Thesci-figenre has long been a place where strange andmind-bending moviescome to thrive, and some truly amazing sci-fi movies have been directed by talented and creative women. Sci-fi, otherwise known as science fiction, is a genre that blends scientific elements with storytelling. Thus,tales of space, aliens, robots, and burgeoning technology all fall under the category of sci-fi.Over the years, sci-fi has grown immensely. From 1977’s very firstStar Warsmovie to 2024’sDune: Part Two,audiences have plenty of content to enjoy. Yet, some may be yearning for a more feminine perspective.
There have been some outstanding sci-fi movies that have been directed by women.Though it could be argued that sci-fi is a male-dominated genre, many women directors have thrown their hats into the ringand proven that they have just as much to offer audiences.The best sci-fi moviesdirected by women are those with unique concepts, incredible performances, and groundbreaking visuals. These are films that are unforgettable, and one or more of them have made a serious impact on the genre as a whole. All in all, these are definitely worth the watch.
10Testament (1983)
A Small California Town Faces Nuclear Disaster
One early example of a fantastic woman-led sci-fi movie isTestament.This film, directed by Lynne Littman and based on a short story called “The Last Testament” by Carol Amen, is about Hamlin, California. The fictional and idyllic California town is just like any other suburb until they receive the horrifying news that nuclear devices up and down the coast have detonated. One family,the Wetherlys, must press pause on their regular lives in order to survivein this new apocalyptic world.
Jane Alexander was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Carol Wetherly inTestament.
Upon its release in 1983,Testamentreceived largely positive reviews. It has an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, and in recent years, has been continually lauded as an evocative sci-fi movie. The best part ofTestamentis that it isn’t like other sci-fi movies. There are no explosions or special effects. Instead, the movie relies solely on its characters and how they interact with each other. In this way,Testamentwill certainly make audiences thinkabout how society might change in the face of disaster.
Turbo Kid
Cast
In a post-apocalyptic future, THE KID, a young solitary scavenger obsessed with comic books must face his fears and become a reluctant hero when he meets a mysterious girl named APPLE. Despite their efforts to keep to themselves, ZEUS, the sadistic and self-proclaimed leader of the Wasteland, plagues THE KID and APPLE. Armed with little more than blind faith and an ancient turbocharged weapon, THE KID learns of justice and friendship and embarks on an incredible journey to rid the Wasteland of evil and save the girl of his dreams.
A more recent sci-fi film with a lot to offer isTurbo Kid.Directed by filmmaking trio, Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell, and François Simard,Turbo Kidfollows The Kid, a teenager who is an expert in scavenging the wastelandsof his dystopian home. However, when a cruel overlord kidnaps The Kid’s crush, he must take on his most dangerous mission yet by saving the girl he loves.
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These sci-fi movies completely changed the genre, and their influence can be seen in the many visual and narrative references in other sci-fi movies.
Turbo Kidis quite the opposite toTestamentin that it gives audiences exactly what they would expect from a sci-fi movie: a strange new land full of quirky technology and risky conflicts. Yet,what putsTurbo Kidover the edge is its dedication to fun. The movie leans heavily into its tropes to make for an abundant and vivid piece. Audiences are often left feeling nostalgic, which is probably why the film has earned a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
8Teknolust (2002)
A Bio-geneticist Creates Artificial Intelligence
For those seeking striking visuals,Teknolustis absolutely the way to go. This 2002 movie is directed by Lynn Hershman Leeson, and follows an altruistic woman named Rosetta Stone. As a bio-geneticist,Rosetta wants to create artificial intelligence that can help improve the world. Yet, once she creates her Self-Replicating Automatons, she finds that changing the world may not be as simple as she once thought.
Teknolustmay not have the best critical reviews, but that doesn’t mean audiences should sweep it under the rug.
Teknolustmay not have the best critical reviews, but that doesn’t mean audiences should sweep it under the rug. Leeson’s movie definitely has some experimental elements that are probably not to everyone’s liking, yet the movie explores topics and themes that are still meaningful. Plus, Tilda Swinton gives a strong performance as Rosetta Stone. In this way,Teknolustis a great choice for those who crave something very different.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World follows two strangers, played by Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, who set out on a road trip to find a high school sweetheart before an oncoming asteroid brings forth the end of the world.
Where some sci-fi movies can be devastating, others bring more light into the world. The next movie is the latter.Seeking A Friend For The End of the Worldisa rom-com moviethat begins when society learns that an asteroid is headed towards earth, and will obliterate everything in a month. As a result,boring salesman Dodge must deal with his wife suddenly leaving him. However, when Dodge’s quirky neighbor delivers him a love letter from his wife, they decide to team up in the name of love and win Dodge’s wife back.
Once again, Lorene Scafaria’sSeeking a Friend for the End of the Worlddoes not have the most stellar reviews, at 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, but that shouldn’t be a huge strike against the movie.Keira Knightley and Steve Carell bring hilarious and heartwarming performances to this movie, which is almost sure to touch anyone who watches it. Furthermore, the movie’s ending may not be for everyone, but as Roger Ebert noted, “Isn’t the dilemma of the plot the essential dilemma of life?”
Deep Impact
Deep Impact follows a group of astronauts and scientists who race to stop a massive comet from destroying all life on Earth. Téa Leoni stars as journalist Jenny Lerner alongside Elijah Wood as novice astronomer Leo Beiderman, Robert Duvall as Captain Spurgeon “Fish” Tanner, and Morgan Freeman as US President Tom Beck.
