Movie Inspiration for SF

Gargoyle2k7's picture
Gargoyle2k7
January 28, 2009 - 10:14pm
I'm gearing up for a new SF campaign (dusting the old books off after 20+ years), and I've been compiling a list of movies that help set the tone for SF.  Some have definitely influenced SF as they have all of sci-fi: Star Wars and Star Trek.  Although the SF setting is different from both, there are elements of both that are clear inspiration for SF.  Others range from the bad (Metalstorm: the Destruction of Jared-Syn) to the great (Serenity/Firefly and Farscape).  Here follows a list of movies and TV shows that I feel help influence SF specifically (at least in some small fashion):
Star Wars (all)
Star Trek (all)
Alien (all)
Dune
Battle Beyond the Stars
Forbidden World
Forbidden Planet
Ice Pirates
Enemy Mine
Moon 44
Soldier
Starship Troopers
Fifth Element
Babylon 5
Farscape
Firefly & Serenity
Pitch Black
Outland
Space 1999
Total Recall
Bladerunner

I avoided anything that dealt with attacks on Earth or Earthmen from the 20th century in space, or that has too much of a magic/fantasy aspect.  Anything I may have missed?  Any comments? 
Long live the Frontier!
Comments:

jedion357's picture
jedion357
October 17, 2020 - 7:01pm
Univited

Sci-fi horror film
Mutant alien cat escapes secret lab and kills people on yatch where criminal owner is taking cruise to cayman islands to avoid the long arm of the law
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninvited_(1987_film)

SF version: Dramune Run 2.0 HS4 yatch owned by criminal looking to make a run to Outer Reach where he'll be safe from Star Law. 
Mutant alien animal escapes lab and sneaks on the ship. Maybe its a new sathar attack monster or not. Crime figure and 4 body guards plus yatch captain and PCs hired as crew. and a few more NPC ringers: bartender? glamour girl? 

As tension rises and people die the crime figure destroys the radio to prevent anyone calling for help. 

Bodies file up and PCs may get away in a life boat much like the two that survived in the original film with the criminal's money but the creature also gets away in an escape pod and epilog has it land on a planet.  
I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers!