A lot of commenters obviously not watching the video and just responding to the list provided in the comments section. Please note that, as stated in the video at the beginning, this is a personal list and my criteria are not about which are the best movies generally, but which in my personal opinion have the better sci-fi concepts with entertainment value as the secondary factor. A lot of my fave movies that happen to have a sci-fi element, such as merely being set in the future, didn't make the list because I didn't find the sci-fi ideas to be as impressive as the other genre appeals of those movies - eg, Predator's appeals lie mainly in the action and horror genres, Starship Troopers' appeals lie mainly in the action and social satire genres etc. I'll also add that for those who object to the inclusion of some children's movies, sci-fi doesn't have to be dark and serious. It can be fun too. Thanks folks :)

Fun story. I was 7 month pregnant when I saw, Prometheus, in the theater upon its release. We saw it in 3-D. But, my baby was super active when encountering sound he was just doing cartwheels. Oh, during that ONE scene... I don't want to spoil it for folks who haven't seen it yet...My husband looks over at me and he sees I'm super freaked out, holding my belly. He says, "I bet you are the only person here who experienced this film in 4-D." :D

I’ve waited over 40 years to hear someone say the things about STTMP as I do. Thank you. I think this Star Trek movie was made in the true concept of Star Trek. Star Trek has always been about the inner voyage and this movie explores that concept better than any other ST movie to date. My favorite Star Trek movie! By the way I think you did a fine job on that list. Pleasantly surprised you put Runaway and The Abyss on your list. A couple of my favs as well.

You won me over as soon as Runaway made the cut; fantastic concept, well executed and utterly possible premise.

25 Runaway 24 The Abyss 23 Gattaca 22 Fantastic Voyage 21 Aliens 20 Rollerball 19 Prometheus 18 The Terminator 1&2 17 The Andromeda Strain 18 The Empire Strikes Back 15 Blade Runner 14 The Last Starfighter 13 The Thing (1982) 12 Upgrade 11 A.I. Artificial Intelligence 10 Forbidden Planet 9 Total Recall (1990) 8 Wall-E 7 Alien 6 THX 1138 5 The Outer Limits (1963 TV Series Season 2 Episode 5) 4 Moonraker 3 The Matrix 2 Star Trek The Motion Picture 1 2001: A Space Odyssey

I’m so glad Wall-E is on this list. I rewatched it a few weeks ago and found myself thinking about how it really is an amazing science fiction movie.

I just realized the difference between THX 1138 and Blade Runner 2049 is 911.

Who wants Rob Ager's Best Action Movies?

A.I. is the bleakest Pinocchio story I've ever seen. XD

The original "The Day the Earth Stood Still" should be in the top 10 maybe. That was a heck of a concept and a nice execution of it.

I had to come back after watching Upgrade (2018) and say... WOW! IT IS PHENOMENAL! Wow, wow, wow! I would even be tempted to put it at the top of the list. 100 minutes of pure, unadulterated imagination, excitement and just beautiful cinema. Rob - thank you for the recommendation. Everyone should see Upgrade - I'm in shock it was so good!

How absolutely dare you not mirror my exact top 25 scifi movie list 😡

Wow. When you put Moonraker there, I thought you were completely insane. But then you Star Trek The Motion Picture happened and I just have to give you immense props. I agree with this so much. What a criminally underrated masterpiece.

MY noteworthy absentees .. . The Man Who Fell To Earth Silent Running Alphaville Wizards This Island Earth Metropolis The Illustrated Man The Quiet Earth Westworld Things To Come Barbarella Morons From Outer Space Gandahar Dark Crystal Enemy Mine Flash Gordon (1980) Zardoz

'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' has been, and remains, a real favourite of mine.

Hi Rob. Love the inclusion of "Moonraker" on the list. Very unexpected and its mere mention is inspiring me to rewatch it ... Right now. "Attempting re-entry sir"

"Moon" would be in my top 10. Pure SciFi, great, deep, thought-provoking themes. A fantastic story; for me its one of those films I can watch over and again and still be entertained. The two stars are Sam Rockwell, with an amazing performance, and Clint Mansell's incredible score. A new take on the AI character with Gerty. Brilliant execution all round on a tiny budget.

