On Friday, the sci-fi film Chappie hits theaters around the world, directed by Neill Blomkamp, who was known for his work on the 2009 film District 9. Although that movie was one of the rare science fiction films to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, it unfortunately didn't win against The Hurt Locker.
For science fiction movies, winning critical acclaim and even Oscar nominations is not a common occurrence. To date, no science fiction film has ever taken home the coveted statuette. Nevertheless, these movies aren't made with the intention of pleasing critics – they are made for fans.
And what passionate fans they are! Many dress up in full Imperial Stormtrooper regalia and wait in long lines to see the first screening at midnight on opening day. This dedication is why movie studios continue to make science fiction films, knowing that they will generate more profits than other recent blockbusters like Birdman or The Hurt Locker.
Looking back at some of the most successful sci-fi films of all time, it's clear that they have always been a hit with audiences. From classics like Star Wars and Blade Runner to more modern releases like Inception and Interstellar, sci-fi films have consistently captivated viewers with their imaginative storylines and groundbreaking special effects.
As we eagerly anticipate the release of Chappie this weekend, let's remember that these films are created for us, the fans. They offer us a glimpse into a world where anything is possible, and they inspire us to dream big and explore the limitless possibilities of the human imagination. So whether you prefer your sci-fi on the big screen or on TV screens around the world, there's no denying that these films play an important role in our collective culture and entertainment landscape.
Fortune recently took a look at the 10 highest-grossing science-fiction movies of all time, using data from Box Office Mojo and adjusting for inflation. Here they are, starting with number 10:
Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (2002)
The “Star Wars” prequel trilogy told the story of a young Jedi who grows up to become Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith. The critical reception that the trilogy received could politely be described as “lukewarm.” Despite this, the films grossed over $7 billion worldwide. This makes it one of the most successful science-fiction franchises of all time, even though its original release date was nearly two decades ago.
The reason for this success is simple: Star Wars appeals to both fans of the original trilogy and new audiences who are drawn in by the world-building and action sequences. In addition, the film franchise has spawned numerous spinoffs, sequels, and prequels, further expanding its reach and generating billions in revenue.
Other highly successful science-fiction movies on this list include The Matrix (1999), Titanic (1997), Avatar (2009), Interstellar (2014), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Jurassic World (2015). While some of these movies have faced criticism from critics and fans alike, they continue to generate huge amounts of money at the box office.
In conclusion, while science-fiction may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it remains one of the most popular and profitable genres in cinema. From epic space adventures to thrilling action scenes and heart-wrenching emotional ballads, there is something for everyone in the world of science fiction. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking for a good time at the movies, there’s no doubt that science-fiction will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
. Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999)
The first installment in the “Star Wars” trilogy introduced a young boy named Anakin Skywalker who would go on to become Darth Vader, the most powerful Sith Lord in the galaxy. This film has since earned over $28 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.
2. Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (2002)
The second installment in the trilogy tells the story of a young Padawan learner named Obi-Wan Kenobi and his battle against the evil Trade Federation. While critics were mixed on this movie, it still made $311 million, which is equivalent to $404 million in 2015.
3. Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The third and final episode in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy tells the age-old story of what happens when you have a lightsaber fight with your Jedi mentor. That is, you roll into a river of molten lava, your charred body gets put into a black suit, and you become known as Darth Vader. This film earned over $376 million worldwide.
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic novel, this movie follows a group of hobbits and humans as they embark on a perilous journey to destroy the One Ring that could bring about their destruction. With a budget of $175 million, it became the highest-grossing film of 2001 and has since earned over $3 billion worldwide.
5. Titanic (1997)
Directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, this movie tells the tragic love story of Jack and Rose as they set sail on the ill-fated Titanic. With a budget of $200 million, it became the highest-grossing movie of all time at the time of its release. It has since earned over $2 billion worldwide.
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
The fourth installment in the “Harry Potter” series follows Harry as he competes in the Triwizard Tournament alongside other wizards from around the world. This movie was well-received by fans and critics alike and has since earned over $785 million worldwide.
7. Avatar (2009)
Directed by James Cameron, this movie takes place on Earth in the year 2154, where humanity has colonized Pandora, a planet filled with lush forests and exotic creatures. With a budget of $237 million, it became the highest-grossing film of all time until 2010 and has since earned over $4 billion worldwide.
8. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The culmination of ten years worth of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, this movie follows characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor as they try to reverse the effects of Thanos’s snap that wiped out half of all life in the universe. With a budget of $2.79 billion, it became the highest-grossing film of all time and has since earned over $7 billion worldwide.
