Few shows can compete with the juggernaut of Doctor Who in sheer staying power and cultural relevancy. The original series premiered in 1963 and was later rebooted in the modern incarnation most fans are familiar with in 2005, for a grand total of 37 seasons of sci-fi adventure. Many have embodied the iconic role of the Doctor over the years, each bringing something special to the table.
Nothing really compares to the scope and broad appeal of Doctor Who. But there are certainly diehard fans who would love to dig into some other works that scratch that same cool, creative science fiction itch. Here are some great sci-fi movies to check out if you’re all caught up with the Doctor’s antics.
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
The source material for this movie, a book of the same name by Douglas Adams, is a sci-fi classic and has gone on to influence many other creators. It stars Martin Freeman as main character Arthur Dent, who’s rescued from the imminent destruction of Earth by his friend Ford, actually an extraterrestrial working on expanding the titular Guide.
The plot’s a little meandering, but the adventure’s a lot of fun and showcases a bunch of silly, creative creatures designs along the way.
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
This absurdist sci-fi comedy was one of Keanu Reeves’ first starring roles. Despite primarily negative critical reviews at the time of release, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure grossed very well at the box office and became something of an 80’s classic.
The plot focuses on two high school burnouts/wannabe musicians and their assigned history project. When a man from the future confronts them and says their idyllic future (based on the boys’ music) won’t come to pass if they fail their class, the two use his time machine to go back and experience history firsthand.
The Fifth Element
A quirky and creative vision of the future with a lot of heart, The Fifth Element has become a cult classic among certain sci-fi fans. It stars Bruce Willis as flying cab driver Korben Dallas who reluctantly undertakes the responsibility of protecting a mysterious woman (Milla Jovovich) who is the only one who can save the world from an encroaching great evil.
By turns hilariously over-the-top and heartbreakingly sincere, it’s a movie that’s hard to classify but is certainly worth a watch for the rare sci-fi fan who hasn’t seen it already.
Moon
Moon is an intense psychological mystery carried almost entirely on the shoulders of Sam Rockwell’s acting talent. The main character, also named Sam, is nearing the end of a three-year solitary mining contract for extracting helium-3 from the lunar soil.
Communications problems have all but severed his contact with Earth and as the date of his departure grows closer, he begins having unsettling hallucinations. Giving away too much of the plot would ruin the tensely-plotted reveals, so suffice to say you should add this one to your queue.
Guardians of the Galaxy
If your favorite part of Doctor Who is careening around the galaxy having adventures with an eclectic cast of characters and meeting strange alien species, Guardians of the Galaxy might be right up your alley.
It certainly isn’t hard sci-fi—but truthfully, neither is Doctor Who. Sometimes all you need is a fun romp among the stars with good friends and a banging soundtrack.
Looper
Starring Bruce Willis alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Looper is set in a world with nonsensical time travel rules that still manage to be internally consistent and, more importantly, fun to watch.
It’s premised on a future society where disposing of bodies is impossible. Crime syndicates instead use time travel technology to send their victims and their hitmen (called loopers) into the past to kill them there. Willis plays the future version of Gordon-Levitt’s character, a looper named Joe, on a mission to exterminate a powerful telekinetic called the Rainmaker and stop the future where his family dies.
Interstellar
One of the highest-grossing films of 2014, Interstellar is a mind-bending sci-fi movie starring Matthew McConaughey. In a dystopian future where the world is dying and humans are struggling to survive, a group of astronauts undertakes a dangerous journey through a wormhole near Saturn hoping to find a new home for their species. Kip Thorne, a theoretical physicist, served as a consultant and executive producer and fought to make sure everything in the film was based on established scientific theories. It received widespread praise for its thought-provoking story and gorgeous visuals.
Treasure Planet
Tragically dismissed as part of Disney’s “dark ages”, Treasure Planet was actually very well-received by critics and features some of the most creative science-fiction work by Disney to date. The character designs and animation are universally fantastic, and it employed an experimental technique of blending traditional 2D animation with 3D animation.
Obviously based on the classic novel Treasure Island, it follows young Jim Hawkins as he chases a dream of high adventures. A pirate thrusts a strange sphere containing a map into his possession, a way to the fabled Treasure Planet, and Jim joins a crew to seek their fortune.
Arrival
Arrival is considered one of the best movies to have come out in 2016. It stars Amy Adam as linguist Louise Banks, who’s been called in by the U.S. government to attempt to communicate with newly arrived aliens before tensions between the races can lead to war. Three different linguists were consulted for constructing the alien language and the script was designed by artist Martine Bertrand. It received near-universal critical praise and fans of “thinking person’s sci-fi” were heartily encouraged to give it a watch.
Primer
Perhaps the most mind-bending of all time travel movies, Primer was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 and secured only a limited release after that. However, it has since garnered a cult following. It’s extremely low budget and almost a one-man-show, being directed, written, edited by, and starring Shane Carruth. Carruth has a degree in mathematics and is a former engineer, and decided not to pull any punches with the technological aspects of the film. It’s dense and at time difficult to understand, but also great fun for sci-fi fans who like their time travel to be a bit of a puzzle.
