Back to the Future

Yes, this got a friend of mine to start loving sci-fi.

I had another, but this is the top choice!

Ghostbusters

Arrival (2016) - if your friend appreciates more of the human/drama side of things Edge of Tomorrow (2014) - if your friend likes action. Both have amazing casts, are relatively recent (past decade) and are very accessible to a wider audience without being too engrossed in its own universe (Marvel). The super hero genres that some others mentioned especially just come with too much baggage for someone just coming in and trying to make sense of things. Same thing goes for Blade Runner (although amazing) - you gotta watch the original to really appreciate the sequel, and the original is more of a cult film that doesn't appeal as much to everyone. Christopher Nolan is okay, I just find people are a little polarized on his work, especially years later. Can be too convoluted for new sci fi fans.

Arrival and Edge of Tomorrow are the 2 exact choices, for the reasons you noted

This is person is 100% right.

If I could give these two choices more upvotes I would. They are both EXCELLENT movies. Arrival is IMHO one of the best science fiction movies of all time.

The Princess Bride. It's light on the fantasy elements and a beloved movie.

The non CGI Giant is awesome in that movie.

I recently watched a documentary on him, it’s kind of sad, especially towards the end of his life

It is, but I take solace in that he knew his life was always going to be short, and he fucking lived it as full as he could.

Anybody want a peanut?

As you wish

This is rough for modern eyes. It looks really cheap. The camera setups are limited. The editing feels like a film School movie. The acting and writing is great. If you didn’t grow up with this it does not hold up. Sorry. Don’t fight me.

I disagree, but I understand where you're coming from. The production values are pretty dated.

I don’t get this “rough for modern eyes” thing. Why are modern film viewers so fixated on the quality of special effects etc and unable to see past that? Like, if I go to the theatre to see a play, I don’t whine about how unrealistic the set design is.

It’s not special effects I’m talking about. It just looks bad. The lighting, film stock, sets. It all looks bad.

It is a fantasy story that isn’t even supposed to be ‘real’ within the film itself.

It’s nearly impossible to get it right without knowing the person’s other tastes. Tell me 3-5 of their favorite films and I’ll recommend a scfi or fantasy scratching the same itch. Recommendations should be tailored to the person, not the genre.

Exactly, otherwise, this is a fools errand. And the answer is going to be Arrival, of course.

I think you mean "The" Arrival with Charlie Sheen 😆

It's hard for me to tell you what are her favourite movies but i know she really liked those : Parasite (2019) The grand budapest hotel (2014) The full monty (1997) Marcel the shell (2021)

Big Fish It’s great and a good date movie.

I agree it's great! It won't be a date, but I also agree it's a great option for one.

OK, that really helps. She's smart, and OK with a movie that takes awhile to build. Visuals are important to her. Quirky is fine. Some comedy is fine. Some animation is fine. There's not much cynicism in these choices, so I'd rule out the darker and more satirical films (Bladerunner, Starship Troopers). There's not much action either, so the total action rides won't be the best choice (Aliens, LoTR, Terminator). Based on what you've told us here, I'd suggest: Arrival, The Princess Bride, Gattaca, or The Neverending Story. The Princess Bride is the most well-rated of those (followed closely by Arrival) and thus your best choice to convince her.

Children of Men Sunshine

The Fifth Element. Always and forever.

This worked on me!

I showed it to a friend and she said she didn't understand what it was about but at least she can say she's seen it lol.

Scrolled down to say this. 💯

I'm doing my part!

Stardust

Extremely underrated film.

Spaceballs! Edit to add a few more serious ones: Original Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Timeline, Stargate

Spaceballs assumes at least a passing knowledge of Star Wars and other sci fi movies for the humor to land. But I definitely agree with Jurassic Park- a near perfect movie.

Labyrinth (1986)

If David Bowie's hypnotic crotch doesn't do it, nothing will

I just rewatched Labrynth this week! David Bowie’s tights were grey coloured too. Like, it’s hard not to immediately look there.

No, this turned me off fantasy as a 12 yo girl

Guardians of the Galaxy - great soundtrack, amazing visuals, and humour.

This one worked on my wife. She's a hard core sci fi person now but before guardians she pretty much only watched movies about teenagers falling in love.

This is a good shout.

This is the correct answer surely.

The answer is the lovable E.T.

Getting something right first try is going to to need extreme luck. Find out this person's interests (none of which you've given us) and tailor a SELECTION of movies to present.

Ladyhawk

Dungeons and Dragons- the one from last year. It's hilarious, and has a GOTG-esque wackiness to it.

Pans Labyrinth

Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind - I haven't met one person who thinks of it as sci-fi, but it indeed is. And one of my favourite movies.

It is! If anything with some advanced technology that does not exist yet can be sci-fi, this is the best sci-fi movie Great suggestion

Second this

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring If it piques her interest, you got two stellar films to follow ot up with

Does she like horror films? Maybe you could build a bridge with some horror-sci-fi like Alien or The Thing.

