Buzzworthy Suggestions for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films

After years of keeping Science Fiction and Fantasy Films together as a single award, we finally separated the awards in 2013. Here, however, we’re keeping them together as a group because some of the subgenres (like Time Travel) can have both science fiction and fantasy films eligible for the same award.

Favorite Fantasy Film of All Time

Fantasy films are typically stories about magic and supernatural forces, rather than technology, though it often is made to include elements of other genres, such as science fiction elements, for instance computers or DNA, if it happens to take place in a modern or future era. Depending on the extent of these other elements, the story may or may not be considered to be a “hybrid genre” series; for instance, even though the Harry Potter series canon includes the requirement of a particular gene to be a wizard, it is referred to only as a fantasy series. Similarly, Star Wars is generally considered to be a science fiction series, but some would argue that The Force makes it eligible to be considered as a fantasy as well. Superhero films are often considered to be in the fantasy genre even if they include technological elements.

Buzzworthy: The Age of Adeline (2015) • Alice in Wonderland (2010) • Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) • Army of Darkness (1992) • Back to the Future Part III (1990) • Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991) • Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) • Bedtime Stories (2008) • The BFG (2016) • Big (1988) • Big Fish (2003) • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) • The Black Cauldron (1985) • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) • Cool World (1992) • Coraline (2009) • Crusade in Jeans (2006) • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2006) • Dagon (2001) • The Dark Crystal (1982) • Dead of Night (1945) • Death Note (2006) • Delirious (1991) • The Devil’s Backbone (2001) • Dorks & Damsels (2007) • Down to Earth (1947) • Dragonslayer (1981) • Edward Scissorhands (1990) • Enchanted (2007) • Encino Man (1992) • Eragon (2006) • Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) • The Fall (2006) • Field of Dreams (1989) • The Final Girls (2015) • Frequency (2000) • From Time to Time (2009) • Ghostbusters (1984) • The Golden Compass (2007) • The Green Mile (1999) • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) • Heart of the Warrior (1999) • Highlander (1986) • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) • Hocus Pocus (1993) • Hook (1991) • The House of the Spirits (1993) • How to Train Your Dragon (2010) • How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) • The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2012) • Inkheart (2008) • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) • Jumanji (1995) • Kaashmora (2016) • Kull the Conqueror (1997) • Lady in the Water (2006) • Land of the Lost (2009) • Last Action Hero (1993) • Lawn Dogs (1997) • Legend (1985) • Liar Liar (1997) • Like Water for Chocolate (1992) • The Lord of the Rings (1978) • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) • Lost Highway (1997) • The Lovely Bones (2009) • The Man from Earth (2007) • Men in Black 3 (2012) • Midnight in Paris (2011) • Mirrormask (2005) • The Mole People (1956) • Monkeybone (2001) • The Mummy Returns (2001) • My Neighbor Totoro (1988) • The NeverEnding Story (1984) • The NeverEnding Story (1984) • The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990) • The NeverEnding Story III (1994) • Night at the Museum (2006) • Nobody Knows Anybody (1999) • Ondine (2009) • Onward (2020) • Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) • The Pagemaster (1994) • Pan (2015) • Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) • Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) • Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) • Pleasantville (1998) • The Princess Bride (1987) • The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) • Red Sonja (1985) • Red Sonja: Queen of Plagues (2016) • Return from Witch Mountain (1978) • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) • Ruby Sparks (2012) • Santa’s Slay (2005) • Saviour of the Soul (1991) • The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) • Seventh Son (2014) • Somewhere in Time (1980) • A Sound of Thunder (2005) • The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) • The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) • Stardust (2007) • Stay Tuned (1992) • Sucker Punch (2011) • Tales from Earthsea (2006) • Ted (2012) • Time Bandits (1981) • Time of the Gypsies (1988) • Timeline (2003) • Total Recall (1990) • Viy (2014) • Warcraft (2016) • Where the Wild Things Are (2009) • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) • Willow (1988) • The Wizard of Oz (1939) • Zoom (2015)

Favorite Epic or High Fantasy Films

High fantasy, or epic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy defined by the epic nature of its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes or plot. High fantasy is set in an alternative, fictional (“secondary”) world, rather than the “real” or “primary” world. This secondary world is usually internally consistent, but its rules differ from those of the primary world. By contrast, low fantasy is characterized by being set on Earth, the primary or real world, or a rational and familiar fictional world with the inclusion of magical elements. Some purists might insist that all of the characters be from the fantasy world. Others might allow characters from the “real” world to cross into the fantasy realm (such as in Alice in Wonderland and the Narnia tales). Harry Potter presents an unusual case where the fantasy world coexists in the real world but is at times completely separated from it. Voters will have to decide for themselves whether such films are eligible.

