20 Great Movies Based on Sci-Fi Novels

Adapted from The Martian (2011) by Andy Weir.

Revolutionary Alien and Blade Runner director Ridley Scott's The Martian, based on Andy Weir's 2011 novel, stars Matt Damon as astronaut Mark Watney, who's accidentally left for dead on Mars. The story chronicles his scrappy and ingenious efforts to survive while a dedicated team on Earth scrambles to bring him home.

The Martian's overwhelmingly positive reviews called it a thrilling, smart, and refreshingly optimistic survival story that championed science and human ingenuity. Its masterful balance of high-stakes tension and sharp sense of humor was so effective that it won the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy. This critical and commercial success culminated in seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Matt Damon's charismatic lead performance was lauded as the heart of the film, earning him a Best Actor nod and cementing the movie as a modern sci-fi classic.

Screenwriter Drew Goddard would later pen the adaptation of Weir's Project Hail Mary, another well-reviewed film that just missed out on inclusion here.

"Ridley Scott's The Martian is a brainy blockbuster, melding genuine science and fiction into a rare popcorn epic that actually makes you feel smarter for watching." —Stever Persall, Tampa Bay Times

Adapted from Paprika (1993) by Yasutaka Tsutsui.

Satoshi Kon's dazzling anime masterpiece, Paprika, is adapted from the 1993 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui. The film follows a research psychologist who uses a revolutionary device to enter patients' dreams; when the technology is stolen, the border between dreams and reality begins to collapse.

Paprika was met with universal critical acclaim, often hailed as a work of boundless imagination and breathtaking visual invention. Reviewers celebrated it as a mind-bending, surrealist triumph that explored its complex themes with stunning artistry. Its influence on later films, like Christopher Nolan's Inception, is widely cited, and it remains a landmark achievement in animation, celebrated for its limitless creativity. 

"While I liked the film's aesthetics and its futurist imaginings, its most important attraction is how it engages. Some movies massage you; others tickle you. This one jacks you into cyberspace, involving you psychically and physically." —Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Adapted from The Man Who Fell to Earth (1963) by Walter Tevis.

Adapted from Walter Tevis's 1963 novel, Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth features David Bowie in an iconic performance as an alien who comes to Earth seeking water for his dying planet, only to become corrupted by human vices.

The film received a polarized reception at first but is now celebrated as a masterpiece of surrealist cinema. Critics praised Bowie's perfectly otherworldly and poignant portrayal, which was seen as the film's anchor. Roeg's fragmented, non-linear direction was lauded for creating a powerful sense of alienation, resulting in a haunting and unforgettable critique of capitalism and modern society. A 10-episode television sequel starring Chiwetel Ejiofor followed in 2022 on Showtime, with Bill Nighy playing Bowie's extraterrestrial character. 

"Bowie, slender, elegant, remote, evokes this alien so successfully that one could say, without irony, this was a role he was born to play." —Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Adapted from the short story "The Fly" (1957) by George Langelaan.

David Cronenberg's The Fly is a visceral remake of the 1958 film based on George Langelaan's 1957 short story. The film stars Jeff Goldblum as an eccentric scientist whose teleportation experiment goes horribly wrong when he accidentally splices his DNA with that of a housefly.

The film was a massive critical success, hailed as a masterpiece of body horror that also included a surprisingly tragic love story involving a journalist brilliantly played by Geena Davis. Critics lauded the groundbreaking and grotesque Academy-Award-winning practical effects, Goldblum's tour-de-force performance, and Cronenberg's masterful direction, which elevated the B-movie premise into a profound and horrifying metaphor for disease, decay, and the loss of humanity. A less-regarded sequel, The Fly II, followed in 1989, and an opera adaptation from the film's composer Howard Shore premiered in France in 2008. 

"David Cronenberg's The Fly is that absolute rarity of the '80s: a film that is at once a pure, personal expression and a superbly successful commercial enterprise." —Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune

Adapted from the novella "Story of Your Life" (1998) by Ted Chiang.

Based on a Ted Chiang novella, Denis Villeneuve's Arrival stars Amy Adams as a linguist tasked with deciphering the language of extraterrestrial visitors. The film, a profound, intelligent, and deeply moving science fiction drama, was met with near-universal critical acclaim.

Reviewers praised Arrival's ambitious, thought-provoking narrative that prioritized communication and empathy over conventional violent conflict. Adams' powerful and nuanced central performance was widely lauded as the film's emotional core. Arrival was hailed as a rare masterpiece—a beautiful and haunting film that was both a gripping mystery and a poignant meditation on time, language, and loss. After Arrival, Villeneuve would go on a legendary sci-fi run with Blade Runner 2049, Dune: Part One, Dune: Part Two, and the upcoming Dune: Part Three. 

