1) The history of science fiction films began in the silent film era of the early 1900s with short black and white films such as Le Voyage dans la Lune that helped establish the genre.
2) In the 1930s-1940s, low budget film serials featuring themes of adventure, space travel, and mad scientists became popular, influencing later films, and World War 2 propaganda films incorporated sci-fi elements.
3) The 1950s saw a golden age of science fiction films as interest in science and anxiety around nuclear war fueled the genre, with films like Destination Moon and The Thing from Another World becoming hits.
2. In the silent film era films were black&white and 1-2 minutes long. During this era-In 1902-
Le voyage dans la lune was created, it was/is about a spacecraft being launched to the
moon. It was largely popular and definitely gave a head start to the future of sci fi films. In
1910 the novel frankenstein was adapted into a film, this intrigued ‘crazy scientists’ to
cinemas and also started the overlap of sci-fi and horror. In 1920 amongst the earliest stop-
motion films, The Lost World was released, also it introduced science fiction concepts like
dinosaurs, hidden worlds and monsters.
In 1927 Metropolis was known as the most expensive film ever made.
3. 1930-1940’s
1930 movies were impacted by the
start of sound and dialogue, however
also by the great depression in
America which began in 1929 causing
audience’s to enjoy films with fantasy.
These people were known as
escapists. In this era there was a lot of
film serials which were very low budget
films which were along the lines of
adventures/space/travel and mad
scientists. These genres/themes are
still seen now in our films. Due to
universal studios extreme success with
Frankenstein other film companies
were highly motivated to carry on with
horror science fiction films. (The
invisible man, The vampire bat and
doctor x). 1940’s due to world war 2
Sci fi films started to include some kind
of war propaganda (ww2) with
superhero serials.
4. Post war
At the end of world war 2 there was a huge impact of the sci fi industry. The atomic bomb
lead to people having more interest in science. People were experiencing anxiety and effects of nuclear
war which also gave them a interest in science- a hobby, communist paranoia was present in the USA.
All of these things lead to a blast of sci-fi films being created. The 1950’s became the ‘Golden Age of
Science Fiction’. ‘Destination moon’ was highly rated amongst many people, it was about a rocket
taking men to the moon. It was both a commercial and artistic success.
Alien films also became popular as the UFO myth was intriguing people. ‘The day the earth stood still’
and ‘The thing from another world’ were one of the first, however both has contrasting views.
‘Earth vs flying saucers’ was another alien film however this one had special effects done by Ray
Harryhausen aka the master of stop-motion animation. Several other films were release and then a
showstopper; ‘Godzilla’. It hit Tokyo gaining crazy popularity. The financial success was completely upon
the large teenage audiences. Popular techniques like drive in theatres and 3D were used. Notably ; ‘‘The
creature from the black lagoon.
5. 1960-1970
• At the beginning on 1960 films were just a continuation of 1950. However, later in the 1960’s
exceptional films appeared which transformed science fiction cinemas. In 1966 meaningful films were
released. One being; ‘fahrenheit 451’. This was about freedom of speech and government restrictions.
In 1968 a film continuing now, ‘planet of the apes’ was so popular. The film known as the most
significant of the 1960’s was ‘2001 a space odyssey’. It was influential then and continues to be now,
and is referred to as ‘the big bang of science fiction’. It has amazing visual effects and portrayed
realistic space travel.
• In the 1970’s, the new hype was all about man trips to the moon. Star wars was released in 1977.
Space discoveries were increasing marvel audiences. In 1979 three notable sci-fi movies came about-
Star trek, alien and time after time.
6. 1980-1990
• After the star wars craze, major studios decided to rush in to the production of their projects.
Causing Star Treks television series to be reborn. The strongest directors in this decade were
James Cameron&Paul Verhoeven (the terminator film and Robocop directors). The most
successful film of the 1980s was ‘ET’. In 1980 the difference between the genres- science
fiction, fantasy and superhero films all became a blur due to star wars. The internet created a
massive hype in the 1990s, with loads of internet themed films. ‘The lawnmower man’ and
‘virtuosity’ included threats to the network from human computer interface. The internet also
allowed fandoms to emerge. As 1990’s came to a close, computers continued to be a important
role for special effects and film production. Complicated effects were introduced as softwares
updated.
• In every year in the 1980s and 1990s at least one sci-fi/fantasy film was produced.
7. 2000’s
• In the millennium science fiction films no longer revolved around space travel. There
were no films set off earth. (excluding star trek/wars) Science fiction returned to being
a tool for political commentary; ‘Minority report’. Also films questioning todays
materialism.
• The theatre audience declined due to more tvs and dvds at easy access. They
avoided expense for people. Studios decided to now allow adverts before films.
