Science fiction is one of the most popular genres and has been so for decades. As a result, it's no surprise it was also one of the earliest movie genres. Some of the first science fiction movies date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
They prove that when it came to creating imaginative stories about things that didn't yet exist, the creators wouldn't let the lack of computers and CGI stop them. With so many sci-fi movies to choose from these days, it's early to overlook some older movies, that, nevertheless, deserve as much attention as they did at the time of their release, more than 80 years ago.
5 A Trip To The Moon (1902)
When watching all science fiction movies, fans shouldn't leave out A Trip to the Moon, which many people consider the first sci-fi movie of all time. As the title suggests, the movie tells the story of a trip to the Moon. More specifically, a group of scientists travels to the Moon, and after their arrival, they have to fight the unfriendly locals.
The story isn't as complex as later sci-fi movies but considering the movie's runtime is 13 minutes, it makes sense. It still packs in a lot of charge and is imaginative. Georges Méliès proved in this movie yet again that he didn't lack ideas, and at the time of its release, A Trip to the Moon was akin to a feature film, considering most movies lasted around a minute or two at that time.
4 Metropolis (1927)
Portraying a dark future is once again nothing new in science fiction. In this movie, hundreds of people have to work hard in order for the so-called elite to live in prosperity. The social aspect of Metropolis aside, the movie is visually astonishing, especially when it comes to the portrayal of the titular city and all its facets. However, the story doesn't disappoint either and can make the audience think.
Despite its overall quality, the movie was a flop at the time of its release, and it only became iconic ever since. An interesting detail is that Metropolis is considered the creator of the cyberpunk genre. To this day, Metropolis remains one of the most remarkable fictional cities.
3 Island Of Lost Souls (1932)
A mad scientist is a popular science fiction trope but not a new one. One of the earliest movies that prominently works with this concept is the horror science fiction Island of Lost Souls. Based on H.G. Wells' novel, the movie tells the story of a man who crashes on an island and discovers that Dr. Moreau is performing scientific experiments there, creating human-animal hybrids. The movie has an intense atmosphere since Dr. Moreau is determined to make sure nobody stands in his way. Plus, the story is set in a limited space as it's almost impossible to escape the island.
The movie features several familiar names, most notably Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau and Bela Lugosi in one of the supporting roles. It was the first adaptation of the novel, followed by a 1977 and a 1996 version. But to this day, many fans who saw this movie consider it the best version of the three.
2 The Invisible Man (1933)
There has been no shortage of movies with invisible people...but it was the 1933 sci-fi horror that started the invisibility craze on the big screen. Just like Island of Lost Souls, this movie is also based on H.G. Wells' work. The story is somewhat straightforward. It centers on Jack Griffin, a scientist who figures out how to become invisible but instead of glory, it leads him to a life of crime. As a result, the movie functions as a sci-fi piece, a horror, and a crime story, creating a unique whole.
Claude Rains gives a memorable performance despite the fact that he primarily plays with his voice. The movie has a fast pace and keeps the audience guessing what will happen next. What makes it even more remarkable are the special effects that have aged well and work to this day. As such, The Invisible Man is a must-watch for all fans of the genre.
1 Adventures Of Captain Marvel (1941)
Adventures of Captain Marvel has an interesting backstory. It started out as a series but was joined into a movie, clocking just over three and a half hours. That might seem long but not much more than the likes of Avengers: Endgame (2019), for example, which runs for three hours. The 1941 movie is a good example that superhero stories are nothing new, even though it might sometimes look like there was no such content before the rise of the MCU and the DCEU. Adventures of Captain Marvel proves that's not the case, and it has a lot of charm, even though some effects didn't age well.
It's worth noting that this Captain Marvel has nothing to do with Marvel. Instead, it's Billy Batson who used the name Captain Marvel before the moniker went to Marvel Comics and Billy started calling himself Shazam! For the fans of the new Shazam movies with Zachary Levi, it'll be interesting to see how the superhero's portrayal changed from 1941 to this day. In this version, Captain Marvel fights all types of villains, and he does a good enough job. An interesting bit of trivia is that Adventures of Captain Marvel was the first feature-length adaptation of a superhero comic book.