A Glean movie guide
The Sci-Fi Canon
The greatest visions of the future.
From silent-era landmarks to modern epics, these are the films that defined the genre.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
2001: A Space Odyssey
A visual masterpiece that redefined the scope of cinema and our place in the universe.
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 noir that asks profound philosophical questions about what it means to be human.
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 revolutionary blend of high-concept philosophy and groundbreaking, stylized action.
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 V - The Empire Strikes Back
The definitive space opera that added emotional depth and a legendary twist to a galaxy far, far away.
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
- 05
Alien
A masterclass in tension that brought visceral horror to the cold reaches of deep space.
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
Inception
A mind-bending heist that explores the architecture of dreams with stunning technical precision.
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
Metropolis
The silent-era blueprint for every futuristic city and cinematic robot that followed.
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.
- 08
Arrival
A cerebral first-contact story that finds deep emotion in the power of language and time.
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.
- 09
Children of Men
A hauntingly realistic vision of the future captured in breathtaking, immersive long takes.
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.
- 10
Stalker
A slow-burn philosophical journey into a mysterious zone where human 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.
- 11
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The gold standard for action sequels, blending heart with cutting-edge visual effects.
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.
- 12
Dune: Part Two
A massive, immersive epic that brings the scale of classic sci-fi literature 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.