All of human history is characterized by man’s desire to understand and reach the stars. This desire was translated into science and philosophy at first, but then also slowly veered into the realm of literature and film, thus creating the famous sci-fi genre. The last 70 years or so have graced us with a myriad of sci-fi films, some naturally better than most. Down below we list 3 that are an absolute must-watch for fans of the genre, as well as newcomers!

No such list would be complete without mention of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for good reason. Released in 1968, it is famous not exactly for a particular narrative or plotline, but because of the technical marvel that is its production style and quality. Space Odyssey is divided into 4 acts that generally follow a group of astronauts’ quest to better understand the place of humans in the wider cosmos. A genre-defining epic, this is definitely worth a shot for diehard fans of sci-fi!

Getty Images/ Moment/ Anton Petrus

Next up, we have the Star Wars original trilogy, from episode IV to VI. These are lumped together because, on top of introducing something entirely new on a magnificently grand scale, each installment of George Lucas’ space adventure exceeded expectations and continued to raise the stakes. The trilogy offered to its viewers a galaxy that felt so very alien, and yet so real by virtue of how well constructed and developed it was, and therein lies its charm. Adding to that is perhaps one of the greatest reveals in cinematic history which The Empire Strikes Back is most famous for!

Lastly, adding a horror element to the list, is the Alien franchise. While not all installments can compare to the original from 1979 and the 1986 sequel, they do invariably show the dark side of space exploration in the horrors that one could possibly find. The xenomorphs are plucked straight out of our worst nightmares, but that shouldn’t take away from just how cool the final showdowns tend to be, especially in the 1986 Aliens!