5 Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies Of the 90s

There are just some movies you can rewatch several times and never get bored, the ones that take you away from your everyday existence and into a fantasy world you wished you didn't have to leave after the credits rolled. That's what a good science fiction movie will do, and lately, I've been rewatching some of my favorites from the nineties. These are movies that, to me, will never be replaced.

Based on Michael Crichton's bestselling novel, Jurassic Park starts off in a way you know something is going to happen. You're on an island surrounded by cloned dinosaurs. What could possibly go wrong? It's non-stop action and a fight for your life once the power goes out. None of the other movies in the series come even close to this one, in my opinion.

Star Trek: First Contact is the first film after the cancellation of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it's edge of your seat action with a battle for humanity against the Borg. Many viewers were devastated when Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise left our tv screens in 1994, despite solid ratings. This movie alleviated some of the pain as it reminded us why we loved the series. Even noted film critic Roger Ebert considered it one of Star Trek's best films.

Humans battled aliens in an all-out war to reclaim the world in this blockbuster film from 1996. With a cast that included Will Smith, Bill Putnam, Jeff Goldblum, and Mary McDonnel, Independence Day took theaters by storm. Yes, there are some cheesy moments, but in 1996, those were almost a necessity. They were, after all, dealing with the world of make believe.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith together were pure magic in this! No matter how many times I've seen this movie, it still makes me laugh. With a secretive agency dedicated to protecting the world from alien life forms, a smart-talking new agent, and a wise-cracking bug, Men in Black proved it deserved the box office glory.

This four time Academy Award winner is easily my favorite on this list. It's imagination at its best, a world that doesn't really exist. A world that is run by machines who draw energy from human bodies trapped in pods. The only freedom comes from withdrawing from The Matrix, a painful experience both mentally and physically. The action scenes with Carrie Ann Moss and Keanu Reeves were mesmerizing, and the final fight between Neo and Mr. Smith was film-making at its best!

Each of these movies have had sequels, and some are even being rebooted, but nothing will ever compare to the originals. They are, in a word, irreplaceable.