The 1990s produced plenty of brilliant sci-fi hits, with a mix of comedies, spectacular blockbusters and all-out action classics. Many of the best sci-fi movies of the 1990s have set the standard for the genre moving into the 21st century, and they have also established wider trends in the movie industry, since sci-fi blockbusters often dominated box office rankings. Modern sci-fi blockbusters started to take shape in the ’90s.
While the ’90s were a great decade for sci-fi movies overall, some years were better than others. 1999 produced The Matrix, The Iron Giant and Galaxy Quest, for example, as well as the rebirth of the Star Wars franchise. By contrast, 1992 didn’t deliver many sci-fi movies that have withstood the test of time. Breaking down sci-fi year-by-year presents an interesting snapshot of how the genre developed in the 1990s.
You are watching: The Best Sci-Fi Movie From Each Year Of The 1990s
10
1990 – Total Recall
Paul Verhoeven’s Cerebral Thriller Has Aged Well
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7/10
Total Recall
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Release Date
June 1, 1990
Director
Paul Verhoeven
Cast
Marshall Bell
, Ronny Cox
, Sharon Stone
, Rachel Ticotin
, Michael Ironside
, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Paul Verhoeven already had the success of Robocop under his belt by the time he solidified his sci-fi credentials with Total Recall. In the same year that Irvin Kershner took over for Robocop 2, Verhoeven chose instead to work with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he came up with another genre classic. This was a rare original hit in 1990, as the year was otherwise ruled by sci-fi sequels like Predator 2 and Back to the Future Part III.
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Total Recall got a remake in 2012, but the original remains far superior. Schwarzenegger is perfectly in his element as a man who gets memories artificially implanted in his mind, getting a chance to showcase his action pedigree and his more comedic side. Although Total Recall is endlessly exciting, it’s also a deep and cerebral sci-fi movie that deals with the tension between memory and reality.
9
1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
James Cameron Kicks Things Up A Notch
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9/10
14
9.4/10
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
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Release Date
July 3, 1991
Director
James Cameron
Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger
, Linda Hamilton
, Robert Patrick
, Edward Furlong
James Cameron has been a master of cinematic spectacle for decades now, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day sums up his broad appeal. After the success of The Terminator, Cameron spent a few years before deciding to make a sequel. The result is a movie that remains faithful to its roots while ushering in plenty of new ideas and even more explosive action. Terminator 2 quickly became the highest-grossing movie of the year.
Terminator 2 quickly became the highest-grossing movie of the year.
The Terminator franchise has been chasing the high of the first two movies ever since. After the original introduced the concept and the characters, Terminator 2 takes things to the next level, with Arnold Schwarzenegger getting a chance to play the hero against a next-generation killer robot. The T-1000’s liquid metal visual effects were groundbreaking at the time, and the success of Terminator 2 helped facilitate an industry-wide shift toward computer-generated effects.
8
1992 – Alien 3
The Divisive Sequel Is The Best Of A Bad Year
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9/10
Alien 3
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Release Date
May 22, 1992
Director
David Fincher
Cast
Sigourney Weaver
, Charles S. Dutton
, Charles Dance
, Paul McGann
, Brian Glover
, Ralph Brown
The first two Alien movies were both critically acclaimed, even though they took slightly different approaches. Ridley Scott’s 1979 original focuses more on horror, while James Cameron’s sequel has a lot more action. Following these two hits was a tall order for Alien 3, and debut director David Fincher turned out a much more divisive sequel. Fincher has since developed into one of the finest directors of his generation, but he has spoken about his disappointment with Alien 3.
While Alien 3 isn’t nearly as popular as the two movies that preceded it, it’s still arguably the best movie from a disappointing year for sci-fi. 1992 also produced the critically panned Stephen King adaptation Lawnmower Man, the dreary comedy sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid and a few other high profile flops. Ultimately, one of the low points of the Alien franchise is still preferable to other movies from 1992, since fans can at least enjoy Sigourney Weaver’s performance as Ripley.