Buzzworthy: Alice in Wonderland (2010) • Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) • The BFG (2016) • The Black Cauldron (1985) • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) • The Dark Crystal (1982) • Dragonslayer (1981) • Eragon (2006) • The Golden Compass (2007) • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) • How to Train Your Dragon (2010) • How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) • The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2012) • Kaashmora (2016) • Kull the Conqueror (1997) • Legend (1985) • The Lord of the Rings (1978) • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) • The NeverEnding Story (1984) • The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990) • The NeverEnding Story III (1994) • Onward (2020) • Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) • The Princess Bride (1987) • Red Sonja (1985) • Red Sonja: Queen of Plagues (2016) • Seventh Son (2014) • The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) • Stardust (2007) • Tales from Earthsea (2006) • Viy (2014) • Warcraft (2016) • Willow (1988) • The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Favorite Contemporary or Low Fantasy Films

Contemporary fantasy, also known as modern fantasy or indigenous fantasy, and sometimes low fantasy as a contrast to high fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy stories set in the time period of the maker. It is perhaps most popular for its subgenre, urban fantasy. Strictly, supernatural fiction can be said to be part of contemporary fantasy since it has fantasy elements and is set in a contemporary setting. In practice, however, supernatural fiction is a well-established genre in its own right, with its own distinctive conventions. Stories in which modern characters travel into alternative worlds, and all the magical action takes place there (except for the portal required to transport them), such as the Narnia books and films, are generally not considered contemporary fantasy. Magic Realism, a subgenre in which one or more characters may have magical gifts (such as precognition or the ability to channel spirits) would be appropriate here.

Buzzworthy: The Age of Adeline (2015) • Army of Darkness (1992) • Back to the Future Part III (1990) • Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991) • Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) • Bedtime Stories (2008) • Big (1988) • Big Fish (2003) • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) • Cool World (1992) • Coraline (2009) • Crusade in Jeans (2006) • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2006) • Dagon (2001) • Dead of Night (1945) • Death Note (2006) • Delirious (1991) • The Devil’s Backbone (2001) • Dorks & Damsels (2007) • Down to Earth (1947) • Edward Scissorhands (1990) • Enchanted (2007) • Encino Man (1992) • Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) • The Fall (2006) • Field of Dreams (1989) • The Final Girls (2015) • Frequency (2000) • From Time to Time (2009) • Ghost (1990) • Ghostbusters (1984) • The Green Mile (1999) • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) • Heart of the Warrior (1999) • Highlander (1986) • Hocus Pocus (1993) • Hook (1991) • The House of the Spirits (1993) • Inkheart (2008) • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) • Jumanji (1995) • Lady in the Water (2006) • Land of the Lost (2009) • Last Action Hero (1993) • Lawn Dogs (1997) • Liar Liar (1997) • Like Water for Chocolate (1992) • Lost Highway (1997) • The Lovely Bones (2009) • The Man from Earth (2007) • Men in Black 3 (2012) • Midnight in Paris (2011) • Mirrormask (2005) • The Mole People (1956) • Monkeybone (2001) • The Mummy Returns (2001) • My Neighbor Totoro (1988) • The NeverEnding Story (1984) • Night at the Museum (2006) • Nobody Knows Anybody (1999) • Ondine (2009) • The Pagemaster (1994) • Pan (2015) • Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) • Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) • Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) • Pleasantville (1998) • The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) • Return from Witch Mountain (1978) • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) • Ruby Sparks (2012) • Santa’s Slay (2005) • Saviour of the Soul (1991) • The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) • Somewhere in Time (1980) • A Sound of Thunder (2005) • The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) • Stay Tuned (1992) • Sucker Punch (2011) • Ted (2012) • Time Bandits (1981) • Time of the Gypsies (1988) • Timeline (2003) • Total Recall (1990) • Where the Wild Things Are (2009) • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) • Zoom (2015)

Favorite Films Inspired by Mythology

Greek mythology has been a staple of fantasy films since the heyday of “sword and sandal” films of the 1950s and 60s. Voters should feel free to vote for their favorite films inspired by Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Irish, or other mythologies.

