When you look back at the past two decades, science fiction experienced a renaissance, pulling viewers with an unparalleled array of worlds, giving mind-bending narratives and thrilling concepts with extraordinary storylines. The silver screen intertwined the imaginative world with technology, portraying humanity’s deepest fears and desires.
Apart from the distant galaxies and dystopian worlds, the year 2000 and beyond has witnessed a new breed of filmmakers too. These new talents were armed with cutting-edge technology, including visual effects and intense narratives of hopes, dreams, and fears. It shows a glimpse of what lies ahead in our relationship with science.
Below is a list of most influential and critically acclaimed sci-fi movies released in the 2000s. Surely, these films have left a mark on the genre, attracting audiences with their thought-provoking concepts.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Released in 2001, the American science fiction film, A.I. Artificial Intelligence is directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie is based on a concept by Stanley Kubrick. The film explores the idea of A.I. and its relationship with humanity. The journey here is of a highly advanced robotic boy who longs to become real in a world where robots serve as human companions.
The sci-fi film is thought-provoking and visually stunning. It transgresses through love, consciousness, and existence.
A.I. received positive reviews and grossed over $230 million against a $90 million budget. At the 74th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score (for John Williams).
Children of Men (2006)
Children of Men is a 2006 super hit sci-fi directed by Alfonso Cuaron. This dystopian action thriller, based on P. D. James’ 1992 novel The Children of Men, is set in 2027 when about 2 decades of infertility have left the world on the brink of collapse. The movie follows a disillusioned bureaucrat (played by Clive Owen) who is involved in a mission to protect the only known pregnant woman in the world.
This sci-fi is well-known for its screenwriting, immersive cinematography, and great single-shot action sequences. It explores the themes of despair, and hope, and that the human population could survive even in a bleak future.
Children of Men received critical acclaim and was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. In the year 2016, it was voted to be 13th among the 100 movies considered the best of the 21st century films.
Inception (2010)
Inception, released in 2010 is a cinematic masterpiece, that explores the landscape of dream and reality. Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, specializes in stealing details from his target’s subconscious minds. The film highlights some complex narratives, portraying dreams within dreams.
Inception movie grossed over $800 million throughout the world. It became the 4th highest grossing film of the year 2010. The movie is celebrated to date for its innovative plot, storytelling, and thought-provoking themes.
Inception has won four Oscars, including Best Sound Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Mixing. The movie was also nominated for four more categories at the 83rd Academy Awards.
Interstellar (2014)
A 2014 epic sci-fi, interstellar is co-written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan. Starring Matthew McConaughey, the film is based on a dystopian future where humanity is faced with catastrophic conditions. The movie is about a group of astronauts who travel to space in search of a habitable planet – mankind’s new home. McConaughey, who goes by Cooper in the movie, is a NASA pilot, leading the mission.
Interstellar received positive reviews from critics and grossed over $670 million worldwide, making it the 10th highest grossing movie in the year 2014.
What’s amazing is that Interstellar has been praised for its scientific accuracy and theoretical astrophysics by several astronomers.
The theme revolves around human exploration and discovery. The characters in the movie are driven by great curiosity and wonder. The film at its core is an emotional story about the love between a father and his daughter, which makes it a must watch!
Arrival (2016)
Arrival, a 2016 American sci-fi drama is directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film stars Amy Adams in the lead role as Louise Banks, a linguist recruited by the United States Army. Her role was to discover a way to communicate with the aliens who arrived on Earth.
The Arrival is based on a short story named ‘Story of Your Life’ by Ted Chiang. The film delves into the power of communication while delivering an inspiring narrative.
In the 89th Academy Awards, this movie received eight nominations, including Best Sound Editing, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Cinematography.
Parting Note
Science fiction has undeniably experienced remarkable transformation in the past two decades. Some great, visionary filmmakers have transported us to distant galaxies and introduced us to numerous happenings we didn’t know about. The above-mentioned critically acclaimed movies from the 2000s are epic and worth your time.
They will not only thrill you but captivate you to the very last scene. With such great movies in the making, we understand the power of storytelling which helps in shaping the world and cosmos beyond.
About Author
Nitya Jain is an enthusiastic content writer and a life-long learner with an undying curiosity to explore new things. She loves fresh humour, just like her tea! When not writing, you'll find her raiding book stores or hopping cafes in town.
