Ask the average person the definition of sci fi movies and you will more than likely hear a definition that is typical of movies like “Star Trek.” However, this genre of movie is made up of far more than just your typical space adventures. Fantasy movies are sometimes included in this genre, but that is often a mistake. Here is a quick look at what makes up a science fiction movie.
The first step in clarifying what makes up a science fiction movie is acknowledging what is NOT science fiction. Fantasy movies are often lumped into the sci fi category, but they do not always belong there. There can be some attributes of the fantasy genre that acclimate to sci fi, but when they are over the top in dealing with true fantasy worlds and unrealistic creatures that could never happen in real life, they are not sci fi.
A major premise behind SF is that the setting or plot could actually happen in real life. For instance, everyone knows “Star Trek.” While it is obviously something that is far into the future, the possibility of traveling regularly through space and discovering other inhabitants is a very real possibility. Space travel is in fact a reality today, just not at that level.
While it may sometimes seem a stretch, all plot lines in science fiction get their beginnings in truth or today’s reality and then the author stretches it out for their perception of where this idea will go. Implementing things such as laser weapons, time travel, wormholes, mutants, and teleportation are often common attributes of a science fiction story or movie.
As sci fi has become more popular, different genres are combining SF with genres like westerns and action movies to create some truly unique stories. We are also seeing an influx of directors and actors who were never part of the sci fi movement before that are bringing their own fan base with them and creating a larger core audience for this genre. Directors like Ron Howard and actors like Mickey Rourke are probably two of the most recent examples of this defection.
Science fiction has existed for decades as somewhat of a “B movie” culture, but all of that is changing now. Upcoming movies like “The Immortals” and recently released movies like “Avatar” are taking the genre mainstream. Finally, this genre will be identified with more than just “Star Trek” for the average movie goer. Sci fi is here and it is here in a big way, so hold onto your seats and enjoy the ride.
If you would like more information about the science fiction definition, visit DigitalScienceFiction.com today! We have reviews about the all movies, books, anthologies, and everything else you can think of for entertainment that truly meets the science fiction definition.
