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The Best R-Rated Sci-Fi Classics Everyone Should Watch

The Best R-Rated Sci-Fi Classics Everyone Should Watch

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Courtesy of A24

30. The Dead Zone (1983)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

29. Freaks (2018)

Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment

28. The City of Lost Children (1995)

Courtesy of Sony Picture Classics

27. Face/Off (1997)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

26. V for Vendetta (2005)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

25. Take Shelter (2011)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

24. Donnie Darko (2001)

Courtesy of Arrow Films

23. Predator (1987)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

22. Looper (2012)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

21. Upgrade (2018)

Courtesy of BH Tilt

20. RoboCop (1987)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

19. District 9 (2009)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

18. The Fly (1986)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

17. Seconds (1966)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

16. Children of Men (2006)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

15. Her (2013)

Courtesy of GEM Entertainment

14. Moon (2009)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

13. 12 Monkeys (1995)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

12. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Courtesy of A24

11. The Thing (1982)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

10. The Matrix (1999)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

9. Blade Runner (1982)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

8. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

7. Logan (2017)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

6. Brazil (1985)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

5. The Terminator (1984)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Courtesy of Focus Features

3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

2. Aliens (1986)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

1. Alien (1979)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

30. The Dead Zone (1983)
29. Freaks (2018)
28. The City of Lost Children (1995)
27. Face/Off (1997)
26. V for Vendetta (2005)
25. Take Shelter (2011)
24. Donnie Darko (2001)
23. Predator (1987)
22. Looper (2012)
21. Upgrade (2018)
20. RoboCop (1987)
19. District 9 (2009)
18. The Fly (1986)
17. Seconds (1966)
16. Children of Men (2006)
15. Her (2013)
14. Moon (2009)
13. 12 Monkeys (1995)
12. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
11. The Thing (1982)
10. The Matrix (1999)
9. Blade Runner (1982)
8. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
7. Logan (2017)
6. Brazil (1985)
5. The Terminator (1984)
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
2. Aliens (1986)
1. Alien (1979)

Science Fiction is one of the most popular genres in movies, books, and television. There have been more top-rated sci-fi films in the past two decades alone than in the previous decades combined. Many of the best R-rated sci-fi classics feature themes that often focus on advanced technology and the future, engaging viewers with the realm of possibilities.

Themes like artificial intelligence, time travel, space exploration, and mass surveillance are commonly explored in the best sci-fi movies, many of which are rated R for their graphic depictions of violence, horror, experiments gone wrong, and occasional sexual situations.

To identify the best R-rated sci-fi classics everyone should watch, 24/7 Tempo created an index using average ratings from IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores from Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of early May 2023.

All ratings were weighted equally. Only movies with at least 10,000 audience votes on IMDb were considered. Directorial credits are sourced from IMDb. (Here are record-breaking R-rated movies that made history.)

These movies explore themes such as aliens, psychic abilities, fascism, and dystopian futures, alongside futuristic technologies. Several films have spawned successful franchises, including "Alien," "The Matrix," and "The Terminator."

Here are the best R-rated sci-fi classics everyone should watch:

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