The sci-fi genre has only continued to grow and evolve over the years, and as technology expands, so do the universes inspired by them. While many continue to grow today, there are others that have seemingly ended but still offer a lot to viewers.
Not all sci-fi stories have to include aliens or space, and that’s what’s helped deliver some great universes. From cyberpunk futures to a universe filled with space-wizards and intergalactic battles, the best sci-fi franchises feature amazing lore.
The Matrix Introduced New Sci-Fi Ideas to the New Millennium
The Matrix is one of the biggest movies of 1999, and what it accomplished went beyond the sci-fi genre. A world that posits the idea that humans are part of a massive simulation and used as cattle to feed the machines is just the start, as Neo is awakened and told he will save the real world as The One.
From plugging into the Matrix and downloading everything from kung fu knowledge to helicopter piloting, the universe’s rules are astounding and creative. Even now, no other sci-fi franchise has dared deliver something even similar to The Matrix, and the world is better for it.
The Chronicles of Riddick Has a Rich Lore People Don’t Know About
The Chronicles of Riddick is a universe that follows the titular Riddick, a killer with night vision and heightened senses who travels the galaxy. His story is tied to a deeper galactic universe of empires, and over three films and more spin-off material, this universe was fleshed out well.
The Chronicles of Riddick has a great story to it but has unfortunately never gotten the chance to go more mainstream. Nevertheless, it’s a world that deserves to be checked out because of how interesting it is and how entertaining the action and characters are.
Ghost in the Shell is a Genre-Defining Film and Universe
The ultimate cyberpunk film, Ghost in the Shell is mostly remembered for its visuals and music, but those that dig deeper will find an exciting universe. The film takes place in a future where people can easily enhance themselves with tech so much that those without tech are judged. The transhumanist ideas define the film and present deeper themes that stick with the viewer by the end.
Following Major Motoko Kusanagi, she tracks down a criminal who hacks into people’s minds and, in turn, begins to cause her to question her own existence. Ghost in the Shell was a great film, and its universe spawned many more sequels and shows that make it a staple of sci-fi.
Tron Delivers a Deeply Creative Universe
Disney’s Tron franchise is one of the most pioneering universes in sci-fi and, even with its minimal use of special effects, managed to inspire a whole new era of effects for the genre. A world set in a computer where those that exist within are Programs and humans are called Users within The Grid is just the start.
What began as a story where computer programs are simply humanized, the Tron universe played with the idea of existence as The Grid created new life and other Programs fight for permanence. It’s a deceptively existential story where the lore in The Grid and the real world marry together perfectly.
Alien Has Some of the Darkest Lore in Sci-Fi
Ridley Scott’s Alien introduced audiences to a cold corporate sci-fi world, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, where humans are just a means to an end, and they only work because of the promise of a decent payday. However, this only marks the start of a deeper lore, as it’s revealed that his company is also loosely responsible for the creation of the Xenomorphs and, more so, for wanting them alive to study.
As shows like Alien: Earth and movies like Alien: Romulus continue to expand the lore, it’s clear the company is the source of the lore for this series, and through them audiences see the terrors of space. From the gritty sci-fi tech and aesthetic to the haunting aliens, there’s no darker lore than Alien’s.
Predator Continues to Evolve With Each Entry
When Predator first hit theaters, it was a solid sci-fi horror where Hollywood’s most popular tough guys were the prey. The narrative of an alien hunter has continued to evolve to show the tribal culture of the Yautja and the importance of the hunt and the rituals that come with it.
Predator has more recently expanded its lore with Predator: Badlands and finally moved past its sci-fi horror angle to show viewers that it has something to say. For all of the action sci-fi out there, the Predator universe has more lore than anyone realized.
Blade Runner Still Delivers on its Sci-Fi Noir Angle
Blade Runner is a film with a lore so vast it took multiple versions of the film to ensure the story was conveyed perfectly. In the end, the story of one man’s mission to hunt down rogue Replicants, robots that look like humans, turns into something so much deeper.
Blade Runner’s lore is shown within the city the story is set in. A rain-drenched world where everyone is just trying to get by sets the stage for its deeper themes on the definition of humanity and what constitutes a life. While the franchise only has two films, Blade Runner manages to convey the universe in a way that makes it easy to want to learn more.
Star Trek is a Vast Universe Filled With Unique Characters
Star Trek may not have the centuries of lore that other franchises have, but what it lacks in history it makes up for in a vast present. Every movie based on the show built on that by showcasing many new planets and revisiting species like the Klingons in ways that recontextualized what fans knew.
As the movies expanded to Star Trek: The Next Generation, this became even more evident, and it still stands as the best way to get a taste of Star Trek lore without committing to the shows. They capture what makes the shows great while giving strong condensed narratives that define what makes sci-fi great.
Dune Uses Its Lore to Explore Modern Ideas
There’s no denying that Frank Herbert’s Dune walked so that Star Wars could run, and that’s why it deserves so much appreciation. What begins as a story of a young man destined to be the savior of his people, traveling to a faraway planet, becomes a much deeper story. Dune explores themes of power and corruption, as well as the importance of family, in a world where death isn’t permanent.
Dune can often be weighed down by its exploration of the lore, but that doesn’t make it bad. It’s a rich canon, complete with centuries of history of the Atreides family, including one son who becomes a sandworm hybrid. Dune is hard sci-fi through and through but a necessary building block for some of the best sci-fi tales since.
Star Wars is Filled With Centuries of Explored Lore
When it comes to sci-fi franchises fueled by their lore, nothing can compare to Star Wars. Building on concepts introduced years and even centuries earlier, Star Wars is the perfect balance of mysticism and science in a story built on a classic fairy-tale premise.
Since 1977, the franchise’s lore has spanned thousands of years, and every era has been explored both in canon and non-canon material. There’s virtually no stone left unturned in the world of Star Wars, and that’s what makes it so fun. Whether a fan of the Clone Wars or the Old Republic, there’s an era for everyone, and there are characters of every type that are just as interesting and compelling as the originals.