Summary

keen sci - fi movies not found on booksshowcase the ability of filmmakers and screenwriters alike . Audiences may be surprised at which of their preferent sci - fi films were n’t lifted from the pages of any exist book . Though the clever conception and credible world - construction of certain celluloid make them seem like book adaptations , film writers and directors have historically craft original story at par with the greatest sci - fi Holy Writ of all time .

Whilesci - fi films based on booksdeal with the pressures of right honoring the reference fabric , movies with completely original screenplays present a different challenge . Science fiction movies have been around for over a century , and nearly every viable sci - fi concept has been explored and remixed to no end , making any original screenplay a rarified storytelling gem . This is n’t to say that great sci - fi picture not found on books do n’t borrow from lit in some manner - this is inevitable for any modern artwork . Even though they ’re inspired by the longhistory of literary and cinematic sci - fi storytelling , these movies have achieved greatness without straight lifting from any Good Book ’s page .

10Star Wars (1977)

based on classic sci-fi

Cast

George Lucas draw inspiration from various sources - including mythology , classical literature , and one-time series - to flesh out theStar Warsmovies . However , Star Warsis not directly base on any literary work . The saga ’s groundwork emerged from Lucas ’s original screenplay , evolving as he developed the narrative . While there areStar Warsbooks , they came after the films . Lucas prioritize visual storytelling , crafting aspace opera house that transcend traditional literary version . The iconic characters , like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader , sprang from his imagination - not pre - existing written works . Star Warsis a cinematic journey born from Lucas ' imagination , and is not a verbatim interlingual rendition of any curious book .

9Avatar (2009)

inspired by environmentalism and indigenous people’s struggles

WhileAvatar ’s story bears resemblance to films likeFern GullyandPocahontas , James Cameron conceived the plot and wrote the screenplay himself . The film ’s narrative and the world of Pandora were mathematical product of Cameron ’s imagination , blending element of environmentalism , autochthonous cultures , and science fabrication . Unlike adaptations from pre - existent lit , Cameron craft Avatar ’s universe to fit the optical medium of film . While there are tie - in novels and comic strip , they serve up to expand the lore rather than being the source cloth . The founding of the Na’vi , the conflict with the man , and the exploration of Pandora all originate fromCameron ’s smash hit - driven approach to storytelling .

Avatar : Fire and Ash will be the middle chapter of James Cameron ’s 5 - moving-picture show saga , but what does the third picture have in computer storage for the Na’vi ?

8Donnie Darko (2001)

groundbreaking take on traditional film and sci-fi tropes

author and director Richard Kelly conceived themind - bending screenplay forDonnie Darkoindependently of any subsist literature . The film ’s complex narrative , intermix science fiction , psychological thriller , and teen drama , originated from Kelly ’s imagination . The story of Donnie ’s face-off with a mysterious trope named Frank , time travel , and existential motif were crafted specifically for the screen . While there ’s a novelisation of the motion-picture show , it was eject after the film ’s debut and serves as an propagation rather than seed cloth . Donnie Darko ’s oracular plot and characters are a testament to Kelly ’s original storytelling , not an adaptation of pre - existent literary employment .

7Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

original sci-fi horror based on American drug cults

Rather than take over from any book , theatre director Panos Cosmatos wrote the screenplay for the psychedelic horror sci - fi filmBeyond the Black Rainbow , one of thebest sci - fi movie not sic in the hereafter . base on existent psychedelic drug cultus from the twentieth C , the movie explores topic of mastery , knowingness , and dystopia . gear up in a mysterious research facility , Beyond the Black Rainbowdelves into the psyche of its characters through a phantasmagoric crystalline lens . The film ’s atmospheric and abstract element were carefully crafted for the cinematic experience , without being tied to a pre - existent book or written work . It tolerate as a will to Cosmatos ’s creative storytelling in the realm of motion-picture show .

6Inception (2010)

unique and original sci-fi take on psychological thriller

Director Christopher Nolan also wrote the screenplay forInception , which is not an adaptation of any subsist literary work . The intricate narrative , centered around the concept of dreaming percolation and manipulation , emerge from Nolan ’s clear-cut storytelling style . Alongside the plot of ground ’s " snowballing effect , " the photographic film ’s geographic expedition of dreams within dream and the complexity of the human mind is a product of the writer - conductor ’s originative sight . While there are Bible and theories on dream and the subconscious , Nolan craft the head - bending cinematic experience severally . With its iconic , action - driven take on exploring the different layers of dreaming , Inceptionisan original and advanced addition to contemporary science fabrication cinema .

5The Matrix (1999)

inspired by cyberpunk and classic sci-fi

WasThe Matrixinspired by Grant Morrison’sInvisibles ? Morrison has famously argue this to be the case , as there are many similarity betweenThe MatrixandThe Invisibles . However , the Wachowskis have keep that their picture ’s groundbreaking conception of asimulated reality built by artificial intelligenceis their original workplace . Moreover , the rumors about copy ofThe Invisiblesbeing used as a reference duringThe Matrix ’s motion-picture photography have been unfounded . At the same time , the Wachowskis drew inspiration from various sources , blending cyberpunk esthetics , martial arts , and philosophical sci - fi - not unlikeThe Invisibles . Technically , The Matrixisn’t an adaptation , but an original film that revolutionize optic effect and storytelling .