7
1993 – Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg’s Dinosaur Adventure Was An Immense Hit
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14
9.4/10
Jurassic Park
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Release Date
June 11, 1993
Director
Steven Spielberg
Cast
Sam Neill
, Laura Dern
, Jeff Goldblum
, Richard Attenborough
, Bob Peck
, Martin Ferrero
Jurassic Park became the highest-grossing movie of all time, once again bolstering Steven Spielberg’s status as the king of summer blockbusters. What’s just as impressive is that Spielberg immediately turned around and started work on his Oscar-winner Schindler’s List, which also came out in 1993. These two movies show the broad range of Spielberg’s talents, and they have both aged beautifully.
Jurassic Park perfects the blockbuster formula, with enough humor and action to appeal to a broad audience.
Jurassic Park perfects the blockbuster formula, with enough humor and action to appeal to a broad audience. There are also some terrifying scenes of nerve-shredding tension to ensure that Jurassic Park leaves a lasting impression. Audiences may have bought tickets to see dinosaurs on the big-screen, created using a blend of practical effects and cutting-edge CGI, but the story and the characters are just as vital to the movie’s appeal. The massive multimedia franchise that followed has rarely stood up to the quality of the original movie, but 2025’s Jurassic World Rebirth will likely be another commercial hit at least.
6
1994 – Stargate
Roland Emmerich Kick-Started A Huge Franchise
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8/10
Stargate
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Release Date
October 28, 1994
Director
Roland Emmerich
Cast
Kurt Russell
, James Spader
, Jaye Davidson
, Viveca Lindfors
, Alexis Cruz
, Mili Avital
, Leon Rippy
, John Diehl
Stargate received plenty of negative reviews when it was first released, with critics lambasting its thin plot and its derivative nature. However, it also gathered an immediate cult following who were happy to ignore the critics and appreciate Roland Emmerich’s grand sci-fi opera for what it is. This passionate fan base has sustained the franchise for many years, as a series of TV shows followed.
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Stargate‘s divisive response shows that it was more popular with audiences than critics, and it was a commercial hit. Although it certainly won’t appeal to everyone, the high-concept sci-fi adventure is the kind of movie that creates a complex world just begging to be explored. For those inclined to explore it, Stargate has become something of a camp classic, while the TV series offer much more detail.
5
1995 – Ghost In The Shell
Ghost In The Shell Is One Of The Best Sci-Fi Anime Movies Ever
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9.7/10
Ghost in the Shell
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Release Date
December 8, 1995
Director
Mizuho Nishikubo
, Mamoru Oshii
Cast
Atsuko Tanaka
, Akio Otsuka
, Iemasa Kayumi
, Koichi Yamadera
, Yutaka Nakano
, Tamio Ôki
, Tesshô Genda
, Masato Yamanouchi
Animation often lacks the visceral impact necessary to create truly thrilling action, but Ghost in the Shell is an exception to this rule. The anime movie followed the likes of Akira in the tradition of Japanese animated movies that far outstripped the ambitions of Western studios. It has since been recognized as a seminal anime movie, and a defining sci-fi story with an international audience.
Some people might only know the live-action reboot of Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson, but this mediocre offering fails to capture the brilliance of the original. Thematically, Ghost in the Shell takes inspiration from movies like Blade Runner, with a high-concept exploration into identity and artificial intelligence. It couples this fascinating story with some of the most explosive animated action scenes of all time.
4
1996 – Independence Day
Independence Day Is An Endlessly Entertaining Sci-Fi Blockbuster
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Independence Day
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Release Date
July 3, 1996
Director
Roland Emmerich
Cast
Will Smith
, Bill Pullman
, Jeff Goldblum
, Mary McDonnell
, Judd Hirsch
, Robert Loggia
, Randy Quaid
, Margaret Colin
, Vivica A. Fox
, Harvey Fierstein
Independence Day was the highest-grossing movie of 1996, with an extraordinary $817.4 million box office gross. This speaks to the broad appeal of Independence Day, a movie that includes affable comedy and spectacular action as characters all over the United States scramble to respond to an alien invasion. Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman lead a great ensemble cast, populated with some of the best character actors of the time.