Buzzworthy: The Amazons (1973) • The Avenger (1962) • Beowulf (1999) • Beowulf & Grendel (2005) • Berserker (2004) • Clash of the Titans (1981) • Clash of the Titans (2010) • Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King (2004) • The Dragon’s Blood (1957) • Draug (2018) • Duel of Champions (1961) • Gods of Egypt (2016) • Grendal (2007) • Helen of Troy (2003) • Hercules (1958) • Hercules (1983) • Hercules Unchained (1959) • Immortal (2004) • Immortals (2011) • In the Shadow of the Raven (1988) • Jason and the Argonauts (1963) • Minotaur (2006) • Oedipus Rex (1967) • Oedipus the King (1968) • Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) • The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) • Selkie (2000) • Troy (2004) • Ulysses (1955) • Wrath of the Titans (2012)

Favorite Films Drawn from Fairy Tales

A fairy tale, fairytale, wonder tale, magic tale, fairy story or Märchen is an instance of European folklore genre that takes the form of a short story. Such stories typically feature mythical entities such as dwarfs, dragons, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, griffins, mermaids, talking animals, trolls, unicorns, or witches, and usually magic or enchantments. In most cultures, there is no clear line separating myth from folk or fairy tale; all these together form the literature of preliterate societies. Fairy tales may be distinguished from other folk narratives such as legends (which generally involve belief in the veracity of the events described) and explicit moral tales, including beast fables.

Buzzworthy: Aladdin (1992) • Alice of Wonderland in Paris (1966) • Along Came a Soldier (1969) • Barbe-Bleue (1951) • Beastly (2011) • Beauty and the Beast (1946) • Beauty and the Beast (1962) • Beauty and the Beast (1991) • Beauty and the Beast (2014) • Beauty and the Beast (2017) • Blancanieves (2012) • Bluebeard (2009) • Bo li xie (1959) • The Brothers Grimm (2005) • Cinderella (1950) • Cinderella (2015) • Cinderella (2021) • Cláudia (1923) • Das Kleid (1961) • Das Stacheltier – Der junge Engländer (1958) • Das tapfere Schneiderlein (1956) • Der Bärenhäuter (1986) • Der kleine Muck (1921) • Der kleine Muck (1944) • Donkey Skin (1970) • Ella Enchanted (2004) • The Emperor’s New Clothes (1987) • The Emperor’s Nightingale (1949) • Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998) • Ferozz: The Wild Red Riding Hood (2010) • The Fisherman and His Wife (2005) • Freeway (1996) • Frozen (2013) • Gretel & Hansel (2020) • Grimm (2003) • Hansel & Gretel (2006) • Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) • Hänsel und Gretel (1954) • A Happening in Hamelin (1969) • Happily N’Ever After (2006) • Heart of Stone (2016) • Histórias Que Nossas Babás Não Contavam (1979) • Hop-o’-My-Thumb (2011) • The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016) • If I Were Harap Alb (1965) • Into the Woods (2014) • Istanbul Tales (2005) • Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) • Little from the Fish Shop (2015) • The Little Mermaid (1989) • The Little Mermaid (2018) • Maleficent (2014) • Mermaid (2007) • Mirror Mirror (2012) • Mulan (1998) • The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) • The Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2010) • On the Count of Zero (2007) • Once Upon a Time (1973) • Pinocchio (1940) • Pinokyo en Little Snow White (1972) • Puss in Boots (1969) • Puss in Boots (1988) • Red Riding Hood (2011) • The Red Shoes (2005) • Rumpelstiltskin (1995) • The Sandman and the Lost Sand of Dreams (2010) • Secret of the Wings (2012) • The Seven Ravens (1937) • The Seven Ravens (2015) • Shrek 2 (2004) • Sleeping Beauty (1959) • Sleeping Beauty (1990) • Sleeping Beauty (2016) • The Snow Queen (2012) • Snow White and the 7 Bachelors (1960) • Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2022) • Svinedrengen og prinsessen på ærten (1962) • Sydney White (2007) • Tangled (2010) • Thumbelina (1994) • Tideland (2005) • The Ugly Duckling (1997) • The Uninvited (2009) • White as Snow (2019)

Favorite Comedic Fantasy Movie

While even fantasy films that take themselves deadly seriously (like The Lord of the Rings) have moments of comedic relief, we’re looking for films that blend both comedy and fantasy.

