[Competition: This list contains a competition - see the details at the bottom. Hot on the heels of our list of “serious” sci-fi films from the 50s, we are presenting a list of some of the best of the 60s – containing some of my own personal favorite movies. In a decade where sci-fi offerings ranged from the truly bad (Santa Claus Conquers the Martians) to the laughably stupid (Barbarella), there were actually plenty of worthy serious standouts, including three of the all-time greats. Please note that this is a list of “great” 60s movies, not “the greatest” (although if it were the latter, numbers 1, 2 and 3 would remain where they are).
The Van Allen radiation belt has caught on fire and a US nuclear sub attempts to extinguish the “skyfire.” Although the science is thoroughly discredited (the Van Allen belt had recently been discovered and the science in the movie was largely speculation), the story told in Voyage remains popular.
In this adaptation of the Bradbury classic, “firemen” are employed to burn books in a dystopian future. Fascinating note: According to Bradbury — who naturally knew better than anyone else! — the novel was about how television destroys interest in books. But fans and English teachers have continually claimed that it was about censorship.
Fugitives stumble upon a secret facility filled with children engineered to be released “when the time is right.” This initially heavily-censored British film starts slow but the ultimate premise is creepy.
This short French film features a post-nuclear war world that sends people back in time to recover food, medicine, etc. One of the time travelers seeks to know what happened during a violent incident in the past. The Bruce Willis/Brad Pitt vehicle The Twelve Monkeys drew heavily from this film.
A mentally retarded man receives experimental treatments to make him smarter. Cliff Robertson won a best actor Oscar for his performance.
Marooned is a terrific original and fictional story of an emergency in space during the Apollo program. If you liked Apollo 13, you should see this earlier work, released four months after the first moon landing. Hokey in parts, but well worth seeing.
Alphaville is an intriguing French film that combines film noir with a harsh dystopian world where an artificial intelligence rules Paris by outlawing all emotion and free thought.
While some parts are utterly illogical—for example, wouldn’t certain “abandoned” items returned to normal size, thus killing the patient?—on the whole, Fantastic Voyage is a fun and fascinating romp.
The first version of Richard Matheson’s novel “I Am Legend” was quite good. Vincent Price plays the title protagonist in this Italian film, a scientist who hunts vampires by day and tries to find a cure to the plague by night. Not to be outdone until Will Smith’s 2007 version.
A somewhat more faithful adaptation of an H.G. Wells’ novel than 1953’s War of the Worlds, 1960’s The Time Machine adds some contemporary elements to produce a notable, entertaining and thrilling adventure through time. I love the last part where the time traveler’s friend, Philby, wonders what books you would take to the future to begin civilization anew.
“Get your dirty stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!” OK, if you don’t know that line nor know of this movie’s shocking surprise ending, you NEED to watch this film. It’s far superior to any of its sequels (with the exception of “Conquest”) and the 2000 Tim Burton version. It’s different from the original novel, yet iconic in its own right.
You knew this would be number 1, didn’t you? It’s the granddaddy of all “serious” sci-fi movies and resides on a level far above most other sci-fi movies of any decade.
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Contributor: STL Mo
Great List. Fahrenheit 451 and The Time Machine are two of my favorites.
These seem like some interesting films that I’m willing to check out. I love Sci-Fi
Nice List. I got to see 2001: A Space Odyssey in Cinerama. Amazing.
But…But…But
What about “Attack of the Eye Creatures”
and
“The Creeping Terror”
LOL
Alphaville should be #2!
#94 deedee: You stole my comment!
I love 2001, but it’s the only film on this list that I have seen. Like deedee, I only see science fiction movies when I’m watching Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Of course, they always picked the WORST science fiction, so I guess I have a skewed view of what the field holds. But I would recommend MST3K to everyone, all the episodes are hilarious, just don’t waste your time on the one movie they made!
I have to say that the two french nouvellevague movies are boring as a crocodile. Fahrenheit has awesome initial credits but I couldn’t stand more than 30 minutes. Alphaville was even worse, I stopped it at the first 20 minutes. I guess I was in a bad mood in those days.
The Planet of the Apes is definitely a favourite of mine. Its a foundation of my childhood, watching it on the movie channels with my family. Its the first science fiction I remember watching. It led me to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey, which is by far one of my favourite movies. The music in it in turn led me to take band as my elective in high school
One of the best/worst sci-fi movies was 1958′s The Crawling Eye, but I’ll give worst/worst to 1964′s The Creeping Terror and it’s two guys crawling under a piece of carpet for a costume schlock.
