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As the saying goes, the children are our future. Why not help them imagine a better world by exposing them to great science fiction stories? After all, the genre can ignite our imaginations, introduce us to new concepts, raise profound ethical questions, and foster an open-minded perspective.
Here are 11 great sci-fi movies (that aren’t Star Wars, Marvel, or E.T.) that can help launch your kids’ imaginations and ideas (big or small).
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
While its practical special effects may be outdated, this movie about a team of scientists who must be miniaturized and injected into a scientist’s bloodstream to remove a life-threatening clot can still capture the attention of a young viewer. For those who are learning (or simply curious) about how the human body works, this film provides realistic (for its era) depictions of the heart, blood cells, and other organs alongside a fun survival adventure. You can rent Fantastic Voyage on Prime Video.
Tron (1982)
Between the exhilarating Lightcycle Run ride at Walt Disney World and the highly anticipated sequel starring Jared Leto slated for release next year, there are compelling reasons why your family might want to revisit the original Tron. This sci-fi classic follows a computer engineer who ventures into the digital realm and leads a revolution against an oppressive program. But don’t worry: While kids may balk at the primitive CGI, which was massively innovative for the time, there is a sense of excitement seeing characters compete for their lives in video games. If your children have ever watched their friends play an X-Box game on Discord, they’ll probably be into Tron. (At which point you can proceed on to 2010 sequel.) Watch this movie on Disney+ or rent on Prime Video.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
I frequently recommend The Iron Giant to parents, and if your children enjoy the visual aesthetics of that film, they’ll likely appreciate the steampunk style of this imaginative adventure. The movie revolves around a heroic pilot battling an army of colossal robots, and was one of the films that pioneered the fully green screen filming (or virtual studio) technique to create its retro-futuristic feel. And unlike in comparable Spielberg-esque movies, no one’s heart gets ripped out and no one’s face gets melted. Watch it on Netflix or rent from Prime Video.
WarGames (1983)
This techno-thriller about a teenager who hacks into a government military system may not seem like science fiction anymore, as artificial intelligence operating systems are now integrated into our mobile devices. But doesn’t that make the idea of a computer threatening to cause World War III all the more relevant? What made this movie appealing to my younger self was how accessible it made computers seem, and how “Joshua,” the computer’s operating system, was a character all its own, speaking with a digital voice but with dialogue that you could watch on its screen like subtitles. Kids today will probably find it quaint. Watch it on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
It’s an unusual plot for a Disney movie: A young boy goes missing, only to return eight years later, but at the same age he was when he vanished. His mysterious disappearance is linked to an alien spaceship discovered by NASA. If you’re concerned the time travel shenanigans might be too high-concept for your young ones, don’t be. Even if it goes over their heads, the alien ship is hilariously voiced by the late Paul Rubens, and there are some pretty cool-looking aliens, and plenty of exciting special effects sequences to keep them engaged. Watch it on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video.
All Monsters Attack (1969)
Yes, this Toho-era Godzilla film is widely regarded as the worst in the franchise by almost everyone. It transformed Godzilla from a formidable kaiju (and metaphor for Japan’s social and political climate) into a mere children’s toy. However, try sharing that harsh criticism with my two young boys, who love the story of how a young kid imagines himself visiting Godzilla’s home on Monster Island and hanging out with Minilla, the adopted son of the famous reptilian creature. They watch monster dad battle several of his enemies while simultaneously learning some life lessons. While the action sequences are a bit hokey, as they reuses footage from previous movies, it’s an effective way to introduce children to an iconic character with a kid-friendly adventure. Watch it on Max, The Criterion Channel (which also has a dubbed version), or rent from Prime Video.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
I was talking with a fellow parent about when and how to introduce kids to Star Trek, and the idea alone caused us to each elicit a pained response. “It’s difficult because it’s not a hero’s journey like Star Wars,” he said. “It’s about the complicated questions that arise when creating a utopian society.” He’s not wrong. Other than Tribbles, there’s nothing cute or fuzzy about the U.S.S. Enterprise‘s mission to explore strange new worlds.
But then I remembered The Voyage Home, the first Star Trek motion picture I saw, an adventure that features the original crew bringing a pair of humpback whales from 1980’s San Francisco to the future so an interstellar probe won’t destroy the planet (go with it). The script simultaneously introduces the heady concepts that have made the series appealing for generations while also having some fun with the fish-out-of-water characters, who are baffled by 20th century Earth culture. Who knows? After seeing this classic, maybe you and your kids will soon start debating the pros and cons of the Kobayashi Maru training scenario. Watch it on Paramount+ With Showtime or stream/rent from Prime Video.
Time Bandits (1981)
Growing up, I adored this goofy fantasy film from Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam that follows Kevin, a kid who escapes his tech-obsessed parents to journey through history with a troupe of era-hopping dwarves. Armed with a map that allows the group to travel through time and space, they attempt to steal historical artifacts and run into a few key figures from the past. Kids will love the resourcefulness of Kevin, who uses his knowledge of history to get himself and his new friends out of trouble, not to mention the hilarious ending, which will seem like wish fulfillment to any child who’s ever felt unappreciated by mom and dad. Watch it on Max or The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
When it comes to movies about time travel, nothing beats this comedy about two slackers who kidnap historical figures so they can ace their history report. It’s just edgy enough to appeal to pre-teens, and it makes history fun by letting Joan of Arc and Beethoven loose in a shopping mall. But when it’s revealed that the metal-obsessed duo, played with surfer dude aplomb by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, will eventually become the planet’s saviors, it provides the lesson that we should never underestimate anyone. If your family likes this movie, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey and legacy sequel Bill and Ted Face the Music are just as fun as the original. Watch it on Max or rent it from Prime Video.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
We tend to lose our sense of awe and curiosity when we become adults, which is why I loved Close Encounters of the Third Kind growing up: Following a strange alien signal, Roy Neery’s (Richard Dreyfuss) inquisitiveness, tinged with obsession, transform him from a middle-class father into a world-famous space explorer. It also gives kids an ideal excuse to play with their food, as evident in the mashed potato scene. Parents can also appreciate the message about the importance of finding new ways to communicate with others who are different, which we all need to do occasionally. Rent it digitally from Prime Video.
Explorers (1985)
Although director Joe Dante never got to finish this film how he wanted to, this love letter to childhood imagination and ’50s sci-fi still has a whimsical charm. It concerns a trio of suburban kids who, with the help of some alien telepathy, make a spaceship out of junk, using only their ingenuity and with no parental supervision. While it goes a little off the rails in the second half (probably because of its production troubles), it’s nice to see a movie that features an alien race that isn’t set on destroying the planet. As our characters discover, they’re more like us than we think. Stream it for free with ads on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video.