Buzzworthy: *batteries not included (1987) • 13 Going on 30 (2004) • 17 Again (2009) • 18 Again! (1988) • The Addams Family (1991) • Alice (1990) • All of Me (1984) • Angel-A (2005) • Arizona Dream (1993) • Bedazzled (2000) • Beetlejuice (1988) • Being Human (1994) • Being John Malkovich (1999) • Bewitched (2005) • Big (1988) • The Borrowers (1997) • Bruce Almighty (2003) • The Butcher’s Wife (1991) • Chances Are (1989) • Click (2006) • Death Becomes Her (1992) • Deconstructing Harry (1997) • Defending Your Life (1991) • Down to Earth (2001) • Drop Dead Fred (1991) • Encino Man (1992) • Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998) • The Family Man (2000) • Flubber (1997) • Ghost Town (2008) • Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) • Good Bye Lenin! (2003) • Good Luck Chuck (2007) • Groundhog Day (1993) • Heart and Souls (1993) • The Hot Chick (2002) • Hot to Trot (1988) • The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) • If Only (2004) • The Invention of Lying (2009) • Jack (1996) • Just Like Heaven (2005) • Just My Luck (2006) • Just Visiting (2001) • Kate & Leopold (2001) • L.A. Story (1991) • Liar Liar (1997) • Like Father Like Son (1987) • Little Nicky (2000) • Mannequin (1987) • Michael (1996) • A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999) • Mighty Aphrodite (1995) • Mr. Destiny (1990) • Multiplicity (1996) • Oh, God! (1977) • Over Her Dead Body (2008) • Penelope (2006) • Pleasantville (1998) • Practical Magic (1998) • The Preacher’s Wife (1996) • Prelude to a Kiss (1992) • The Princess Bride (1987) • The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) • S1m0ne (2002) • Scrooged (1988) • Shallow Hal (2001) • Shortcut to Happiness (2003) • Splash (1984) • Stay Tuned (1992) • Stranger Than Fiction (2006) • Teen Wolf (1985) • Timer (2009) • Tokyo! (2008) • Toys (1992) • Weird Science (1985) • What Women Want (2000) • Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)

Favorite Superhero Films

A film that examines the adventures of costumed crime fighters known as superheroes, people who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals known as supervillains. Although these powers may sometimes seem magical, or sometimes may be granted through technology, this genre is a more specific subset of fantasy and/or science fiction films.

Buzzworthy: Alita: Battle Angel (2019) • The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) • Ant-Man (2015) • Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) • Aquaman (2018) • The Avengers (2012) • Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) • Avengers: Endgame (2019) • Avengers: Infinity War (2018) • Batman (1989) • Batman & Robin (1997) • Batman Begins (2005) • Batman Forever (1995) • Batman Returns (1992) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) • Big Hero 6 (2014) • Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) • Birds of Prey (2020) • Black Panther (2018) • Black Widow (2021) • Blade (1998) • Bloodshot (2020) • Captain America: Civil War (2016) • Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) • Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) • Captain Marvel (2019) • The Crow (1994) • The Dark Knight (2008) • The Dark Knight Rises (2012) • Deadpool (2016) • Deadpool 2 (2018) • Doctor Strange (2016) • Eternals (2021) • Furious 7 (2015) • Ghostbusters (1984) • Ghostbusters (2016) • Green Lantern (2011) • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) • The Incredible Hulk (2008) • The Incredibles (2004) • Injustice (2021) • Iron Man (2008) • Iron Man 2 (2010) • Iron Man 3 (2013) • Jingle All the Way (1996) • Justice League (2017) • Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) • Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) • Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) • The Last Airbender (2010) • Logan (2017) • Man of Steel (2013) • The Matrix Reloaded (2003) • The Matrix Revolutions (2003) • Men in Black (1997) • Men in Black 3 (2012) • My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021) • The New Mutants (2020) • The Old Guard (2020) • RoboCop (1987) • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) • Shazam! (2019) • Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) • Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) • Spider-Man (2002) • Spider-Man 2 (2004) • Spider-Man 3 (2007) • Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) • Split (2016) • Suicide Squad (2016) • The Suicide Squad (2021) • Supergirl (1984) • Superman (1978) • Superman II (1980) • Superman III (1983) • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) • Thor (2011) • Thor: Ragnarok (2017) • Thor: The Dark World (2013) • V for Vendetta (2005) • Venom (2018) • Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) • Watchmen (2009) • Wonder Woman (2017) • Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) • X2: X-Men United (2003) • X-Men (2000) • X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) • X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) • X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) • X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) • X-Men: First Class (2011) • Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Best Science Fiction Film of All Time

Science fiction films are similar to fantasy, except stories in this genre use scientific understanding to explain the universe that it takes place in. It generally includes or is centered on the presumed effects or ramifications of computers or machines; travel through space, time or alternate universes; alien life-forms; genetic engineering; or other such things. The science or technology used may or may not be very thoroughly elaborated on; stories whose scientific elements are reasonably detailed, well-researched and considered to be relatively plausible given current knowledge and technology are often referred to as hard science fiction. Owing to the wide breadth of the genre, it very commonly has elements from other genres, such as action, comedy, alternate history (which is sometimes considered a sub-genre of science fiction), military or spy fiction, and fantasy mixed in, with such combinations often forming new major subgenres in their own right. Because it won the award at the first Lifetime Achievement Cosmos, Brazil is ineligible to win this award again.

