SCIENCE FICTION

IN FILM

WHAT IS SCIENCE FICTION?

Fiction - a narrative with events or situations that are not factual.
Genre Fiction - fictional works created with the intent of fitting into a specific literary
genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Also known
as popular fiction.
Speculative fiction - science fiction, fantasy, science fantasy, horror, alternative history,
and magic realism. Strays strongly from reality to explore new ideas or relevant themes.

A BRIEF HISTORY
Silent Era
Technology.
Humor and whimsy.
Film Experimentation.
A Trip to the Moon (1902)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
The Lost World (1925)
Metropolis (1927)

1930s & 1940s

Space Fantasy
Quasi Science
Larger than life Heroes
Horror
Frankenstein (1931)
The Invisible Man (1933)
Flash Gordon (1936)
Dick Tracy (1937)

1950s

Paranoia
Atomic Power
HUGE EVERYTHING
Alien Invasion
Space Travel

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

War of the Worlds (1953)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Godzilla (1954)
Tarantula (1955)

1960s

Philosophy
Realism
Dystopia
Paranoia

The Time Machine (1960)

Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

1970s
Man Vs.
Government
Ecology
Brainwashing
Conspiracy
Silent Running (1972)
Soylent Green (1973)
Logans Run (1976)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Star Wars (1977)
Alien 1979)
Star Trek the Motion Picture (1979)

1980s

Escapism
Used Future
Dystopia
Action Adventure
Family focused
Time Travel
Comedy

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Road Warrior (1982)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Tron (1982)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Blade Runner (1982)
The Thing (1982)
The Terminator (1984)
Ghost Busters (1984)
Back to the Future (1985)
Aliens (1986)
RoboCop (1987)
Predator (1987)
Spaceballs (1987)
Akira (1988)

1990s

Genetics
Disaster
Rogue Networks
Computer, Human Relations
Authoritarianism

Total Recall (1990)

Jurassic Park (1993)
Star Gate (1994)
Independence Day (1996)
Gattaca (1997)
Armageddon (1998)
Deep Impact (1998)
The Matrix (1999)

2000s

Sensationalized Action
Emergence of A.I.
Speculation
Super Heroes
Adventure
Dystopian
X-Men (2000)
Minority Report (2002)
Serenity (2005)
Children of Men (2006)
V for Vendetta (2006)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Iron-Man (2008)
WALL-E (2008)
District 9 (2009)

2010 +

Superheroes
Psychological
Feminism
Reboots
Action
Dystopian
A.I.
Inception (2010)
The Avengers (2012)
The Hunger Games (2012)
Pacific Rim (2013)
Gravity (2013)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
The Force Awakens (2015)
Jurassic World (2015)
Martian (2015)
Ex Machina (2015)

GAME CHANGERS

A Trip to the
Moon (1902)

The Matrix
(1999)
Star Wars
(1977)

Alien
(1979)

WHY IS SCIENCE FICTION POPULAR?

Limitless possibilities
Allegorical
Reflects societal issues
Wish fulfillment
Escapism