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The debate over the first science fiction (scifi) story is an old one. I am convinced Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” (1818) is the first scifi novel, but even the subheading of it is “The Modern Prometheus,” suggesting the story of building a man goes back thousands of years to the Greeks. From the same ancient era, there’s also Pygmalion, who builds his perfect woman, Galatea. Or what about the story from the 16th century of Rabbi Judah Loew in Prague building a golem to protect the Jewish community? Why not include the late 19th-century tale of Pinocchio? I can see arguments for all of that, but I disagree. “Frankenstein” is modern science fiction. The rest are just tales of magic.
There are movies that meet the definition of scifi, but no one really thinks about them that way. Here are the parameters I’m proposing for a stealth science fiction movie:
- It’s a movie that is not about science.
- The plot involves some science fiction elements or tropes.
- It should be a movie you can watch with someone who thinks they don’t like scifi.
The Prestige (2006)
The movie is about the art of two magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) and the fierce competition between them to create the perfect trick. Nikola Tesla (David Bowie) shows up and the movie takes a turn into science and technology (but not scifi just yet). I will absolutely not tell you more, other than that (magicians don’t reveal their secrets, right?). The movie also stars Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, and Andy Sekris, and is directed by Christopher Nolan.
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
The story is about a man in debilitating pain over a broken relationship and his interactions with other people. The scifi component is that there’s a machine that can erase his painful memories. But what happens if you do that? The movie is 99% about the complexity of human relationships and heartbreak, and not about the machine at all. Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, and Elijah Wood.
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Groundhog Day (1993)
Weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) gets caught in a time loop, which is a classic scifi trope. Star Trek: The Next Generation s5e18 “Cause and Effect” (1992) uses the same plot. Most of the people in the city of Punxsutawney (or on the Enterprise) do not realize what’s happening, but Phil (and the crew) needs to figure out what to do differently in each loop to break the cycle. The movie also stars Andie MacDowell.
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Run Lola Run (1998)
This movie has a time loop plot, but time only resets a couple of times, and each loop plays out completely differently, so it’s more of a contingent alternate timeline plot. It’s a German film, but I assume no one here would watch the dub, right? Lots of action and lots of little twists and surprises. Highly recommended.
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Sliding Doors (1998)
Our scifi plot here is that there are two alternate timelines. In one timeline, Helen Quilley (Gwyneth Paltrow) misses her train. In the other timeline, she catches her train. It’s a contingency situation where the sliding doors closing lead to one future, and going through the sliding doors leads to a different future.
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It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
This Christmas classic is all about alternate futures and timelines: That’s scifi, if you ask me. There are some magical space beings and one flies down to Earth and he presents our hero George Bailey (James Stewart) with alternate timelines. Honestly, the alternate future Pottersville looks like more fun and is more prosperous than sleepy old Bedford Falls, so is the movie also a critique of capitalism? The movie is also very dark, including a dead brother, suicide, a near manslaughter, and substance abuse. Two of the minor characters are Bert and Ernie, so that’s happy! It also stars Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and other stars of the day.
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Add your comments below about your favorite stealth scifi movies.