I’m surprised “Silent Running” didn’t make his list.

The Andromeda Strain is one of those movies I've seen about a dozen times because it used to be on all the time when I was a kid and I'd always get caught up in it. It's the movie that I was expecting to come into the comments and say, "But what about this one?" about.

I always add Logan’s Run into a high position. Nice list anyway.

My Top 10. 10. The Running Man 9. Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan 8. The Terminator 7. Total Recall 6. Blade Runner 5. Alien 4. 2001 A Space Odyssey 3. The Empire Strikes Back 2. Terminator 2 Judgement Day 1. Planet Of The Apes (1968)

I would have Minority Report up there. Loads of science-fiction devices: Predicting crime, targetted advertising, new synthetic drugs, getting new eyeballs. It is one of the few Speilberg films I can tolerate.

Gattaca is also classic Film Noir. At it's core it's a murder mystery.

Note, Harlan Ellison sued Cameron for plagiarizing him and won. You can look up a prisoners of gravity interview where he talks about it. Ellison's short story "I have no mouth and I must scream' has the original skynet. ' the two outer limits that were sued over 'Soldier' and 'Demon with a glass hand'. I would recommend 'I have no mouth and i must scream' is my fav short story. Ellison also was a huge influence on Mad Max 'a boy and his dog' is a huge influence on that series and the fallout games.

I actually really like Star Trek The Motion Picture too. I remember watching it all the time as a kid (I mean in the 80s when I was less than 10) over and over again. I love the special effects sequences (which still work today) as I got older I started to really appreciate the concept more.

Solid list! Many of these are favorites of mine. Nice to see Star Trek TMP, THX 1138, and Moonraker get some love!

Yea I have found your channel recently, I absolutely love your content! Thanks for doing the work you do. 👍

Thank you very much for your fascinating channel! I actually enjoy the odd times that I don’t like your take on a subject: it challenges my own assumptions. Your series on the Shining was incredible. Content creators like yourself are more important than you may realize. Watching the news and the madness out there makes it too easy to think we are nothing more than a planet of “murder monkeys” haha! Insightful content like this helps a person have a little faith. Thanks again for the mind food during these shut in times!

Thank you for putting Gattaca on your list, one of my personal favorites that is both thought provoking and actually realistic.

"Runaway" had a pretty good performance by Gene Simmons of KISS. he had a really devious look

The fact that he even had to say the whole intro warning really goes to show where the internet is and how little it's ever changed lol.

Congrats on the 100K mate! Got to say you are my go to channel for finding hidden gems and rethinking some of the classics. Awesome channel and highly underrated! I'm with you on the Abyss thing too. Great film for its day, and although the pacing and length is a little off, it just doesnt seem to have aged well either. One of the few times I would say a remake of this would be great as the concept if first class. I did also like A.I. I think its a great Sunday afternoon flick. Easy watching but with lots of depth. Its amazing how many of these flicks I watched back in the 80-90s on channel 4 Friday nights when they would have some kind of Cinema club. Godzillas, old 70 movies, modern indie films... kind of like what Film 4 was when it started. I miss those days...

Star Trek The Motion Picture is so underrated it's a crime. The thing about it is that you don't find out the space cloud is an Earth probe from the past until the very end of the movie. It was a great twist I thought. Glad he included Forbidden Planet, love that one, the sound alone blows my mind every time I watch it, over sixty years old.

"Can you cook" hahahaha! I fookin love ya style mate.

Rob, congrats on the milestone. Been following you for nearly 10 years now. Love your stuff and your perspective.

I would have added Dark City, The 5th Element, Predator, Twelve Monkeys, Robocop, Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green, Starship Troopers, The Omega Man, A Boy and His Dog (Harlan Ellison story), Under the Skin. Solaris 1972 maybe. Also John Carpenter's Dark Star is a definite maybe. Zardoz is worthy. And if you're going to add entire TV series, Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica (from the 2000s) would be keepers. I will take another look at ST:TMP, but I have my doubts. Ditto for Moonraker, which I haven't seen since it came out in 1979. I've seen most everything else on the list, with the exception of Prometheus and Upgrade. Thanks, Rob, for another great video.

