This page will look at our Top 100 Science Fiction Movies….statistically speaking. Since 2011 we have been collecting movie stats and ranking movies. For this page we researched 100s and 100s of science fiction movies from 1902 to 2016.
During that research we found box office grosses, critic reviews, audience voting and award recognition on 625 science fiction movies. The following table lists the Top 100 Science Fiction Movies that have the BEST COMBINATION OF BOX OFFICE, REVIEWS AND AWARDS.
Top 100 Science Fiction Movies rules: (1) Superhero, King Kong and Godzilla movies would not be included in the study…..why? To us they fall into the fantasy category versus the science fiction category. (2) To be included in the page the movie’s box office grosses needed to be known. (3) The movie needed to have played in North American theaters. To help find all of these movies two books were a big help: Chris Barsanti’s The Sci-Fi Movie Guide and Tom DeMichael’s Modern Sci-Fi Films FAQ. If your favorite science fiction movie did not make the Top 200 then there is a good chance you can find it on our massive 625 Science Fiction Movies page.
Top 100 Science Fiction Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Top 100 Science Fiction movies by stars of the movie
- Sort Top 100 Science Fiction movies by adjusted domestic box office using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Top 100 Science Fiction movies by domestic box office rank
- Sort Top 100 Science Fiction movies by how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort Top 100 Science Fiction movies by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each movie received.
- Sort Top 100 Science Fiction movies by Ultimate Movie Ranking (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) AA Best Picture Nom |
Harrison Ford & Alec Guinness |
398.00 | 1,924.0 | 3,443.80 | 1 | 94 | 10 / 06 | 99.8 | |
| 2 | Gravity (2013) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sandra Bullock & George Clooney |
274.10 | 363.4 | 958.90 | 6 | 87 | 10 / 07 | 99.7 | |
| 3 | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) AA Best Picture Nom |
Drew Barrymore & Directed by Steven Spielberg |
416.70 | 1,527.9 | 2,839.80 | 1 | 87 | 09 / 04 | 99.7 | |
| 5 | Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) AA Best Picture Nom |
Tom Hardy & Charlize Theron |
154.10 | 197.0 | 484.50 | 21 | 86 | 10 / 06 | 99.7 | |
| 4 | Inception (2010) AA Best Picture Nom |
Leonardo DiCaprio & Michael Caine |
292.60 | 399.7 | 1,127.90 | 6 | 86 | 08 / 04 | 99.6 | |
| 7 | Avatar (2009) AA Best Picture Nom |
Zoe Saldana & Directed by James Cameron |
748.80 | 1,076.2 | 3,990.40 | 1 | 85 | 09 / 03 | 99.6 | |
| 6 | Aliens (1986) | Sigourney Weaver & Michael Biehn |
141.00 | 409.6 | 409.60 | 3 | 94 | 07 / 02 | 99.6 | |
| 8 | The Martian (2015) AA Best Picture Nom |
Matt Damon & Jessica Chastain |
228.40 | 292.1 | 805.80 | 8 | 88 | 07 / 00 | 99.5 | |
| 9 | WALL·E (2008) | Fred Willard & Jeff Garlin |
223.80 | 336.0 | 782.70 | 5 | 93 | 06 / 01 | 99.5 | |
| 10 | Terminator 2 (1991) | Arnold Schwarzenegger | 204.80 | 524.5 | 1,331.10 | 2 | 89 | 06 / 04 | 99.4 | |
| 11 | Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) | Richard Dreyfuss & Directed by Steven Spielberg |
124.40 | 601.3 | 1,431.30 | 3 | 91 | 08 / 01 | 99.4 | |
| 12 | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher |
255.30 | 1,058.4 | 2,086.20 | 1 | 92 | 03 / 02 | 99.4 | |
| 13 | A Clockwork Orange (1971) AA Best Picture Nom |
Malcolm McDowell & Directed by Stanley Kubrick |
51.50 | 336.6 | 336.60 | 5 | 88 | 04 / 00 | 99.3 | |
| 14 | 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) | Directed by Stanley Kubrick | 56.90 | 468.4 | 468.40 | 1 | 92 | 04 / 01 | 99.3 | |
