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Top 10 Sci-Fi Movie Clichés


prepare to make the jump to light speed

prepare to make the jump to light speed again and again try and hold him off

again and again try and hold him off

again and again try and hold him off angle the deflector shield probably make

angle the deflector shield probably make

angle the deflector shield probably make the calculator with a jump to light

the calculator with a jump to light

the calculator with a jump to light speed

speed

speed welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten sci-fi movie cliches she’s fully

sci-fi movie cliches she’s fully

sci-fi movie cliches she’s fully integrated into the building we need to

integrated into the building we need to

integrated into the building we need to open that dome to inject an annex that

open that dome to inject an annex that

open that dome to inject an annex that will infect our entire system for this

will infect our entire system for this

will infect our entire system for this list we’re looking at cliches tropes

list we’re looking at cliches tropes

list we’re looking at cliches tropes gimmicks plot points narrative devices

gimmicks plot points narrative devices

gimmicks plot points narrative devices MacGuffins or anything else you can name

MacGuffins or anything else you can name

MacGuffins or anything else you can name that frequently is used throughout

that frequently is used throughout

that frequently is used throughout movies in the science fiction genre for

movies in the science fiction genre for

movies in the science fiction genre for the record we’re not bad-mouthing any of

the record we’re not bad-mouthing any of

the record we’re not bad-mouthing any of these as their presence has created some