Not Eligible: Brazil (1985)

Buzzworthy: 21 (2008) • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) • 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) • A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) • Ad Astra (2019) • After Earth (2013) • Alien (1979) • Alien 3 (1992) • Alien: Covenant (2017) • Alien: Resurrection (1997) • Aliens (1986) • Alita: Battle Angel (2019) • The Andromeda Strain (1971) • Apollo 13 (1995) • Archive (2020) • Armageddon (1998) • Arrival (2016) • Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) • Avatar (2009) • The Avengers (2012) • Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) • Avengers: Endgame (2019) • Avengers: Infinity War (2018) • Barbarella (1968) • Battleship (2012) • Big Hero 6 (2014) • Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) • Blade Runner (1982) • Blade Runner 2049 (2017) • Bloodshot (2020) • Breach IV (2020) • The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) • The Cabin in the Woods (2011) • Captain America: Civil War (2016) • Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) • Captain Marvel (2019) • Casino Royale (1967) • Cocoon (1985) • Colossal (2016) • Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) • Contact (1997) • Critters (1986) • Dark Star (1974) • Deadpool 2 (2018) • Deep Impact (1998) • Despicable Me (2010) • District 9 (2009) • Doctor Strange (2016) • Dune (1984) • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) • Elysium (2013) • Ender’s Game (2013) • Europa Report (2013) • Ex Machina (2014) • The Fifth Element (1997) • First Man (2018) • Flash Gordon (1980) • Forbidden Planet (1956) • The Fountain (2006) • Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster (1965) • Galaxy Quest (1999) • Gattaca (1997) • Geostorm (2017) • Ghost in the Shell (1995) • Ghost in the Shell (2017) • Gravity (2013) • Green Lantern (2011) • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) • Hardcore Henry (2015) • Heavy Metal 2000 (2000) • Her (2013) • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) • Hugo (2011) • The Incredibles (2004) • Independence Day (1996) • Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) • Interstellar (2014) • Iron Man (2008) • Iron Man 2 (2010) • Iron Man 3 (2013) • Isle of Dogs (2018) • Jason X (2001) • John Carter (2012) • Judge Dredd (1995) • Jupiter Ascending (2015) • Justice League (2017) • Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) • Law Abiding Citizen (2009) • The Lego Movie (2014) • The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) • Lifeforce (1985) • Logan (2017) • Lost in Space (1998) • Love and Monsters (2020) • Man of Steel (2013) • Marooned (1969) • Mars Attacks! (1996) • The Martian (2015) • Masters of the Universe (1987) • The Matrix (1999) • The Matrix Revolutions (2003) • The Maze Runner (2014) • Meet the Spartans (2008) • Megamind (2010) • Men in Black 3 (2012) • Metropolis (1927) • The Midnight Sky (2020) • Moon (2009) • Mortal Engines (2018) • Mute II (2018) • Oblivion (2013) • Oxygen (2021) • Pacific Rim (2013) • Passengers (2016) • Pitch Black (2000) • Planet of the Apes (1968) • Power Rangers (2017) • Primer (2014) • Prometheus (2012) • Ready Player One (2018) • Replicas (2018) • Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) • RoboCop (1987) • RoboCop (2014) • RoboCop 2 (1990) • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) • Serenity (2005) • Short Circuit (1986) • Silent Running (1972) • Sky High (2005) • Solaris (1972) • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) • Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) • Space Cowboys (2000) • Spaceballs (1987) • Species II (1998) • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) • Spies in Disguise (2019) • Spy Kids (2001) • Stalker (1979) • Star Trek (2009) • Star Trek Beyond (2016) • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) • Star Trek: First Contact (1996) • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) • Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) • Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) • Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) • Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) • Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) • Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) • Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) • Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) • Stargate (1994) • Starship Troopers (1997) • Sucker Punch (2011) • The Suicide Squad (2021) • Sunshine (2007) • Super 8 (2011) • Superman (1978) • The Terminator (1984) • Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) • Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) • Terminator Genisys (2015) • Terminator Salvation (2009) • Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) • They Live (1988) • The Thing (1982) • The Thing (2011) • Thor (2011) • Thor: Ragnarok (2017) • Thor: The Dark World (2013) • The Tomorrow War (2021) • Tomorrowland (2015) • Total Recall (1990) • Total Recall (2012) • Toy Story (1995) • Toy Story 4 (2019) • Transcendence (2014) • Transformers (2007) • Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) • Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) • Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) • Treasure Planet (2002) • Under the Skin (2013) • Universal Soldier (1992) • Upgrade (2018) • V/H/S (2012) • Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) • Venom (2018) • Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) • Voyagers (2021) • WALL·E (2008) • War of the Worlds (2005) • Weird Science (1985) • The Wolverine (2013) • The World’s End (2013) • X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) • X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) • X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) • Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) • Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