| 15 | Back to the Future (1985) | Michael J. Fox & Christopher Lloyd |
209.60 | 636.5 | 1,154.20 | 1 | 91 | 04 / 01 | 99.2 | |
| 16 | Alien (1979) | Sigourney Weaver & Directed by Ridley Scott |
106.10 | 455.5 | 455.50 | 2 | 92 | 02 / 01 | 99.2 | |
| 17 | The Truman Show (1998) | Jim Carrey & Ed Harris |
125.60 | 288.7 | 607.10 | 11 | 91 | 03 / 00 | 99.1 | |
| 18 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) | Harrison Ford & Daisy Ridley |
910.70 | 1,164.5 | 2,611.50 | 1 | 90 | 05 / 00 | 99.1 | |
| 19 | Star Trek (2009) | Chris Pine & Leonard Nimoy |
257.70 | 370.4 | 554.40 | 7 | 89 | 04 / 01 | 99.1 | |
| 20 | The Matrix (1999) | Keanu Reeves & Laurence Fishburne |
171.50 | 365.3 | 987.50 | 5 | 85 | 04 / 04 | 99.1 | |
| 21 | Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) | Chris Pratt & Bradley Cooper |
335.20 | 442.3 | 1,023.00 | 2 | 88 | 02 / 00 | 98.8 | |
| 22 | Minority Report (2002) | Tom Cruise & Directed by Steven Spielberg |
132.10 | 245.5 | 666.10 | 17 | 88 | 01 / 00 | 98.7 | |
| 23 | Planet of the Apes (1968) | Charlton Heston | 42.90 | 352.7 | 352.70 | 7 | 86 | 02 / 00 | 98.6 | |
| 24 | Men in Black (1997) | Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones |
250.70 | 588.8 | 1,384.20 | 2 | 84 | 03 / 01 | 98.6 | |
| 25 | Jurassic Park (1993) | Directed by Steven Spielberg | 381.10 | 992.2 | 2,624.10 | 1 | 81 | 03 / 03 | 98.5 | |
| 26 | 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) | Kirk Douglas & James Mason |
22.90 | 535.7 | 535.70 | 3 | 82 | 03 / 02 | 98.5 | |
| 27 | Dune: Part Two (2024) | Timothée Chalamet & Zendaya |
282.10 | 282.1 | 711.80 | 5 | 87 | 00 / 00 | 98.5 | |
| 27 | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) | Woody Harrelson & Elizabeth Banks |
415.00 | 550.3 | 1,134.10 | 1 | 86 | 00 / 00 | 98.4 | |
| 28 | Interstellar (2014) | Matthew McConaughey & Michael Caine |
188.00 | 248.1 | 890.80 | 16 | 81 | 05 / 01 | 98.3 | |
| 31 | District 9 (2009) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sharlto Copley | 115.60 | 166.2 | 303.00 | 26 | 86 | 04 / 00 | 98.3 | |
| 29 | Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013) | Zoe Saldana & Karl Urban |
226.20 | 300.0 | 597.80 | 11 | 84 | 01 / 00 | 98.2 | |
| 30 | First Contact (1996) | Patrick Stewart & Jonathan Frakes |
92.00 | 224.4 | 365.90 | 17 | 83 | 01 / 00 | 98.1 | |
| 32 | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) | DeForest Kelly & William Shatner |
78.90 | 289.3 | 355.70 | 6 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 97.9 | |
| 34 | The Terminator (1984) | Arnold Schwarzenegger & Michael Biehn |
53.10 | 170.4 | 298.80 | 13 | 91 | 00 / 00 | 97.9 | |
| 33 | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) | Harrison Ford & Mark Hamill |
296.30 | 1,014.0 | 1,581.40 | 1 | 78 | 04 / 00 | 97.7 | |
| 35 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) | Chris Pratt & Kurt Russell |
389.80 | 468.5 | 1,037.80 | 5 | 80 | 01 / 00 | 97.6 | |
| 36 | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) | Leonard Nimoy & Walter Koenig |
109.70 | 318.8 | 386.50 | 6 | 77 | 04 / 00 | 97.6 | |
| 38 | Star Trek: Beyond (2016) | Simon Pegg & Anton Yelchin |
158.80 | 198.0 | 428.00 | 16 | 80 | 01 / 00 | 97.5 | |
| 37 | Rogue One (2016) | Felecity Jones | 522.20 | 650.8 | 1,303.60 | 1 | 78 | 02 / 00 | 97.4 | |
| 40 | Arrival (2016) AA Best Picture Nom |
Amy Adams & Jeremy Renner |
100.50 | 125.3 | 253.50 | 30 | 90 | 08 / 01 | 97.3 | |
| 42 | War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017) | Woody Harrelson | 146.90 | 176.5 | 589.70 | 22 | 85 | 01 / 00 | 97.2 | |
| 42 | The Hunger Games (2012) | Jennifer Lawrence & Woody Harrelson |
