Enough with the doom and gloom - here's a top ten list of feel good sci-fi flicks to brighten things up

Approx. 2000 words; 10 minutes read time (In a hurry? Read the intro then skim to the bottom for my top picks. Don’t forget to like and comment too! ~JRC)

Science fiction films are my go-to escape of choice. And I am certainly watching my fill as of late. The thing is, sci-fi movies are often dark and frequently apocalyptic. Post-nuclear worlds, maniacal machine takeovers, and hostile alien invasions are all standard fare in science fiction. Good stuff if your idea of escapism also includes a bunker in the backyard.

As much as I like these tales of Armageddon, some of it is hitting close to home. Between daily White House press briefings and these nightly apocalyptic movies, I am starting to consider that backyard bunker seriously. Alas, Home Depot is closed like everything else, so building it will have to wait. For now, another escape plan is in order.

What I need is some feel-good sci-fi.

To keep from going full-on doomsday prepper, I’ve compiled a top ten list of science fiction movies that aren’t afraid to make us laugh. Best of all, the selections here are liable to put a little cheer in everyone’s heart, not just those sci-fi fanatics out there. All are available to stream right now too, so you don’t have to break home isolation protocols to watch them. Another perk with this list is that most are kid-friendly, making them watchable in primetime, not just after the space cadets go to bed.

Here we go. Grab a snack, cue up one of these gems, and get set to enjoy a little fun sci-fi escapism.

10. Galaxy Quest (1999) Rated PG. Stream now on Amazon and Apple. Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver star as lead cast members from a fictional TV series Galaxy Quest who are contacted by aliens that believe the show is a real-life documentary from Earth. Impressed, the aliens enlist the crew (cast) of Galaxy Quest to help stop an intergalactic meltdown.

The film, a loving comedic homage to Star Trek, is so well-acted that you can’t help but empathize with the crew as they grow into genuine space heroes. Better still, the portrayal of Galaxy Quest fans in a parody of real-life “Trekkies” is admirable. Star Trek fans have embraced Galaxy Quest for this adoring portrayal of their sci-fi fandom.

9. Super 8 (2011) Rated PG-13. Stream now on Amazon (free with Prime), Apple and Hulu. For a healthy dose of feel-good sci-fi nostalgia, mixed in loving tribute to Steven Spielberg, look no further than Super 8, written and directed by J.J. Abrams (the director behind both the Star Trek and Star Wars reboots of the last decade). This film focuses on a group of young teenagers making their own Super 8 film when they witness a cataclysmic event that unleashes an otherworldly danger.

The kids band together in classic Spielberg style, working to save each other and their small town despite the mishandlings by every adult around them. This film is darker than others in this top ten list, but the energy and heart-felt emotion generated by the young cast is sure to lift spirits.

8. The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) Rated G. Stream now on Amazon and Disney+. Aloof college chemistry teacher Professor Brainard (played by Fred MacMurray) invents a rubbery substance, dubbed “flubber,” that gains energy as it bounces. Professor Brainard is so excited with this discovery that he misses his wedding – something he has done a couple of times already.

Madcap antics ensue as the professor attempts to share flubber with others while another professor woos his dejected bride-to-be. As Brainard tests his surprising discovery, with increasingly comical outcomes, still others become interested in stealing it for their gain. The antics spiral out of control, but – this shouldn’t be a spoiler since this is a formulaic Disney classic – all works out in the end for the endearing professor. The movie is an excellent example of what made old-school Disney films so famous. Short on real substance, being a series of repeated gags, The Absent-Minded Professor is not a deep film by any measure. But it is a pure joy to watch with a great cast and nostalgic sets and effects. Best of all, The Absent-Minded Professor brings back memories of a simpler time. Gather even the youngest sci-fi fans to watch this fun little escape from reality.

7. Men in Black (1997) Rated PG-13. Stream now on Amazon and Apple. Surprise - aliens from all over the Milky Way have been here on Earth since 1961. A secret supra-governmental agency known as the Men in Black governs these extraterrestrial visitors, working to keep them a secret from Earth’s human population while preventing the ever-possible outbreak of interstellar war.

Such is the premise of Men in Black, a hilarious shout-out to Mid-20^th Century science fiction. Starring the wonderfully paired duo Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the film shines for its comedic comradery between the two, as well as for the excellent special effects throughout. MIB is one of those films that entertains audiences of all ages, having plenty of gross-out creature effects for the kids while interspersing subtle adult humor to keep everyone chuckling.

6. The Fifth Element (1997) Rated PG-13. Stream now on Amazon and Apple. Bruce Willis stars in this sci-fi action comedy as Korben Dallas, a 23^rd Century ex-military taxi-cab driver, who unwittingly must fight for Earth’s survival after a mysterious young woman falls into his cab. The woman named LeeLoo, played by Milla Jovovich, is the “fifth element” who, along with four mystical stones, is the only thing standing between Earth and total annihilation by a “Great Evil.”