The name of the writer for Demon With A Glass Hand is Harlan Ellison. He's recently passed away and the episode of Soldier, which is also an outer limits episode was the inspiration for The Terminator.

If Total Recall was in fact the implanted memory, I would love to have seen the moment when he wakes up at Recall and then has to go home to the wife he remembers as being a secretly placed agent, and then to work with all his mates that he remembers killing!

Thanks for all your content, Rob. These list videos are a real treat!

Nice list, thanks. One of my favourites is "Soldier" starring Kurt Russel, certainly one to seek out if you have not seen it.

One of the most under-rated sci-fi films is PHASE IV directed by Saul Bass. (Yes that Saul Bass) It is very easy to write it off as a B movie, but the story is pretty great, and rooted in science. The macro photograohy is AMAZING (ants) and being a Bass piece, you can pause it anywhere and have a graphic image perfect for a poster. Wall-E is a great addition to the list.

A.I is underrated in my opinion.

I really like hearing your personal thoughts on why you love specific movies in particular!

Love these types of videos. Gratz on 100k subs btw. Good stuff, Rob.

Andromeda Strain was the most realistic and best written sci-fi but Quatermass and the Pit (TV Version) was absolutely terrifying and brilliantly written and acted.

A couple that I think are underrated: Minority Report Iron Giant Interstellar: had some actual science in it via Kip Thorne, and was thought provoking, mostly... Contact: the same Soylent Green: watched it recently and it still holds up, taut story and good acting 2010: great cinematography and very believable cast and warm atmosphere Outland: I remember when it came out, it looked epic and the FX are excellent...story, eh, not great. Dune: so weird and strange, but also with a great cast and the pain of making it seems to be revealed in the movie.

I have only recently become aware of this channel, but I thought this was a great and bold list. I agree with many of these films although I have to admit there are a few I haven't seen, like Moonraker. I loved that you included Upgrade, which I saw in the theater with my son, and which blew us away at the time. There are a couple of films that would be on my personal list, I thought I'd mention. Many other comments have listed Primer. Considering the micro budget alone, it's a brilliant film and one that is rich with the type of detail that has drawn you to other films you've done analysis for. While I didn't read every single comment, having scanned the majority, I didn't see anyone else bring up District 9, which is a film I have seen numerous times, and is incredible sci fi, with some fascinating allegorical and social commentary. As you did in some of your picks, I'd go out on a limb and suggest that Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best Sci-fi films of the decade, were it not lumped into the rest of the Marvel series. I enjoyed Ex Machina a great deal, and am really loving Garland's current series on FX-Hulu Devs. Personally I don't think any all time top 25 sci fi list can exclude the original Planet of the Apes. I also think that you have to include at least one Cronenberg on this list, be it The Fly, Videodrome or Existenz. A couple of criminally underseen recent films that are "Upgrade" level good: "Morgan" and "Sound of My Voice". Sound of my voice in particular is a genre bender that really surprised me on a number of levels. Along the lines of some of your more controversial picks, I think you could pick one of the Riddick films and put it on a top 25 list. Many people have brought up 12 Monkeys, although I didn't see anyone mention that it was based on a famous french short La Jette, but seeing how you had several dystopian films on your list, I think it's worth mentioning that Gilliam's Brazil is that rarity -- the Dystopian Sci Fi black comedy, and it would be nice to see it get some recognition for it's ambition and prescience. Close encounters of the 3rd kind should be on any top 25 sci fi list. And I'll conclude by saying that Edge of Tomorrow is just a stupendous tour de force film, that was simply missed by far too many people, and would easily make my personal top 25.

Congratulations on 100k Rob, really well deserved. Will have to finish viewing this later yet looking forward to it.

Forbidden Planet is still amazing to this day. Would love to see a remake though, focusing on the original settlers who discover the Krell's technology.

24:10 "The controls are shot out, we are caught in the moon's gravity! What do ye do?" "We die" Most bad ass line in movie history.

Ugh, I haaaated Prometheus. That movie has way too many moments where characters do something unfathomably stupid.

