Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko (2001)

[9] Donnie Darko stands alone:  an edgy, sophisticated science-fiction movie that mixes time travel and nightmarish visions with family drama and '80s nostalgia. The tangled narrative revolves around the emotionally disturbed Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal), a teenager who strikes up a…
The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix (1999)

[9] A man slowly discovers that reality is not what it seems and that we are all actually slaves to more advanced technological organisms in this uber-cool, groundbreaking sci-fi flick with an incredible screenplay and visionary aesthetics. There is a…
Jurassic Park (1993)

Jurassic Park (1993)

[9] If you think of this movie as Jaws on land, as director Steven Spielberg has suggested, it can't quite compare to that masterpiece. The characters aren't strong enough. But it's still a hell of a summer event movie, delivering…
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

[9] This is one of those rare sequels that is arguably better than its predecessor. It may not be as raw and moody as The Terminator, but Terminator 2 is a kick-ass action movie -- one of the best ever…
The Abyss (1989)

The Abyss (1989)

[9] Underwater oil drillers are forced to work with the military to recover lost nuclear warheads, but they discover far more lurking in the depths of the ocean... This unique underwater sci-fi/thriller from James Cameron (Terminator, Aliens) is an ambitious,…
RoboCop (1987)

RoboCop (1987)

[10] In the not-so-distant future, a Detroit policeman is murdered by a vicious cop-killer, only to be resurrected as the ultimate cyborg law enforcer. But will RoboCop have free will, or will he be slave to the corporation that facilitated…
Aliens (1986)

Aliens (1986)

[10]

James Cameron accomplishes a rare feat with a sequel that doesn’t shame the original and succeeds on its own merits.  Aliens is so different in tone than the original Alien, I think of it as a sequel only in name (this goes for all the Alien movies).  In a smart move, Cameron decided not to compete with Ridley Scott in the areas of horror and suspense.  Aliens is decidedly a combat movie.

Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future (1985)

[10] High schooler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent thirty years into the past where he unwittingly threatens his own existence by interfering with his parents' introduction to one another. With the help of crack-pot scientist Doc Brown,…
The Terminator (1984)

The Terminator (1984)

[9] A cyborg from the future attempts to assasinate the unwitting mother of a future man who will lead humanity in a war against 'the machines.' The Terminator remains one of the best sci-fi films of the '80s. Thanks in part…
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

[10] In Steven Spielberg's blockbuster classic, a young boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas) takes care of a stranded alien, helping him send a message into space for the mother ship to return and rescue him.  E.T. is about loneliness and…