404.00 | 547.1 | 930.70 | 3 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 97.2 | |
| 41 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) | Natalie Portman & Samuel L. Jackson |
380.30 | 640.5 | 1,429.60 | 1 | 77 | 01 / 00 | 97.1 | |
| 43 | Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) | James Franco | 176.80 | 240.3 | 655.00 | 11 | 77 | 01 / 00 | 96.9 | |
| 44 | Cocoon (1985) | Jessica Tandy & Directed by Ron Howard |
76.10 | 231.1 | 259.10 | 6 | 73 | 02 / 02 | 96.8 | |
| 45 | War of the Worlds (2005) | Tom Cruise & Directed by Steven Spielberg |
234.30 | 394.6 | 996.70 | 4 | 73 | 03 / 00 | 96.6 | |
| 46 | Predator (1987) | Arnold Schwarzenegger | 75.90 | 209.3 | 315.50 | 7 | 74 | 01 / 00 | 96.4 | |
| 48 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) | William Shatner & George Takei |
74.90 | 191.8 | 248.10 | 15 | 76 | 02 / 00 | 96.4 | |
| 47 | Total Recall (1990) | Arnold Schwarzenegger | 119.40 | 304.3 | 665.90 | 7 | 73 | 02 / 00 | 96.2 | |
| 49 | The Thing from Another World (1951) | Howard Hawks | 7.60 | 163.2 | 209.40 | 19 | 86 | 00 / 00 | 96.2 | |
| 52 | Super 8 (2011) | Directed by J.J. Abrams | 127.00 | 172.6 | 353.60 | 21 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 96.0 | |
| 50 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014) | Jennifer Lawrence & Julianne Moore |
332.10 | 438.2 | 990.10 | 3 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 95.9 | |
| 51 | On the Beach (1959) | Gregory Peck & Fred Astaire |
13.60 | 245.1 | 397.10 | 17 | 71 | 02 / 00 | 95.9 | |
| 53 | Back to the Future Part II (1989) | Michael J. Fox & Christopher Lloyd |
159.10 | 432.0 | 1,011.80 | 3 | 71 | 01 / 00 | 95.5 | |
| 54 | The Matrix ReLoaded (2003) | Keanu Reeves & Laurence Fishburne |
281.60 | 503.4 | 1,326.70 | 4 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 95.5 | |
| 58 | Dune (2021) AA Best Picture Nom |
Timothée Chalamet & Dave Bautista |
106.20 | 112.6 | 413.30 | 13 | 78 | 10 / 06 | 95.4 | |
| 55 | I Am Legend (2007) | Will Smith | 256.40 | 401.7 | 917.20 | 6 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 95.4 | |
| 59 | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) | William Shatner & Christopher Lloyd |
76.50 | 245.3 | 279.40 | 9 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 95.4 | |
| 57 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) | Woody Harrelson & Donald Sutherland |
281.70 | 360.3 | 835.60 | 7 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 95.3 | |
| 60 | Time Bandits (1981) | Sean Connery & Directed by Terry Gilliam |
42.40 | 164.3 | 164.30 | 11 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 95.3 | |
| 59 | Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) | Woody Harrelson & Directed by Ron Howard |
213.80 | 253.0 | 465.00 | 12 | 69 | 01 / 00 | 95.2 | |
| 60 | Jurassic World (2015) | Chris Pratt | 666.20 | 851.9 | 2,155.50 | 2 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 95.2 | |
| 61 | Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | Adam Driver & Mark Hamill |
515.20 | 606.3 | 1,264.10 | 3 | 67 | 03 / 00 | 95.1 | |
| 62 | Signs (2002) | Mel Gibson | 228.00 | 423.7 | 758.80 | 6 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 95.0 | |
| 64 | Men in Black 3 (2012) | Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones |
179.00 | 242.4 | 845.10 | 14 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 94.9 | |
| 65 | Contact (1997) | Jodie Foster & Matthew McConaughey |
100.90 | 237.0 | 401.90 | 15 | 68 | 01 / 00 | 94.8 | |
| 66 | Back to the Future Part III (1990) | Michael J. Fox & Christopher Lloyd |
108.00 | 275.1 | 674.70 | 9 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 94.7 | |
| 67 | Transformers (2007) | Shia LaBeouf | 319.20 | 500.2 | 1,112.00 | 3 | 66 | 03 / 00 | 94.7 | |