At least in The Crawling Eye, you had a Crawling Eye! From Venus, if I recall correctly.
But Segue, that Creeping Terror theme is the earworm that will not die!!!! LOL
“Remakes or not, movies from the 2000s are far better, if nothing else because of better movie making technology, which is what sci fi is all about.” –maximuz04
No. No, this is NOT what science fiction is all about. Sci-fi is about IDEAS. Sci-fi uses the setting of the future only as a convenient vehicle to discuss and explore concepts that are very contemporary, if not eternal. The special effects are just frosting (that is, if the movie’s any good). Seems a lot of people just watch these movies for the CGI so that they can think “Wow!”, and while there’s nothing really wrong with that, I’d rather watch a movie so that I can think “hmmm . . .”
Nice List !
I actually saw the Planet of the Apes when I was a kid in the theatre when it just came out so it was before everyone was blabbing the ending. I remember getting chills at the end.
I also thought the Tim Burton remake in 2001 wasn’t too bad at all considering all the accolades the first one received so it was a tough act to follow.
I loved Planet of the Apes with Roddy McDowall. He is such an amazing actor. Of course, he also did some voice work in my favorite cartoon, Pinky and the Brain.
A great list to end the year…was there ever a doubt that Space Odyssey would be #1? Hats off for Farhenheit 451 as well, Bradbury got me hooked on reading more than any other author growing up. If you’ve never read “Something Wicked This Way Comes” do it, it’s sheer poetry by a writer who is a master of language.
I have only heard of half the movies on this list and have seen none of them. I now know what I’ll be doing this weekend.
Charly spelled his name wrong. Wait, nevermind, he was retarded.
Can I go against the flow an cast an anti-vote for “Planet of the apes”? I saw this when I was a kid and the “shock ending” spoiled the entire movie for me.
Look at the f—ing moon, you moron! Recognise it?
My mother wasn’t impressed by my language then, either. 8-(
“Fantastic Voyage” and “Voyage to the bottom of the sea” weere other ones where even my childish my suspension of disbelief was stretched beyond breaking point.
On the plus ide, however, I didn’t know there was a movie of “Flowers for Algernon”. I’ll look it up. It’s a wonderful story.
Another list of films that I want to get around to watching. The only one that I actually have seen from it is Fantastic Voyage. I own 2001 just haven’t gotten around to watching it yet.
You wrote, Space Odyssey “resides on a level far above most other sci-fi movies of any decade”.
I think it is true rather to the Russian movie Solaris, directed by A. Tarkovsky.
Have you seen it?
Freca: I was told that the movie Solaris was the Russian response to Space Odyssey.
I love sci-fi, but am I the only one who doesn’t ‘get’ Space Odyssey? I’ve seen it a couple of times, but it’s awesomeness eludes me. I just don’t get why it’s so popular, apart from how kubrik stayed faithful to the science of space travel.
The rest of the list, of the ones I’ve seen, I agree with; it makes me want to track down the ones I haven’t!
I haven’t seen any of these. I think I maybe missing out on some good films from the past…..
I used to hate these lists.
But I guess my New Year’s resolution is to watch a LOAD of old movies. The AFI list of 100 great films is nice, and I’ve picked many to watch from there, but this list gives me some of the science fiction ones that I need to watch.
So now, I love these lists!
Planet of the Apes!!!!!
“I’m a seeker too. But my dreams aren’t like yours. I can’t help thinking that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man. Has to be.” – Astronaut George Taylor
Just a classic 60′s film. How classic?
Excellent list! Keep them coming.
2001 is a good movie but the book is absolutely fantastic. There are some changes in the story from the movie – the early ape scenes are greatly expanded and explained out with very graphic depictions – for example.
Also – the movie does a poor job of depicting events at the conclusion (after Dave goes “into” the monolith). This is likely due to technical and budget limitations of the time (I’d love to see a CGI remake!). The book has incredible depictions of what happens to Dave from that point to the conclusion of the story. It’s A.C. Clarke at his absolute best.
The movie leaves a huge portions up for interpretation – the book does not do this at all. It reads as a fully developed story.
I see a lot of “2001 SPace Odyssey *****ysis” type editorials on the net – just read the book!