"Anchored by an internalized performance from Amy Adams rich in emotional depth, this is a grownup sci-fi drama that sustains fear and tension while striking affecting chords on love and loss." —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

Adapted from the short story "Farewell to the Master" (1940) by Harry Bates.

Adapted from a Harry Bates short story published about a decade earlier, Robert Wise's The Day the Earth Stood Still is a landmark of science fiction cinema. The film follows a humanoid alien, Klaatu, who lands in Washington, D.C. with a chilling message for humanity: Live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.

The film was lauded upon its release as a smart, sophisticated, and mature entry into the genre. Its potent anti-war allegory and call for nuclear disarmament resonated deeply with critics, who praised the film's suspenseful direction and thoughtful screenplay, cementing its status as a timeless and influential classic. In 2008, director Scott Derrickson's The Day the Earth Stood Still remake with Keanu Reeves as Klaatu was released to less rapturous reviews. 

"Released in the midst of the Korean War and the prime of McCarthy, the film achieved a unique relevance for a 'spaceman' movie by unambiguously advocating for peace and grounding its pulp story in social reality." —Bill Weber, Slant Magazine

Adapted from Under the Skin (2000) by Michel Faber.

Loosely based on the 2000 novel by Michel Faber, infrequent auteur Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin stars Scarlett Johansson as a mysterious, predatory alien entity disguised as a human woman who drives around Scotland luring men to their doom. The film was met with widespread critical acclaim, hailed as a visually stunning and deeply unsettling masterpiece of arthouse science fiction.

Reviewers praised Johansson's fearless and mesmerizing performance, unlike anything she had delivered before or since, and Glazer's masterful, almost hypnotic direction. The film probes humanity, sexuality, and identity from a chillingly detached, otherworldly perspective, resulting in a work that is haunting, enigmatic, and as terrifying as it is beautiful.

"Watching this film feels like a genesis moment — of sci-fi fable, of filmmaking, of performance — with all the ambiguity and excitement that implies." —Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

Adapted from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (1870) by Jules Verne.

Walt Disney's ambitious adaptation of Jules Verne's 1870 novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, follows a 19th-century expedition to investigate a sea monster, only for the crew to be captured by the enigmatic Captain Nemo aboard his futuristic submarine, the Nautilus.

The film was a huge critical and commercial success, celebrated as a spectacular and thrilling adventure. Reviewers praised its lavish production values, groundbreaking special effects (most notably, the famous giant squid sequence) and a commanding performance from James Mason as Nemo. It was hailed as one of the great family adventure films, perfectly capturing the wonder and excitement of Verne's classic novel. Prolific journeyman director Richard Fleischer would also make notable sci-fi adaptations Fantastic Voyage and Soylent Green. 

"The Disney people naturally have made it as elaborate as it was made by Verne. And they have likewise developed all the other intriguing potentials of the yarn with a joyful exaggeration that is expected in science-fiction films." —Bosley Crowther, The New York Times

Adapted from multiple short stories by Arthur C. Clarke.

While the novel of the same name was developed concurrently with the film, Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey pulls elements from several earlier short stories by Arthur C. Clarke, most directly 1951's "The Sentinel" (the inspiration for 2001's lunar segment). Scripted by Kubrick and Clarke, the film is an epic philosophical journey from the dawn of man to the far reaches of space, where astronauts face a crisis with the sentient computer HAL 9000.

It was met with a mix of awe and confusion upon release, but 2001 is now universally regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Critics celebrate its revolutionary visual effects, monumental scope, and enigmatic, non-linear narrative, hailing it as a landmark cinematic achievement that redefined the potential of science fiction at the movies. A less-audacious but more narratively streamlined sequel, 2010, was released in 1984 (while Clarke's book series continued for two additional sequels). 

"It is, as promised, 'a majestic visual experience,' quite unlike any film we have ever seen...These details are merely a means employed by Kubrick and his distinguished screenplay collaborator Arthur C. Clarke, to provoke the more limitless imaginings of the mind, to assault the viewer with tantalizing enigmas to force exploration of that personal universe in relation to time and space, meaning and potential." —John Mahoney, The Hollywood Reporter

Adapted from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) by Philip K. Dick.

The best of the many films adapted from the works of sci-fi author Philip K. Dick, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner stars Harrison Ford as a world-weary detective tasked with hunting down fugitive androids in a dystopian 2019 Los Angeles. Though it initially met with a mixed reception, the film, also starring Sean Young and Rutger Hauer, is now hailed as a visionary masterpiece and a cornerstone of the sci-fi genre.