Favorite Hard Science Fiction Film

Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by concern for scientific accuracy and logic. Stories whose scientific elements are reasonably detailed, well-researched and considered to be relatively plausible given current knowledge and technology are often referred to as hard science fiction. The term was first used in print in 1957 by P. Schuyler Miller in a review of John W. Campbell’s Islands of Space in the November issue of Astounding Science Fiction. The complementary term soft science fiction, formed by analogy to hard science fiction, first appeared in the late 1970s. The term is formed by analogy to the popular distinction between the “hard” (natural) and “soft” (social) sciences, although there are examples generally considered as “hard” SF, such as Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, built on mathematical sociology. Science fiction critic Gary Westfahl argues that neither term is part of a rigorous taxonomy; instead, they are approximate ways of characterizing stories that reviewers and commentators have found useful.

Buzzworthy: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) • 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) • A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) • The Andromeda Strain (1971) • Arrival (2016) • Blade Runner (1982) • Blade Runner 2049 (2017) • Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) • Contact (1997) • Dark Star (1974) • Europa Report (2013) • Ex Machina (2014) • Gattaca (1997) • Gravity (2013) • Her (2013) • Interstellar (2014) • Marooned (1969) • The Martian (2015) • Moon (2009) • Primer (2014) • Silent Running (1972) • Solaris (1972) • Stalker (1979) • Sunshine (2007) • Transcendence (2014)

Favorite Comedic Science Fiction Film

Favorite film that blends comedy with science fiction elements.

Buzzworthy: About Time (2013) • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) • Ant-Man (2015) • Army of Darkness (1992) • Attack the Block (2011) • Back to the Future (1985) • Back to the Future Part II (1989) • Back to the Future Part III (1990) • Barbarella (1968) • Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991) • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) • Brazil (1985) • Dark Star (1974) • Explorers (1985) • Flubber (1997) • Galaxy Quest (1999) • Ghostbusters (1984) • Ghostbusters II (1989) • Groundhog Day (1993) • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) • Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) • Idiocracy (2006) • Innerspace (1987) • Mars Attacks! (1996) • Men in Black (1997) • Mystery Men (1999) • Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996) • Night of the Comet (1984) • Paul (2011) • Re-Animator (1985) • Repo Man (1984) • Shaun of the Dead (2004) • Short Circuit (1986) • Sleeper (1973) • Slither (2006) • Space Jam (1996) • Spaceballs (1987) • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) • Starship Troopers (1997) • They Live (1988) • Time Bandits (1981) • Timer (2009) • Tremors (1990) • WALL·E (2008) • Weird Science (1985) • Wild Wild West (1999) • The World’s End (2013) • Young Frankenstein (1974)

Favorite Science Fiction Film About Aliens

Humans have long wondered if there’s intelligent life anywhere else off this planet…and if so, would they be hostile or peaceful? Will they come to us, or will we encounter them in space?

