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Star Wars - The 'Star Wars' franchise is stronger than ever. After debuting in 1977, the world of sci-fi was changed forever. They aren't just films either, they have become a huge part of pop culture. Most fans' favorite is still 1980's 'The Empire Strikes Back.'

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Back to the Future - The 'Back to the Future' trilogy is one of the genre's most beloved. The first film, released in 1985 became a hit worldwide and quickly became a classic which would transcend generations. The adventures of Marty McFly and Dr. Emmet Brown are still gaining new fans to this day.

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Interstellar - This 2014 Christopher Nolan-helmed science fiction film is one of the genre's most acclaimed films of recent years. The film follows a team of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in search of a planet suitable for human life. 'Interstellar' won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

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Mad Max: Fury Road - Released in 2015 and directed by George Miller, this post-apocalyptic journey was one of the year's most popular films. The Academy liked it too, as it won in nearly all the big technical categories, such as Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Art Direction.

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E.T. - Steven Spielberg's 1982 classic is a film that's popularity has crossed the boundaries of science fiction. The story of the alien lost on Earth who befriends a boy named Elliott is one of the 1980s movies that has been passed on through several generations and is still relevant today.

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Gravity - This 2013 hit won seven Oscars, including Best Director. The film tells the story of two astronauts who survive their ship taking heavy damage.

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Arrival - Arrival was one of 2016's big sci-fi hits and follows a linguist who helps translate the language of alien spacecraft who come to Earth. The film was well-received, and Amy Adams' performance in particular, garnered positive reviews.

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The Terminator 1 & 2 - The first two films of the franchise are bona fide classics of modern cinema. As well as confirming Arnold Schwarzenegger as one of film's greatest action heroes, the 'Terminator' films were some of the biggest hits of the 80s and 90s.

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Guardians of the Galaxy - Nobody expected that a film about some of Marvel's lesser-known comic book characters would become such a smash hit. The sequel also managed to re-capture the humor and sci-fi elements of the original.

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Alien - 'Alien' and 'Aliens' are both seen as classics of the sci-fi and horror genres. These monstrous aliens surely give adults nightmares to this day.

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Planet of the Apes - The three new installments in the 'Planet of the Apes' franchise have brought it back into pop culture. They were hits at the box office and well-received by critics for their story, action, and sci-fi elements.

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Jurrassic Park - 'Jurassic Park' is another franchise that is proving to transcend generations. The first film, in 1993, was one of the decade's smash hits, and has spawned a run of sequels, the fifth of which will be released this year.

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Blade Runner - Ridley Scott's cult hit depicts a dystopian version of the future. The film's cult status earned it a 2017 sequel, named 'Blade Runner: 2049' and was also critically acclaimed.

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2001: A Space Odyssey - Held up as one of the genre's most important films, Stanley Kubrick's classic pioneered 1960s special effects and is still essential viewing for any sci-fi fan.

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Star Trek - The 'Star Trek' franchise is also a classic of the genre, and has 13 films to its name, including 3 recent films as part of a reboot of the series. The crew of the USS Enterprise and their adventures have proven to still be popular with different generations around the world.

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The Martian - Another big hit for Ridley Scott, 'The Martian' was released in 2015 and quickly became one of the year's most popular films. It follows an astronaut who gets stranded on Mars after his crew assumes he died on a mission on the red planet's surface.

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Looper - Looper is a 2012 critically-acclaimed mind-boggler starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Full of twists and turns, this one will keep you guessing!

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Ex Machina - The the dangers of artificial intelligence are explored in this 2015 sci-fi film. As well as being a hit with critics, it also won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

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District 9 - This 2009 film was a surprise hit. The story of an alien refugee camp was so well-received that fans have been hoping for a sequel which probably won't happen.

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Source Code - This 2011 sci-fi drama tells the story of a soldier forced to live the same day over and over until he uncovers the identity of a bomber. It was one of 2011's surprise hits.

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Minority Report - In 2002, Steven Spielberg released this neo-noir science fiction thriller. It's the story set in the future of a specialized police unit who stop crimes before they're committed.

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Men in Black - The first film of the MIB franchise is one of the most successful sci-fi comedies ever. The film about a government agency who track alien activity on Earth and beyond has stood the test of time and is still popular.

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The Fly - Another mix of the horror and sci-fi genres, this 1986 film is about a man who creates a teleportation device which goes wrong. The film won the Oscar for Best Makeup in 1987.

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Edge of Tomorrow - Live, die, repeat. That's the motto of this sci-fi film released in 2014. It starred Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt and was a surprise hit.

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Okja - This South Korean Netflix effort released in 2017 tells the story of a young girl who risks everything to keep her giant pig Okja from being taken by a powerful multinational.

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The Matrix - The combination of action and sci-fi is perfect in this Wachowski brothers film. The sequels were well-received, but the original is still the greatest.

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers - Released in 1956, 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' is one of the most important sci-fi films in history. Without any special effects, the story relies on a good script and the air of paranoia that develops throughout the story. It was re-made in 1978.

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Metropolis - This 1927 German sci-fi film is one of the first of the genre, being the most expensive production in Europe at the time. A lot of people agree that the story is still relative today and it's essential viewing for any fan of the genre.

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The Fifth Element - This 1997 film starred Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich and was a huge hit. It won over fans for its futuristic style and special effects.

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