11 Sci-Fi Movies You Should Show Your Kids (It’s Not Star Wars or E.T.)
As they say, children are our future. Why not help them imagine a better world by introducing them to great science fiction stories? After all, the genre can spark our imagination, introduce us to new concepts, raise deep ethical questions, and encourage an open mind.
Here are 11 great sci-fi movies (not Star Wars, Marvel, or E.T. ) that will help develop your kids’ imaginations and ideas (big or small).
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
While its practical special effects may have dated, this film about a team of scientists who must be miniaturized and injected into a scientist’s bloodstream to remove a life-threatening blood clot can still hold the attention of a young viewer. For those who study (or are simply interested in) how the human body works, this film offers realistic (for its era) depictions of the heart, blood cells and other organs, as well as an exciting survival adventure. You can rent Fantastic Voyage on Prime Video.
Tron (1982)
Between the thrilling Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World and the highly anticipated sequel starring Jared Leto set for release next year, there are good reasons why your family might want to revisit the original Tron . This science fiction classic follows a computer engineer who ventures into the digital realm and leads a revolution against an oppressive agenda. But don’t worry: While kids may be put off by the primitive computer graphics that were extremely innovative at the time, they get a sense of excitement from watching characters compete for their lives in video games. If your kids have ever watched their friends play an X-Box game on Discord, they’ll probably be interested in Tron . (You can then move on to the 2010 sequel.) Watch this movie on Disney+ or rent it on Prime Video.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
I often recommend The Iron Giant to parents, and if your kids like the visual aesthetic of that film, they’ll likely appreciate the steampunk style of this creative adventure. The film follows a heroic pilot as he battles an army of colossal robots, and was one of the films that pioneered the technique of filming on a full green screen (or virtual studio) to create a retro-futuristic feel. And unlike comparable Spielberg-style films, no one gets their heart ripped out or their face melted off. Watch it on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video .
War Games (1983)
This techno-thriller about a teenager who hacks a government military system may not seem like science fiction anymore, since artificial intelligence operating systems are now integrated into our mobile devices. But doesn’t that make the idea that a computer could cause World War III even more pressing? What made this movie appealing to me when I was young was how accessible it made computers seem, and how “Joshua”, the computer’s operating system, was a character in his own right, speaking in a digital voice, but with dialogue that could be watched on screen. like subtitles. Today’s children will probably find this strange. Watch it on Max or rent it on Prime Video .
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
This is an unusual plot for a Disney film: a boy goes missing and returns eight years later, but at the same age at which he disappeared. His mysterious disappearance is linked to an alien spaceship discovered by NASA. If you’re worried that the time travel shenanigans might be too much for your kids, don’t worry. Even if it’s beyond their comprehension, the alien ship is hilariously voiced by the late Paul Reubens, and there are some pretty cool looking aliens, as well as plenty of exciting special effects scenes to keep them interested. Watch it on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video.
All Monsters Attack (1969)
Yes, this Toho-era Godzilla film is considered by almost everyone to be the worst in the franchise. He transformed Godzilla from a menacing kaiju (and a metaphor for Japan’s social and political climate) into a mere children’s toy. However, try sharing this harsh criticism with my two boys, who love the story of a young child imagining himself visiting Godzilla’s house on Monster Island and hanging out with Minilla, the famous reptile’s adopted son. They watch the monster father fight several of his enemies while learning life lessons. While the action sequences are a bit corny as they reuse footage from previous films, it is an effective way to introduce kids to an iconic character through a kid-friendly adventure. Watch it on Max , The Criterion Channel (which also has a dubbed version), or rent it from Prime Video .
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
I was talking to one parent about when and how to introduce Star Trek to our kids, and the idea alone struck a chord with each of us. “It’s difficult because it’s not a hero’s journey like Star Wars ,” he said. “It’s about the difficult questions that arise when creating a utopian society.” He’s not wrong. Tribble aside, there’s nothing cute or fuzzy about the USS Enterprise’s mission to explore strange new worlds.
But then I remembered The Voyage Home , the first Star Trek movie I saw, an adventure in which the original crew brings a pair of humpback whales from 1980s San Francisco to the future to prevent an interstellar probe from destroying the planet (continue with This). The script simultaneously introduces the mind-bending concepts that have made the series appealing to many generations while also entertaining fish-out-of-water characters who are confused by 20th-century Earth culture. Who knows? After seeing this classic, you and your kids may soon be debating the pros and cons of Kobayashi Maru’s training script. Watch it on Paramount+ via Showtime or stream or rent it on Prime Video .
Time Bandits (1981)
As a kid, I loved this wacky fantasy film from Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, which follows Kevin, a kid who escapes his technology-obsessed parents to travel through history with a troupe of era-traveling dwarves. Armed with a map that allows the group to travel through time and space, they attempt to steal historical artifacts and encounter several key figures from the past. Kids will love Kevin’s resourcefulness as he uses his knowledge of history to get himself and his new friends out of trouble, not to mention the hilarious ending that will feel like a wish-fulfillment to any child who has ever felt unappreciated by Mom and Dad. Watch it on Max or The Criterion Channel, or rent it on Prime Video .
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
When it comes to time travel movies, nothing beats this comedy about two ne’er-do-wells who kidnap historical figures to get an excellent history report. It’s edgy enough to appeal to teenagers, and it makes the story fun by allowing Joan of Arc and Beethoven to hang out at the mall. But when it turns out that the metal-obsessed duo, played with surfer aplomb by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, will ultimately become the planet’s saviors, it teaches the lesson that we should never underestimate anyone. If your family enjoyed this movie, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey and its sequel Bill & Ted Face the Music will be just as entertaining as the original. Watch it on Max or rent it on Prime Video .
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
We tend to lose our sense of awe and curiosity as adults, which is why I loved Close Encounters of the Third Kind as a kid: Following a strange alien signal, Roy Neary’s (Richard Dreyfuss) obsessive curiosity turns him from a middle-class father to world famous space explorer. It also gives kids the perfect excuse to play with their food, as evidenced by the mashed potato scene. Parents can also appreciate the importance of finding new ways to connect with others, which we all need to do sometimes. Rent it digitally from Prime Video .
Explorers (1985)
Although director Joe Dante never got to finish the film the way he wanted , this love letter to childhood imagination and ’50s sci-fi still has a whimsical charm. It’s about three suburban kids who, with the help of alien telepathy, make a spaceship out of garbage, using only their ingenuity and without parental supervision. While the film loses its way a bit in the second half (probably due to production issues), it’s nice to see a film that’s about an alien race whose goal isn’t to destroy the planet. Our characters discover that they are more like us than we think. Watch it free with ads on Pluto TV or rent from Prime Video .