Is 2001 the first science fiction film to take the genre seriously while also displaying a then-realistic projection of the future? It seems like all the sci-fi movies before were alien invasions, space adventures, and fantastical science exploration.
shareMetropolis tackled big themes several decades before.
La Jetee in mid 60’s. But it was a short.
Fahrenheit 451.
Planet of the Apes was same year as 2001, I think.
2001 was certainly the first “photorealistic” hardcore scifi film, though.
I was just logging in to say "Metropolis".
Wikipedia lists earlier films like a 1913 Frankenstein, but I haven't seen it (or the others mentioned) so I can't say if they're "serious" or not. But Metropolis certainly is.
I'd add that Things To Come from the 1930s is a reasonable stab at a serious science-fiction movie about ideas. And the original The Day the Earth Stood Still from the 1950s, as well. Just re-watched the latter recently & it holds up very well.
But 2001 is in a singular class of its own, without question.
Oh, if we're talking about how amazing 2001 is, yeah, it's definitely a milestone film. It's still one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, and I can't argue with any poll or list that puts it on top. It's great.
shareI’ve seen the silent Frankenstein. It’s about 2 reels I think and relatively serious as far as silent fantasy films back then, certainly moreso than the standard George Melies film like Voyage to the Moon, from 1901 or so.
shareI have seen Melies' film, although it's been awhile. But I did remember it being more about the fantastic-ness and the fun, not so much the "serious" aspects.
shareI think there are quite a few serious sci-fi films from the 50s and earlier. They look silly to us now but at the time the technology was realistic. Remember, once upon a time they seriously suggested the World would only even need five or six computers and each would be the size of a small factory.
shareThe Day the Earth Stood Still was pretty serious (even if it seems funny now).
share> It seems like all the sci-fi movies before were alien invasions, space adventures, and fantastical science exploration.
I've always assumed that's what Kubrick was referring to when he famously said he was going to make "the first good science fiction movie." I think he specifically meant "outer space," not sci-fi in general. I doubt he had anything like Metropolis or The Day the Earth Stood Still in mind.
Also, he said it in 1963 and most of 2001 was shot in 1965/1966, anything involving actors at least. They spent the next two years doing all of the visual effects. The movie versions of Fahrenheit 451 and Planet of the Apes didn't exist yet.