Science Fiction Films

Film & DVD / Video Top Ten Charts

SF²Concatenation's annual Science Fiction & fantasy film (movie) calculation. This is derived from 52 weekly UK cinematic box office charts between January and December. An SF/F film at the top of the weekly top ten scores 10 points, and those at number 10 get one point. Films' points are added up across the weekly charts to derive the top ten.

The 2020/1 chart was deferred due to the CoVID-19 pandemic that closed cinemas.

Prior to 2020, the weekly charts for the year counted those between Easters. This was because originally, 1987 - 1997, SF²Concatenation's was an annual print publication distributed a Britain's SF Eastercon. This Easter-to-Easter analysis continued when we moved online. However the 2020/1 hiatus provided an opportunity for a reset to cover the January-to-December year.

In our earlier years this was derived from the UK/European weekly film & video/DVD rental top ten charts.   From these we have looked at only the fantastic film entries and so have compiled the overall SF & fantasy fantastic film top ten for each year ( 12 months to Easter) up to 2004/5 after which time we used the weekly UK cinema box office takings to score rankings (again for the 12 months up to Easter which is when Britain and some other countries hold their annual gathering of the SF clans).   Because cinema box office takings are not the best guide for SF film enthusiasts, each year we have also included 'other worthies'.  Whether you have missed seeing some of what many consider the best, or are simply looking for a film to rent for the evening, or indeed planning a film programme for an SF convention, these top ten listings and their linked mini-reviews may well help you. (For a more detailed explanation as to how the top ten works see the small print below.)

1. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) (12A)
2. Barbie (12A)
3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (PG)
4. Elemental (PG)
5. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (15)
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (12A)
7. Knock at the Cabin (15)
8. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (12A)
9. Evil Dead Rise (18)
10. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (12A)

1. Thor: Love and Thunder (12A)
2. DC league of Super Pets (PG)
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home (12A)
4. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (12A)
5. The Batman (15)
6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (12A)
7. Everything, Everywhere, All At Once (15)
8. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (12A)
9. Nope (15)
10. Strange World (15)

1. No Time To Die (12A)
2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (12A)
3. Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City (15)
4. Black Widow (12A)
5. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (12A)
6. Eternals (12A)
7. A Quiet Place Part II (15)
8. The Suicide Squad (15)
9. Dune (12A)
10. Candyman (15)

(Prior to 2020/21 -- see below -- the year covered was the 12 months Easter-to-Easter to tie in with the British Eastercon. From now on in -- see above -- the top tens will cover the calendar year.)

1. Toy Story 4 (U)
2. The Lion King (PG)
3. Joker (18)
4. Jumanji: The Next Level (15)
5. Spider-Man: Far from Home (12A)
6. Aladdin (PG)
7. Captain Marvel (12A)
8. Avengers: End Game (12A)
9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (12A)
10. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (PG)

1. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (12)
2. Avengers: Infinity War (12)
3. Incredibles 2 (PG)
4. Deadpool 2 (15)
5. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (PG)
6. Aquaman (12)
7. Captain Marvel (12)
8. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (12)
9. Solo: A Star Wars Story (12)
10. Venom (15)

1. Paddington 2 (PG)
2. Black Panther (12A)
3. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (12A)
4. Wonder Woman (12A)
5. Thor: Ragnarok (12A)
6. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (12A)
7. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (12A)
8. It (15)
9. The Mummy (PG13)
10. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (15)

1. The Jungle Book (PG)
2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (12A)
3. The Secret Life of Pets (12A)
4. Doctor Strange (12A)
5. Zootopia (PG)
6. Rogue One (12A)
7. X-Men: Apocalypse (15)
8. Captain America: Civil War (12A)
9. The LEGO Batman Movie (U)
10. Alice Through the Looking Glass (PG)

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12A)
2. Spectre (12A)
3. The Martian (12A)
4. Jurassic World (12A)
5. Marvel's Avengers: The Age of Ultron (12A)
6. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (12A)
7. Mad Max: Fury Road (15)
8. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (12A)
9. Cinderella (U)
10. Ant Man (12A)

1. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (12A)
2. Guardians of the Galaxy (12A)
3. Lucy (15)
4. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (12A)
5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (12A)
6. Maleficent (PG)
7. The Theory of Everything (12A)
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (12A)
9. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (15)
10. X-Men: Days of Future Past (12A)

1. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (12A)
2. Gravity (12A)
3. Monsters University (U)
4. Man of Steel (12A)
5. Iron Man 3 (12A)
6. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (12A)
7. Star Trek Into Darkness (12A)
8. Thor: The Dark World (18)
9. World War Z (15)
10. Oblivion (12A)

1. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part 2) (12A)
2. Dark Knight Rises (12A)
3. Men in Black 3 (12A)
4. The Avengers (12A)
5. The Amazing Spiderman (12A)
6. Prometheus (12A)
7. Wreck-It Ralph (12A)
8. Para Norman (18)
9. Looper (12A)
10. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12A)

1. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (12A)
2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (12A)
3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (12A)
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (12A)
5. X-Men: First Class (12A)
6. Thor (12A)
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (12A)
8. Underworld: Awakening (18)
9. Captain America: The First Avenger (12A)
10. Contagion (12A)

1. Toy Story 3 (U)
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (12A)
3. Inception (12A)
4. Iron Man 2 (12A)
5. Shrek Forever (U)
6. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG)
7. Megamind (PG)
8. Gulliver's Travels (PG)
9. Tron Legacy (PG)
10. Resident Evil: Afterlife (15)

1. Avatar (12A)
2. Angels and Demons (15 uncut)
3. Star Trek (12A)
4. Terminator Salvation (12A)
5. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (12A)
6. 2012 (12A)
7. Up (U)
8. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (12A)
9. District 9 (12A)
10. New Moon (12A)

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (12A)
2. Batman: The Dark Knight (12A)
3. Watchmen (18)
4. Hancock (12A)
5. WALL-E (U)
6. Iron Man (12A)
7. The Incredible Hulk (12A)
8. Inkheart (12A)
9. The Day The Earth Stood Still (12A)
10. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (12A)

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: At The World's End (12A)
2. Harry Potter: And The Order of the Phoenix (12A)
3. The Golden Compass (PG)
4. Spiderman 3 (12A)
5. I Am Legend (PG)
6. Transformers (12A)
7. Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer (PG)
8. Jumper (12A)
9. Stardust (PG)
10. 28 Weeks Later (18)

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (12A)
2. X-Men: The Last Stand (12A)
3. Children of Men (15)
4. Superman Returns (PG-13)
5. Premonition (12A)
6. The Prestige (12A)
7. Scary Movie 4 (15)
8. Deja Vu (12A)
9. Ghost Rider (12A)
10. The Illusionist (PG)

1. Star Wars Episode III - The Revenge of The Sith (12A)
2. War of the Worlds (12A)
3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (PG)
4. Batman Begins (12A)
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (PG)
6. Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (U)
7. King Kong (12A)
8. The Fantastic Four (PG)
9. The Descent (18)
10. The Island (12A)

Note for the 2004/5 chart below: As per our 2004 editorial we have switched from video/DVDs to film.   This makes our top ten more topical than it did prior to 2004, yet not just retains but enhances its utility as a guide to what you might want to rent as it takes about a year for cinema releases to come out as a video or DVD. However because of the year gap between film and DVD release, to maintain continuity this Easter sees us cover both DVDs/video and film below. Two top tens in 2005 below for the price of one. Previous years, even further below, are video only.

1. Van Helsing (18)
2. Spiderman II (12)
3. ScoobyDoo II: Monsters Unleashed (12)
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (15)
5. I, Robot (15)
6. Day After Tomorrow (18)
7. Haunted Mansion (12)
8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (12)
9. Aliens Vs Predator (15)
10. Shaun of the Dead (12)

Because Easter 2005 sees us switch from top video/DVDs (below) to films (above) and because there is usually about a year gap between such releases, so as to maintain continuity, for this year only we are covering both the top films and, seperately, DVDs of the year. Though due to the narrowing gap between cinematic and DVD/video release there is some overlap in the films within each top ten.

1. The Day After Tomorrow (Fox, 12)
2. Van Helsing (Universal, 12)
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Momentum Pictures, 15)
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (New Line Cinema, 12)
5. The Matrix Revolutions (Village Roadshow, 15)
6. Gothika (Columbia Tristar, 15)
7. Timeline (Paramount, 12)
8. ScoobyDoo II: Monsters Unleashed (Warner, PG)
9. Haunted Mansion (Disney, PG)
10. Paycheck (Dreamworks, 12)

1. 28 Days Later (Fox, 18)
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Warner, 12)
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Warner, 12)
4. The Matrix Reloaded (Warner, 15)
5. Daredevil (Fox, 15)
6. Die Another Day (MGM, 18)
7. Terminator 3 (Columbia, 12)
8. Star Trek: Nemesis (Paramount, 12)
9. Solaris
10. X-Men 2 (Fox, 12)

1. Minority Report (Fox,12)
2. AI: Artificial Intelligence (Warner, 12)
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Warner, 12)
4. Ice Age (Fox, PG)
5. Men in Black II (Columbia Tr-Star, PG)
6. Blade II (Newline Cinema, 18)
7. Jeepers Creepers (Helikon SK, 15)
8. Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone (Warner, PG)
9. Mothman (Hekon SK, 12)
10. Reign of Fire (Touchstone, 16)

1. Jurassic Park III (Universal, PG)
2. The Mummy Returns (Universal, 12)
3. Evolution (Columbia Tristar, PG)
4. Unbreakable (Touchstone, 12)
5. Pitch Black (Universal, 15)
6. 6th Day (Columbia Tristar, 15)
7. The Gift (Helkon SA, 15)
8. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (Columbia Tristar, 12)
9. Hollow Man (Columbia Tristar, 18)
10. Red Planet (Universal, 12)