Asimov was hired to write the novelization of Fantastic Voyage. It wasn't based on his story. He wrote an essay about it pointing out all the problems with the premise and how things work completely differently at different scales. For instance, photons would be too large to enter the micronauts' eyeballs. In the same essay he critiqued Land of the Giant for its similar scale problems. Being the super genius he was, he took the gig anyway.

Remember Inner Space, that was kind of Fantastic Voyage 80s style!

Where is Stalker? Solaris? A Clockwork Orange? Terry Giliam's Brazil?

Congrats, mate! Ive been watching your material for over a decade! Im sure ill be watching for decades to come!

Thanks for sharing your list! A lot of thought-provoking entries on here. I like to use your "top" lists as suggestions for films to watch that I haven't seen so this is helpful! :)

I would love to see list of your favorite comedies of all time.

I’m so so glad that Star Trek the Motion Picture is on this list. Especially at #2. I’m a Star Trek fan and I’ve seen the hate first hand. It’s really unfair. It’s a great movie.

A great list with quite a few surprises, especially #4. I have a lot of fondness for that film, too, even though it isn't well regarded. I saw #25 in L.A. a year or two ago (in a double feature with "WestWorld") and it was quite a pleasant surprise. One of my favorite obscure discoveries from recent years. #9 is one of my favorite films of all-time and I had a feeling it would be on here. And yes, more lists, please! I love these long videos.

Great channel, Rob. You have a great selection of movies. I was getting to a point where I couldn't find any good movies to watch. From your channel I now have a whole list of potential.

A.I. is absolutely amazing. My second favorite film of all time.

Great list! I'm a fan of Collosus: The Forbin Project. I wondered if you've seen it and what you think of it.

I'm really digging your stuff, Rob. Your thoughts on the fight in Empire Strikes Back were really subtle.

Congratulations on 100,000! Been with you for about a year. Looking forward to this video.

You forgot "Primer". I know you meant to have that on the list.

Intruiged Planet of the Apes wasn't on the list. I love the idea and the commentary that comes from swapping the power between humans and apes. I think the first is the best, but Beneath expands on the world in such a unique and unimaginable way - even if it makes the series a little more silly / b-movie for some. I think Conquest has some of the best sci-fi and political commentary though and is really well executed. Also really appreciate how nihilistic all the endings are. You'd never see a film today end in the way those films do.

Combining The Terminator 1 and 2 into 1 entry is a crime. They're completely different from each other. Where the first one is a no-bullshit dystopian horror movie with Sci-Fi elements, the second one introduces many elements specifically aimed at male kids and young male teens due to the unintended and honestly unexpected resonance of the first movie with that group. Also the cringy stuff like "i KnOw NoW wHy YoU cRy BuT iT Is SoMeThInG i CaN nEvEr Do" completely takes away from what the first movie depicts a terminator to be like, demystifying the concept in one of the worst ways possible.

Congrats on 100,000 subscribers! Great list spurring many more great ideas from comment section👍

Star Trek the motion picture is fabulous! I’ve loved that movie since I was a little kid. Best of the Trek movies. Very high concept film with an amazing twist ending.

Curious about your thoughts on the upcoming sci-fi films High Life and Ad Astra

Loved seeing Gattaca & Abyss on the list. Bonus points for Ager quoting (& laughing at) the last line of Runaway! 👍😂 Excellent takes on A.I. 👏👏

love this channel, real quality doesnt require a lot of special effects

Surprised that Pitch Black didn't make your list.

Completely agree w/you re:both Star Trek MP, & Moonraker

I'll definitely check some of the movies on this list, thanks Robert! Although I'll admit that I was hoping I'd see Ghost In The Shell in it, I really love its take on a concept similar to Blade Runner, and its art direction is just wonderful. (Of course, I'm talking about the original... Last year's adaptation can burn in a fire pit for all I care)

Congrats on the 100K subs, Rob. I've been watching your videos since about 2008. The first video I watched was a Mad Max 2 analysis. I've been a fan ever since.