Critics celebrate its stunning, groundbreaking visual design and its profound, melancholy exploration of what it means to be human. Its influential neo-noir atmosphere and philosophical depth have cemented its legacy as one of the most important and artistically significant science fiction films ever made. Several re-cut versions of Blade Runner have been released since 1982, with 2007's The Final Cut being Scott's preferred version. Denis Villeneuve's sequel Blade Runner 2049 followed in 2017, anime series Blade Runner: Black Lotus was released in 2021, and the live-action Amazon Prime Video series Blade Runner 2099 is expected later this year. 

"Blade Runner is a cold, bold, bizarre and mesmerizing futuristic detective thriller that unites the British-born director of Alien with new box-office dynamo Harrison Ford for results that are as impressive as any film that's exploded through a projector so far this year." —Robert Osborne, The Hollywood Reporter

Adapted from The Children of Men (1992) by P.D. James.

In Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian thriller, Children of Men, adapted from P. D. James's all-too-believably prescient 1992 novel, humanity has been unable to reproduce for two decades. With impending extinction, much of society has descended into violence and chaos, and a cynical bureaucrat (Clive Owen) is tasked with protecting a mysterious refugee in a UK that has become an isolationist police state.

Also starring Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michael Caine, the film received universal critical acclaim and was hailed as a visceral, urgent, and technically masterful achievement. Reviewers praised Cuarón's stunning filmmaking and Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography, including immersive long-takes, which created a harrowing sense of realism and immediacy. While not a box-office hit upon release, Men is widely considered one of the best films of the 21st century. Twenty years on from its initial release, this powerful, poignant, and profoundly human story of hope in a world on the brink of collapse is worth seeing now more than ever. 

"I don't just mean it's one of the best movies of the past six years. Children of Men, based on the 1992 novel by P.D. James, is the movie of the millennium because it's about our millennium, with its fractured, fearful politics and random bursts of violence and terror." —Dana Stevens, Slate

Adapted from The Iron Man (1968) by Ted Hughes.

Based on a 1968 children's novel by Ted Hughes, Brad Bird's animated classic The Iron Giant tells the story of a young boy, Hogarth, who befriends a giant, amnesiac robot (voiced by Vin Diesel) that the U.S. government seeks to destroy during the Cold War.

Despite being slept on by audiences upon release, the film was met with universal critical acclaim, found admirers on home video, and is now beloved as a timeless masterpiece. Reviewers praised Giant's beautiful animation, its heartfelt and sophisticated storytelling, and its powerful anti-war message. It is celebrated for its deep emotional core, humor, and thrilling action, standing as one of the most cherished animated films of its era. Bird would stick to science-fiction with his follow-up, the 2004 Pixar smash The Incredibles. 

"An unpretentious, funky, fast-moving work every bit as enchanting as the book." —M.V. Moorhead, Dallas Observer

Adapted from Roadside Picnic (1972) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

Made under the constraints of the late Soviet Union, Andrei Tarkovsky's metaphysical masterpiece, Stalker, is loosely adapted from the 1972 novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The film follows three men, the "Stalker," the "Writer," and the "Professor," on a slow, treacherous journey into a mysterious, restricted territory known as "the Zone," which is said to contain a room that grants one's innermost desires.

Stalker is revered by critics as a profound and visually hypnotic work of art. Critics lauded the film's deliberate, meditative pace and philosophical depth, which create a haunting and unforgettable cinematic experience that explores themes of faith, cynicism, and despair.

"The film has a hypnotic pull, drawing the viewer deeper and deeper into its enigmatic adventure by crafting a world all its own." —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times

Adapted from The Wild Robot (2016) by Peter Brown.

Chris Sanders's animated marvel, The Wild Robot, is based on the beloved 2016 novel by Peter Brown. The film follows a robot, ROZZUM unit 7134 or Roz, who is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to survive by adapting to her surroundings and forming an unlikely family with the local animals.

The film was met with rapturous critical acclaim, celebrated for its visual splendor and emotional resonance. Critics praised its standout performances from Lupita N'yongo, Pedro Pascal, and Kit Connor, its breathtaking animation, and a powerful, heartfelt narrative that masterfully balances humor, adventure, and profound themes of nature, technology, and finding one's place in the world.

"It's rare that a movie fires on all cylinders as this one does. The jaw-dropping animation tells a bittersweet and lovely story. The voice work is stellar, and the score sweeps you along on a wave of excitement. Fans of the books will not be disappointed." —Odie Henderson, Boston Globe

Adapted from Poor Things (1992) by Alasdair Gray.

Based on the Frankenstein -riffing 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray, Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things stars Emma Stone as Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by a mad scientist. The film chronicles her surreal and hilarious journey of self-discovery across a fantastical version of Victorian Europe.