One of the very first box office hits on this list isDeep Impact.Directed by Mimi Leder, this sci-fi flick has a fairly simple premise.A comet is on its way to destroy Earth, forcing the President to make a difficult decision. He sends a team of astronauts into space with the mission of putting explosives on the comet to blow it up before it can hit the planet. Humanity sits and waits with the hope that they can all survive this crisis.
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Though reboots and remakes are more popular than ever, there are certain science fiction movies that don’t need another adaptation of their stories.
On a budget of $80 million,Deep Impactearned a stunning $349 million at the box office. It ended up being the sixth-highest-grossing movie of 1998. Aside from that,Deep Impacthas remaineda memorable disaster film. Though some critics felt that the film was melodramatic, others noted that the film was more brooding than your typical action flick. In this way,Deep Impactoffers sci-fi fans a little bit of everything, from an action-packed premise to thoughtful themes.
Advantageous
Advantageous is a science fiction drama set in a near-future dystopia where a single mother, played by Jacqueline Kim, faces unemployment and must undergo a radical procedure to secure her daughter’s future. Directed by Jennifer Phang, the film explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and economic disparity, highlighting the societal pressures on women to conform and succeed in a technologically advanced but increasingly unequal world.
An underrated sci-fi moviethat is definitely worth checking out isAdvantageous.The film, directed by Jennifer Phang, tells the story of Gwen, a woman in a dystopic future who works hard to provide a good education for her daughter. When she gets fired from her job though,Gwen must find a new way to make money. From there, she undergoes an intense procedure that will help her get her old position back by making her more youthful and racially ambiguous.
Advantageouswas originally released on Netflix.
Though not perfect,Advantageousis ideal for those viewers who want a movie to make them think. By exploring ideas of ageism, racism, and family dynamics,Phang creates a world that is stunning, scary, and effective. What makes this film truly great though, is how it connects to reality. The issues that Gwen faces easily parallel real problems society faces nowadays, making this movie something of a wake-up call to audiences.
Strange Days
Strange Days is a science fiction film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, set in the near future of 1999. The plot revolves around ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), who deals in illegal virtual reality recordings. As the city erupts in chaos, Nero uncovers a conspiracy linked to the recordings, involving a range of characters played by Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis. The film explores themes of technology and socio-political unrest.
A film with a really unique and interesting premise is 1995’sStrange Days.Directed by the iconic Kathryn Bigelow, this movie follows Lenny Nero, a former police officer who makes money by selling virtual reality recordings to the public. These recordings allow users to relive moments from someone else’s life. Yet, whenNero discovers a recording of a murder, he enlists the help of his bodyguard friend to figure out what happened and who is responsible.
Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director.
In some ways,Strange Dayshas it all. A well-known director, a star-studded cast including Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett, and a premise that is incredibly intriguing. Not to mention, the screenplay was written by James Cameron. All of these elements makeStrange Daysa perfect watch for sci-fi fans. Of course, this movie is far from perfect, but age has only made the film better.Bigelow explores deep and important topicsin a world that is full of questions waiting to be answered.
3Born In Flames (1983)
Feminist Groups Rebel Against Their Society
Another feminist sci-fi movie that should definitely be on viewers' radars isBorn In Flames.A docufiction drama,Born In Flamesfollows several different women who are part of feminist rebellion groupsin a dystopic New York City. Though each woman comes from a different background, they each fight for equal rights. Furthermore, each of them faces sexism that drags down their causes. The movie is directed by Lizzie Borden.
On top of that,Born In Flamesis unapologetic in its feminist themes, which was likely quite groundbreaking in 1983.
With an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes,Born In Flamesis an evocative and intense film. Borden uses real footage of violence from the streets of New York to make her sci-fi film feel even more realistic. On top of that,Born In Flamesis unapologetic in its feminist themes, which was likely quite groundbreaking in 1983. Overall,Born In Flamesis unlikely to be like any sci-fi movie audiences have seen before.
High Life
High Life, directed by Claire Denis, stars Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche in a science fiction story about a group of criminals sent on a mission to extract energy from a black hole. As the journey unfolds, the crew confronts the isolation of deep space while struggling with their pasts and the manipulative intentions of those in charge.
A highly celebrated sci-fi film from the last few years isHigh Life.Directed by Claire Denis,the movie follows a man and his young daughter who are the last survivors of a doomed space mission. The pair must rely on each other for hope as their spacecraft hurtles towards a black hole.High Lifestars Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche. It is told in a nonlinear fashion and explores the ideas of humanity and morality.
Among the many great sci-fi movies on this list,High Lifemay be the most cinematic. It is visually stunning and offers very deep and blunt questions about humanity. This is yet another movie that is apt to make audiences think about society and what everything means. In this way,it is a movie that isn’t as concerned with action and entertainment as it is with uncovering the secrets of what it means to be a humanon this flawed planet.
The Matrix
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
What is likely the most popular sci-fi movie directed by a woman isThe Matrix.Directed by Lily and Lana Wachowski, this cult classic follows Neo, a man who wants to learn more about a place called The Matrix. In search of an answer to his question,Neo goes on a journey through space and time, only to discover that all of humanity may be at stake. Society is living in a simulation and Neo must help to break the spell.
1999
2003
The Matrix Resurrections
2021
The Matrixis one of the most notable sci-fi films for a number of reasons. The movie was groundbreaking in its use of action and special effects, particularly in the context ofThe Matrix’sworld. Furthermore, the sleek cyberpunk aesthetic of the movie was unique and exciting for many audiences. On top of that, Keanu Reeves gives a great performance as Neo, which he continues to reprise in laterThe Matrixfilms. If there is any women-ledsci-fimovie that all viewers must see, it is most definitelyThe Matrix.