Did you know that Gene Simmons (from the band KISS) just glared menacingly at the casting director for a few minutes in his audition as the villain of Runaway. Also, we're gonna have to wait for Harlan Ellison to be cremated because he'd crawl out his grave and torment the anyone who'd dare remake Demon with a Glass Hand.

Rob, how can you possibly leave off "Plan 9 From Outer Space?" I don't know how you sleep at night.

Thank you, Mr. Ager, for your sci-fi movie list. It is compelling and insightful. Wonderful complement to your horror film list video. I will try to take in the movies that you mentioned that i haven't seen, like Runaway and Rollerball. Once again, all the best to you this year.

Congrats on 100k subscribers Rob, hope you soon have 10x more, you deserve it. BTW, i loved Runaway when I saw it as a child (that heatseeking bullet POV shot blew my mind). Always wondered why it's so forgotten.

The Twilight Zone. "Where is everybody?" is about virtual reality 50 yrs before anyone mentioned it. Silent Running? The Fly? Soylent Green? Omega Man?

Nice, but have you seen Dark City?

I suggested upgrade to you on facebook, glad you watched and enjoyed it so much. Definitely has the potential to be a cult classic in the future

Very glad to hear you liked "Upgrade" as I was on the fence as to whether or not to watch it. Little tidbit of plot info for "Fantastic Voyage" is that the guy with the blood clot is actually a miniturization scientist that the competing superpower had tried to assassinate. This is full on cold war stuff, and it fits nicely into the politics of the time. In an unused scene, he wakes up from the operation and cannot remember how to make things small for longer than an hour, which is what is needed for full militarization of the tech.

You should have trolled us by putting Johnny Mnemonic in the top slot.

It seems everyone has forgotten about Quiet Earth, a movie made in New Zealand in 1985. Some great scenes in that flick.

I wonder if you, Rob, get to read this, but I wanted to say that your videos are always very informative. I like your top 25, but I have to say that I enjoy your analyses the most! This channel deserves to have more viewers.

WOOHOO! Rollerball made the list. I can be happy now. Some favourites of mine would include Logan's Run, I'm a Star trek fan and I think STMP gets too bad a wrap, plus the opening scene and music is worth the price of admission. Disappointed that Duck Dodgers in the 24th 1/2 century. A sci-fi classic.

I never tire of hearing your voice, Rob... love all of your superb videos❤️

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is underrated and made me a fan.

Hey Rob, loved the list. You mentioned part of the reason you didn't include RoboCop was because of its satirical elements. Would you considering doing a list of your 25 favorite satires? Regardless of whether RoboCop is on the list, I think it would be very interesting since satire can be so personal and there are so many ill received satires that may deserve a second chance or second viewing.

My fav is Dune the old original lol And am surprized how lines from the dialogue pop up in other films, series, lyrics. ie Flatboy Slim's Weapon of choice "Walk without rhythm/and it won't attract the worm". Congrats on 100K. “The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.”

You missed original Day Earth Stood Still.

Gattaca was 1997. Late 80's lol

I love many of these. Due to time constraints, I had to fast forward the video, and may have missed some. If it’s not included, “Silent Running” (1972), with Bruce Dern, is a fav of mine. Bit strong on the ecological message, but pretty intense on the lone individual using the available technology to try to achieve a goal.

Congrats on your 100K Rob, well deserved.

Fantastic list, 2001 is my all-time favorite film! I would also add: - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (not particularly sci-fi, but the memory concept is highly interesting) - Stalker (also not exactly sci-fi but contains some sci-fi concepts) - Ghost in the Shell 1995 - Arrival - Back to the Future - Interstellar - Annihilation - War of the Worlds 2005

Hardware by Richard Stanley. You're welcome

Just thought of another time travel related movie that is amazing - 'Looper'. Very interesting set up and addresses the time travel conundrum - what if you went back in time and met yourself? And, without spoiling it, the end was perfect, a great personal, selfless act which was the only way to avoid a possible horrible future, one I can watch over and over again. And it's got Bruce Willis in which was probably his best role in his later career, a must see.

Wow, I saw Runaway when I was a kid but has completely forgotten about it! This is going to be a great list! Thanks