| 69 | Blade Runner 2049 (2017) | Harrison Ford & Ryan Gosling |
92.10 | 110.6 | 311.50 | 34 | 90 | 05 / 02 | 94.7 | |
| 68 | Independence Day (1996) | Will Smith & Jeff Goldblum |
306.20 | 746.7 | 1,993.60 | 1 | 64 | 02 / 01 | 94.5 | |
| 71 | Sleeper (1973) | Woody Allen & Diane Keaton |
24.40 | 148.7 | 148.70 | 15 | 83 | 00 / 00 | 94.4 | |
| 73 | Twelve Monkeys (1995) | Bruce Willis & Brad Pitt |
57.10 | 141.6 | 418.40 | 31 | 83 | 02 / 00 | 94.4 | |
| 73 | Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) | Reese Witherspoon & Paul Rudd |
198.40 | 285.1 | 548.40 | 11 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 94.2 | |
| 74 | Robots (2005) | Robin Williams & Mel Brooks |
128.20 | 215.9 | 439.10 | 15 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 94.2 | |
| 75 | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) | Natalie Portman & Ewan McGregor |
308.20 | 572.8 | 1,202.90 | 3 | 65 | 01 / 00 | 94.2 | |
| 77 | Ready Player One (2018) | Directed by Steven Spielberg | 135.80 | 160.7 | 686.00 | 24 | 78 | 01 / 00 | 94.1 | |
| 78 | The X Files (1998) | David Duchovny & Gillian Anderson |
83.90 | 192.8 | 434.80 | 22 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 94.1 | |
| 78 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) | Rick Moranis | 130.70 | 355.0 | 355.00 | 6 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 94.0 | |
| 79 | I, Robot (2004) | Will Smith | 144.80 | 251.4 | 602.80 | 12 | 65 | 01 / 00 | 93.9 | |
| 79 | Prometheus (2012) | Charlize Theron & Directed by Ridley Scott |
126.50 | 171.3 | 546.30 | 24 | 74 | 01 / 00 | 93.9 | |
| 80 | The Abyss (1989) | Michael Biehn & Directed by James Cameron |
54.20 | 147.2 | 243.70 | 24 | 78 | 04 / 01 | 93.8 | |
| 81 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) | Liam Neeson & Ewan McGregor |
457.10 | 973.8 | 2,150.90 | 1 | 61 | 03 / 00 | 93.5 | |
| 82 | Edge of Tomorrow (2014) | Tom Cruise & Emily Blunt |
100.20 | 132.2 | 488.90 | 34 | 84 | 00 / 00 | 93.1 | |
| 84 | RoboCop (1987) | Peter Weller | 53.40 | 147.3 | 147.30 | 16 | 77 | 02 / 00 | 93.0 | |
| 83 | Blade Runner (1982) | Harrison Ford & Directed by Ridley Scott |
27.60 | 101.1 | 133.40 | 27 | 91 | 02 / 00 | 92.9 | |
| 85 | Galaxy Quest (1999) | Tim Allen & Sigourney Weaver |
71.60 | 152.5 | 193.20 | 29 | 76 | 00 / 00 | 92.8 | |
| 88 | The Andromeda Strain (1971) | Arthur Hill | 25.30 | 165.3 | 165.30 | 13 | 70 | 02 / 00 | 92.5 | |
| 86 | The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) | Vince Vaughn & Jeff Goldblum |
229.10 | 538.0 | 1,452.90 | 3 | 59 | 01 / 00 | 92.4 | |
| 87 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) | Daisy Ridley & Mark Hamill |
620.20 | 745.3 | 1,601.60 | 1 | 57 | 04 / 00 | 92.3 | |
| 91 | The Fly (1958) | Vincent Price | 8.60 | 154.0 | 154.00 | 24 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 92.2 | |
| 92 | Lucy (2014) | Scarlett Johansson & Morgan Freeman |
126.70 | 167.1 | 611.40 | 25 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 92.1 | |
| 92 | Home (2015) | Jim Parsons & Steve Martin |
177.40 | 226.8 | 493.70 | 15 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 92.1 | |
| 93 | TRON: Legacy (2010) | Jeff Bridges | 172.10 | 235.1 | 546.60 | 12 | 58 | 01 / 00 | 92.0 | |
| 93 | A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) | Haley Joel Osment & Directed by Steven Spielberg |
78.60 | 150.0 | 450.10 | 28 | 72 | 02 / 00 | 91.9 | |
| 94 | Fantastic Voyage (1966) | Stephen Boyd | 13.80 | 134.8 | 134.80 | 22 | 72 | 05 / 02 | 91.8 | |
| 96 | Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) | Donald Sutherland | 24.70 | 114.0 | 114.00 | 26 | 85 | 00 / 00 | 91.6 | |
| 97 | The Fly (1986) | Jeff Goldblum & Geena Davis |