It’s the ultimate popcorn flick in many way, designed to be experienced and enjoyed, not analyzed.
Independence Day generally received positive reviews, but it faced some criticism for its overblown melodrama and a lack of intelligent character development. These flaws don’t detract from the sheer entertainment value that Independence Day has to offer. In fact, they help shape the movie’s reputation as a guilty pleasure. It’s the ultimate popcorn flick in many way, designed to be experienced and enjoyed, not analyzed.
3
1997 – Men In Black
The Buddy-Cop Sci-Fi Comedy Strikes The Right Balance
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7.5/10
Men In Black
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Release Date
July 2, 1997
Director
Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast
Tommy Lee Jones
, Rip Torn
, Linda Fiorentino
, Will Smith
, Vincent D’Onofrio
Following on from the runaway success of Independence Day, Will Smith’s next hit came alongside Tommy Lee Jones. This unusual combination brings the best out of both actors, as Smith plays the brash young rookie opposite Jones’ world-weary old hand. Men in Black is a typical buddy-cop comedy in many ways, with the added sci-fi bonus that the two main characters are tasked with keeping New York City’s secret alien population out of trouble.
The unusual combination of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones brings the best out of both actors.
Men in Black is one of the best sci-fi comedies ever made. While some other classics like Spaceballs and Galaxy Quest poke fun at the genre, Men in Black professes a sincere love for sci-fi. It’s just as exciting and interesting as any great sci-fi comedy, just as it would be without the comedy to back it up. 1997 also saw the release of The Fifth Element and Face/Off, but Men in Black is hard to top.
2
1998 – Dark City
The Box Office Flop Has Garnered A Cult Following
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9/10
Dark City
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Release Date
February 27, 1998
Director
Alex Proyas
Cast
Rufus Sewell
, William Hurt
, Kiefer Sutherland
, Jennifer Connelly
, Ian Richardson
Dark City barely made back its production budget at the box office, making it a disappointing commercial flop. Despite this failure, it has sustained a strong critical reputation over the years, and it has gradually accumulated more fans over the years. Rufus Sewell plays a man who awakens in a strange futuristic city with fragments of memories that don’t seem to fit together, but this familiar-sounding premise doesn’t capture Dark City‘s unique style.
Dark City incorporates some common aesthetic ideas, like a downtrodden detective who seems to be ripped from an old film noir classic, and a disturbing urban sprawl that evokes the likes of Blade Runner. However, its vision is wholly unique, and the sets, costumes and the overall art style don’t look quite like any sci-fi movie that came before it. Dark City has a beguiling mystery to support these immersive visuals.
1
1999 – The Matrix
The Wachowskis Set The Standard For The 21st Century
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27
9.3/10
The Matrix
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Release Date
March 31, 1999
Director
Lana Wachowski
, Lilly Wachowski
Cast
Keanu Reeves
, Laurence Fishburne
, Carrie-Anne Moss
, Hugo Weaving
, Gloria Foster
, Joe Pantoliano
1999 was a strong year for the sci-fi genre. Star Wars made its long-awaited return with The Phantom Menace, The Iron Giant has become a classic animation, and Galaxy Quest spoofed the genre in style. However, the greatest and most influential sci-fi movie of the year is undoubtedly The Matrix, the mind-bending martial arts thriller that helped set the agenda for the entire genre for years.
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5
The Matrix‘s central premise is so compelling that it has been reinterpreted and reappropriated in many ways, and it still retains its allure to this day. The Wachowski sisters don’t let the concept do all the work, however, as they build on a strong start with some of the most creative fight scenes ever filmed. The premise of commanding a virtual world allows for both hard-hitting action and complex, cerebral philosophy. The Matrix excels in both departments, and it’s arguably the best sci-fi movie of the decade.
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