Welcome to the ultimate sci-fi box office expose! Hollywood studios have rolled out an extraordinary selection of sci-fi films over the years. Today, we pay tribute to the all-time box office superstars in the science-fiction arena. These films, inspired by the creative minds of extraordinary writers, have captivated the world's attention and delivered with aplomb. The top 10 sci-fi movies of all time include an all-too-familiar cast of characters, from Avatar to Jurassic World and Star Wars to Transformers. Get ready for the ultimate countdown of the top 10 grossing sci-fi movies of all time!
- #10 – 1993 Jurassic Park – worldwide box office takings of $1,058,454,230
- #9 – 2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – worldwide box office takings of 1,070,655,325
- #8 – 2014 Transformers: Age of Extinction – worldwide box office takings of $1,104,054,072
- #7 – 2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon – worldwide box office takings $1,123,794,079
- #6 - 2018 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – worldwide box office takings of $1,308,323,302
- #5 - 2017 Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi – worldwide box office takings of $1,325,604,756
- #4 - 2015 Jurassic World –– worldwide box office takings of $1,669,963,641
- #3 - 2015 Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens – worldwide box office takings of $2,058,880,845
- #2 – 2022 Avatar: The Way of Water – worldwide box office takings of $2,317,514,386
- #1 – 2009 Avatar – worldwide box office takings of $2,923,706,026
As extraordinary as these sci-fi blockbusters are, it's their impact on broader society that magnifies their appeal. Each of these mega-hits has a domino effect on multiple industries, notably DVDs, streaming movies, video games, social casino games, apparel, robotics, toys, theme park rides, and well beyond. Let's check out some of the hottest sci-fi-themed attractions in these peripheral industries in 2024:
Sci-fi-themed Social Casino Games
Thanks to the runaway success of sci-fi blockbusters on the big screen, content creators are eager to satiate the appetites of gaming fans the world over. PlayFame social casino has heeded that call with an extraordinary collection of zany games purely for entertainment purposes. No real money deposit is needed to get started, courtesy of virtual currency known as gold coins and sweeps coins. Top sci-fi games include Space Sam Walk & Win, Space Cows to the Moon, Space Miners, Space Conquest, Alien Fruits X15,000, and Alien Fruits 2. These games capture the essence of adrenaline-loaded entertainment with a decidedly sci-fi theme for fans of the genre.
Sci-Fi-Themed Robotics
Ever since the Terminator films hit the big screen, the world has been transfixed by the concept of humanoid-appearing alien robots performing all sorts of earthly activities, often with a nefarious ulterior motive. Top robotics developers in Japan, the United States, and across Europe have been hard at work creating the most realistic science-fiction-style robots, and they are phenomenal creations. Many of these robots are now used to perform micro-surgeries or assist individuals with disabilities. Sony, for example, released a robot capable of performing microsurgery on a corn kernel – these types of ingenious innovations and inventions are of tremendous value to us humans here on Earth.
Sci-Fi Theme Parks
Nowhere is the magic of sci-fi movies more palpable, believable, and experiential than Universal Studios and Disney World theme parks in Florida and California. Perhaps some of the greatest in-person sci-fi-themed attractions of all time (past and present) include the Klingon Encounter ride, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, Terminator 2 3D Battle Across Time, Back to the Future: the ride, Mission: Space at Epcot Center, The Timekeeper at Magic Kingdom, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom. No doubt, there are plenty of other incredible sci-fi-themed rides and attractions in the works, awaiting release to eager sci-fi fans around the world.
Sci-Fi Video Games
It makes sense that video games are the next level of immersion, full customization, and experiential entertainment. The top sci-fi games of our generation include a veritable avalanche of titles. At the risk of alienating seasoned aficionados of the genre, we will limit our subjective list to 5 amazing sci-fi video games. These include Halo 3, Alien: Isolation, Death Stranding, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Fallout: New Vegas. Of course, there are scores more titles in the mix that hard-core gamers absolutely love. These include games like Portal 2, BioShock, and the inevitable Mass Effect 2. This broad category encompasses dozens of top-grossing video games with hundreds of millions of fans worldwide. It's a work in progress!
Streaming Sci-Fi Movies
Streaming sci-fi movies typically mirror box office hit sensations, and for good reason – more people can afford to watch streaming sci-fi movies than go to the movies. The best sci-fi movies on Netflix's streaming platform often comprise a subjective assessment with objective yardsticks. For example, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, starring the former Mr Universe, governor of California, and Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger, remains a top-ranking selection. Directed by the supremely talented James Cameron (of Avatar and Titanic fame), this flick is a box office wunderkind among devotees. It's a sci-fi masterpiece. But it's closely followed by the Back to the Future series of films starring the incredibly talented Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson. Another time-travel, mind-bending film currently making waves on Netflix is Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan.
And on that happy note, we wrap up our expose on top-grossing sci-fi movies and fabulous spinoffs!
