Elements of science fiction have been observed in literature since the Epic of Gilgamesh, a 3000+-year-old Mesopotamian text. However, the first proper work of sci-fi is generally acknowledged to be Frankenstein (1818). The genre took a long time to progress beyond Mary Shelley, but the writings of H.G. Wells, combined with the birth of cinema, helped evolve sci-fi far beyond its literary roots.
Over the past century, science fiction has been broken down into a number of sub-genres, from post-apocalyptic to steampunk and everything in between. There are countless movies that can be considered definitive examples of sci-fi, although only a handful can truly claim to have reinvented the genre itself.
10 Reinvented The Genre: Alien (1979) Has Influenced The Sci-Fi Genre In Unexpected Ways
Ridley Scott may have directed Alien, but it’s Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley who has become the enduring face of the classic franchise. The movie seamlessly blends a variety of genres into its sci-fi narrative, from horror and fantasy to action and thriller.
Alien blew the lid off Hollywood when it was released, further delving into its unique universe through James Cameron’s Aliens (1986). As a testament to its longstanding cultural influence, critic Roger Ebert amended his original review from “real disappointment” to “a great original.” Alien went on to influence sci-fi in ways nobody could have imagined in 1979.
9 Didn’t Reinvent The Genre: Independence Day (1996) Established The Global Disaster Subgenre
Independence Day is a spectacular undertaking of truly monumental proportions. Anchored by stellar performances from Will Smith, Randy Quaid, Jeff Goldblum, and many others, the movie is credited for its major role in establishing the global disaster subgenre.
Independence Day was criticized for its exhaustingly tepid plot, but that didn’t stop the movie from earning over ten times its production budget at the box office. On the other hand, Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) failed to match its predecessor in nearly every aspect.
8 Reinvented The Genre: The Matrix (1999) Breathed New Life Into Hollywood Cyberpunk
The Wachowskis breathed new life into Cyberpunk with The Matrix, taking the subgenre into the 21st century with a refreshingly vibrant narrative. The film and its occasionally overlooked sequels have thoroughly ingrained themselves in the fabric of popular consciousness, eventually spawning a host of related multimedia products.
The hitherto unknown technique known as “bullet time,” masterfully translated onscreen using a combination of computer-generated effects and slow-motion cinematography, is particularly significant. Unfortunately, The Matrix Resurrections wasn’t half as innovative as the original trilogy.
7 Didn’t Reinvent The Genre: Dune (2021) Has Several Minor Inconsistencies That Prevent It From Becoming One Of The Sci-Fi Greats
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune carries on the cinematic tradition brought forth by David Lynch’s allegedly “incomprehensible, ugly, unstructured” 1984 adaptation. The newest version garnered widespread acclaim from critics, as well as obtaining a whopping ten nominations at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Dune‘s vivid brutalism and expansive landscapes are nothing short of exquisite, but the film’s minor inconsistencies prevent it from becoming one of the sci-fi greats. The upcoming sequel might be able to fix Dune‘s problems with casting, though.
6 Reinvented The Genre: Jurassic Park (1993) Revolutionized The Concept Of The Hollywood Blockbuster
Although Jaws is generally considered to be the first major Hollywood blockbuster, it was Jurassic Park that made Steven Spielberg a household name.
The film takes its audiences on a dangerously thrilling ride through Isla Nublar’s titular dinosaur park, carefully avoiding the expositional pitfalls in Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel. The legacy left behind by Jurassic Park‘s historic success is evident to this day, given that it practically revolutionized the field of CGI visual effects.
5 Didn’t Reinvent The Genre: Avatar (2009) Is Visually Gorgeous, But Lacks Thematic Uniqueness
James Cameron’s Avatar is legendary on several levels, largely in terms of technical innovation. Critics more or less appreciated the film’s many virtues, but it was the audience that turned it into the second highest-grossing film of all time, even after inflation adjustments.
Avatar‘s only notable drawback lies in its redundant tropes of imperialism, as in The Last Samurai (2003) and Pocahontas (1995). Nevertheless, Avatar is all set to make a comeback in sequel form at the end of 2022.
4 Reinvented The Genre: Star Wars’ (1977) Impact On Pop Culture Cannot Be Downplayed
The first Star Wars movie, later subtitled Episode IV – A New Hope, is set around the age-old hero’s journey narrative. Luke Skywalker is bound to his destiny as the Galaxy’s savior, one which he fulfills after an epic struggle.
Downplaying Star War‘s impact on pop culture is inconceivable: the film is deemed as a cinematic “watershed that influenced many of the movies that came after.” A host of filmmakers cite Star Wars as a dominant influence on their craft, including Roland Emmerich, David Fincher, Chris Nolan, and Peter Jackson.
3 Didn’t Reinvent The Genre: Minority Report (2002) Isn’t Radical, But Remains An Exceptional Sci-Fi Work
Minority Report, yet another Spielberg offering, was adapted from Philip K. Dick’s 1956 short story of the same name. The movie, while prominently sci-fi in scope and storyline, is a cocktail of multiple subgenres like murder mystery and tech-noir.
Minority Report‘s undercurrents are decidedly philosophical, with its central concept founded on the debate between causal determinism and free will. Most reviewers regard Minority Report as an exceptional addition to the genre, but it’s just not radical enough to redefine sci-fi.
2 Reinvented The Genre: Back To The Future (1985) Rooted Sci-Fi Within The Teen Comedy Subgenre
Back to the Future was rejected on numerous occasions before landing a deal with Universal Pictures. The film quickly became a massive hit on all fronts, blossoming into TV series, board games, video games, theme park rides, and comic books.
Back to the Future reworked the time-travel approach by rooting it within the teen comedy subgenre, an artistic choice that paid off multiple times over. President Ronald Reagan was one of the movie’s most famous fans, using its most iconic line—”where we’re going, we don’t need roads”—during the State of the Union Address in 1986.
1 Didn’t Reinvent The Genre: Starship Troopers (1997) Is A Spectacular Satire, Albeit Slightly Unwieldy In Its Commentary On Fascism
Robert Heinlein is known for reinventing the sci-fi genre, especially through his landmark 1961 novel, Stranger in a Strange Land. His Starship Troopers (1959) helped bring politics to the forefront of sci-fi, and has been referred to as the “ancestral text of US science fiction militarism.”
Although Paul Verhoeven’s adaptation was initially a critical bust, the movie gradually received recognition for its parodic elements over the next two decades. Starship Troopers is a spectacularly designed satire, albeit slightly unwieldy in its commentary on fascism.
About The Author
