Science Fiction: 316

Roland Emmerich co-wrote and directed Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), the highly-anticipated sequel to the original 1996 film. In this new installment, set twenty years after the War of 1996, the United Nations has established the Earth Space Defense (ESD), a global research program that uses alien technology to protect Earth from potential extraterrestrial threats. Thanks to humanity’s triumph over the aliens in their previous attack, peace reigns among nations and civilization has been restored. To further safeguard against future invasions, the ESD has expanded its reach by setting up bases on the Moon, ...

The American science fiction action film, Star Trek Beyond (2016), directed by Justin Lin and written by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, is based on the popular television series created by Gene Roddenberry. The Federation starship USS Enterprise has arrived at starbase Yorktown for a resupply and shore leave for its crew. In the midst of their five-year exploration, Captain James T. Kirk has applied for a promotion to vice admiral and has recommended Spock as his replacement. ...

Rogue One (2016), an American epic space opera film directed by Gareth Edwards, follows research scientist Galen Erso and his family as they evade Imperial weapons developer Orson Krennic on the planet Lah’mu. Krennic seeks to force Galen to complete the Death Star, a destructive superweapon. During their confrontation, Galen’s wife Lyra is killed and their daughter Jyn escapes with the help of rebel extremist Saw Gerrera. Fifteen years later, cargo pilot Bodhi Rook defects from the Empire and delivers a holographic message from Galen to Gerrera on the desert moon Jedha. Upon learning of Rook’s ...

Insurgent (2015) is an American dystopian science fiction action film directed by Robert Schwentke, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Veronica Roth. It is the sequel to the 2014 film Divergent and the second installment in The Divergent Series. Five days after Jeanine and her mind-controlled Dauntless soldiers attacked the Abnegation faction, she has declared martial law and labeled all Divergents and their allies as enemies. In the debris of Abnegation, Max and Eric find a box with all five faction symbols on it. Jeanine believes it contains ...

The film Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) is an American dystopian science fiction based on James Dashner’s novel of the same name. A hesitant Thomas is left by his mother with scientist Ava Paige and soldiers from the organization WCKD. Along with other children, he is placed in a mobile maze in the Glade for scientific testing. Years later, after being rescued from the maze, Thomas and the other survivors are brought to a facility led by Mr. Janson. He claims that the facility offers protection from the Flare virus and ‘Cranks’, and supplies them with necessary resources. Under Janson’s ...

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) is an American thriller directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Peter Craig and Danny Strong. It is adapted from Suzanne Collins’ novel Mockingjay (2010). After being assaulted by a brainwashed Peeta Mellark, Katniss Everdeen recuperates in District 13. President Alma Coin holds back Katniss from heading to the Capitol until they take control of the last district, District 2. To persuade District 2 to join ...

Self/less (2015) is an American science fiction action thriller film directed by Tarsem Singh, produced by Ram Bergman and James D. Stern and written by Alex and David Pastor. The movie follows the story of billionaire New Yorker Damian Hale, who is faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis. In search of a cure, he stumbles upon Professor Albright, who introduces him to a medical procedure known as ‘shedding’. This ...

Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness (2015) is the twenty-fourth film in the direct-to-video series of Scooby-Doo films, released in 2015. Daphne is attempting to obtain her driver’s license while behind the wheel of the trusty Mystery Machine. Despite Velma’s reassurance, Daphne ends up crashing into a tree and failing the test. Later on, the pair strike it lucky with a lottery prize that takes them on a journey into outer space. They join forces with billionaire Sly Baron, trained astronaut Shannon Lucas, retired astronauts Zip Elvin and Colt Steelcase, alien hunting specialist Ridley, football player Uvininous ‘U-boat’ Botango, news reporter ...

Home (2015) is an animated film from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox. The Boov, a timid alien species led by Captain Smek, have invaded Earth under the guise of being friendly. They relocate humans to the Australian Outback and settle into their new homes. Oh, a free-spirited Boov with a knack for accidents, decides to throw a housewarming party at his apartment. However, no one shows up. Meanwhile, Tip and her cat Pig, who managed to avoid capture during the invasion, search for Tip’s mother Lucy in the city. Oh visits Kyle, a grumpy Boov traffic officer, to invite him to the party. Inadvertently, Oh sends the invitation to every alien race in the ...

Tomorrowland (2015) is an American science fiction film directed by Brad Bird, with a screenplay by Bird and Damon Lindelof, based on a story written by Bird, Lindelof, and Jeff Jensen. In 1964, a young boy named Frank Walker attends the New York World’s Fair to sell his prototype jet pack. Despite his efforts, he is rejected due to its malfunction. Fortunately, Frank meets ...

