A Glean movie guide
The Sci-Fi Canon: 12 Essential Masterpieces
The ultimate science fiction odyssey.
From silent-era foundations to modern epics, these films defined the genre.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
2001: A Space Odyssey
A visual and philosophical landmark that redefined the scale of cinematic storytelling.
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
A neon-soaked masterpiece exploring the thin line 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
The Matrix
A high-concept action thriller that challenged our perception of reality.
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.
- 04
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
The definitive space opera that transformed blockbuster cinema forever.
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
- 05
Alien
A masterclass in tension that blends deep-space exploration with visceral horror.
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
- 06
Metropolis
The visionary silent epic that laid the thematic groundwork for all modern sci-fi.
In a futuristic city sharply divided between the rich and the poor, the son of the city's mastermind meets a prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.
- 07
Inception
A mind-bending heist film that navigates the complex architecture of the human subconscious.
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.
- 08
Interstellar
An emotionally resonant journey through space and time grounded in theoretical physics.
The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
- 09
Arrival
A cerebral and moving first-contact drama centered on the power of language.
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.
- 10
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
A revolutionary action sequel that set a new standard for visual effects and storytelling.
Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.
- 11
Stalker
A haunting, meditative journey into a mysterious zone where desires become reality.
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.
- 12
Dune: Part Two
A modern technical marvel that brings the scale of Frank Herbert’s universe to life.
Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.