. 《星球大战前传三——西斯的复仇》(2005)
这部电影作为星战三部曲的最后一部，讲述了一个古老的故事：当你和自己的绝地武士导师展开一场光剑大战时，那将发生什么事情？结果是，你会滚进熔岩河，你碳化的躯体会披上黑风衣，然后变成大名鼎鼎的黑武士。这部片子的美国国内票房高达3.8亿美元，相当于今天的4.55亿美元。而黑武士则成为全球流行文化的标志性人物，在2014年乌克兰首相选举中，它就堂而皇之地出现在了投票结果中。
2. Independence Day (1996)
当你的家园被外星人入侵，大城市被摧毁，无数人丧生时，你会不会感到愤怒和无助？幸好，1996年的《独立日》教会了我们如何战胜这个威胁：只需将笔记本电脑带上外星母舰，并向其电脑上传病毒。运气好的是，这种病毒与苹果软件完全兼容。这让史蒂夫·乔布斯成为了一代伟人。
3. Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
作为星战三部曲的开篇之作，《新希望》讲述了一个充满希望和勇气的故事：在一个遥远的未来，一群反抗军为了拯救他们的星球而与邪恶的帝国展开了斗争。最终，他们成功地推翻了帝国，找到了一位年轻的救世主——卢克·天行者(Luke Skywalker)。这部电影不仅成为了全球最受欢迎的电影之一，还为后来的星球大战系列奠定了基础。
4. 侏罗纪公园 (1993)
这部电影讲述了一个富有想象力的故事：通过基因工程技术，人类成功地将已经灭绝的恐龙重新带回了地球。然而，这个计划并没有想象中的那么顺利，恐龙开始对人类造成威胁。这部电影不仅让观众们感受到了惊险刺激的场面，还引发了一系列关于伦理道德和科技进步的讨论。
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
《终结者2:审判日》是《终结者》系列中最经典的一部作品。影片讲述了一名机器人警察回到过去阻止一名年轻女孩生下未来的终结者的故事。这部电影凭借其紧张刺激的剧情、出色的特效和深刻的主题赢得了观众们的喜爱。
Holes in the plot aside, the movie "Independence Day" (1996) has received widespread audience appreciation. Despite its many holes, the film earned $306 million in ticket sales. A sequel is currently in production, but it will not feature the original's biggest star, Will Smith, due to his high cost as director Roland Emmerich stated.
Another popular science fiction film is "Back to the Future" (1985). The movie follows Michael J. Fox's character as he travels back 30 years in time and meets his teenage mother, who becomes sexually attracted to him, leading to a series of humorous events.
The movie was the highest-grossing film of 1985, taking in $211 million at the domestic box office, the equivalent of $458 million today. Two vastly inferior sequels were released in 1989 and 1990, and a stage musical version is set to debut in London's West End in 2015, according to BBC News.
"The Phantom Menace" (1999), starring actor Michael J. Fox, tells the story of an outcast teenager who travels back in time to three decades ago. Upon returning to his own era, he encounters his teenage mother, whom he quickly impresses. The film's tone quickly shifts from comedy to action as it delves into the galaxy's most infamous threat: a Sith lord known as "the Emperor." Despite its high production values and star power, the prequel trilogy has received criticism for its confusing plot and lackluster special effects. Nevertheless, it remains a cult classic among Star Wars fans.
6. Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999)
Few films in celluloid history have been as eagerly anticipated as the first installment in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, 1999's "The Phantom Menace." To say that it failed to meet expectations is putting it mildly.
Despite being met with mixed reviews and underwhelming fan response, the film was surrounded by a great deal of hype that convinced even those who were initially skeptical to go see it. This alone propelled its domestic box office take to $475 million, or $666 million in today's dollars.
One movie that stands out in terms of how much anticipation it generated among fans is "Phantom Menace" (1999). There are few films that have left such an indelible mark on movie-goers as this one did. It failed to live up to its own lofty expectations, but to say that it disappointed people would be an understatement. Despite the lackluster reception from critics and fans alike, the film still managed to draw crowds due to the tremendous amount of hype surrounding it. This helped propel it to $475 million in domestic ticket sales, which in 2015 dollars amounts to $666 million.
