Films which fall under the genre of Science Fiction have provided its fans with some of the greatest and most cult movies of all time. Over the past decades we have been treated to some truly magical sci-fi films. We have seen some great screen performances from legendary actors such as Harrison Ford, Signourney Weaver and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This brief article will attempt to provide some insight into the best that this genre has to offer.

Star Wars (The Original Trilogy)
Best to get this epic trilogy out of the way first as these films are undoubtedly not only some of the greatest sci-fi films ever, but provide some of the greatest cinematic moments of all time. Star Wars has everything and is the quintessential story of good and evil.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
This magical Spielberg film had us all believing that `We are not alone`, and the story of alien invasion and secretive government officials will be familiar to fans of `The X Files`.

Alien
Both this 1979 original and later sequel; `Aliens` provide classic Sci-Fi movie moments. Perhaps most famous of all is John Hurts vivid portrayal of having a alien burst from within his chest. This is a film which creates great suspense and I`m sure many have watched it from behind a sofa!

The Matrix
Time for something a bit more modern now; `The Matrix` was a huge box-office hit in the 1990`s. The film managed to combine spectacular special effects with a compelling philosophical view of the world.

Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day
These two iconic films allowed Arnold Schwarzenegger to act to his strengths, whilst barely uttering a word. Both provided fierce action scenes and a hugely compelling plot which revolved around the notion of time travel and its implications.

Back to the Future parts 1 and 2
Time travel is also the key theme in these movies, which are firm favourites with children and adults alike.

2001: A Space Odyssey
Kubrick`s masterpiece still seems modern despite being made in 1969. This story literally has everything from the dawn of man to adventures in space.

Blade Runner
What does it mean to be human? Who are we? These are two questions this films asks and is extremely thought provoking as well as being a visual feast.

Invasion of the body Snatchers
This low budget, black and white thriller, now over 50 years old is a classic film that many have tried, and failed, to reproduce.

This brief summary of some of the greatest Sci-Fi movies ever made can`t begin to describe the important of this genre of films. Over the years they have attracted a huge cult audience and for many, Sci-Fi has become a way of life, sparking a huge merchandising market including games and even clothing ranges such as Volcom. There is no doubt that Sci-Fi will continue to captivate the hearts and minds of its avid followers in the years to come.