Whoever controls the stones controls the galaxy, so the Great Evil enlists the morally corrupt Zorg (portrayed pleasingly by Gary Oldman) to acquire them. Dallas and LeeLoo venture into space to get the stones before Zorg. The film's plot is challenging to follow at times, but this weakness is overcome by (or perhaps caused by) dazzling effects and extravagant costumes that are worth watching. Best of all, Willis plays his Diehard character John McClain, this time in space. Yippie-ki-yay, evil-from-space.

5. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) Rated PG. Stream now on Amazon, Apple and Disney+. This third installment of George Lucas' original trilogy ("ROTJ"; Episode VI in the Star Wars timeline) is an action-packed space opera with heart. The film has been criticized by some as being too soft and cuddly, particularly in comparison with the decidedly dark Empire Strikes Back. But I find ROTJ to be a well-crafted tale of loyalty, honor, love, and redemption.

There is just the right amount of levity, particularly between Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), as well as the droids Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio (Anthony Daniels). These lighter aspects balance well with the serious themes surrounding Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his father Darth Vader (David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones). New characters like the lovable Ewoks and the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt keep the story fresh and engaging. And the excellent sets and special effects, industry-leading at the time, make this a must-see film just for the worlds created. A personal note: this Star Wars film was the first I went see in theaters as a kid, being too young for the previous two films. I’ve seriously watched it a hundred times since then. Chances are you’ve seen it at least once too, but watch it again to regain that childhood sense of wonder.

4. Ghostbusters (1984) Rated PG. Stream now on Amazon and Apple. Directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters is technically a horror film. But the premise revolves around the “science” of ghosts, so I think it is fair to include here. Regardless, this critically acclaimed film has plenty of otherworldly laughs and sci-fi spoofs, owing to the hilarious antics of Bill Murray as Peter Venkman along with Aykroyd as Ray Stantz and Ramis as Egon Spengler.

The story follows the misadventures of these three parapsychologists as they run a business catching ghosts in New York City. Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddemore later joins the crew. Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts flesh out the fantastic cast. The film is creative, allowing ghosts to “exist” as a kind of pest within the city, and our friendly neighborhood Ghostbusters thus provide an essential city service. Things turn terrible, but our heroes come together and do battle with some dark forces to save the day. When things get rough, and you need an escape, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters, of course.

3. Wall-E (2008) Rated G. Stream now on Amazon, Apple and Disney+. Wall-E is a superbly animated feature about a trash cleanup robot (Wall-E) stationed on 29th Century Earth, working to rehabilitate this now-uninhabited wasteland. Humanity has spent the last seven centuries in space, getting lazy and fat while aboard huge interstellar luxury spaceliners.

Back on Earth, our little robot friend meets another droid (EVE), sent to Earth to check for life. The two get swept back into space, where they uncover a plot meant to keep humans out there forever. Amid the story’s blatant social criticism on human consumption and waste, love blossoms between our robot friends as they battle ignorance and evil, all the while learning to understand each other and their human creators. What makes the film so successful is the heart and compassion Wall-E elicits and the genuine emotion this little robot conjures within us. It’s a real tear-jerker and feel-good story all the same, recognized as not only the best animated film of 2008 but also as one of the best movies that year - period.

2. E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Rated PG. Stream now on Amazon and Apple. E.T. is the inspiring tale of an alien castaway on Earth who befriends a young boy Eliot (Henry Thomas) who eventually helps E.T. return home. Easily one of the greatest films of all time, E.T.’s message of friendship, love, family, and hope has inspired generations of moviegoers to believe in more than themselves.

The film has served as inspiration for countless other stories, both sci-fi and not, and has set the bar for what a Hollywood blockbuster should be. Stephen Spielberg directed this masterpiece after long-ago dreaming up the premise based on his childhood experience as the son of divorced parents. Of all the messaging in E.T., tolerance is perhaps the most relevant for times like these. The story reminds us that in overcoming our differences, we are truly exceptional. Keep the tissues handy during this one and be ready to hug your viewing partners profusely after.

1. Back to the Future (1985) Rated PG. Stream now on Apple and Amazon. Great Scott! Of course, this film is in the number one spot on my list. And why not? This hilarious time travel saga focuses on a friendship that transcends generations. Robert Zemeckis co-wrote and directed this film (and its two sequels) about professor Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and his teenage friend Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox). They experiment with time travel and end up affecting future events in the process.

In the first film, Marty is accidentally sent back from 1985 to 1955 where he meets his parents and jeopardizes his future existence. Doc Brown of 1955 is enlisted by Marty to get him back to 1985 but not before they ensure Marty’s parents fall in love. The story is entertaining on so many fronts owing to the expertly crafted script, fine performances, and non-stop laughs. Fox is a riot in the film as Marty, and Lloyd’s portrayal as the aloof scientist has become the new archetype for absent-minded professors everywhere. The take-home message of the film: your future is what you make of it. In troubling times like these, this is a notion worth remembering.

Have thoughts on your favorite sci-fi escapes? Please share in the comments.

Until next time. Science. Fiction. Create.

JRC

Editorial note: This article was edited on 2020.03.27 to correct an unconscionable number of mistakes made by its creator - me. ~JRC

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