Sci-fias a genre blends beautifully with other subgenres, such ascoming-of-agestories, which can lead to some incredible and innovative storytelling. While sci-fi is often seen as a form of storytelling that pushes the boundaries of reality, and imagines what life could look like in the future, coming-of-age stories are typically grounded in reality. They draw in younger viewers, with a story that sees the protagonists advance from one phase of childhood into the next.
In this way, the two forms appear to have some degree of contradiction, butwhen paired together, it can lead to inspiring, in-depth, and imaginative stories. Whether the focus is on a young protagonist confronting something that appears to be beyond known reality, or overcoming challenges that arise from the rise of a dystopian empire, these stories are remarkably innovative. And when looking at some of the movies to come out of this category, it’s plain to see that it has led to some of thebest classic sci-fi movies of all time.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, directed by Steven Spielberg, follows a young boy named Elliot who befriends an alien accidentally left on Earth. As the task force searches for the extraterrestrial, Elliot, his siblings, and their newfound friend form a deep connection while attempting to return the visitor home.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrialis an iconic film by the visionary director, Steven Spielberg. When the movie was released in 1982, Spielberg had already gained notoriety for films likeJawsandRaiders of the Lost Ark, but it was only his second venture into the world of sci-fi.
Despite his relative inexperience, Spielberg was able to takethis incredible story about a boy who meets an alien, and make it a deeply emotional, inventive, and hope-filled story. This balance between wild imagination with a story that focuses on aliens, and the ability to make it feel grounded and endearing is a large part of why this movie has stood the test of time.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrialhas a 99% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
Elliott’s compassion towards this mysterious other life, and his willingness to befriend it, causes the audience to follow suit. Had the story featured an adult as the protagonist, it’s likely it would have devolved into something more combative, butthe youthful perspective is foundational to the film’s success.
Never Let Me Go
Friends Kathy, Tommy and Ruth grow up together in what appears to be an idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave school and the horrible truth about the purpose of their lives is revealed, they must simultaneously confront their feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal, which threaten to end their friendship.
In a similar fashion,Never Let Me Godelivers a deeply emotional story which was in turn based on the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. Here, the sci-fi element is more muted, as the film explores an alternative historical setting in Britain, where technology is considerably more advanced in terms of the ability to clone people.
This cloning is foundational to the story, becausethe three leads of the film are all clones, trying to find their identity and purpose in life. The film splits its time between the young adult versions of these characters, who set out into the world in an effort to find answers about their existence, and their younger days in the orphanage which housed them and the others of their kind.
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It’s an insightful and moving film, with a spectacularcast that includes Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and a young Ella Purnell. Due to a more limited release, this film has gone under the radar, but it’s one of the best sci-fi, coming-of-age narratives ever made.
Ready Player One
Adapted from Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name, Ready Player One follows Wade Watts, an orphan who desperately wants to win a seemingly-impossible video game competition that would see him win ownership of the OASIS, a sophisticated virtual reality game that had revolutionized modern life. Helped by his friends and racing against time to find the hidden clues before the OASIS is claimed by an evil conglomerate, Wade’s love of the game is put to the test.
Ready Player Oneis decidedly more upbeat and energetic in its approach to storytelling, again adapting a novel of the same name by author, Ernest Cline. And interestingly, despite being released nearly 40 years afterE.T., both films were directed by Steven Spielberg. The film revealsa world where most people have retreated into virtual realityin an effort to escape the stark and disappointing reality that exists beyond their VR headsets.
It’s energetic, action-packed, thrilling, and entertaining from start to finish.
And in this digitized reality, there is one program that everyone finds themselves drawn to more than others, the OASIS. When the creator of the OASIS dies, a mysterious competition presents the opportunity for one exceptional player to crack several codes, overcome challenges, and, if they can succeed, the reward is ownership of the entire OASIS, essentially handing them control of the world where everyone now resides.It’s energetic, action-packed, thrilling, and entertainingfrom start to finish.
Big Hero 6
In Walt Disney Animation Studios' Big Hero 6, the child genius Hiro Hamada works with his brother Tadashi’s inflatable robot, Baymax, to assemble a superhero team in the fictional city of San Fransokyo. The titular group of geeky heroes, composed of Honey Lemon, Go Go Tomago, Wasabi, and Fred, help Hiro and Baymax take down a masked villain powered by nanobots.
The first animated title on the list, though certainly not the last,Big Hero 6,is a film based on a Marvel comic series of the same name, thoughBig Hero 6is not attached to the larger MCU. The film takes place in a futuristic city known as San Fransokyo, with the protagonist, young Hiro Hamada being a robotic engineering prodigy.
After showcasing his incredible nanobot technology at the local university, Hiro is accepted into the university. However, a devastating fire breaks out, which leads to his older brother, Tadashi, being killed. The film does an incredible job of taking deep, mature emotions and delivering them in a superhero story with high-tech gadgets.
Despite the apparent contrast,the movie blends the coming-of-age narrative with the sci-fi elements beautifully, and it resonates with audiences of all ages. It also features high-tech robots that evolve to become true friends, and an intense mystery that Hiro sets out to solve.
Flight of the Navigator
Flight of the Navigator is a science fiction film directed by Randal Kleiser. Released in 1986, the story follows 12-year-old David, who is mysteriously transported eight years into the future after a close encounter with an alien spaceship. As David tries to understand what happened, he discovers the advanced spacecraft and forms a unique bond with its artificial intelligence, known as Max.
Flight of the Navigatorstands out as a pivotal sci-fi movie from 1986, though it did not gain the same level of recognition asE.T.,Back to the Future, and similar big releases of the time. However, since it’s theatrical run, the film has gained a cult following. The extensive use of CGI, an all-electronic soundtrack, and the simple and clever story abouta boy who finds himself as the navigator for a highly advanced alien spaceshipall combine to create something very special.
