While modern science fiction movie fans surely enjoy the classics – "2001: A Space Odyssey," and the "Aliens" movie franchise spring to mind – lovers of that genre also have been blessed to see some of the best sci-fi movies that have emerged since 2000.
As technology and special effects continue to improve, those science fiction movies look better and are even more wondrous to watch. Here are five science fiction movies since 2000 that have shaped the modern genre:
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1. Minority Report (2002)
It's interesting that this film, set in 2054, showed viewers so many fascinating technological possibilities for the future and that much of that fictional innovation might be a reality decades before we actually hit 2054.
Wrote The Guardian in 2010 about the movie: "Director Steven Spielberg presumably reckoned he was giving it plenty of room for the array of cutting-edge technologies to become part of our daily life. What Spielberg didn't count on, though, is … if you show off imaginary cool technology in a film or TV series, then kids, teenagers, and enthusiastic technologists of all ages will try their damnedest to make it come true."
2. Iron Man (2008)
NBC News called 'Iron Man' "the most technologically advanced superhero to ever hit film," and the digital effects for which the movie became famous continued into both sequels, which were released in 2010 and 2013. Yes, it's a comic book movie. But, it's also considered a really good comic book movie.
Wrote Roger Ebert: "With many superhero movies, all you get is the surface of the illusion. With 'Iron Man,' you get a glimpse into the depths."
3. Inception (2010)
This film, which won four Academy Awards (including the awards for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects), will be remembered for its striking visuals and its originality. Here's what the
Hollywood Reporter wrote in its review of the science fiction movie: It is "easily the most original movie idea in ages. What's new here is how writer-director Christopher Nolan repackages all this with a science-fiction concept that allows his characters to chase and shoot across multiple levels of reality."
4. Her (2013)
Talk about an unexplored relationship realm. As the main character falls in love with his computer's operating system,
the movie, according to Screen Crush, is "a gorgeous and glorious exploration of our need to connect, to be loved, and to know that we exist."
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5. Gravity (2013)
The
New York Times wrote that "'Gravity' is less a science-fiction spectacle than a Jack London tale in orbit," but what really made this movie a popular choice was the way it utilized special effects. The technology, in fact, was so new that much of it had never been used before, because the methods hadn't actually been invented yet.
Producer David Heyman told CinemaBlend, "It’s not a film that could have been made before now. It was a great leap into the unknown. All of the technology, when we began the process, we had no idea what we were doing. It was a process of discovery."
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