The science-fiction genre has been responsible for some of the most exciting and ground-breaking films ever made. Filmmakers have been able to explore new worlds and new ideas within the wide field of sci-fi stories. Though each decade has its own standouts in the genre, the 1980s were a particularly interesting time for sci-fi films.

The 80s are sometimes seen as a dismal decade for cinema, but looking at the great sci-fi films to come out of the era proves that to be a misguided opinion. The users at IMDb have ranked the genre’s best of the decade and they are all worth revisiting. Here are the best 80s sci-fi movies, according to IMDb.

10 Back to the Future Part II (7.8)

The ending of the first Back to the Future film promises more adventures with Doc Brown and Marty McFly, this time heading into the actual future. Back to the Future Part II kept that promise with the characters visiting the year 2015 and attempting to save the present.

Following up on the inventive and entertaining first film was no easy feat, but this sequel keeps the fun going. The future elements are exciting, the story is thrilling, and Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd continue to shine in their roles.

9 Brazil (7.9)

Terry Gilliam is one of the most unique and creative filmmaking minds, which can often result in some truly bizarre films. Brazil is often considered his masterpiece and seems like the perfect project for him to showcase his considerable talents as a storyteller.

Set in a futuristic society overrun by technology and inefficient bureaucracy, one worker (Jonathan Pryce) unwittingly becomes an enemy of the state after attempting to correct a small error. The visually stunning and Orwellian future makes for a brilliant and thought-provoking satire.

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8 The Terminator (8.0)

James Cameron established himself as an exciting new filmmaking voice with his gritty sci-fi thriller The Terminator. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a killer cyborg sent from the future to assassinate a woman (Linda Hamilton) who will one day give birth to the leader of the human resistance.

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The ingenious premise set the stage for a gripping and action-packed adventure filled with thrills and twists. Schwarzenegger became the world’s biggest action star largely thanks to this role which he played perfectly. Though it would kick off a franchise, there was nothing quite like the grounded first film.

7 Akira (8.0)

Akira is an epic story based on the equally epic Japanese manga of the same name. This animated adventure is set in a futuristic Tokyo and follows a young teen who is transformed into a psychic weapon by the military and his outlaw friend who tries to save him.

Hollywood has been trying unsuccessfully to launch a live-action version of this story for years, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to top the animated original. It is a stunning, engrossing, and violent story that you can rewatch again and again without tiring of the fun.

6 Blade Runner (8.1)

After making one sci-fi classic with Alien, Ridley Scott returned to the genre with the noir-inspired Blade Runner. Set in a future in which replicants – androids that look human – are treated as slaves, Harrison Ford plays a cop tasked with hunting down a group of runaway replicants.

Scott builds a fascinating, dark and beautiful future world filled with interesting details and nuances. Ford makes for an interesting and complex hero, while Rutger Hauer steals the show as the frightening yet sympathetic lead replicant.

5 The Thing (8.1)

The Thing is one of those rare remakes that surpasses the original, as John Carpenter created a monster movie masterpiece. The story is set as a remote research facility in the Arctic where the small crew finds themselves hunted by a deadly alien that can take the form of any being it comes in contact with.

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The film has been dubbed by many as the best horror film ever made, and it certainly makes it hard to argue with the title. The tension and claustrophobic feeling throughout the film are nearly unbearable and the creature designs are brilliant creations that still hold up today.

4 Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (8.3)

The first Star Wars trilogy came to an epic conclusion with Return of the Jedi. The film finds our heroes going into battle once more against the Empire, and Luke Skywalker is finally forced to face his father, Darth Vader.

Though it is certainly a sillier and more kid-friendly adventure than what came before, this third film is still a whole lot of fun. From the thrilling prologue at Jabba’s palace, to the battle on Endor, to the final showdown, George Lucas created an exciting and wonderful end of this chapter.

3 Aliens (8.6)

James Cameron adds one more sci-fi classic to his resume with the action-packed sequel, Aliens. The sequel finds Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) joining a group of marines going to investigate the alien planet from the first film, which is now a colony. However, this time there is more than one alien to worry about.

Instead of trying to recreate the tense horror feel of Ripley Scott’s film, Cameron took the story in a new direction and turned it into a full-blown action film. Weaver is a total badass in the lead, and she is joined by a bunch of fun new characters who help add to the massive body count.

2 Back To The Future (8.5)

Despite mostly taking place in the 1950s, Back to the Future is a wild and endlessly fun sci-fi comedy. Michael J. Fox stars as Marty McFly, a young teen who is accidentally sent back in time. After altering his own timeline, Marty must work with Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) to set things right and get back to the present.

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The movie is clever, hilarious and exciting. Its complex premise is handled in such a smart and fun way. It is a joy to be along on this crazy ride with these two highly entertaining characters.

1 Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (8.7)

After changing cinema forever with Star Wars, George Lucas explored this galaxy far, far away even further with the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. The new adventure puts the heroes on the ropes as Darth Vader and the Empire continue their relentless quest to conquer the galaxy.

The darker tone of the movie makes for an even more thrilling space adventure. The characters we loved in the first film are made even more interesting, great new characters are introduced, and the story evolves in clever and unexpected ways. This is still regarded by many to be the best of the entire Star Wars franchise.

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About The Author


Colin McCormick
(2027 Articles Published)

Colin McCormick is a Senior Writer with Screen Rant and has been a proud member of the team since 2019. In addition to his work as Screen Rant, Colin is also a writer of News, Feature and Review pieces at Game Rant. Colin has had a long passion and obsession with movies going back to the first time he saw The Lion King in theaters. Along with movies, Colin stays up-to-date on the latest must-see TV shows. While he loves to find interesting projects in any kind of genre, he has a special movie of crime stories that are infused with a little dark humor much like the work of his favorite author, Elmore Leonard.

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