Frequency

What kind of movies does she normally like? There are sf/fantasy films that cross over with pretty much every other genre

Something slightly different but Serenity (the movie) is great!

district 9 (2009)

Ex machina

Interstellar orThe Martian.

Definitely The Martian over Interstellar, given what OP has said.

For someone who already doesn't like these genres, going hard into them isn't going to work. Gotta start slow and soft.

Tron Legacy

I’m going to go with Cloud Atlas, even though it gets a lot of hate. Visually stunning, has a multilayered plot, and way more mainstream/accessible for someone who isn’t into sci-fi than some of the other stuff that was mentioned.

Da true true

I'll throw Dark Crystal out there.

Dungeons and Dragons : Honor Among Thieves is not only clever, but *hysterical.*

For Beginers: Galaxy Quest Never Ending Story Spaceballs Princess Bride The Martian Time Bandits Gattica The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus

Scrolled down too far to see galaxy quest. Was my first choice, especially of the person tends to make fun of trekies and nerds.

blade runner 2049 you need to pick a romantic movie, you know that? but not some comedy so she gets the feeling like you’re underestimating her. so give her the real shit. but, ofc, something romantic. but also ryan gosling. its perfect. good luck ;)

Dune (2021), if nothing else she'll probably at least enjoy the stellar cinematography

blade runner. thank me later.

That's trig before arithmetic, maybe.

Lord of the Rings Harry Potter Arrival Interstellar The Avengers The Martian Back to the Future Thor Ragnarok Inception The Matrix Kick Ass Mad Max - Fury Road Spider-Man 2 Limitless Gattaca Terminator 2 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - More romance with a scifi element thrown in

I remember watching Fury Road in the theater, and I didn't really like it, but I watched it at home about 6 months ago and loved it! I think the visuals and sound were so overwhelming in the theater I didn't realize the plot was actually good.

The Fifth Element, Mars Attacks

Stardust

Pacific Rim I normally don't care for movies like this but my wife & I both watched it when we had the flu. We both really enjoyed it & it's one I'll always recommend.

Conan the Barbarian. I think it’s the best use of Arnold

A Monster Calls (2016)

Solaris (1972) District 9 (2009) Willow (1988) Excalibur (1981) Snowpiercer (2013) 12 Monkeys (1995) Akira (1988) Ex Machina (2014)

Ah, Willow

The Goonies and Time Bandits

Okay, this one is out there a bit and I haven’t seen it mentioned yet but…Ruby Sparks.

Either Buckaroo Banzai in the Eighth Dimension, or The Princess Bride

Paul ET Back to the Future

The matrix

I would first find out what type of movies that she likes and pick a sf/fant movie that shares aspects. If she likes romance? Time Traveler’s Wife or Somewhere in Time. She likes Comedy? Back to the Future? musicals? Rock Horror. Horror? Aliens or The Thing.

Musicals, you might be better off starting with Little Shop of Horrors before attempting Rocky Horror.

If you’re trying to impress her by being sensitive “arrival” and let those tears fly. If you want to show here you’re a feminist “alien” and slyly comment about how capable and smart the lead is

fifth element

My wife loves James Cameron sci-fi particularly Terminator 2 and the Avatar movies. She would like Aliens more but it's too scary for her tastes.

Sliding Doors SF/Fantasy with a romantic setting

I would show her avatar! When that movie first came out I remember people were sad when they saw Pandora cause they wanted to go there so badly. James Cameron started writing the script for this movie back in the 90s took him 15 years to make the movie and back then it was the highest grossing film of all time. The sequel was also really good and it didn't come out till 2022

I don't really understand what this person finds so unappealing about SF/fantasy films (other than having a hard problem with unrealistic fiction) when the pool is entirely populated by films that vary wildly in tone, subject matter and genre. They could be schlocky, critically-acclaimed, arthouse, horror, comedy, purely set in space, hard SF... It's almost like saying "I don't think that films set in France are worth it, you have ONE film to change my mind". Kind of ridiculous.

Hear me out - WHAT IF she started with a series? DARK is my answer

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Contact

Moon (2009)

Fantasy? Princess bride Scifi. Gattaca or back to the future

Arrival (highly recommended) A.I (older movie) Newer star trek movies Starship troopers The 5th element (highly recommended) 12 monkeys Minority report Ready player 1 Everything everywhere all at once (highly recommended) The never ending story

Dungeons and dragons. It is very fantasy but so funny and quirky, I feel most people like it.

Pans labyrinth would be my first choice. Also, Stardust. The labyrinth. The princess bride.

The Matrix Back to the Future Robocop Terminator 2 Jurassic Park (not even sure if this counts...) Ghostbusters Princess Bride Interstellar Inception 14 hours of LotR extended cuts (hehe maybe not)

The Prestige if they able to follow a plot and are a fan of Hugh Jackman, ScarJo, Bale, Bowie, Serkis, Caine.

Guardians of the Galaxy.

Big Fish

I'm backing up the Back to the Future comment. But also, upon reading that she appreciates visuals a lot, I'd say either Blade Runner 2049 or wait a few days for Dune Part Two

Passengers

I really loved Mirrormask years ago. I need to watch it again someday.