The sci-fi genre has been delivering cinematic classics for many years, and as a result, has secured itself a reputation as one of the most popular genres in modern cinema. The general scope of science fiction is incredibly broad, encompassing everything from space operas set in far-flung galaxies to smaller-scale stories set on near-future Earth that examine humanity’s continued technological advancement. The best sci-fi movies are often those that are the smartest and most thought-provoking, although action or horror elements are also often used to make up for the lack of any deeper themes. The result is that sci-fi boasts an incredibly broad appeal, and audiences of all ages and demographics can usually find something to enjoy that falls under the banner of science fiction.
The success of individual movies within the genre often leads to the creation of great sci-fi franchises, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, there are many great sci-fi movies whose stories stand alone, with no indication that they’ll be continued in the form of a sequel or franchise. In many cases, this is probably for the best, as the story in question doesn’t seem to warrant any follow-up, but there are also occasional standalone sci-fi movies that desperately seem to need sequels.
Sunshine is a 2007 sci-fi thriller directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. It boasts the staggeringly impressive ensemble cast of Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Chris Evans, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michelle Yeoh, and Benedict Wong, and follows the story of the crew of a spacecraft tasked with delivering a stellar bomb intended to reignite Earth’s dying Sun. Its 2057-set story is set almost entirely on board the starship Icarus, making it a claustrophobic and visually distinct piece of sci-fi cinema.
Considering it’s a sci-fi movie where everyone dies, Sunshine understandably never received a sequel. However, that doesn’t detract at all from how excellent a film it is, because it’s a complete story that needs no second chapter. It takes its horror and thriller ideas and hides them behind a bleak sci-fi sheen, once again proving what an effective duo Boyle and Garland make. In a world filled with franchises, prequels, and remakes, Sunshine continues to stand out as an incredible piece of sci-fi that stands totally alone.
It often seems that Christopher Nolan enjoys making his movies complicated, making use of mind-bending cinematic ideas and set pieces, or simply crafting his movies in a non-linear fashion that occasionally leaves audiences scratching their heads. 2014’s Interstellar was hardly an exception, although its science was much easier to grasp than some of Nolan’s other movies. Priding itself on its relative scientific accuracy — pun very much intended — Interstellar is often considered one of the best sci-fi movies of the 21st century so far.
With an exceptional cast of talented actors led by Matthew McConaughey, Interstellar‘s story of a man forced to leave his family behind on a dying Earth to find humanity a new home among the stars is as enthralling as it is heartrending. Combining the incredible filmmaking talent of Christopher Nolan with a brilliantly crafted and equally well-acted story, it’s not hard to understand why Interstellar is so widely celebrated as a modern sci-fi classic. Its story needs no sequel, as it delivers a satisfying, if emotionally taxing, finale that ties its story off perfectly neatly.
2016’s Arrival is one of those sci-fi movies so smart that you have to watch it twice. Based on Ted Chiang’s novella “Story of Your Life”, Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation tells the story of a linguist tasked by the US Army with unlocking the secret to communicating with extraterrestrial visitors who have arrived on Earth. As she works, the movie features flashbacks offering more insight into her life, all building up to its third-act reveal that fundamentally changes the way the audience interacts with the story.
Arrival is one of those rare movies that actually redefines how audiences perceive sci-fi, making it one of the most innovative titles in the genre of all time. While much of the credit might go to Chiang’s original story, Villeneuve’s direction and the performances of Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner are also key elements of the movie’s success. The nature of its story and its final reveal mean that not only is no sequel even remotely necessary, but that the audience already knows exactly where Arrival‘s story is heading after the credits have rolled.
Luc Besson’s 1997 movie The Fifth Element is considered an epic sci-fi movie masterpiece that still feels entirely unique almost three decades after its release. Starring Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich, it follows Korben Dallas, a former special forces operative turned taxi driver in the 23rd century whose life is drastically changed when a mysterious woman falls into his cab. From there, Dallas becomes entangled in a race to save the Earth from an evil cosmic entity intent on its destruction.
Besson’s quirky and colorful approach to the sci-fi genre helped The Fifth Element to stand out, marking it as a truly unique movie that will likely never be replicated. The film’s charm lies in its imaginative designs and ideas, with its ensemble cast perfectly selling Besson’s visions of an outlandish future. It also delivers a definitive end, and while notions of a potential sequel are occasionally rumored to be floating around, no follow-up has ever materialized.
Edge of Tomorrow is a movie that effortlessly blends its sci-fi action ideas with the novelty of the time-loop trope, creating an exceptional science fiction story that stands out as one of the best releases of the 2010s. Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, it follows a public relations officer (Cruise) who is pressed into military service against an invading alien threat, only to find himself trapped in a time loop, forcing him to enlist the help of a decorated veteran (Blunt). Its story explores the nature of its alien threat and also delivers several incredible moments of science fiction action.
It’s clear that Edge of Tomorrow is a Tom Cruise sci-fi movie that should have started a franchise, but the planned sequel has yet to materialize. While it has been spoken about at length since the release of the original, no follow-up has yet entered production. Considering the movie’s ending leaves plenty of room for an exciting sequel, we’re going to continue to hold out hope that Edge of Tomorrow 2 might yet come to fruition.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
