For a sci-fi movie to truly wow the viewer, it must rely on more than just the idea of science fiction alone. It needs to take place in a unique world, incorporate otherworldly ideas, and most importantly, include compelling characters who have or develop convincing relationships.
While most sci-fi movies tend to incorporate absurd and otherworldly concepts into their stories, others use blossoming romances to enhance the overall narrative. Movies like these are capable of seamlessly blending both genres together, thus appealing to fans of both sci-fi and romance at the same time.
8 Ex Machina (2014)
Directed by Alex Garland, Ex Machina follows Caleb Smith on his quest to acquire knowledge and also to obtain love. Upon winning a competition at his workplace, he is given the chance to visit Nathan Bateman at his home, which also permits him the opportunity to study a robot named Ava.
The more Caleb interacts with Ava, the more his feelings for her grow. Ava and Caleb seem to hit it off almost immediately, but the climax of Ex Machina features a reveal that completely turns the romance of the movie on its head.
7 Avatar (2009)
Avatar, directed by James Cameron, follows Jake Sulley, a marine who is chosen to replace his deceased brother on an expedition to the planet of Pandora. The natural resources of Earth have been used up, forcing humanity to search across the galaxy for ways to ensure its survival.
On Pandora, humans locate Unobtainium, a mineral source that many believe will help ensure humanity's survival. To acquire it, Jake Sulley is tasked with gaining the Na'vi's trust, and though he earns it quite quickly, he soon finds himself falling in love with Neytiri. Though it takes some time, and he loses her trust more than once, Jake and Neytiri eventually end up falling for each other.
6 Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve, tells the story of K, a blade runner employed by the Los Angeles Police Department. Upon discovering a clue relating to replicant reproduction, he is tasked with locating a replicant child and killing it before the truth of what replicants are can become public knowledge.
Much of what drives K to complete this task is the love he holds for Joi, an artificial intelligence. Joi was designed by the Wallace Corporation to adhere to whatever her customers wanted, and though K should be focused on completing his mission, he feels compelled to abide by what Joi encourages him to do.
5 About Time (2013)
Directed by Richard Curtis, About Time documents the life of Tim Lake (played by Domhnall Gleeson) who, on his twenty-first birthday, is told by his father that he has a special power. If Tim wishes, he can rewind time to a specific moment in his life and change whatever outcome has yet to befall him.
Tim's father advises him not to use these powers carelessly, but Tim still insists on using them to improve his love life. During his visit to the Dans le Noir restaurant, Tim meets Mary (played by Rachel McAdams), and they immediately hit it off. She gives Tim her phone number, and though Tim has to use his powers a few times to meet her again, they end up falling in love and starting a family.
4 The Lobster (2015)
The Lobster, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, follows David (played by Colin Farrell) on his search for the perfect love match. Set in a dystopian world wherein single people are given forty-five days to find a partner or risk being transformed into animals, David must do everything in his power to ensure he finds a partner as soon as possible.
During his stay at the hotel, he attempts to present himself as a completely different person in order to attract a match. He eventually stops pretending when he flees the hotel and meets the Short-Sighted Woman (played by Rachel Weisz). The loners he meets, however, do not share the hotel's view on relationships, which forces David and the Short-Sighted Woman to embrace their feelings in secret.
3 Her (2013)
Her, directed by Spike Jonze, tells the story of a man named Theodore Twombly on a quest to find true love. Having recently separated from his wife, Theodore decides to purchase a new operating system in the hope that the artificial intelligence provided may fill the void in his life.
He gives the artificial intelligence a feminine voice, and she begins referring to herself as Samantha. Theodore and Samantha begin to develop feelings for each other the more they interact, and even though some people judge their relationship, Theodore refuses to let them get in the way.
2 WALL-E (2008)
Directed by Andrew Stanton, Wall-E takes place on a distorted version of Earth where the planet is no longer hospitable. In humanity's absence, a small robot named WALL-E is left to clean up the planet so humans can one day return. Though WALL-E takes his job quite seriously, he gets a little distracted when he meets Eve.
Eve was sent to Earth to search for signs of life, but she got sidetracked when she met WALL-E. Having been alone for countless years, WALL-E immediately began to develop feelings for Eve, and even though Eve was sent to Earth purely for humanity's sake, she eventually comes to reciprocate.
1 Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, directed by Michel Gondry, documents the life of Joel Barish (played by Jim Carrey), a timid man who seeks to erase his memories of his former girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski (played by Kate Winslet). The movie kicks off the day after the procedure, forcing viewers to fill in the blanks of Joel's memories as they watch.
Not only is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind a riveting sci-fi, but it also features one of the best movie romances to ever grace the silver screen. While the premise of the movie may feel a tad ridiculous at times, the love Joel and Clementine share is impossible to refute.