Being as male-dominated as science fiction is, watching a genre movie directed by a woman is a breath of fresh air. Some of the most groundbreaking sci-fi fare has been created by women directors, The Matrix being a case in point. These directors continue to deliver groundbreaking material that redefines the genre to date, and these movies are worth at least one watch.
Movies like Teknolust and Deep Impact are thought-provoking, and invite viewers to view sci-fi and all its components from a different perspective. The thought behind many of these films is critical, and they all contribute towards subverting cheap gender stereotypes of women in sci-fi. Many that were initially panned have also grown to become cult favorites.
10 Bird Box (2018)
Directed by Susanne Bier, Bird Box followed a woman named Malorie who lived in a world run by mysterious entities who would kill anyone who laid eyes on them. Malorie protected her two children from these creatures, as they navigated the world with blindfolds on.
This premise was novel, and the movie offered as much empathy and emotion as it did thrills. Sandra Bullock and the entire cast were directed masterfully, drawing their best performances in the horror sci-fi film. The ending of the movie was a bit bizarre once thought about but it was impactful nonetheless.
9 Deep Impact (1998)
1998 saw the release of two movies with the near-identical premise of killer asteroids colliding with the planet: Deep Impact and Armageddon. The sophisticated viewer would know that while Michael Bay's action-heavy flick made more money, Mimi Leder's movie was the better one, overall.
Leder handled the story more thoughtfully and without the countless action spectacles (though the movie was certainly not devoid of them). The ensemble cast depicted in equal measure the sense of loss of human life as well as the urgency to divert disaster from Earth. It was a groundbreaking sci-fi movie of the genre.
8 Teknolust (2002)
Avant-garde, self-aware, and undoubtedly cool, Teknolust featured Tilda Swinton as scientist Rosetta Stone, who created three "Self Replicating Automatons" or clones of herself that survive on Y chromosomes by injecting themselves with human sperm. Each clone was played fascinatingly by the actress in various wigs and costumes.
Written and directed by Lynn Hershman Lesson, this sci-fi movie was unique and underrated and left viewers with a poignant message on gender roles, agency, and identity. An indie film that was funny, authentic, and very stylized, few could do it like Hershman Lesson.
7 Captain Marvel (2019)
Audiences would think that the Marvel Cinematic Universe would have had a woman director and the first female standalone superhero movie sooner, but these only emerged as late as 2019. Co-directed by Anna Boden, Captain Marvel starred the talented Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, an acerbic but good-at-heart character who learns to enjoy her powers and exercise them judiciously.
With overarching themes of female friendship and diversity, Captain Marvel was a gem in the MCU crown. Unfortunately, it was trolled mercilessly and unfairly review-bombed for being a woman-led movie—but critically, it was a hit.
6 The Matrix (1999)
Lana and Lilly Wachowski changed the landscape of the science fiction genre with the creation of The Matrix, the story of Neo, a young man recruited by a rebel faction to take down the network that kept humanity trapped within a simulation known as the Matrix.
Everything from the story to the action sequences (slow-motion VFX bullets ruled) was absolutely novel and groundbreaking. The entire story hinged on a philosophy of choice and choicelessness, and redefined science fiction cinema for decades after its release. The cultural and cinematic impact of the movie is unlike any other.
5 Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Taking direct influence from The Matrix, Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling also dealt with humans living fake lives within simulations, in a town called Victory. Insidiously enough, all the men in this picturesque town had signed up for this experiment, but most, not all, women had been placed there against their wills.
The movie was not a critical hit and did leave something to be desired, but there was some very important thinking behind its bright, beautiful visuals. The media frenzy around the director and actors' politics also led to the movie's decreased success, but it was a brave attempt at something significant.
4 Born In Flames (1983)
Lizzie Borden created a piece of radical feminist cinema with Born In Flames, a fictional documentary-style movie about an alternate United States of America, where feminist groups fight against oppressive gender issues via pirate radio and other extreme acts to set themselves free.
The movie was put together on a minuscule budget, fashioned from faux documentary footage. The power of female friendship, resilience, and liberation was at the forefront of this movie, and all the issues raised in the 1980s continue to be relevant today.
3 Strange Days (1995)
Strange Days was a sci-fi neo-noir that was panned at the time it was released but became a classic as the years passed. Set in 1999 Los Angeles, director Katherine Bigelow offered a peek into what people thought the future would be like in the 2000s, as characters in the movie tuned into other people's memories stored on a disc to escape a grim reality.
Angela Bassett gave one of her best performances in this film, and funnily enough, it did predict the VR phenomenon that swept the world, albeit two decades too early. Strange Days is a difficult but excellent watch.
2 High Life (2018)
Tapping into human darkness and limits, French director Claire Denis provided an arresting mix of insight and visuals in the critically acclaimed High Life. Starring Robert Pattinson as the sole survivor of a group of humans being ruthlessly experimented upon on a ship, the movie gets disturbing as the director delves into the human mind.
High Life features disturbing experimentation which included artificial insemination, and Pattinson starred alongside a little girl who was his character's biological daughter. Raising questions about the cost of human progress and the meaning of humanity, High Life got near-perfect reviews. It was Denis' English language debut.
1 Speed Racer (2008)
Another masterpiece by the Wachowski sisters, Speed Racer was a cinematic adaptation of the legendary manga of the same name. Shockingly vibrant, gauzy, and surreal, the movie was as suspended from reality as possible, and the results were quite stunning.
Upon release, the reviews were not favorable—but over the years, Speed Racer has gained a cult fan base. Its human cartoon-like quality and slick visuals have come to be appreciated now. It was definitely ahead of its time, and also a totally different take on what filmmakers were trying to do at the time.