The 2023 film was met with widespread critical acclaim, hailed as a visually dazzling, wildly inventive, and outrageously funny masterpiece; and arguably kicked off a Mary Shelley-inspired renaissance that gave life to last year's Frankenstein and the recently released The Bride!. Critics celebrated its unique visual style and Lanthimos's singular direction. Emma Stone's fearless and transformative lead performance, in particular, was singled out as a tour de force, earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

"Yorgos Lanthimos's feminist Frankenstein comedy is scabrous, smart and obscenely funny." —Phil de Semlyen, Time Out

Adapted from Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) by Mary Shelley.

James Whale's Frankenstein, adapted from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, is the definitive monster movie. The film follows a brilliant but obsessed scientist who successfully animates a creature stitched together from corpses, with tragic and horrifying results.

Upon its release, Frankenstein was a massive critical and commercial success, celebrated for its chilling gothic atmosphere and groundbreaking filmmaking. Boris Karloff's iconic performance as the Monster, a blend of menace and pathos, became legendary. Frankenstein is hailed as a timeless masterpiece of science-fiction horror, a foundational text of genre cinema that has profoundly influenced countless films for nearly a century. Whale's The Invisible Man would follow in 1933, followed by 1935 sequel Bride of Frankenstein with the iconic Elsa Lanchester, helping establish a Universal Studios Monsters universe that's still ALIVE today. 

"Director James Whale's masterpiece is the definitive monster flick, one of the scariest films of all time." —Ellis Widner, Philadelphia Daily News

Adapted from The Body Snatchers (1955) by Jack Finney.

Don Siegel's sci-fi horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, based on the 1955 novel The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney, depicts a small California town whose residents are slowly being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates grown from giant pods.

The film was hailed by critics as a masterpiece of suspense and paranoia, and its chilling, allegorical narrative addressed both McCarthy-era conformity and Cold War anxieties. Siegel's taut, efficient direction creates an atmosphere of mounting dread, cementing the film's status as one of the most intelligent, terrifying, and enduring science fiction films ever made.

Subsequent remake Invasion of the Body Snatchers in 1978 from director Philip Kaufman and underrated early 1990s Body Snatchers from Abel Ferrara are also worth seeking out. 

"Easily the best of the '50s sci-fi thrillers, this one is subtle but still scary, with the suspense building slowly and steadily." —Dennis Hunt, Los Angeles Times

Adapted from Solaris (1961) by Stanisław Lem.

Andrei Tarkovsky's monumental Solaris is adapted from the 1961 novel by Stanisław Lem. The film follows a psychologist sent to a space station orbiting a mysterious, sentient planet, where the crew is haunted by physical manifestations of their past traumas.

Solaris is revered by critics as a profound, meditative, and deeply moving masterpiece of science fiction cinema. In contrast to the spectacle of Western sci-fi, Tarkovsky's film was praised for its focus on emotional and philosophical depth, using its premise to explore themes of love, loss, memory, and the human condition. It is widely considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. Steven Soderbergh and producer James Cameron would release their own respectable, if not quite as highly regarded, take on Solaris in 2002. 

"Stands with the greatest science-fiction movies ever made." —David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor

Adapted from Hard to Be a God (1964) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

Aleksei German's final, monumental work, Hard to Be a God is based on the 1964 novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (who also wrote the novel that the aforementioned Stalker was based on). The film, which was worked on for the last 15 years of German director's life and was finished by his wife and son, follows a group of scientists from a futuristic Earth observing life on an alien planet trapped in its own brutal, medieval-like Dark Age.

The film was met with universal critical acclaim, hailed as a visceral, uncompromising, and singular cinematic achievement. Reviewers were floored by its immersive and detailed world-building, which plunges the viewer into a hellish landscape of mud, filth, and brutality. It's a challenging and overwhelming masterpiece, celebrated as a truly unique and unforgettable vision of human savagery.

"Though it delves into the worst extremes of human ugliness, German's film is exhilarating, moving, funny, beautiful and unshakeable – a danse macabre that whirls you round and round until the bitter end." —Robbie Collin, The Telegraph

Adapted from Metropolis (1925) by Thea von Harbou.

Fritz Lang's silent epic Metropolis, based on the 1925 novel by his wife Thea von Harbou, is one of the most foundational and influential films in cinema history. Set in a futuristic city, the story follows the son of the city's ruler as he discovers the bleak reality of the oppressed workers who toil beneath the surface.

Metropolis was hailed as a monumental artistic achievement. Its groundbreaking visual effects, stunning art deco production design, and ambitious scale were revolutionary for their time. Critics continue to celebrate the film as a visionary masterpiece whose powerful imagery and enduring themes of class struggle have influenced countless science fiction films for nearly a century.

"Seeing it is a time-bending experience, a way of visiting the past and glimpsing the past's idea of the future. A masterpiece of art direction, the movie has influenced our vision of the future ever since, with its imposing white monoliths and starched facades." —Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle