The best science fiction films, according to hackers
29 science fiction films were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 11 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended science fiction films with the badge. Each figure is 5 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Visuals, atmosphere and fully realized world
People recommend it for its visuals, atmosphere and fully realized world, and its influence on later films. Critics object to the color grading changes made in later cuts.
Prescient and still relevant
A 1970 film about a computer that seizes control to save humanity, praised for its eerie, still-relevant concept and for beating the novel. Critics call it a slow bore.
Visual effects still look convincing
People recommend it for visual effects that still look convincing, ideas ahead of its time, and a smart, fun take on dinosaurs. Critics say the CGI has aged and the sequels are weaker.
All 29 science fiction films, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blade Runner | 54 | 11 | 83% | 10 | 34 yrs3 owners | Approved |
| 2 | Colossus: The Forbin Project | 35 | 2 | 95% | 9 | — | Approved |
| 3 | Jurassic Park (1993 film) | 32 | 7 | 82% | 8 | — | Approved |
| 4 | The Fifth Element | 24 | 3 | 89% | 5 | — | Approved |
| 5 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | 21 | 7 | 75% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Tied 6 | 2001: A Space Odyssey | 20 | 3 | 87% | 9 | — | Approved |
| Tied 6 | Alien (1979 film) | 20 | 2 | 91% | 8 | — | Approved |
| 8 | Everything Everywhere All at Once | 17 | 10 | 63% | 5 | — | — |
| 9 | Tron: Legacy | 16 | 2 | 89% | 5 | — | Approved |
| 10 | They Live | 12 | 2 | 86% | 3 | — | — |
| 11 | Interstellar (2014) | 11 | 10 | 52% | 8 | — | — |
| Tied 12 | Arrival (2016) | 10 | 2 | 83% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Tied 12 | Aliens (1986) | 10 | 2 | 83% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Tied 12 | WarGames (1983) | 10 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | Approved |
| 15 | Dark Star (1974 film) | 9 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 16 | Her by Spike Jonze | 7 | 0 | 100% | 6 | — | — |
| Tied 16 | Avatar (2009 film) | 7 | 13 | 35% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 16 | The Empire Strikes Back | 7 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | 6 | 1 | 86% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | The Wandering Earth | 6 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | District 9 | 6 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Children of Men (2006 film) | 5 | 1 | 83% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Dune: Part Two | 5 | 3 | 63% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Brazil (1985 film) | 5 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Gattaca | 5 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Edge of Tomorrow | 5 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Inception | 5 | 6 | 45% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | 5 | 8 | 38% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Project Hail Mary movie | 5 | 1 | 83% | 2 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same science fiction film in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to science fiction films that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.