There aren’t that many hard sci-fi movie series out there, and even fewer series where every installment is a masterpiece. Though fans will debate forever about what hard science fiction actually means, it’s generally accepted that hard sci-fi puts an emphasis on realism. The subgenre eschews fantastical speculation in favor of a more grounded use of futuristic technology.
A classic science fiction franchise like Star Wars falls outside the hard sci-fi category because of its use of pseudo-magical concepts. What’s more, the technology is really just a means to an end, and realism takes a back seat to the series’ storytelling. Though it’s easier to say what isn’t hard sci-fi, it’s pretty difficult to fully pin down what does qualify.
Movies like The Martian and Interstellar are textbook hard sci-fi because of their logical uses of future technology, and its implementation in the story. Outside a few very clear examples, the hard sci-fi label requires a bit of flexibility. Some movies that are considered to be hard sci-fi also play around with speculative concepts that make some purists turn up their noses.
For the sake of this list, the definition of hard science fiction is a bit loose. These three perfect sci-fi movie series aren’t as cut-and-dry as the aforementioned examples, but they are hard sci-fi for all intents and purposes. What makes them real masterpieces is the fact that they explore hard sci-fi concepts while diving deeper into the human experience. After all, strict science fiction concepts are only interesting if the story is rich and engaging.
3
Ghost In The Shell
Ignoring the abysmal American live-action remake, Ghost in the Shell is a near-perfect science fiction duology. In the 1995 film, a federal agent tracks down an illegal hacker who is able to alter people’s minds through their cybernetic implants. Though the future tech is a bit outlandish, Ghost in the Shell treats it with realism. The classic anime film warns about the dangers of technology and its encroachment on our daily lives.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is often overlooked, but the long-awaited follow-up is arguably just as brilliant as the original. It dives even deeper into the themes of its predecessor, boldly predicting a stark future where people are further alienated from their own humanity. Not only is the Ghost in the Shell series quintessential cyberpunk, it’s stellar hard sci-fi too.
2
Blade Runner
Despite the fact that both movies in the Blade Runner series were box office failures, they combine to make one of the best hard sci-fi series of all time. Set in the near future, the movie concerns a reluctant officer who must track down escaped replicants and eliminate them. With its noir-inspired visuals and subtle future technology, Blade Runner is as beautiful as it is intriguing. Naturally, the film asks tough questions about what it means to be human.
Blade Runner 2049 somehow managed to be on par with its predecessor and expanded the lore onto an epic scale. The series’ status as hard sci-fi is often debated, but Blade Runner only gets more realistic with each passing year. The future technology is crucial to the storytelling, but it’s executed in a way that feels very grounded in reality. Though its status as hard sci-fi is debated, the duology’s status as a masterpiece is not.
1
The Odyssey Series
Few even remember that there is a sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey, but together the films offer the perfect hard sci-fi viewing experience. Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece walks the line between hard science fiction and surrealist fantasy, and the vexing classic continues to thrill all these years later. 2010: The Year We Make Contact, is an underrated gem that deserves a lot more attention.
The films fulfill the hard sci-fi requirement because they both approach space exploration realistically. Common space-faring problems are solved through interesting future technology that seems very plausible. The charm of the films is that the grounded sci-fi is juxtaposed with heady ideas about the next step in human evolution. The Odyssey duology is a masterpiece, even if the sequel isn’t as good as its predecessor.
