A Glean movie guide
Essential Science Fiction
Speculative cinema at its finest.
A curated selection of the most influential and thought-provoking films in the genre.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
2001: A Space Odyssey
A foundational masterpiece that redefined visual storytelling and the scope of science fiction cinema.
Humanity finds a mysterious object buried beneath the lunar surface and sets off to find its origins with the help of HAL 9000, the world's most advanced super computer.
- 02
Blade Runner
The definitive cyberpunk vision that masterfully explores the blurred lines between humanity and technology.
In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.
- 03
Arrival
A brilliant, cerebral take on first contact that prioritizes communication and linguistics over conflict.
Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
- 04
The Matrix
A high-octane blend of philosophical inquiry and groundbreaking action that changed the landscape of cinema.
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
- 05
Children of Men
An intensely immersive dystopian thriller known for its breathtaking cinematography and urgent pacing.
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.
- 06
Inception
A complex, multi-layered heist film that pushes the boundaries of high-concept narrative structure.
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.
- 07
Ex Machina
A tense, character-driven chamber piece that offers a sharp and unsettling look at artificial intelligence.
Caleb, a coder at the world's largest internet company, wins a competition to spend a week at a private mountain retreat belonging to Nathan, the reclusive CEO of the company. But when Caleb arrives at the remote location he finds that he will have to participate in a strange and fascinating experiment in which he must interact with the world's first true artificial intelligence, housed in the body of a beautiful robot girl.
- 08
Her
A deeply human and speculative exploration of love and connection in an increasingly digital world.
In the not so distant future, Theodore, a lonely writer, purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user's every need. To Theodore's surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system. This unconventional love story blends science fiction and romance in a sweet tale that explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all.
- 09
Stalker
A meditative, atmospheric journey that treats science fiction as a canvas for profound philosophical inquiry.
Near a gray and unnamed city is the Zone, a place guarded by barbed wire and soldiers, and where the normal laws of physics are victim to frequent anomalies. A stalker guides two men into the Zone, specifically to an area in which deep-seated desires are granted.
- 10
District 9
A gritty, documentary-style film that uses an alien premise to deliver a powerful social commentary.
Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.