By Katie Mercogliano ‘14

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

It’s intellectually puzzling, seriously lacking in dialogue, and just plain bizarre. Yet, watching this cultural touchstone of the 1960s is an experience every movie lover should have. Even with the dry dialogue and painfully long visuals, director Stanley Kubrick produced magic with Space Odyssey. Even if you don’t really know what’s going on (which, odds are you won’t), the trippy, colorful visuals and eerie soundtrack make this a cult classic in not the just sci-fi genre, but the history of film in general. Plus, HAL 9000 singing “Daisy Bell” will give you nightmares for weeks, in the best way possible.

A New Hope & Empire Strikes Back (1977-1980)

Though all three original Star Wars movie were fantastic, these two make the list of the best space movies of all time. The one scene alone when Darth Vader tells Luke he is his father explains all you need to know about the trilogy’s legendary status and impact on the film industry. With some of the most memorable action scenes, visual mastery and the classic themes of good vs evil and redemption, it claims its spot in film history.

Wall-E (2008)

Pixar’s attempt at a space film was a huge success and developed some of the most beloved characters of our generation. The most powerful realization one gets from the movie is that for a futuristic cartoon space movie, its portrayal of what’s to come is incredibly realistic. Beside the fact that the digital effects and score are stunning, it is a warning to all of us to take care of the Earth. It won and was nominated for countless awards, and rightly so. Pixar is truly the only film company that could make a movie about a futuristic dystopia, robot love and the rise of obesity and make it one of the best movies of the decade.