One of the most enjoyable elements of a sci-fi movie is the world, or galaxy, in which it is set. They can take place off planet, on an entirely different plane of existence, or in a broken version of Earth, but the setting doesn't matter so long as the world is portrayed in a unique and engaging way.
A sci-fi movie is even more effective when its world-building incorporates the stories of its characters. To truly immerse oneself in the genre, the setting needs to serve a purpose, or it will seem as if it was included simply for the sake of it. A well-written story, engaging characters, and an immersive world are necessary for a sci-fi film to be successful, but some prove to be far more captivating than others.
10 Arrival
The story of Arrival is one full of shocking twists and turns. An otherworldly alien species arrives on Earth and attempt to speak to the planet's inhabitants, but only one dedicated researcher is capable of understanding their unconventional dialect. The impressive world-building of Arrival is owed primarily to the story's use of flashbacks.
Throughout the narrative, Dr. Louise Banks will reminisce about the time spent with her daughter only for the movie to reveal that these memories are premonitions from the future. Arrival is a fascinating tale that builds its world in an unusual way, but that's what makes it so engaging.
9 Annihilation
When her husband mysteriously goes missing, Lena, a former marine turned biologist, is recruited by the U.S. government to investigate what happened to him. Upon accepting the job, she learns that her husband is alive, but that his time in the Shimmer severely altered his personality.
Lena enters into the Shimmer to uncover the secrets held within, but she quickly learns of the dangers lurking in its depths. The Shimmer is a dream-like plane of existence that can quickly destroy the minds of all those who enter, evident through the hallucinations experienced by the protagonists. The scenery can come to life, making it appear similar to that of a living being. It is a deceptively dazzling world that accentuates the horrors residing within.
8 Alita: Battle Angel
Alita: Battle Angel is set in the fictional Iron City, a futuristic metropolis designed under the influence of the cyberpunk subgenre. It follows the story of Alita, an abandoned cyborg who has no memory of who she was in her past life, as she ventures to discover her true purpose.
Though many criticized Alita: Battle Angel's story for being bland, it is hard to deny how impressive its world design was. The Iron City is crawling with cyborgs and mechanically enhanced beings that breathe life into the green-screened world. Though it received relatively average reviews, its ability to successfully build an immersive world is difficult to ignore.
7 The Martian
Having been left behind on Mars, Mark Watney is forced into a survival situation he is unprepared for. Though his lack of preparation would imply that his chances of survival are slim, his knowledge of botany allows him to create his very own ecosystem on the desolate planet he is stranded on.
The Martian portrays Mars as a barren land on which very little can survive. Due to its harsh depiction, the viewer will quickly find themselves experiencing the same level of isolation that Mark feels. Though the setting is far less spectacular than most modern-day sci-fi movies, its use of the "less is more" concept serves to solidify The Martian's key themes.
6 Alien
Set in the confines of the Nostromo, a towing starship on which Ripley and her crew have awoken from cryosleep, Alien tells the story of an unsuspecting team that encounters more than it bargained for. On their journey home, the crew members uncover a distress call and, though they do not want to investigate it, company policy requires them to do so.
Not much of the world of Alien is portrayed, but many elements assist in expanding the universe it is set in. The technology featured throughout the film conveys the intended futurism, while the frightening emptiness of space is used to further imply a feeling of claustrophobia.
5 Guardians Of The Galaxy
Most MCU movies can be categorized as sci-fi, but none are more deserving of the title than Guardians of the Galaxy. The story follows Peter Quill and his unlikely companions as they join forces to prevent Ronan the Accuser from wreaking havoc on Earth.
On their adventure, the Guardians journey to a variety of unique planets home to a wondrous selection of different species. Each location is depicted with baffling levels of detail, allowing the viewer to seamlessly sink into the story being told without feeling alienated.
4 Avatar
When Jake Sully is chosen to scout the planet of Pandora to locate its valuable resources, he quickly finds himself becoming one with the Na'vi, a highly evolved alien tribe that harbors little patience for the humans invading their world.
After encountering Neytiri, a member of the Na'vi, Jake is permitted to experience everything Pandora has to offer from the perspective of an alien body. Though the planet shares many similarities to Earth, the creatures seen wandering its vast forests showcase just how different it is. Avatar is regarded as a masterpiece due to its incredible story and world design, but the world-building is arguably its most impressive element.
3 Star Wars: A New Hope
Set in a fictional galaxy in an ancient time, Star Wars: A New Hope tells the charming story of a young farm boy seeking adventure. After purchasing two droids from the local Jawas, Luke Skywalker quickly finds himself caught up in a galactic rebellion in which he must risk everything to ensure the safety of the universe.
Though the premise is simple, the setting is what made the original Star Wars stand out. Throughout the series, Luke travels to an array of otherworldly locations sprawling with aliens. This may sound jarring at first, but George Lucas managed to humanize each character and location, making Star Wars far more down-to-earth than most sci-fi movies released at the time.
2 Wall-E
Wall-E houses what is arguably one of the most heartfelt stories in sci-fi history. It is set largely on a ship on which the remains of humanity wait for their home planet to return to its once hospitable state, but this confinement does not diminish its impressive world-building.
Most movies require a speaking protagonist to convey deeper emotions but Wall-E, the little trash compactor, is a surprising exception. The world building of Wall-E showcases the state of its characters without uttering a single word. They are all victims of circumstances forced to endlessly drift in the vast reaches of space until permitted otherwise.
1 Interstellar
Interstellar is set in a world where life teeters on the brink of extinction. Crops are dying and the atmosphere of the planet is slowly making it uninhabitable, so N.A.S.A. comes up with a plan to transfer the human population to a more hospitable planet.
The world-building of Interstellar is truly spectacular due to the depths it dives into. The world in Interstellar is a harrowing one full of frightening terrain and otherworldly occurrences, but both aspects work in tandem to further enhance the story. Following Joseph Cooper on his ventures throughout space reveal just how unforgiving the universe can be if approached unprepared.