Buzzworthy: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) • Alien (1979) • Alien: Covenant (2017) • Aliens (1986) • Annihilation (2018) • Arrival (2016) • Avatar (2009) • The Avengers (2012) • Avengers: Endgame (2019) • Avengers: Infinity War (2018) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) • The Blob (1988) • Bumblebee (2018) • Captain Marvel (2019) • Chaos Walking (2021) • Cloverfield (2008) • Cosmic Sin (2021) • The Dead Don’t Die (2019) • District 9 (2009) • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) • Edge of Tomorrow (2014) • Ender’s Game (2013) • Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) • The Faculty (1998) • The Fifth Element (1997) • Flash Gordon (1980) • Galaxy Quest (1999) • Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) • Green Lantern (2011) • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) • I Am Number Four (2011) • Independence Day (1996) • Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) • Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) • It (2017) • John Carter (2012) • Justice League (2017) • Life (2017) • Little Shop of Horrors (1986) • Man of Steel (2013) • Mars Attacks! (1996) • Megamind (2010) • Men in Black (1997) • Men in Black II (2002) • Oblivion (2013) • Outlander (2008) • Pacific Rim (2013) • Phantasm (1979) • Predator (1987) • The Predator (2018) • Prometheus (2012) • A Quiet Place (2018) • A Quiet Place Part II (2020) • Rakka (2017) • Return From Witch Mountain (1978) • The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) • Scary Movie 3 (2003) • Signs (2002) • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) • Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) • Space Jam (1996) • Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) • Species (1995) • Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) • Star Trek (2009) • Star Trek Beyond (2016) • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) • Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) • Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) • Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) • Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) • Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) • Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) • Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) • Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) • Stargate (1994) • Starman (1984) • Starship Troopers (1997) • The Suicide Squad (2021) • Super 8 (2011) • Superman (1978) • They Live (1988) • The Thing (1982) • The Thing (2011) • Thor (2011) • Thor: Ragnarok (2017) • The Tomorrow War (2021) • Total Recall (1990) • Toy Story (1995) • Toy Story 4 (2019) • Transformers (2007) • Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) • Under the Skin (2013) • V/H/S (2012) • Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) • Venom (2018) • Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) • War of the Worlds (2005) • X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) • Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Favorite Science Fiction Film About Robots

Robots, androids, and artificial intelligence have been staples of science fiction films for decades.

Buzzworthy: 21 (2008) • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) • A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) • Alien (1979) • Alien 3 (1992) • Alien: Covenant (2017) • Alien: Resurrection (1997) • Aliens (1986) • Alita: Battle Angel (2019) • Archive (2020) • Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) • The Avengers (2012) • Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) • Avengers: Endgame (2019) • Avengers: Infinity War (2018) • Big Hero 6 (2014) • Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) • Blade Runner (1982) • Blade Runner 2049 (2017) • Bloodshot (2020) • The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) • The Cabin in the Woods (2011) • Captain America: Civil War (2016) • Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) • Casino Royale (1967) • Colossal (2016) • Deadpool 2 (2018) • Despicable Me (2010) • District 9 (2009) • Elysium (2013) • Ex Machina (2014) • The Fifth Element (1997) • Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster (1965) • Ghost in the Shell (1995) • Ghost in the Shell (2017) • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) • Hardcore Henry (2015) • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) • Hugo (2011) • The Incredibles (2004) • Interstellar (2014) • Iron Man (2008) • Iron Man 2 (2010) • Iron Man 3 (2013) • Isle of Dogs (2018) • Jason X (2001) • Judge Dredd (1995) • Jupiter Ascending (2015) • Justice League (2017) • Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) • Law Abiding Citizen (2009) • The Lego Movie (2014) • Logan (2017) • Love and Monsters (2020) • Man of Steel (2013) • Masters of the Universe (1987) • The Matrix (1999) • The Matrix Revolutions (2003) • The Maze Runner (2014) • Meet the Spartans (2008) • Megamind (2010) • Metropolis (1927) • Mortal Engines (2018) • Mute II (2018) • Oblivion (2013) • Pacific Rim (2013) • Passengers (2016) • Power Rangers (2017) • Prometheus (2012) • Ready Player One (2018) • Replicas (2018) • Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) • RoboCop (1987) • RoboCop (2014) • RoboCop 2 (1990) • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) • Serenity (2005) • Short Circuit (1986) • Sky High (2005) • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) • Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) • Spaceballs (1987) • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) • Spies in Disguise (2019) • Spy Kids (2001) • Star Trek: First Contact (1996) • Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) • Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) • Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) • Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) • Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) • Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) • Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) • Sucker Punch (2011) • The Terminator (1984) • Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) • Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) • Terminator Genisys (2015) • Terminator Salvation (2009) • Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) • Thor (2011) • Tomorrowland (2015) • Total Recall (1990) • Total Recall (2012) • Transformers (2007) • Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) • Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) • Treasure Planet (2002) • Universal Soldier (1992) • Upgrade (2018) • Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) • WALL·E (2008) • Weird Science (1985) • The Wolverine (2013) • The World’s End (2013) • X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) • X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Favorite Science Fiction Films About Space Travel

Whether it’s to our Moon, elsewhere in our solar system, or intergalactic travel, science fiction stories more often than not deal with space travel. Which are your favorites?