40.50 | 117.6 | 176.20 | 25 | 81 | 01 / 01 | 91.5 | |
| 98 | Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) | William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy |
82.30 | 353.3 | 596.80 | 6 | 54 | 03 / 00 | 91.4 | |
| 99 | Westworld (1973) | Yul Brynner | 21.20 | 129.2 | 129.20 | 17 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 91.3 | |
| 101 | Star Trek: Generations (1994) | Patrick Stewart & William Shatner |
75.70 | 199.9 | 317.00 | 15 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 91.3 |
Didn’t see your favorite science fiction movie? Want more science fiction movie stats? Then our 640 Science Fiction Movie Page is just for you.
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Hi
To be honest I’m not a big sci-fi fan, a friend of mine was really into UFO’s years ago and it nothing for me at all. But that’s not to say there are some great science fiction movies.
Starman, I thought it was very moving, one of Jeff Bridges best performances. I can’t remember the actress but she was terrific too. When Close Encounters came out it was massive in the UK, highly enjoyable.
And Alien, John Hurt eating that meal… wow! And of course The Thing, 1982. Probably one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen, the cast was fantastic.
They’ve made a prequel which wasn’t bad but not as good as the original. And of course, E.T., everyone seems to love it.
I wouldn’t really class Back to the Future as sci-fi, more fantasy, but they’re all very good.
Off the movies made in the 50s, The Incredible Shrinking Man and Them and The Day The Earth Stood Still.
Great research, thanks. Who’s coming next? As we’re on sci-fi, can’t they see into the future haha!
Hey Chris….especially appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on the page since you are not a big fan of sci-fi movies. Let’s the actress in StarMan was Karen “Raiders of the Lost Ark” Allen. Bridges got an Oscar nomination for his performance in that one…probably one of the few…if not only…time an actor was nominated for playing a space alien.
The John Hurt Alien scene is a classic….I love how Scott filmed that scene….classic classic. I love The Thing too….it has one of the best DVD commentaries ever with Russell and Carpenter. Back to the Future gets in for the time travel element….which is one of sci-fi’s most popular devices. I have seen and liked all of the classic movies you mentioned.
Who’s next? Not sure…after this page….it might be a few days before another new page. Gotta recover….lol. Thanks for sharing your movie thoughts on sci-fi movies.
Dark Angel and Cyborg should be on this list.
Hey Ciobanu Cyborg made the big list https://www.ultimatemovierankings.com/science-fiction-movies/ but Dark Angel did not included because it was not released in theaters. Thanks for the feedback.
I like. Especially with 4 Star Wars movies in the Top 25. Interesting website
Hey Tommy. Star Wars rules this table for sure….and it will only get better as the new Star Wars movies get released…thanks for stopping by.
Bruce,
Would it not a mistake about A Trip To The Moon. It was release in 1902, and not in 1922 I believe.
Hey Laurent….our database was having problems with the year 1902……thanks for the heads up on that error…..it has now been fixed…I hope…lol.
Love science fiction fans so I found this very interesting. I wish my favorite one was ranked higher as I think Starship Troopers is much better than 138th
Hey Tanner1983….thanks for stopping by….Sorry your favorite did not rank higher…I also enjoyed that one…..it still ranked better than almost 500 movies…so my system is saying it is a good movie. As good as the first one was….the sequels have been horrible. 🙂