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The film features many elements of sci-fi, with aliens, UFOs, time travel, space travel, and enhanced human physiology. However, despite the presence of these complex ideas, the movie makes them engaging and appropriate for a younger audience. It’s also incredibly fun, uplifting, and entertaining, as David must work with an alien spaceship to avoid capture and protect his entire family.
The Iron Giant
Set in 1957 Maine against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows Hogarth Hughes, a young boy who finds an alien robot crashlanded in the woods outside his hometown. Determining that the robot is friendly, Hogarth quickly becomes its protector against forces in the US Army who wish to use the robot for their own means. Eli Marienthal voices Hogarth, with a further cast that includes Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Christopher McDonald.
Again, going back to animation,The Iron Giantstands out as one of the best animated moviesby Warner Bros. of all time. Again, the movie covers an alternative historical setting, with the Cold War raging on in the background. However, when one young man encounters a mysterious giant robot, his lonely life is suddenly made much more complicated. The film unpacksa blossoming relationship between the boy and this alien robot, which is threatened by the U.S. Military that wants to seize control of the alien technology.
Similar toE.T.,The Iron Giantis able to evoke intense emotion for a character who is not human. And this time, they are not even made of flesh and blood. However, it spins a narrative around friendship, overcoming adversity, and the challenges of growing up. It’s a wonderful story which stands the test of time.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Joe Johnston’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a 1989 comedy where a scientist creates a functioning shrinking ray at home. Unfortunately for him, his experiment ends up shrinking his family and neighbors, who struggle to get back home and reverse the process. The first movie’s success spawned a franchise that includes two sequels and a reboot.
Shifting to a more light-hearted and comical sci-fi coming-of-age story,Honey, I Shrunk the Kidsisa brilliant, funny, and clever storyabout a struggling inventor who manages to successfully create a shrinking machine. However, when his kids stumble upon the device, they find themselves shrunk down to the size of a small insect. This evidently leads to issues, as the kids try to find a way to get big again, as their father struggles to even find his now tiny children.
StarringRick Moranis in one of his few film roles, the film is wonderfully imaginative and laugh-out-loud funny. The visuals of the kids interacting with a world that is now scaled up to the extreme is also incredibly intriguing. And the result is a classic sci-fi comedy with incredible depth and humor.
Treasure Planet
Treasure Planet is a 2002 animated adventure and Fantasy film from Walt Disney studios. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the story follows a young boy named Jim Hawkins as he attempts to find a fabled treasure and mend ways with his father who abandoned him.
Treasure Planetis another underrated animated filmwhich, despite gaining a vocal and dedicated fanbase, has managed to fly under the radar. The film isa wonderful reimagining of the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson,Treasure Island, and it features a very familiar narrative, though the visuals are entirely new.
Young Jim Hawkins dreams of a life beyond his home planet, and when a group of pirates destroys the inn which is the source of Jim and his mother’s livelihood, he needs to set sail to find the means to rebuild. The story is a wonderful tale of loyalty, betrayal, friendship, and corruption, with incredible visual stylings that keep Disney at the forefront of animation.
It’s alsoan incredible blending between old and new, as the story evidently takes place in a distant future where different humanoid species coexist, but the technology, such as sail boats powered by solar energy, resembles things familiar to the audience. This juxtaposition makes for an intriguing and remarkable story that ignites the imagination.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a dystopian thriller set in Panem, where annually selected tributes from twelve districts compete in a televised battle to the death. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, who must navigate the brutal competition and rely on her instincts and mentor’s guidance to survive and possibly return home.
A much darker coming-of-age story is seen inThe Hunger Games. Like many of the others on this list, the story is based on a novel, which is itself a part of the young adult fiction genre.The dystopian world of Panem is divided into 12 Districts, and the Capitol, with each of these locations serving a specific purpose, and travel between districts being largely unattainable.
After the districts rebelled many years earlier, the Capitol instituted a brutal punishment to ensure the districts remained in their place, the Hunger Games. These games force pairs of children from each district to compete for their lives, brutally killing each other for the sport and entertainment of the Capitol.
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However, it’s not all darkness and hopelessness, asone contestant, Katniss Everdeen, becomes a symbol of hope, and a brighter tomorrow through her resilience, toughness, and heart. It’s a wonderful story whichinspired a larger franchise of films, all based on works by Suzanne Collins.
Meet the Robinsons
Meet The Robinsons follows Lewis, a young inventor determined to find his birth mother. His journey takes a turn when a mysterious boy named Wilbur Robinson whisks him away to the future. Together, they face adventures and challenges that ultimately lead Lewis to uncover the significance of family and his place in the world. This animated film explores themes of innovation, belonging, and the importance of moving forward.
Finally,Meet the Robinsonsis another animated film from Disney, which again managed to fly under the radar upon its initial release in 2007. The movie followsa young prodigy by the name of Lewis, who hopes to become an inventor. One of his first inventions is designed to try and reach inside his own mind, and visually reveal a memory from the depths of his brain, revealing who his birth mother is, because Lewis is an orphan who was given to a care home as an infant.
The story depicts a powerful lesson to “Keep moving forward” through mistakes and setbacks, until goals are achieved.
However, when things go wrong, Lewis struggles to get past his mistakes. At this moment, Wilbur, a quirky boy who appears to be slightly older, takes Lewis to the future in his time machine. The visuals are wonderful, and the Robinson family are all unique and incredible characters. And beyond that, the story depicts a powerful lesson to “Keep moving forward” through mistakes and setbacks, until goals are achieved. This, and all of thesesci-fi coming-of-age storiesare inspiring and delightful in their own ways, and well worth watching.