Buzzworthy: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) • 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) • Ad Astra (2019) • After Earth (2013) • Alien (1979) • Alien 3 (1992) • Alien: Covenant (2017) • Alien: Resurrection (1997) • Aliens (1986) • Apollo 13 (1995) • Armageddon (1998) • Avatar (2009) • The Avengers (2012) • Avengers: Endgame (2019) • Avengers: Infinity War (2018) • Barbarella (1968) • Battleship (2012) • Breach IV (2020) • Captain Marvel (2019) • Cocoon (1985) • Contact (1997) • Critters (1986) • Deep Impact (1998) • Doctor Strange (2016) • Dune (1984) • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) • Ender’s Game (2013) • The Fifth Element (1997) • First Man (2018) • Flash Gordon (1980) • Forbidden Planet (1956) • The Fountain (2006) • Galaxy Quest (1999) • Gattaca (1997) • Geostorm (2017) • Gravity (2013) • Green Lantern (2011) • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) • Heavy Metal 2000 (2000) • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) • Independence Day (1996) • Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) • Interstellar (2014) • Jason X (2001) • John Carter (2012) • Jupiter Ascending (2015) • The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) • Lifeforce (1985) • Lost in Space (1998) • Man of Steel (2013) • Mars Attacks! (1996) • The Martian (2015) • Men in Black 3 (2012) • The Midnight Sky (2020) • Moon (2009) • Oblivion (2013) • Oxygen (2021) • Passengers (2016) • Pitch Black (2000) • Planet of the Apes (1968) • Prometheus (2012) • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) • Serenity (2005) • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) • Space Cowboys (2000) • Spaceballs (1987) • Species II (1998) • Star Trek (2009) • Star Trek Beyond (2016) • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) • Star Trek: First Contact (1996) • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) • Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) • Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) • Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) • Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) • Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) • Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) • Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) • Stargate (1994) • Starship Troopers (1997) • Sunshine (2007) • Superman (1978) • Thor (2011) • Thor: Ragnarok (2017) • Thor: The Dark World (2013) • Tomorrowland (2015) • Total Recall (1990) • Transformers (2007) • Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) • Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) • Treasure Planet (2002) • Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) • Voyagers (2021) • X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) • Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film Involving Time Travel

Time travel is a subgenre that spans both science fiction and fantasy films depending on whether the time travel was done using magic or futuristic technology.

Buzzworthy: 12 Monkeys (1995) • 13 Going on 30 (2004) • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) • About Time (2013) • Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) • Army of Darkness (1992) • Arrival (2016) • Assassin’s Creed (2016) • Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) • Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) • Avengers: Endgame (2019) • Back to the Future (1985) • Back to the Future Part II (1989) • Back to the Future Part III (1990) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) • Before Sunrise (1995) • Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) • Boss Level (2020) • The Call (2020) • Contact (1997) • Dark Shadows (2012) • The Dead Zone (1983) • Deadpool 2 (2018) • Deja Vu (2006) • Demolition Man (1993) • The Devil’s Advocate (1997) • Doctor Strange (2016) • Donnie Darko (2001) • Edge of Tomorrow (2014) • Event Horizon (1997) • Evil Dead II (1987) • Field of Dreams (1989) • Final Destination (2000) • The Final Destination (2009) • Final Destination 2 (2003) • Final Destination 3 (2006) • Final Destination 5 (2011) • The Final Girls (2015) • Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) • Galaxy Quest (1999) • Groundhog Day (1993) • Happy Death Day (2017) • Happy Death Day 2U (2019) • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) • Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) • Idiocracy (2006) • Idiocracy (2006) • In the Tall Grass (2019) • Interstellar (2014) • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) • Jumanji (1995) • Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) • Jumper (2008) • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) • Looper (2012) • Lucy (2014) • The Man from Earth (2007) • The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018) • Masters of the Universe (1987) • Men in Black 3 (2012) • Midnight in Paris (2011) • Minority Report (2002) • Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016) • Mr. Nobody (2009) • Napoleon Dynamite (2004) • Needle in a Timestack (2021) • A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) • Palm Springs (2020) • Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) • Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) • Planet of the Apes (1968) • Planet of the Apes (2001) • Pleasantville (1998) • Predestination (2014) • Premonition (2007) • Primer (2004) • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) • Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) • Shrek Forever After (2010) • Sliding Doors (1998) • Somewhere in Time (1980) • Source Code (2011) • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) • Star Trek (2009) • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) • Superman (1978) • Synchronic (2019) • Tenet (2020) • The Terminator (1984) • Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) • Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) • Terminator Genisys (2015) • Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) • The Butterfly Effect (2004) • Time After Time (1979) • Time Bandits (1981) • The Time Machine (1960) • The Time Machine (2002) • Time Trap (2017) • Timeline (2003) • The Tomorrow War (2021) • Tomorrowland (2015) • X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) • You Should Have Left (2020) • Your Name (2016) • Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Buzzworthy Suggestions for Other Awards

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