Blending genres is always fun, and when you mix two particularly popular and entertaining ones, even more so. As such, it should come as no surprise that some of the most beloved films ever made aresci-fiaction movies. Sci-fi is fun and inventive enough by itself, andactionis thrilling and adrenaline-pumping enough by itself. Put the two together, and you get some of the most exciting genre films history has ever seen.
Whether they rely on space dogfights, fights using futuristic gadgets and devices, or simply battles against aliens and other typical sci-fi enemies,sci-fi action movies, when done right, never fail to be a blast of fun. From the genre-defining classics of the ’80s and ’90s to the modern gems of the late 2010s and beyond, this remarkably fun blend of genres has produced some of the greatest movies of their time.
10’Inception' (2010)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
ThoughChristopher Nolanstarted as your typical adventurous indie filmmaker,he soon transferred that experimental spirit to the world of blockbusters, and is nowadays one of the box office’s favorite directors. He’s a master of both the sci-fi and action genres, and as far as mixing the two goes, it doesn’t get much better thanInception.
A simple yet compelling story about grief and memory anchors a mind-bending sci-fi narrative full ofawesome concepts and memorable scenes. It’s one ofthe highest-rated thrillers on IMDb, and an endlessly fun display of Nolan’s ability to twist the rules of sci-fi to his liking. Its story doesn’t quite have the emotional nuance that other sci-fi action films do, but it makes up for that withjaw-dropping visuals and some nail-biting action set pieces.
9’Edge of Tomorrow' (2014)
Directed by Doug Liman
Based on a Japanese light novel,Edge of Tomorrowis one of the best action flicks of the 2010s. Its premise and gimmick can be summarized in a single sentence, but the gripping wonders thatDoug Limanand his team were able to pull out of such a simple concept are stunning. Clever, unique, and with a great sense of humor, it’s one of thoseaction movies that are surprisingly perfect.
Thanks to the exceptional direction, the standout performances, and the infinitely satisfying nature of the time-loop premise,every single action scene is as fun as it is suspenseful. But what makesEdge of Tomorrowso special is that it’s not just shallow entertainment: There’s a genuinely endearing and emotionally compelling story at the heart of it, boosted by some great character work by the script,Tom Cruise, andEmily Blunt.
Edge of Tomorrow
8’Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2022)
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
Sony took the world by storm withSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which, right upon release, proved to be one of the Wall-Crawler’s most thrilling stories up to that point. A lot was riding on its sequel, but even then,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Versesomehow managed to exceed expectations. Spidey has never been better, at least on the big screen.
Across the Spider-Versemight just bethe most visually complex and stunning animated movie of all time, and the quality of its story isn’t too far behind. It’s one ofthe best movies of the 2020sso far, full of grand sci-fi action set pieces that are impossible to take one’s eyes off of. Ambitious, funny, and full of heart, it’s proof that superhero cinema is far from dead—it just needs to be placed into the right hands.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
7’Aliens' (1986)
Directed by James Cameron
Visionary Canadian filmmakerJames Cameronhas revolutionized both sci-fi and action on repeated occasions, but back in 1985, the only masterpiece he had under his belt wasThe Terminator. After he picked up whereRidley Scotthad left off and madeAliens, though, there was no doubt that he was a hugely talented voice in genre filmmaking.
WhereAlienis one of the most essential sci-fi horror movies of all time,Aliensis one ofthe most essential sci-fi action moviesof all time.The set pieces are a blast, the visuals are exceptional, andSigourney Weaver’s Oscar-nominated performance is one of the greatest acting performances in the history of the sci-fi genre. Turning the once-horror story into a full-blown action spectacle was a tricky gamble, but as always, Cameron was one step ahead of everyone.
6’Dune: Part Two' (2024)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
For the longest time, and especially afterDavid Lynch’s adaptation fell flat andAlejandro Jodorowsky’s never came into being,Frank Herbert’sDunewas believed to be one of those seminal books whose legacy could never possibly be captured to its fullest potential on the silver screen. In cameDenis Villeneuveand proved all naysayers wrong. HisDuneis absolutely fantastic, andDune: Part Twois somehow even better.
