19 Essential '90s Sci-Fi Movies
by Phil Pirrello
Science fiction is the best! Seriously, look at your DVD shelf -- full of ALL the sci-fi, isn't it? Thought so. And the '90s is arguably one of the best decades the genre ever had. Here are all the era's essential films that you need to watch or we can't be friends.
'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
So many genre classics made after this one owe their existence to "T2." Its then-pioneering use of CG paved the way for future blockbusters to use (or abuse) it. And the tool allowed James Cameron to create one of the most iconic movie villains ever, the T-1000, to share the screen with his other most iconic villain-turned-hero, the T-800.
'Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country' (1991)
On the eve of universal peace, Kirk and his crew struggle to stop Klingon and Federation conspirators from lighting the fuse on more intergalactic war. "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" is a perfect note for The Original Series cast to go out on; it's equal parts murder-mystery and space opera, with a little WWII-era prison break fun thrown in.
'Jurassic Park' (1993)
Can't stop quoting this movie or hearing that great theme music, can you? It's okay. And yes, it is very okay if you try to work in a "clever girl" or "spared no expense" into everyday conversation.
'Stargate' (1994)
One of two Roland Emmerich movies to make the list, "Stargate" doesn't hold up as well as our teenage selves remember or wish it did. But the film packs an impressive amount of set pieces driven by practical effects that's worth revisiting, as is Kurt Russell's great finishing line: "Say hello to King Tut for me, a**hole!"
'12 Monkeys' (1995)
A time-traveling Bruce Willis -- seen here rocking a HAZMAT suit by way of a well-lit condom -- must go to the past to stop a deadly disease from wiping out our future. Lots of Brad Pitt making crazy-eyes ensues.
'Independence Day' (1996)
Forget the 2016 sequel. This very guilty pleasure is one that gives us all the nostalgia. It is also the movie that turned Will Smith into a movie star -- with the help of alien invaders.
'The Matrix' (1999)
Arguably the most groundbreaking and influential film of the decade (after "T2," of course), Neo's first bullet time trip is still his best. The less said about those pretentious and meh sequels, the better.
'Star Trek: First Contact' (1996)
The first "Trek" film crossover with mainstream audiences since "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," "First Contact" pits Captain Picard against his greatest enemy, the Borg, as the Enterprise crew struggles to save the past from the "assimilation is futile" baddies. One of the best, and most entertaining, "Treks" ever.
'Gattaca' (1997)
Why this has yet to be adapted into the next great sci-fi TV show is a damn shame. Moody and thought-provoking, "Gattaca" overcomes the limitations of its low budget to build a fully-realized world where perfection comes in a test tube, if you are willing to pay the price. Its thematic explorations of identity and humanity feel right at home with classic 60s sci-fi.
'Dark City' (1998)
No one loved this little-seen (but scary-good) movie more than Roger Ebert. Just Google it and you'll wish you could love something as total as Ebert loves this movie, which centers on unwitting citizens discovering the secret world hiding within their own.
'Galaxy Quest' (1999)
We were this close to getting a sequel/TV show from Amazon, but, sadly, Alan Rickman passed away and plans were deservedly put on hold. What we wouldn't give to return to this world, which is a perfect send-up of "Star Trek." Hell, you can argue it's a better "Trek" movie than most of the official ones.
'Total Recall' (1990)
"Get your ass to Mars." Or to whatever VOD service that's handy if you have yet to see this classic Arnuld actioner. (But if you've only seen the remake, um, no, despite but your friends say that's not normal.)
'Strange Days' (1995)
Maybe audiences were put off by the (literally) in-your-face marketing campaign or the film's lack of star power. But don't let that detour you from finally catching up with this underrated thriller set around the eve of the millennium, in a future where memories are for sale. We're still giddy about the film's all-in-one-take, POV shot that opens the film.
'Men in Black' (1997)
It's sad when you realize how much the sequels fell short of this very entertaining first installment, which further cemented Will Smith as both A-lister and THE king of opening movies in July.
'Starship Troopers' (1997)
A big-budget guilty pleasure with its tongue firmly in cheek, "Starship Troopers" works as both surface entertainment -- who doesn't love space marines shooting up space bugs?! -- and as a subtextual exploration of anti-war sentiment and fascism. Or just watch it for all the explodey bug bits.
'eXistenZ' (1999)
1999 was a great year for sci-fi (minus that little movie that introduced us to Jar Jar Binks). 'eXistenZ' is proof of that. And yeah, it bombed -- like, big time. But don't let that get in the way of you discovering David Cronenberg's unique look at videogames by way of all-organic virtual reality consoles. It's that movie you get excited about recommending to friends.
'Body Snatchers' (1993)
Yes, the movie made less than a $500,000 domestic. And yes, it does look like that woman is being attacked by angel hair pasta. But this overlooked, well-reviewed gem from '93 is worth watching, as it is one of the best adaptations of the classic alien invasion tale.
'Contact' (1997)
A (mostly) solid adaptation of Carl Sagan's famous novel of the same name, Robert Zemeckis' film is a technically impressive, and at times very emotional, story about first contact. Dealing with themes of science vs. faith, and how the two can both unite and divide humanity -- even in the presence of proof that we are not alone -- "Contact" is hit-and-miss, but also a thought-provoking entertainment with one hell of an emotional and riveting final act.
'Armageddon' (1998)
Oh, it's one of the biggest and best bad movies ever made. But you haven't lived until you've seen Michael Bay cut loose on an Earth-seeking killer comet by sending oil drillers (because the '90s) into space to stop it. Come for the line "space madness!," stay for the Aerosmith song that scored all your high school dances.