1. The Sixth Sense (Hollywood, 15)
2. The World is Not Enough (MGM, 12)
3. Deep Blue Sea (Warner, 15)
4. X-Men (Fox, 12)
5. End of Days (Touchstone, 18)
6. Final Destination (Entertainment, 15)
7. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (MGM, 15)
8. Hollow Man (Columbia Tristar, 18)
9. Galaxy Quest (Touchstone, 15)
10. EDtv (Universal, 12)

1. The Matrix (Warner, 15)
2. The Truman Show (CIC, PG)
3. Antz (CIC, PG)
4. Wild, Wild West (Warner, 12)
5. Armageddon (Warner, 12)
6. Virus (Universal, 18)
7. A Bug's Life (Disney, U)
8. Star Trek: Insurrection (Paramount, PG)
9. The Faculty (Touchstone, 15)
10. Small Soldiers (Touchstone, 12)

1. Starship Troopers (Touchstone, 18)
2. Deep Impact (CIC, 12)
3. Tomorrow Never Dies (MGM/UA, 12)
4. Alien Resurrection (Fox, 18)
5. Sphere (Warner, 12)
6. Lost in Space (Entertainment, PG)
7. Godzilla (Columbia Tristar, PG)
8. Contact (Warner, PG)
9. Armageddon (Touchstone, 12)
10. X Files Movie (Touchstone, 12)

1. The Fifth Element (Fox, PG)
2. Men in Black (Columbia Tristar, PG)
3. The Lost World (Universal, PG)
4. Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount, PG)
5. Space Jam
6. Mars Attacks (Columbia Tristar, PG)
7. The Relic (PolyGram, 18)
8. Batman and Robin (PG)
9. Event Horizon (Paramount, 18)
10. Space Truckers (PG)

1. Judge Dredd (Guild, 15)
2. Waterworld (Universal, 12)
3. Golden Eye (MGM/UA, 12)
4. Loch Ness (Polygram, PG)
5. Apollo 13 (Universal, PG)
6. Independence Day (Fox,15)
7. Lord of Illusions (MGM/UA, 18)
8. The Net (Columbia Tristar, 12)
9. Tremors II: Aftershocks (Universal, 12)
10. Virtuosity (Paramount, 15)

Prior to 1996/7 the print edition of the Science Fact & Fiction Concatenation (since 1987) used to carry film reviews.

The Small Print. -- The aim of this top ten is to give you a good selection of SF and fantastic films to either download, rent or buy.

SF²Concatenation's annual Science Fiction & fantasy film (movie) calculation. This is derived from 52 weekly UK cinematic box office charts between January and December. An SF/F film at the top of the weekly top ten scores 10 points, and those at number 10 get one point. Films' points are added up across the weekly charts to derive the top ten.

The 2020/1 chart was deferred due to the CoVID-19 pandemic that closed cinemas.

Prior to 2020, the weekly charts for the year counted those between Easters. This was because originally, 1987 - 1997, SF²Concatenation's was an annual print publication distributed a Britain's SF Eastercon. This Easter-to-Easter analysis continued when we moved online. However the 2020/1 hiatus provided an opportunity for a reset.

The top ten is calculated by looking at the UK/European weekly film box office (since 2005) and/or DVD/video rental charts (since 1997 up to 2005).   SF and fantasy films are then noted within each of the 52 weekly charts between successive-year Easter weekends. (Easter being the date of the New Zealand and British SF Eastercons and the US Westercons.)   If a film comes number '1' in the weekly chart it is given a score of 10.   If a film comes number '10' it is given a score of 1, and intermediate ranks are scored appropriately.  Then the scores of each of the year's 52 weekly charts are added.  This may seem like a lot of work   - it is -   but it is far less work than doing weekly or monthly charts and reviews, besides which there is not the volume of top box-office SF/F/H films to warrant a more frequent approach.

Aside from the top-tens being a chart of consumer and not SF fan or fantastic film buff rankings, this way of calculating the film top ten smoothes popularity across the year.   Consequently it does not reflect gross box-office or rental revenue.   Weekly box office revenues for films released in the run up to Christmas, as well as those in the summer holiday months, tend to be far higher than at other times of the year.   Furthermore a film may be taken any time off of cinema general release for DVD/video rental and then again released for TV broadcast and direct DVD/video sales.   This limits the time they can make box office sales.   Therefore a hugely popular film that has a higher gross box office taking for the year can score lower in our top ten than another film released at a quieter time of year but which stays in the charts for more weeks.   Yet again a film coming out in the Spring before Easter will see its box office taking straddle Easter with its points divided between two of our yearly top tens.   If this happens we usually include the film in the " worthies that slipped through the net..." section below each year's top ten and mention it in the linked mini-review to explain its apparently anomalous ranking.

Indeed, it is because of this last, and because some films go straight to DVD/video, and not least because some films take a while to permiate public awareness (hence do far better as a DVD than a film), or even because fantastic film buff tastes differ from the average person in the street, we also list 'other possibly more worthy films' at the end of the annual mini-reviews. This section is one that you may want to check out.

This service covering SF films complements The Science Fact & Fiction Concatenation's coverage of Science Fiction books, science & non-fiction SF books, and its seasonal Science Fiction news.

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