Before they made cinematic account with The Matrix , the Wachowskis wrote Ectokid for Clive Barker ’s Razorline imprint of Marvel Comics .

4The Fifth Element (1997)

inspired by French comics and classic sci-fi serials

Even thoughThe Fifth Elementmay seem like it was extract straight from a classic sci - fi Bible or comic , director and writer Luc Besson craft the movie ’s screenplay on his own . The vibrant world , unique characters like Leeloo and Korben Dallas , and the overarching quest to save the universe are original elements of Besson ’s imagination . While Besson drew inspiration from various sources , including French sci - fi / illusion comedian , The Fifth Elementstands as a cinematic original , not a direct version . AlthoughThe Fifth Element ’s look and palpate borrow heavily from sci - fi serial publication , its visual spectacle and narration richness showcase Besson ’s ability to weave an original and visually arresting story for the screen .

3Dark City (1998)

shares thematic elements with great sci-fi books

One of the mostunderrated sci - fi movies from the ' 90s , Dark Cityis an original flick that ’s not base on any book . Alex Proyas , the director , conceived the chronicle and cobalt - wrote the screenplay with Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer . The moving-picture show ’s neo - noir , sci - fi atmosphere and exploration of retentiveness use are unique to the trio ’s sight . character like John Murdoch - along with the dim conspiracy surrounding a mysterious city - were craft specifically for the screen . While the film shares thematic elements with classic lit , Dark Cityis not a unmediated adaptation . Its surrealistic place setting , distinctive ocular style , and mind - bending secret plan prove Proyas ’s creativeness in deliver an original motion-picture show .

2Alien (1979)

original and formative sci-fi horror

Alienis an original and iconic sci - fi horror picture show not based on any novel or script . Director Ridley Scott developed the conception , which was flesh out by film writer Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett for the big screen . The photographic film ’s tense ambience , claustrophobic setting , and theterrifying brute known as the Xenomorphare all products of Scott ’s vision . Notably , however , the Xenomorph was inspired by the work of legendary visual artist H.R. Giger , which in turn inspired Scott . Alienintroduced the world to the iconic character Ellen Ripley and countersink high monetary standard for sci - fi repugnance , showcasing Scott ’s ability to create a scary and suspenseful cinematic experience that remains influential today .

Ridley Scott ’s Alien marked a shift in the sci - fi genre and kicked off a space horror franchise , but there ’s definitely a unsound and good Alien movie .

1District 9 (2009)

original contemporary film that honors science fiction’s social realist roots

territory 9has an original screenplay that is n’t immediately found on any existing literary work . Neill Blomkamp , the director , co - indite the handwriting with Terri Tatchell , craft aunique story of apartheid , alien refugees , and social comment in a sci - fi context . The part of Wikus van de Merwe and the challenges he face in a segregated society are original elements introduced for the film - based on South African history . WhileDistrict 9delves into thought - chivvy idea , it is not an adaption of any pre - existing book or literary source . Instead , Blomkamp and Tatchell ’s storytelling art shines through in this distinctive and impactful sci - fi movie .

The Matrix and Ectokid

Sigourney Weaver in Alien 3, David from Prometheus and a Xenomorph

Collage of the cast of Star Wars from the movie poster, Milla Jovovich as Leeloo in The Fifth Element, and Kiefer Sutherland as Dr. Daniel P. Schreber in Dark City

Headshot Of Mark Hamill In The Premiere of Disney’s Star Wars

Headshot Of Harrison Ford In The 29th Annual Critics' Choice Awards

Headshot Of Carrie Fisher

Cast Placeholder Image

Headshot Of Sam Worthington In the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1’

Headshot of Stephen Lang In the New York premiere of ‘A Gentleman In Moscow’

Headshot Of Michelle Rodriguez

Headshot Of Sigourney Weaver In The James Cameron And Jon Landau Handprints And Footprints Ceremony.

Headshot Of Jake Gyllenhaal

Headshot of Holmes Osborne

Headshot OF Maggie Gyllenhaal

Headshot Of Daveigh Chase

Eva Allan as Elena sitting in an observation room in Beyond the Black Rainbow

Headshot Of Leonardo DiCaprio In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

Headshot Of Joseph Gordon-Levitt In The Hollywood Critics Association’s 2023 HCA Film Awards

Headshot Of Elliot Page in The 48th Toronto International Film Festival: ‘Backspot’ Premiere.

Headshot Of Tom Hardy In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders

Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity and Keanu Reeves as Neo walking while extremely well-armed before rescuing Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus in The Matrix

Headshot Of Gary Oldman In The 77th Cannes Film Festival

Headshot Of Bruce Willis In The Premiere of Motherless Brooklyn

Headshot Of Ian Holm

Headshot Of Milla Jovovich

John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) standing near a clock shop in Dark City

The Xenomorph enters a ship in Alien

Headshot Of John Hurt In The UK premiere of Melancholia

Headshot Of Veronica Cartwright

Sharlto Copley as Wikus van de Merwe hiding behind his hand in District 9

Headshot Of Sharlto Copley In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Monkey Man’