The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies That Aren’t Superhero Stories

Science fiction is a well-loved genre of movies and fiction that has been around for over 100 years. The 1902 film, "A Trip to the Moon," considered the first of the genre, was created by Georges Méliès who drew upon influences from Jules Verne and H.G. Wells in his depiction of a spacecraft being launched to the moon. Renowned Sci-Fi films followed with "Frankenstein" (1910) and "Dr. Jeklyl and Mr. Hyde" (1913).

The beauty of science fiction films is they can be about anything – aliens, time travel, space, science and technology, and robots. But more recently, many films of the genre have focused on superheroes. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has created several films that appeal to viewers, leading some to think the genre involves Superman or the X-Men. Superheroes are only a fraction of the sci-fi

But superheroes are only a small part of the genre. Before their rise in popularity, people were tuning in to the big screen to watch human contact with aliens, spacecraft missions around the universe, and disaster movies. Classics, like the Stanley Kubrick blockbuster, "2001: A Space Odyssey," had a significant impact on pop culture and media, with groundbreaking special effects, incredible cinematography, and a soundtrack that became synonymous with the genre.

To curate this list, 24/7 Tempo scoured the internet looking at entertainment websites. We paid special attention to lists on IMDb. Many of these movies were also made into massive franchises, like the Star Wars franchise. (Click here to read about movies that unexpectedly became major franchises.)

Keep reading to discover the greatest sci-fi movies that aren't superhero stories.

• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Irwin

"Interstellar" is a fantastic science fiction movie that doesn't feature superheroes. While you won't find superheroes in this film, there is a dystopian future, astronauts, and space.

Although released in 2014, this film was in the works starting in 2007. Interestingly, Steven Spielberg was first set to direct "Interstellar." The film had a budget of $165 million, and the movie grossed $705.2 million at the box office.

• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough

"Jurassic Park" is a classic for a reason. This well-loved movie has gotten so much attention in the last few decades. Not only did it receive multiple sequels, but is also an iconic part of pop culture. It's so easy to recognize the name and main title song.

"Jurassic Park" is about research and dinosaurs. It has nothing to do with superheroes and yet is a sci-fi movie. The movie blew away the box office grossing $1.058 billion.

• Director: Ridley Scott
• Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, and Kristen Wiig

"The Martian" is an excellent modern sci-fi film. Don't let its recent age get you. "The Martian" may be considered a classic in a few decades. Like the other films on this list, "The Martian" has nothing to do with superheroes or comic books.

Instead, the movie follows a lonely astronaut stranded on Mars, Mark Watney. He tries to survive in space with an injury and minimal oxygen. This interesting premise captured many people. The film grossed $630.6 million against a budget of $108 million.

• Director: Kurt Wimmer
• Cast: Christian Bale, Emily Watson, and Taye Diggs

You also won't find superheroes in "Equilibrium." Instead, this science fiction film features an interesting dystopian future where artistic expression and feelings are not allowed.

Although a fun watch, "Equilibrium" didn't do well at the box office. Against a budget of $20 million, it only grossed about $5 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, this film holds an audience score of 81%.

• Director: Michel Gondry
• Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, and Kirsten Dunst

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a super interesting movie. It's become a cult classic in the last few decades. This movie was released on March 19, 2004, in the United States.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a science fiction romance that follows two lovers as they reflect on their relationship and undergo a memory loss procedure. This film was a hit upon its release. It made $74 million at the box office.

• Director: John Carpenter
• Cast: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, and Ernest Borgnine

This mysterious sci-fi action movie has an excellent cast that really makes the movie shine. The film is set in a strange futuristic 1997. In this world, Manhattan is a maximum security prison. The president escapes to Manhattan after his plane is hijacked.

"Escape from New York" thrived at the box office. It grossed a whopping $25.2 million against a budget of $6 million.

• Director: Robert Zemeckis
• Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Crispin Glover

This classic 80s movie is iconic. It's constantly referenced even by people who have never seen the franchise."Back to the Future" follows Marty McFly after he time travels to 1955. In the past, he meets his parents and accidentally starts changing the present.

This movie was extremely successful from the beginning. It managed to gross $388.8 million at the box office against a budget of $19 million and spawned several sequels. The movie still holds up today, scoring a Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score of 95%.

• Directors: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
• Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan

"Everything Everywhere All at Once" is a recent science fiction movie. It's a well-blended mix of genres and messages with elements of comedy, sci-fi, action, drama, and romance.

This movie discusses concepts as Evelyn Quan Wang jumps to alternative universes. This non-superhero sci-fi movie won many awards and smashed the box office. It earned $143.4 million. The film was nominated for eleven Oscars and won seven.

• Director: Andrew Stanton
• Cast: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, and Jeff Garlin

Also one of the greatest sci-fi movies that aren't superhero stories is the Disney film, "Wall-E." This family-favorite movie was released on June 27, 2008. It had a massive budget of $180 million but grossed $532.5 million at the box office.

"Wall-E" is a fan-favorite for a reason. It's hard not to fall in love with the sweet and helpful robot who lives alone on Earth. Even over a decade later, people still love this film. On the Tomatometer, "Wall-E" has a 95% score.

• Director: Stanley Kubrick
• Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, and William Sylvester

So many science fiction movies are about aliens and space likely because we are fascinated with the unknown. "2001: A Space Odyssey" is no exception. This fantastic epic science fiction movie follows a group of astronauts as they venture to investigate an alien monolith.

"2001: A Space Odyssey" is old but is still a hit. It was released on April 3, 1968, and is still considered a sci-fi classic. The movie grossed $146 million at the box office. The special effects in this movie were ahead of its time, inspiring many modern directors.

• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Cast: Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, and Peter Coyote

Another classic science fiction movie that has nothing to do with superheroes is "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." This film is about an alien that just wants to go home. Eventually, with the help of some neighborhood kids, E.T. makes it to his home planet.

This heartwarming science fiction movie was a massive hit from the start. It was released in 1982 and grossed nearly $800 million at the box office against a budget of $10.5 million.

• Director: Irvin Kershner
• Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher

Last but not least is the iconic Star Wars movie, "The Empire Strikes Back." We couldn't create a list of the best sci-fi movies without mentioning a Star Wars film. Like "Back to the Future" you don't need to watch it to know what it's about. So many movies, songs, and TV shows reference the movie.

"The Empire Strikes Back" was released in 1980. It had a budget of $30.5 million but grossed nearly $550 million.

Are you more interested in old classic sci-fi films? Click here for the best classic Sci-Fi films ever made.