Science fiction on the big screen may be like no other genre. The seemingly impossible comes to life as filmmakers predict the future–sometimes positive and exciting, sometimes bleak and full of unspeakable horrors. Whether these movies show us how humans may live in the future, or who else may be sharing our galaxy with us, or what galaxies we may never confront, science fiction takes storytelling and gives us a vision of the future.
So if you had to select one scene, or even better, one image, that best defines the science fiction genre in movies, what image would you choose? Select your choice from these iconic images in the below poll and see if others agree. If you think we’re missing an iconic image, let us know by posting a comment.
Dave confronts Hal in 2001: A Space OdysseyOur first look at where the creature has been hiding in AlienRipley confronts the queen alien in AliensMarty McFly sees the time machine work in Back to the FutureDeckard is taken to the police station in Blade RunnerThe mother ship arrives at Devil's Tower in Close Encounters of the Third KindDaniel Craig gets to use an arm gun in Cowboys & AliensGort arrives on Earth in The Day the Earth Stood StillThe slave ship hovers above South Africa in District 9Snake Plissken shoots up the place in Escape from New YorkEliot and E.T. take a ride across the moon in E.T., the Extra-TerrestrialLeeloo arrives in Corbin Dallas's cab in The Fifth ElementWe get our first look at Robbie the Robot in Forbidden PlanetThe aliens zap the White House in Independence DayDonald Sutherland is finally taken in Invasion of the Body SnatchersTony Stark test drives the Iron Man armor in Iron ManAlex Rogan gets to be a Starfighter in The Last StarfighterJ makes these look good in Men in BlackThe robot is revealed in MetropolisJohn Anderton shows us some cool new technology in Minority ReportCharlton Heston in the big reveal from Planet of the ApesJohnny Rico takes down a bug by himself in Starship TroopersOur first look at the Enterprise refit in Star Trek: The Motion PictureAdmiral Kirk screams at Khhhaaaan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanThe death of Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanKirk and Spock return to 1980s San Francisco in Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeWorf's promotion ceremony is interrupted in Star Trek: GenerationsThe Star Destroyer appears overhead in Star WarsOur first look at Darth Vader in Star WarsLuke dreams of space on Tatooine in Star WarsWe get to marvel at Yoda--a muppet that looks real--in The Empire Strikes BackLuke, I am your father -- from The Empire Strikes BackSarah Connor beats the Terminator in The TerminatorWe meet the new liquid terminator in Terminator 2Arnold takes another guy's leathers in Terminator 2The creature appears in The Thing from Another WorldArnold reveals his disguise in Total RecallThe rocket arrives at the moon in A Trip to the MoonFlynn is zapped into the Grid in TronQuorra hangs out at Flynn's place Tron: Legacy
Brilliant post and incredible pics! You’re right, science fiction is absolutely like no other genre, and is best experienced on the big screen! It’s great to see directors like Duncan Jones coming out with strong modern sci-fi work!
These are great images – each capturing a specific emotional moment. I liked the ‘Connor Kills Terminator’ pic but couldn’t find it on the list. It captures the sense of fear yet the string of hope that does the best of Sci-Fi justice.
Thought about the Starship Troopers pic but that particular image (especially the Troopers face) seemed too victorious. The same with the Ripley (Alien) image. ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ produces (another great image) a sense of hopelessness for me. Even against an apocalyptic background, you still want too feel that there’s hope (Mad Max for example). Again, great job at capturing a different feeling for each of the images.
Brilliant post and incredible pics! You’re right, science fiction is absolutely like no other genre, and is best experienced on the big screen! It’s great to see directors like Duncan Jones coming out with strong modern sci-fi work!
Cool blog as well, I’ll be sure to return!
These are great images – each capturing a specific emotional moment. I liked the ‘Connor Kills Terminator’ pic but couldn’t find it on the list. It captures the sense of fear yet the string of hope that does the best of Sci-Fi justice.
Thought about the Starship Troopers pic but that particular image (especially the Troopers face) seemed too victorious. The same with the Ripley (Alien) image. ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ produces (another great image) a sense of hopelessness for me. Even against an apocalyptic background, you still want too feel that there’s hope (Mad Max for example). Again, great job at capturing a different feeling for each of the images.