BTW: The book was written simultaneously with the movie and released shortly after the movie was released. Clarke and Kubrick loosely collaborated on the story from an earlier Clarke short story called “The Sentinel.”
-C
130. ChuChu353: But Segue, that Creeping Terror theme is the earworm that will not die!!!! LOL
****
Well, I *did* give it an award, didn’t I? Even if it was the worst/worst. I have to admit it is a movie I have seen more than once, my love of sci-fi movies overcomes matters of taste.
Happy New Year Listversers! Just wanted to thank JayFray for the entertaining site, STL Mo for the list, and of course to boost the comment total.
There weren’t a lot of good sci-fi movies in the 60′s, at least not compared to the 50′s. The only omission I can think of right now is SECONDS.
I really don’t care what anyone says…Santa Conqueres the Martians is a great film with such great moments like….
….oh and there’s….uh….
but that line! At the end! when….um….
….yeah the movie sucks…
The movie, Them, from 1954, wasn’t included in the 50′s list, probably due to the fact that it wasn’t a “serious” movie. It was just a good movie. A scary movie.
I remember learning from that movie, at a very tender age, that the smell of formic acid was a sign of ants. It also lead me to conduct some experiments on ants; encasing them in blobs of wax to see if they’d survive the time it took for the wax to harden (they did), taking one away from a line of ants and creating a “clean circle” around the solo ant to see how long it would take him to find his way out and back to his buddies (usually a fairly long time in ant-time).
Strange childhood memories.
Sweet List, I would have liked to see Doppelgänger (Journey to the far side of the Sun)from ’69. I’m glad to see Space Odyssey as #1, it of course being one of Kubrick’s best works ever, and the book, although a bit different is a great book. Dr. Strangelove, of course another Kubrick, if fairly Sci-Fi, but I suppose not in the general sense that appeals to the contemporary crowd. Alphaville and Time Machine are also some pretty sweet movies. This is a nice addition to the rest of the “Sci-Fi Movies” series you seem to have going, and a nice compliment to the serious 50′s list, keep the “decade based Sci-Fi movie lists” a comin’
‘Them’ is on one of the cable classic movie channels tonite!
think i’ll watch it for the umpteenth time.
151. Cyn: You lucky ducky! It doesn’t seem to be on here. Even if it were, it would probably be preempted by a football game.
So far today we have traded times; he gets a football game, then I get Twilight Zone, he gets a football game, then I get Twilight Zone.
During football, I work on my photographs. Or come here. Anyway, it’s a win/win situation.
Was I a victim of some mad scientist’s experiment or did I actually see an ad for Scientology atop this page? I’ve got no problem with that as long as they are paying Jamie.
Taze: I made a little research and concluded you were right, Solaris was a kind of response to Space Odyssey.
I found a tiny mistake or what in the preface of Clarke’s written book: he writes that the rate of living and ever lived people is 1:30 – according to the most recent research it is only 1:16
I’m a big fan of last man on earth type movies. So, naturally The Last Man on Earth is an especially awesome classic. Omegaman with with late, great Heston was superb as well.
yup
Can we get to 200 comments already?
ah well… even if I don’t win or even have the chance I love this site
Finally! La Jette gets some recognition.
neat neat neat. ill have to watch some of the mentioned movie now!
This is a great list! I personally would add _The Face of Another_, directed by Teshigahara Hiroshi and based on the novel by Abé Kobo.
It’s not a great movie, but I loved The Lost Continent when I was a boy.
just watched ‘THEM!’ again. it was in b & w but the title was red..wonder if it was recently colorized.
also..the little girl that was traumatized from the first attack. mute. and carrying the doll. just wondering about one of the Alien movies in which there was a lone survivor that was a mute little girl ..w/ i think just a doll’s head. i vaguely remember something written about that was indeed a reference or maybe a homage to Them. anyone know?
and yes, i do think Them holds up well even now. buncha actors that later became better known were in it too.. James Arness and even Leonard Nimoy had a bit part.
oh! good idea for a list…recent movies w/ references or homages to old scifi movies. could break it down by decade maybe…
Not sure of #9 La Jette since most people have probably never seen or heard of it(including me – although I am going to try and find it on the net). I also loved Day of the Triffids because it gave me nightmares as a kid. The Andromeda Strain was considered Sci-Fi, but I think it missed the mark in this genre.
