A Journey in Science Fiction Movies

Welcome to Scifist, where we review every science fiction movie ever made, in chronological order.

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

    20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

    In search of a lost epic – whatever happened to Wallace McCutcheon’s ambitious first ever adaptation of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? The American 1905 answer to Georges Méliès’ fantastic voyages has been lost in time – as if it was never even made. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 1905, USA. Written, directed… Read more

  • The ‘?’ Motorist

    The ‘?’ Motorist

    (6/10) Walter R. Booth’s short film is a subversive and funny trick film about a couple of mad motorists that speed through the British streets, toppling police officers, riding up store fronts and finally circling the rings of Saturn. Inspired by Méliès, but with a creativity of its own.  The ‘?’ Motorist. 1906, UK. Written… Read more

  • A Voyage Around a Star

    A Voyage Around a Star

    (4/10) An astronomer travels to woo the lady in stars by enclosing himself in a soap bubble in this 1906 short film by Gaston Velle.  A Voyage Around a Star (Voyage autour d’une étoile). 1906, France. Directed by Gaston Velle. Cinematography: André Vanzel. Produced for Pathé. IMDb score: 6.0. Tomatometer: N/A. Metacritic: N/A.  An old… Read more

  • The Moon Lover

    The Moon Lover

    (7/10) A drunken romantic reaches for the moon in this warmly whimsical 1905 pseudo-sci-fi film by French trick filmer Gaston Velle. Clearly inspired by Georges Méliès, but with a personal touch.  The Moon Lover. 1905, France. Written and directed by Gaston Velle & Ferdinand Zecca. Produced for Pathé. IMDb score: 6.0. Tomatometer: N/A. Metacritic: N/A. … Read more

  • The Twentieth Century Tramp; or, Happy Hooligan and His Airship

    The Twentieth Century Tramp; or, Happy Hooligan and His Airship

    (3/10) The first American science fiction film was made in 1902 is shows the comic book character Happy Hooligan flying a balloon-bicycle over New York. A crude and technically inferior imitation of a French film, but noteworthy since it was directed by legendary Edwin S. Porter. The Twentieth Century Tramp; or, Happy Hooligan and His… Read more

  • Gugusse and the Automaton

    Gugusse and the Automaton

    No rating, film lost. The world’s first film featuring a robot was a short one-reeler made by Georges Méliès in 1897. It is considered a lost film, and there probably isn’t a single person alive who has seen it. We’ll try our best to recreate it in our minds nonetheless. Gugusse and the Automaton (Gugusse… Read more

Bela Lugosi Bert I. Gordon Boris Karloff Brigitte Helm Charles Gemora Crash Corrigan Curt Siodmak Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Eiji Tsuburaya Frankenstein Georges Melies George Worthing Yates George Zucco H.G. Wells Haruo Nakajima Invisible Man Irving Block Ishiro Honda Jack Arnold Jack Pierce Jack Rabin Jimmy Sangster John Carradine John P. Fulton Jules Verne Lionel Atwill Lon Chaney Jr. Mary Shelley Morris Ankrum Paul Blaisdell Paul Frees Richard Carlson Richard Denning Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Shayne Roger Corman Sam Katzman Segundo de Chomon Top Lists Top Silents Walter R. Booth Whit Bissell William Alland William Schallert Willis O'Brien