This generation’sEmpire Strikes Back,Dune: Part Twois one ofthe best epic sci-fi movies of all time. A tale ofbetrayal, war, politics, and cults of personality of gigantic proportions, it’s a masterclass full of creativity, emotion, and unforgettable scenes. The visuals are striking,Hans Zimmer’s score is one for the ages, and the performances are amazing. Somehow, all of those incredible parts perfectly add up to a greater whole.
5’The Matrix' (1999)
Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski
One of the most groundbreaking and influential sci-fi movies of all time,the Wachowskis’The Matrixhas the perfect balance between deeply philosophical storytellingand some of the most enthralling action scenes ever put on film. Psychedelic, visually striking, and just the perfect amount of cartoonish, it’s one of the ’90s' most iconic films.
Romance, violence, philosophy, and irresistible action are the basis ofThe Matrix, and its cyberpunk elements work phenomenally well.
The writing is phenomenal, but it’s really the action sequences that make this one ofthe biggest sci-fi bangers in history. The fights were groundbreaking at the time and remain iconic today, despite being referenced and imitated ad nauseam. Romance, violence, philosophy, and irresistible action are the basis ofThe Matrix, and its cyberpunk elements work phenomenally well.Very few sci-fi action gems age this wellafter well over two decades.
4’Everything Everywhere All At Once' (2022)
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the surrealist sci-fi action comedyEverything Everywhere All At Onceis about as ambitious and wild as its title makes it sound. It’s a film about family, generational trauma, midlife crises, and existentialism as a whole. Highly philosophical but also with a great sense of humor, it’s purely enjoyable and fun from start to finish.
Everything Everywhere All at Onceis outstandingly directed and has somegleefully over-the-top action scenes. On top of being so remarkably entertaining, it’s alsoone of the most mind-boggling and thematically dense sci-fi moviesin recent memory,making a rewatch obligatory. Thankfully,Everything Everywhere All at Onceis one of the most rewatchable sci-fi extravaganzas of all time.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Directed by George Miller
21st-centuryGeorge Miller, with just twoHappy Feetmovies under his belt going into the start of 2015, wasn’t exactly a filmmaker people were expecting to be as great as he had been back when he made the originalMad Maxfilms. Somehow, he exceeded all expectations when he releasedMad Max: Fury Road, which is not only the best installment in the seriesbut one of the best action movies of all time, period.
The movie is a mad parade of non-stop action and original idea after original idea, composed almost entirely ofa single extended action set piece that’s among the most thrilling everfilmed.Fury Roadis one ofthe most exciting movies of the last decadeoverall, proving that sci-fi action doesn’t need to have a particularly dense story when it has the style and grit to make up for it with butt-kicking action.
Mad Max: Fury Road
2’Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
Aliensis legendary, and yet it’s somehow not James Cameron’s best sci-fi action sequel. The honor of that title would undoubtedly have to go toTerminator 2: Judgment Day, which, at the time of its release, was the most expensive film ever made. All of that budget went to good use;sci-fi action has very rarely been this good since.
Terminator 2isalmosttoogood to be true. It has some of thebiggest, most explosive, and most suspenseful action scenesof Cameron’s filmography, and it flawlessly balances them with a genuinely beautiful story full of heart, charm, and humor. Yes, the adrenaline-pumping moments are great, but what makesT2so special is that, in the end of the day, it’s primarily the endearing story of a boy, his mother, and their socially-clumsy robot friend.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1’Star Wars' Original Trilogy
Directed by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, and Richard Marquand
As far as the topic of sci-fi, fantasy, and action movies is concerned, it hardly gets more iconic thanGeorge Lucas’Star Wars, the original trilogy in particular being the three greatest sci-fi action movies of all time. FromA New HopetoThe Empire Strikes BacktoReturn of the Jedi, they compose an overarching classic Hero’s Journey tale that simply doesn’t age.
TheStar Warsoriginal trilogy has it all:Awesome action scenes, enthralling world-building, creative characterization, excellent production values, and some of the most memorable sequences in film history, among many other qualities that cement it as a milestone of filmmaking. They’re three ofthe best sci-fi movies ever madewith spectacularly realized action, and they’re proof that this exceptional blend of genres is as entertaining as movies get.