I would have counted myself as a moderate fan of science fiction, but have only seen two of these. The first time I saw 2001 I thought WTF???? Did anyone ever actually understand the ending purely from watching it? (BTW we’re now into 2009 and nowhere near the imagined 2001, let alone the imagines 2010.)
As well as the novelisation of Fantastic Voyage, Asimov also wrote another novel, separate but similarly titled and based on the same premise. With more years of technology to draw from and not being tied to the movie, he was able to be more speculative and more detailed. (BTW I just glanced at the wikipedia article. Asimov’s birth date is given as “c 2 January” (today in most parts of the world, as I write), with a footnote explaining lack of records, Julian and Gregorian calendars etc.)
I think the movie you are thinking of Cyn is Aliens. Newt initially is mute and carries only a dolls head although she does begin to takl after she trusts Ripley. I don’t know anything about the homage thing but now that you know the movie maybe there is somewhere you can look it up.
OK. I thought I would expand my horizons and view La Jette. I think I wasted a half hour of my life. It is called a film, but is a sequence of Black and White photographs with narration. I can see how 12 monkeys was based on this, but 12 Monkey is actually compelling. The film (or narration with photographs) is definitely different, it definitely does not belong on this list. I do not want others to waste their time viewing this movie and would recommend creating a Sci-Fi 1970 list of their own.
STL Mo – I am not dissing you, I agree with most of your list, this choice is just too far out there!
Great list, I might pick up *cough pirate* some of these movies sometime!
Tried looking at Alphaville and could not find it on the net. May be a good movie or short , but does not belong on the list of this title.
STL Mo – I respect most of your list but the Alphaville and La Jette do not belong. They may be personal favorites to you, but do not belong on a list created for the world to see. There are many more movies from the 60′s that deserve on this list. Make it a list of ten and leave out the two I mentioned above, and the list may fly (with some personal preferences substituting).
Happy New Year!
168 Shadow: You picked just the two non-English language movies to eliminate from the list so that it would be more perfectly the one created for the world?
)))
Hat131: “Sci-fi is about IDEAS”
Absolutely true.
And this is why more recent sci-fi movies are of less value in general. Less or absolutely no ideas, more and more decoration, more and more childishness instead.
165. JwJwBean
thanx.
actually was hoping to inspire a listmaker w/ a new idea. or maybe a trivia list of about more recent movies w/ obvious references to old ones.
and thinking of Alien..how many groundbreaking movies like Alien ‘spawned’ sequels and how many..might make another good list.
Sci-fi is definitely about ideas, and great “what ifs,” which is why I like it so. I’ve a cousin who writes sci-fi (cyberpunk and post-cyberpunk, mainly); so, I pump the genre whenever possible.
And I once heard it said that according to Kubrick, if you understood the end of 2001, then he failed. You aren’t supposed to understand it.
Or something like that.
Cyn # 171: Ohh I like those list ideas. Maybe some of the new up and coming commenters would love to take a stab at those topics.
2001: A Space Odyssey and planet of the Apes, are the 2 greatest Scifi movies in 1960, i just got the Planet of the apes collection , and i just finished watching them
AWSOME AWSOME AWSOME
better than the 2000s movie
shadow: If you couldn’t find “Alphaville” on the net and therefore couldn’t watch it, how can you possibly claim that it doesn’t belong on this list? And earlier you warned people against “wasting” their time by watching “La Jetee.” Presumptious in both cases. Of course a list of this sort is going to be somewhat subjective, so argue a film’s inclusion on its own merits (once you’ve seen it), not on the assumption that your own subjective preferences are superior to the author’s. No disrespect, seriously.
“Get your “dirty” stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!”? Did you ever see this movie? How could you get that one wrong?
I really like the list but would have liked the addition of Night of the Living Dead (1968), a film directed by George A. Romero (Screenplay writer of Dawn of the Dead (2004))
“This is like the flood that happened during Noah’s time, or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah! We ARE being punished for our sins! The dead are rising, and Judgment Day is upon us!” – Reverend John Hicks
PS: Interesting that the word “zombie” is not once employed within the film.
In the 60s the German tv series “Spaceship Orion” was very popular in Europe, let us not forget to mention it
What?! not at 200 yet?
One of my favorites on that list is Fantastic Voyage.
Gruesome thinking about Donald Pleasence stuck in that ship while the white blood cell starts eating away at the glass bubble around his head. His fear knowing that he is about to be eaten alive.
Scary….
The American tv series “Time Tunnel” was made in the sixties, wasn’t it?