Five Women-Led Sci-Fi Films That Need To Be On Your Watch List

Covering an array of subjects like artificial intelligence, climate change or time-loops Sci-Fi films are such a treat to watch. They not only challenge the limits of our imagination but also offer an escape from our present-day reality, even if it is to horrify us with the prospect of a doomed future.  Women-led sci-fi films, while a rare occurrence in the past, have become a sub-genre now, giving us a chance to shape the narrative.

The sci-fi genre rose to popularity during the late 90s, thanks to technological advancements that gave filmmakers an opportunity to execute their grand visions and ambitious subjects. While its sister-genre, superhero films, were in quite a in demand even before, sci-fi films carved a space for themselves, introducing viewers to apocalyptic scenarios and futuristic visions. As for India, the sci-fi genre can possibly be dated back to Mr. India (1987) and has come up with interesting plots over the years.

Here are five women-led sci-fi films that you might enjoy watching:

Passengers

Passengers is a 2008 sci-fi romance film starring Anne Hathaway. The film, directed by Rodrigo Garcia, revolves around a therapist who counsels five survivors of a plane crash as they recollect incidents which possibly never took place. Things start to take an even more interesting turn when the survivors disappear mysteriously. The film also stars Patrick Wilson, Davis Morse, Dianna Wiest, Andre Braugher in key roles.

Anne Hathaway in Passengers

Arrival

This 2016 sci-fi thriller revolves around Louise Banks, a linguist, who must decipher the language of aliens as they have arrived on Earth. She must find a way to communicate with them by entering their spaceship, before a war is waged between them and the humanity. The film is based on a 1998 short story Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang and has been directed by Denis Villeneuve. It features Amy Adams as Louise Banks along with Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg and others in supporting roles.

Gravity

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity is a 2013 film starring Sandra Bullock in the lead role as Dr Ryan Stone. The film is set into motion as Dr Stone, along with astronaut Matt Kowalski, end up getting stranded in the outer space when their space shuttle is destroyed mid-orbit after being hit by high-speed space debris. As the lone survivor, will Stone be able to return to Earth? The film stars George Clooney as well.

Ex Machina

The 2015 sci-fi thriller follows the story of a humanoid android Ava, developed by tech CEO Nathan Bateman. The tycoon invites a young programmer named Caleb Smith to help him conduct a unique science experiment where he assesses if Ava has gained consciousness or not. The film stars Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Sonoya Mizuno, and Oscar Isaac, and marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Alex Garland. The film won an Academy Award in the Best Visual Effects category.

A still from Ex Machina

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Annihilation

Annihilation is a 2018 sci-fi psychological horror film based on 2014 novel by the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. The film is directed by Alex Garland. It stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, and Óscar Isaac in major roles. The plot revolves around Lena, a biologist and former soldier, who becomes a part of a mission in order to uncover what happened to her husband inside Area X which is dominated by an alien presence. The was highly praised by the critics as well as the audience and was well-received at the box office.