feel just as polished and expansive as their big budget kin.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 15th, 2020, 6:28 pm
by Caligulas Horse
So this thread reminded me I had been meaning to get around to a low-budget Spanish sci-fi called Time Crimes. Ignore the name, I know it sounds like an 80s B movie but it's pretty great lol.

It's no where near as convuluted but if you've seen stuff like Dark or Primer you'll have some idea what you're in for. It's a real tight script and thoroughly entertaining to watch how things play out even if you predict where it will end up.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 16th, 2020, 11:23 pm
by Simonsloth
Caligulas Horse wrote: May 15th, 2020, 6:28 pm So this thread reminded me I had been meaning to get around to a low-budget Spanish sci-fi called Time Crimes. Ignore the name, I know it sounds like an 80s B movie but it's pretty great lol.

It's no where near as convuluted but if you've seen stuff like Dark or Primer you'll have some idea what you're in for. It's a real tight script and thoroughly entertaining to watch how things play out even if you predict where it will end up.
Absolutely love TimeCrimes. One of the best films I’ve ever seen. I’d recommend it too.

I’m not entirely sure which film came first but it reminded me of Triangle when I saw it. I remember seeing both and those who “got it” loved it and the others thought it was utter dross! Very interesting trying to convince the dissenters to see any positives.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 18th, 2020, 4:59 am
by Jon Cheetham
Annihilation would be a must for an updated list! That is a great film, visually just an absolute treat. One of the few things on Netflix where I remember waiting for it to drop then scrambling back from work to settle in and watch it immediately.

I also like Reign of Fire, I've seen it I think twice over the years. I can't say no to a solid beer-chugging B-movie like that.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 20th, 2020, 2:40 pm
by Caligulas Horse
Simonsloth wrote: May 16th, 2020, 11:23 pm
Caligulas Horse wrote: May 15th, 2020, 6:28 pm So this thread reminded me I had been meaning to get around to a low-budget Spanish sci-fi called Time Crimes. Ignore the name, I know it sounds like an 80s B movie but it's pretty great lol.

It's no where near as convuluted but if you've seen stuff like Dark or Primer you'll have some idea what you're in for. It's a real tight script and thoroughly entertaining to watch how things play out even if you predict where it will end up.
Absolutely love TimeCrimes. One of the best films I’ve ever seen. I’d recommend it too.

I’m not entirely sure which film came first but it reminded me of Triangle when I saw it. I remember seeing both and those who “got it” loved it and the others thought it was utter dross! Very interesting trying to convince the dissenters to see any positives.
Aha, you've just given me another reminder there. Triangle was on the same list that recommended Time Crimes, I remember having trouble finding it online but looks like it's available to rent for a quid on Prime so I'll definitely get on that this week, cheers!

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: May 22nd, 2020, 12:05 am
by Simonsloth
Amazing. I’m really looking forward to hearing what you thought.

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: June 8th, 2020, 2:38 pm
by bensbb
Nice list, been watching a lot more films recently so a few on there to check out. One that I always seem to have an unpopular opinion on that always shows up on these type of lists is The Martian - did anyone else find that incredibly overrated? I didn't find it "boring" but there just didn't seem to me to be any real threat and I found the comedic tone of some sections quite jarring.

Time crimes is once i've been meaning to see for ages too, thanks for reminding me of that one !

Re: Rolling Stone's Top 40 Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century

Posted: June 26th, 2020, 4:23 pm
by Caligulas Horse
Simonsloth wrote: May 22nd, 2020, 12:05 am Amazing. I’m really looking forward to hearing what you thought.
Well I took my time but I've finally watched it. I think that, having seen a few time loop films/series in the past year, I've got a good idea of how things will play out and it wasn't until about halfway that it threw me any curve-balls but then it starts to get craaazy. I still wasn't sold on it until the very end, you really have to just go with it but yeah, it's pretty awesome overall.
Spoiler: show

The boat is a bit of a maze, I had a vague sense of how all of the parts connected up to each other and it wasn't generally disorientating but whenever the action started up again I'd be thrown off balance trying to figure out where everybody is (more so when you start to wonder how many people are actually on board).

I'm still trying to make sense of it all, I'm not sure if it's even a Sci-Fi film. I saw a comment on Prime with the idea that the whole thing is her own personal hell, a punishment for abusing and killing her son but the optimist in me wonders whether it's actually a kind of purgatory? She spends the entire film desperately pleading with people to trust that she's a good person, denying responsibility for her other selves, saying things like "that wasn't me that did that, I would never do that" most notably in the car, with her son, right before the accident. The taxi driver tells her she can't save the boy and then drives her back to the start, so maybe it's not an inescapable loop but for her to move on, she needs to accept what she has done and properly repent. It's a bit of a cheesy idea and I'm not sure it fits all that well but that's part of the fun with these kind of films.

I do get why some would find it a bit trashy or write it off as total nonsense. It's pretty convoluted, self-serious,
the dialogue is crappy and it's one of those horror/thriller with obnoxiously stupid characters, making it hard to care what happens to them. Greg is meant to be the sensible nice guy but is actually the worst of the bunch; his unwillingness to see anything wrong with their situation is completely bonkers. It's a standard horror trope but at least give some feasible reason for it, they've just found a message written in fucking blood and he's telling her it's all in her head? I had to immediately put him in the "won't care if he dies" category, along with everybody else. They eventually become completely insignificant, I just imagine how excruciatingly tense and painful it might have all been if they didn't feel so disposable lol.

I'm not totally in love with it but cool movie, for sure. Whenever I was losing interest it'd find a way to pull me back in, like that bit where the controlling friend is dying and crawls outside, only to find herself surrounded by all the corpses of her other selves. That was wiiild