Another classic example of a movie that sparked widespread anticipation is "Return of the Jedi" (1983), which earned $309 million at the domestic box office. Depending on who you ask, this film could be considered either the best or the worst of the original "Star Wars" trilogy. Nevertheless, its success at the box office was undeniable, particularly considering the time period in which it was made
If you ask anyone who was a teenager when it came out, they’ll say it’s the worst, thanks to the cuddly Ewoks. If you ask any child under the age of eight, they’ll say it’s the best, for the same reason. Since the entire franchise (including the much-maligned prequels) is being kept alive today by the under-eight set, Fortune gives them the edge。
1983年上映的《绝地归来》在美国本土获得3.09亿美元的票房收入，相当于如今的7.25亿美元。根据你询问对象的不同，这部片子既可能是星战三部曲中最出色的，也可能是最糟糕的。
如果你问到一个青少年，他们会说这就是最糟的，都怪那个萌萌的伊沃克人。如果你问一个不到8岁的孩子，他们会说这是最棒的，这也是拜那个伊沃克人所赐。鉴于“星战”全系(包括备受诟病的前传系列)今天都是靠8岁以下的孩子才保有生命力，《财富》杂志就挺他们一把吧。
4. 《帝国反击战》(1980)
1980年代的《帝国反击战》被广泛认为是整个《星球大战》系列中最好的电影。这部黑暗而成熟的电影承担了将1977年的原版与长达两小时的玩具广告片《绝地归来》之间的文化现象连接起来这项艰巨的任务，并且它做得非常出色。
我是你父亲。"这句科幻小说史上最有名的台词，出自《星球大战》(Star Wars)系列电影中的一部经典之作——《帝国反击战》(1980年版)。这部黑暗而成熟的大片肩负着一个吃力不讨好的使命，那就是在1977年风靡一时的原作和后来两小时的商业片《绝地归来》之间架设一道沟通的桥梁。然而，《帝国反击战》非常出色地完成了这一使命。当黑武士对天行者卢克说出这句话时，影院里可能有人很想在椅子上再坐三年，等着看剧情怎么转折。该片总票房高达2.9亿美元，相当于今天的8.23亿美元。
在整个星战系列中，1980年的《帝国反击战》被普遍视为最佳之作。然而，在所有这些经典之作中，有一部电影在2009年创造了令人惊叹的纪录——《阿凡达》(Avatar),由詹姆斯·卡梅隆(James Cameron)执导。根据原始美元数据，《阿凡达》是迄今为止全球票房收入最高的电影，达到了7.61亿美元。经过通货膨胀调整后，其总票房为8.29亿美元，仅比最高票房纪录低两个位置。但别担心，这部电影已经确定将拍摄三部续集。
《阿凡达》(2009)是一部由詹姆斯？卡梅隆执导的3D史诗巨片，讲述了潘多拉星球上的蓝色原住民如何取代拉科塔族。这部电影是有史以来票房最高的电影，剔除通胀因素后，其总票房为8.29亿美元。然而，这也导致了自《阿凡达》上映以来，每部主要的事件电影都采用3D技术制作，甚至连卡梅隆本人都表示已经受够了这种现象。
另一部开创3D电影时代的作品是1982年的《E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial》。当时，史蒂文·斯皮尔伯格已经是《鲨鱼》、《夺宝奇兵》等大片的导演。但当他在那个夏天将《E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial》推向市场时，他成为了一位真正的文化现象级人物。这位罕见的导演能够让主流电影粉丝仅凭他的名气就能走进电影院。
虽然《阿凡达》和《E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial》都是3D电影的开创者，但卡梅隆对这种现象的厌倦也预示着3D可能即将走向尽头。
ET外星人 (1982)"是斯蒂芬·斯皮尔伯格的第一部执导电影，该片讲述了一个可爱的外星人流落到地球后与人类孩子产生友情的故事。这部电影在1982年夏天上映后迅速风靡全球，仅在美国国内就取得了4.35亿美元的票房成绩，相当于今天的10亿美元，使斯皮尔伯格一举成名。尽管他在之后的电影创作中取得了众多成功，如《侏罗纪公园》和《辛德勒名单》，但《ET外星人》依然可能是他最受人喜爱的作品。
另一部对斯皮尔伯格影响深远的作品是1977年的科幻巨制《星球大战》(Star Wars)。这部电影最初面临巨大的制作困难，各大主要电影公司如联美、环球影业和迪士尼都对其持保留态度。最终，20世纪福克斯公司勉强同意投资拍摄这部奇特的科幻小说改编电影。《星球大战》在全球范围内取得了巨大的成功，美国国内票房达到4.61亿美元，相当于当时的18亿美元(以2015年的汇率计算)。尽管这部电影在当时面临着诸多挑战，但它的成功为斯皮尔伯格赢得了广泛的赞誉，使他成为了电影史上最伟大的导演之一。
《星球大战》系列电影是一系列由美国导演乔治·卢卡斯所制作拍摄的科幻电影。第一部《星球大战》于1977年上映，以4.61亿美元的美国本土票房勇夺榜首宝座。当时，联艺公司、环球影业和迪斯尼公司都对乔治·卢卡斯这部不起眼的小科幻片不屑一顾。最终，20世纪福克斯公司勉勉强强同意一试 。
如果你想按照故事发生的时间顺序来观看《星球大战》系列电影，你可以参考以下顺序：
- 《幽灵的威胁》(1999年)
- 《克隆人的进攻》(2002年)
- 《西斯的复仇》(2005年)
- 《帝国反击战》(2005年)
- 《绝地归来》(2008年)
- 《原力觉醒》(2015年)
- 《最后的绝地武士》(2017年)
- 《天行者崛起》(2019年)
- 《星球大战：最后的绝地武士》
《原力觉醒》的制作预算高达2亿美元，成为星球大战系列最高。虽然这个代价比当初答应拍摄这部电影的预算高很多，但是这个决策无比英明，也让电影公司终于懂得了抢占先机的道理。迪斯尼接手后，头一件事就是投拍全新的三部曲，开篇之作将是定于2015年12月上映的《原力觉醒》。
