by Cameron Tejeda | staff writer
Whether they deal with robots, aliens or advanced technology, all science fiction films need to have one thing in common – they need to intrigue us and make us invested in what’s happening on screen. For this list, I chose my five personal favorite movies from the sci-fi genre – because there’s still 83 days until The Force Awakens.
- Minority Report (2002)
The great Steven Spielberg tells the story of a future where murder can be stopped before it happens. The film really did a great job at making me question the ethics of locking someone up for something they haven’t done yet. The action is filmed great, and the twist in the movie worked for me. Tom Cruise is phenomenal as always, as I actually bought him as the futuristic cop he is shown to be in the film. And for those reasons, Minority Report deserves the fifth spot on the list.
- The Terminator (1984)
Made with a budget of only 6.4 million dollars, The Terminator manages to tell a fascinating story as well as create an action packed thrill ride. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the cyborg sent back in time, and does a great job as coming across very menacing and seemingly invincible. The special effects are surprisingly good considering the budget and time it was made. Everything about The Terminator worked, it was smart, simple, and contained gritty action. This was the movie that put James Cameron on the map, and has become a beloved sci-fi classic.
- Back to the Future (1985)
Filled with adventure, heart, and laughs, Back to the Future is the perfect family movie to watch. Robert Zemeckis creates a time travel movie that is easy to follow, which is one of the best things I can say about the movie. Too often, time travel movies are over complicated. Back to the Future is easy to understand, but also smart. The ending holds a lot of tension that makes me on the edge of my seat every time I watch it. The movie is just so full of emotion and will continue to be recognized as one of the best sci-fi films of all time.
- Alien (1979)
This is one 
of those movies that completely immerses you into the environment. The long dark hallways creates an atmosphere so great that it made me feel like I was actually isolated on the ship with a deadly alien. The Xenomorph creature in the movie is such a good antagonist, as I felt like it could pop out at anytime. All the actors do a wonderful job in their roles, especially Sigourney Weaver as the character of Ellen Ripley, and all the creatures designed for the movie are creepy and threatening. The score and sounds for the movie just added to the eeriness and tension. Ridley Scott made the perfect sci-fi horror film with Alien.
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Was there 
ever any doubt that a Star Wars movie would be on a best sci-fi film list? My favorite of the Star Wars saga, The Empire Strikes Back, built off the original movie and improved it. There are classic characters such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca. But my personal favorite is one of the best movie villains of all time: Darth Vader. This is the movie that also introduced us to Yoda for the first time. The story is great, the action is fun, and who could forget the famous twist at the end involving Luke and Vader? Or how about the iconic Star Wars score by John Williams? Another thing that makes this film unique, is that it didn’t end on a happy note. The Empire Strikes Back truly solidified Star Wars as an iconic sci-fi universe that is still being expanded upon today. Check the 1980 trailer here.
