Science-fiction is a genre that has always fascinated people no matter the platform being used to tell the story. Within the world of movies, the sci-fi genre has given audiences some of the most unforgettable films, some of which are considered among the best ever made.

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But behind some of the most popular sci-fi movies are the movies that helped to inspire them. Many of these movies remain classics in their own rights, but fans might not be aware of how influential they have been to the genre. These ambitious projects broke new ground and paved the way for beloved movies that followed.

Metropolis (1927)

Other silent movies from the early 1900s, like Voyage to the Moon, were amazing achievements in science-fiction storytelling, but Metropolis stands apart from the others. It was a bold example of the imaginative stories this genre allowed for.

It is a movie that combined the amazing achievements science could create mixed with the chilling idea of how it can be taken too far. The German film went on to inspire American sci-fi movies and many people point to its design as setting the example of a cinematic future.

Godzilla (1954)

Look no further than the current Monsterverse movies to see how much influence Godzilla has after all these years. Though the man in a rubber monster suit might seem silly to modern audiences, the monster movie was cemented with this international hit and continued to explode throughout the 1950s.

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But Godzilla goes far beyond just popularizing monster and destruction movies, it is a warning of humanity tampering with nature and the fear of world-ending weapons at the time. This would become a cornerstone of the sci-fi genre going forward.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)

Another aspect of sci-fi that has become essential to the genre is aliens. While the stories of alien invasions have been a part of pop culture for many years, the sci-fi movies of the 1950s really leaned into this idea. One of the most acclaimed examples is Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

It is a very effective and creepy sci-fi story about the idea of otherworldly forces taking over. But once again, it was seen as not just an alien story but as an allegory to the McCarthyism of the times and the paranoid feeling that people were seeing enemies all around them.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The influence of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey cannot be understated. Not only did it change movies forever, but it also influenced the world around it with its bold idea and depictions of the future.

While some saw the sci-fi of the previous decades as schlocky fun, 2001 proved the genre could be cerebral with very few action moments to speak of. Its incredible imagery has stuck in the minds of audiences for decades and it delivers truly thought-provoking ideas.

Star Wars (1977)

Star Wars is a unique offering in that it shares a lot with the fantasy genre, and the movie includes many elements of the sci-fi genre that came before as well as introducing elements that would inspire future movies.

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George Lucas clearly drew on several inspirations of his own when crafting the movie, from Westerns to Akira Kurosawa movies, but he also made the space opera a huge part of the sci-fi genre that in turn inspired the likes of The Fifth Element and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Alien (1979)

Even though extraterrestrial movies were at their height in the 1950s, Ridley Scott managed to breathe new life into the concept with Alien. Scott mixed the typical deep space sci-fi adventure with a claustrophobic horror movie feel.

The result was an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that introduced one of the most effective movie monsters of all time. Many sci-fi movies that followed tried to emulate that mix of genres as well as the simple yet effective story of a small crew getting picked off one by one from some terrible creature.

Blade Runner (1982)

Quite impressively, Ridley Scott managed to get two movies on this list with another movie that blended genres in a wonderful way. Blade Runner was a hard-boiled detective story set within the world of a futuristic sci-fi movie.

The noir feel of the movie was very influential both in its look and its storytelling. The dark and moody atmosphere of the movie can be seen in many movies to follow, including The Matrix, while the idea of telling a grounded and personal story within this genre made way for a lot of interesting sci-fi movies.

Back To The Future (1985)

Science-fiction eventually reached a point where it was tackling social ideas in the midst of exploring heady concepts, like time travel. Back to the Future was a movie that reminded audiences that sci-fi can be pure fun surrounded by clever ideas.

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Time travel was certainly nothing new by the time this movie came along but Back to the Future infused the idea with comedy while also honoring the genre. Many movies that followed have sought to strike that same winning balance between spectacular sci-fi premise and comedic execution.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1984)

James Cameron is a filmmaker who could have a number of movies on this list, but Terminator 2 stands out among the rest. Interestingly, while the first Terminator was a ground-breaking sci-fi movie, the sequel made an even bigger impact.

It further combined action and sci-fi in a way that continues in the current trend of superhero movies. Also, as expected with Cameron, he also pushed the boundaries of what was achievable with CGI, making it an essential and effective storytelling tool, especially in the sci-fi world.

The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix is another movie that clearly drew from a lot of different sources, but eventually became something that would in turn inspire future movies. The movie really represented what the sci-fi genre could do, which is to show the audience something they have never seen before.

It has been parodied countless times but also inspired big-budget movies to be bold and original. From the action to the special effects to the ideas of the movie, The Matrix was all about proving the impossible to be possible.

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