The American television series 12 Monkeys (2015–2018), created by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, follows a science fiction mystery drama with a time-traveling plot based on the 1995 film of the same name. Set in the year 2043, the story centers around scavenger James Cole, who is recruited by a team of scientists led by physicist Katarina Jones for ‘Project Splinter’. Their mission is to prevent the release of a deadly virus by an organization known as the ‘Army of the 12 Monkeys’ in the year 2015. In Cole’s original timeline, this virus ...

Terminator Genisys (2015), the American science fiction action film, is the fifth installment in the Terminator franchise. Acting as a reboot, it takes a different direction from the original film and disregards events depicted in previous sequels. In 2029, Human Resistance leader John Connor leads a final offensive against Skynet, an artificial general intelligence system set on destroying humanity. However, just before victory is within their grasp, Skynet activates a time machine and sends a T-800/Model 101 Terminator back to 1984 to eliminate John’s mother, Sarah. To protect her, John’s loyal companion Kyle Reese volunteers to go back in time. ...

The science fiction film, The Martian (2015) was directed by Ridley Scott and starred Matt Damon. It was adapted from Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name by Drew Goddard. In the year 2035, the Ares III mission to Mars was exploring Acidalia Planitia on sol 18 of their 31-sol expedition. However, a severe dust storm threatened to topple their Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). During the evacuation, astronaut Mark Watney was hit by debris and presumed dead. With the MAV in ...

Jurassic World (2015) is an American science fiction action film helmed by director Colin Trevorrow. During their winter break, brothers Zach and Gray Mitchell take a trip to Isla Nublar’s dinosaur theme park, where their aunt Claire Dearing works as the operations manager. Claire assigns her assistant Zara to accompany the boys but they decide to explore on their own. Meanwhile, former Navy veteran and ethologist Owen Grady has been training a team of Velociraptors – Blue, Charlie, Delta, and Echo – and studying their intelligence. InGen security chief Vic Hoskins sees potential in weaponizing the ...

The American epic space opera film, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens  (2015), was co-produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. Three decades after the Battle of Endor, the once-defeated Galactic Empire has been replaced by the First Order, determined to overthrow the New Republic. In opposition, General Leia Organa leads the Resistance with support from the Republic. Searching for her missing twin brother Luke Skywalker, Leia enlists help from an old ally on Jakku, where Resistance pilot Poe Dameron receives a map to Luke’s whereabouts. However, their plans are interrupted when Kylo Ren ...

Divergent (2014), an American film directed by Neil Burger, is based on Veronica Roth’s novel of the same name. Set in a dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. The Factionless make up the rest of the population but hold no status or privileges. At sixteen years old, children undergo a serum-induced psychological aptitude test to determine their best-suited faction. They can then choose any faction at the Choosing Ceremony. Beatrice Prior was born and raised in Abnegation, which controls the ...

The Maze Runner (2014) is an American sci-fi film directed by Wes Ball. It is based on the eponymous novel written by James Dashner and marks Ball’s directorial debut. Our protagonist, a teenage boy, wakes up in an underground elevator with no recollection of his identity. He is welcomed by a group of male youths in an open grassy area known as the ‘Glade’, enclosed by towering stone walls. The boys have established a basic society with each assigned specific tasks. It becomes clear to our young hero that their only means of escape from the maze they are trapped in lies within its complicated pathways. ...

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) is a dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Peter Craig and Danny Strong. It is based on Suzanne Collins’ novel from a decade earlier. Following their rescue from the destroyed arena of the 75th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, Beetee, and Finnick Odair are taken to District 13, an underground district that has been leading the rebellion. There, Katniss is reunited with her mother and sister ...

Director José Padilha brought the American science-fiction action film, RoboCop (2014), to life with screenwriters Joshua Zetumer, Edward Neumeier, and Michael Miner. This remake of the 1987 original is the fourth in the franchise. The story explores a futuristic world where multinational corporation OmniCorp introduces robotic peacekeepers to maintain law and order. CEO Raymond Sellars leads the company’s efforts to market this advanced technology to domestic law ...

Directed by Wally Pfister and written by Jack Paglen, Transcendence (2014) is an American science fiction thriller film that follows the story of Dr. Will Caster, a scientist researching artificial intelligence and sapience. His goal is to create a sentient computer capable of achieving what he calls ‘Transcendence’. Assisted by his wife Evelyn, who is also a scientist, he works tirelessly with his team to bring this vision to life. However, their progress is hindered by the anti-technology group R.I.F.T., who carry out targeted attacks on A.I. laboratories ...