these as their presence has created some

these as their presence has created some truly compelling works of science

truly compelling works of science

truly compelling works of science fiction he’s got a history dr. violence

fiction he’s got a history dr. violence

fiction he’s got a history dr. violence antisocial six instead ranking them

antisocial six instead ranking them

antisocial six instead ranking them based on their abundant presence and

based on their abundant presence and

based on their abundant presence and their role in science fiction stories

their role in science fiction stories

their role in science fiction stories well I’m sorry I I didn’t know how this

well I’m sorry I I didn’t know how this

well I’m sorry I I didn’t know how this machine worked number 10 homogeneous

machine worked number 10 homogeneous

machine worked number 10 homogeneous alien species planets Jobeth Hey yeah

alien species planets Jobeth Hey yeah

alien species planets Jobeth Hey yeah it’s first mate on a ship the knight

it’s first mate on a ship the knight

it’s first mate on a ship the knight suitors you guys know better than most

suitors you guys know better than most

suitors you guys know better than most that science fiction universes can be

that science fiction universes can be

that science fiction universes can be pretty big so sometimes a little

pretty big so sometimes a little

pretty big so sometimes a little simplifying is required in an effort to

simplifying is required in an effort to

simplifying is required in an effort to do this alien species are often painted

do this alien species are often painted

do this alien species are often painted with broad strokes where every member of

with broad strokes where every member of

with broad strokes where every member of a particular race has similar

a particular race has similar

a particular race has similar personalities clothes or lack thereof

personalities clothes or lack thereof

personalities clothes or lack thereof attitudes etc Navi say that every person

attitudes etc Navi say that every person

attitudes etc Navi say that every person is born twice the same can be said of

is born twice the same can be said of

is born twice the same can be said of other planets which are often

other planets which are often

other planets which are often represented with one defining

represented with one defining

represented with one defining characteristic no oh man is peaceful we

characteristic no oh man is peaceful we

characteristic no oh man is peaceful we have no weapons you can talk about

have no weapons you can talk about

have no weapons you can talk about another target a visit or a target one’s

another target a visit or a target one’s

another target a visit or a target one’s a giant desert another’s nothing but a

a giant desert another’s nothing but a

a giant desert another’s nothing but a swamp another only looks like the South

swamp another only looks like the South

swamp another only looks like the South Pole well I finished my circle I don’t

Pole well I finished my circle I don’t

Pole well I finished my circle I don’t think of any life readings is hot cold

think of any life readings is hot cold

think of any life readings is hot cold this time of year it’s a giant cube of

this time of year it’s a giant cube of

this time of year it’s a giant cube of ice what do you expect

number nine aliens understand English

number nine aliens understand English and vice-versa without any translation

and vice-versa without any translation

and vice-versa without any translation you said it Chewie it seems that

you said it Chewie it seems that

you said it Chewie it seems that everyone in the galaxy has conveniently

everyone in the galaxy has conveniently

everyone in the galaxy has conveniently taken the time to learn English or at

taken the time to learn English or at

taken the time to learn English or at least facilitate other speaking it how

least facilitate other speaking it how

least facilitate other speaking it how hard sure a lot of movies use the whole

hard sure a lot of movies use the whole

hard sure a lot of movies use the whole universal translator thing to get around

universal translator thing to get around

universal translator thing to get around this but shouldn’t every alien speaking

this but shouldn’t every alien speaking

this but shouldn’t every alien speaking look like a badly dubbed kung fu movie

look like a badly dubbed kung fu movie

look like a badly dubbed kung fu movie in that case the judicial name at the

in that case the judicial name at the

in that case the judicial name at the top case of a Johnson there you gonna

top case of a Johnson there you gonna

top case of a Johnson there you gonna put your name at the bottom step two is

put your name at the bottom step two is

put your name at the bottom step two is as far as we’re concerned though a

as far as we’re concerned though a

as far as we’re concerned though a little suspension of disbelief goes a

little suspension of disbelief goes a

little suspension of disbelief goes a long way as we all like knowing what

long way as we all like knowing what

long way as we all like knowing what characters are saying what’s going on

characters are saying what’s going on

characters are saying what’s going on mm-hmm

mm-hmm

mm-hmm whoa looks great number eight time

whoa looks great number eight time

whoa looks great number eight time manipulation he’s saying it’s from the

manipulation he’s saying it’s from the

manipulation he’s saying it’s from the future when you hit number eight on this

future when you hit number eight on this

future when you hit number eight on this list you’re gonna see some serious shit

list you’re gonna see some serious shit

list you’re gonna see some serious shit when this baby hits 88 miles per hour

when this baby hits 88 miles per hour

when this baby hits 88 miles per hour you’re gonna see some serious shit where

you’re gonna see some serious shit where

you’re gonna see some serious shit where would sci-fi be without the ability to

would sci-fi be without the ability to

would sci-fi be without the ability to travel to another era

travel to another era

travel to another era speed up time or change the future

speed up time or change the future

speed up time or change the future what’s great about this cliche is that

what’s great about this cliche is that

what’s great about this cliche is that although it gets frequent use we’re

although it gets frequent use we’re

although it gets frequent use we’re still seeing new stories come out of it

still seeing new stories come out of it

still seeing new stories come out of it we must confront the reality of

we must confront the reality of

we must confront the reality of interstellar travel whether it’s

interstellar travel whether it’s

interstellar travel whether it’s time-traveling robot assassins

astronauts getting too close to a black

astronauts getting too close to a black hole or souped-up DeLoreans we can never

hole or souped-up DeLoreans we can never

hole or souped-up DeLoreans we can never really say we saw it coming are you

really say we saw it coming are you

really say we saw it coming are you telling me you built a time machine out

telling me you built a time machine out

telling me you built a time machine out of a DeLorean number seven post

of a DeLorean number seven post

of a DeLorean number seven post apocalypse it’s been half a century

apocalypse it’s been half a century

apocalypse it’s been half a century since the scavengers destroyed our moon

since the scavengers destroyed our moon

since the scavengers destroyed our moon what will the world be like in the near

what will the world be like in the near

what will the world be like in the near future well it might not be there at all

future well it might not be there at all

future well it might not be there at all wiping out the world as we know it

wiping out the world as we know it

wiping out the world as we know it provides a blank canvas for sci-fi

provides a blank canvas for sci-fi

provides a blank canvas for sci-fi filmmakers to apply their special

filmmakers to apply their special

filmmakers to apply their special effects heavy brushes earthquakes topple

effects heavy brushes earthquakes topple

effects heavy brushes earthquakes topple cities within hours

cities within hours

cities within hours tsunamis wiped out world remained random

tsunamis wiped out world remained random

tsunamis wiped out world remained random virus nuclear holocaust rise of the

virus nuclear holocaust rise of the

virus nuclear holocaust rise of the machines aliens who cares we love them

machines aliens who cares we love them

machines aliens who cares we love them all there are literally endless amounts

all there are literally endless amounts

all there are literally endless amounts of stories to come out of the world

of stories to come out of the world

of stories to come out of the world ending and they never really seem to get

ending and they never really seem to get

ending and they never really seem to get old I’m a survivor living in New York

old I’m a survivor living in New York

old I’m a survivor living in New York City

City

City I am broadcasting on all am frequencies

I am broadcasting on all am frequencies

I am broadcasting on all am frequencies number six dystopia shall we continue

number six dystopia shall we continue

number six dystopia shall we continue yes it’s different from post apocalypse

yes it’s different from post apocalypse

yes it’s different from post apocalypse I’m gonna lie

I’m gonna lie

I’m gonna lie wait

wait

wait in a dystopia the world hasn’t

in a dystopia the world hasn’t

in a dystopia the world hasn’t necessarily been wiped out it’s just

necessarily been wiped out it’s just

necessarily been wiped out it’s just kind of grim because of its enormous

kind of grim because of its enormous

kind of grim because of its enormous popularity Soylent Green is in short

popularity Soylent Green is in short

popularity Soylent Green is in short supply this also includes societies that

supply this also includes societies that

supply this also includes societies that seem perfect but actually hide dark

seem perfect but actually hide dark

seem perfect but actually hide dark secrets life is hard for the people of

secrets life is hard for the people of

secrets life is hard for the people of the future who have to struggle to find

the future who have to struggle to find

the future who have to struggle to find food fight off replicants at a crime ELA

food fight off replicants at a crime ELA

food fight off replicants at a crime ELA I need you – this is a bad or prevent

I need you – this is a bad or prevent

I need you – this is a bad or prevent murders before they happen in a

murders before they happen in a

murders before they happen in a futuristic DC sucks for them but it

futuristic DC sucks for them but it

futuristic DC sucks for them but it makes the movies featuring such settings

makes the movies featuring such settings

makes the movies featuring such settings so much better we are arresting

so much better we are arresting

so much better we are arresting individuals who have broken the law but

individuals who have broken the law but

individuals who have broken the law but they will if a hero can survive there

they will if a hero can survive there

they will if a hero can survive there they can survive anywhere he’s a god

they can survive anywhere he’s a god

they can survive anywhere he’s a god damn one-man slaughterhouse that’s what

damn one-man slaughterhouse that’s what

damn one-man slaughterhouse that’s what he is number five thinly veiled

he is number five thinly veiled

he is number five thinly veiled political messages morals he knows if we

political messages morals he knows if we

political messages morals he knows if we even go near Klingon space if he all-out

even go near Klingon space if he all-out

even go near Klingon space if he all-out war Starfleet can’t go after him but I

war Starfleet can’t go after him but I

war Starfleet can’t go after him but I can we’re all for allegories and film

can we’re all for allegories and film

can we’re all for allegories and film even if it means occasionally getting

even if it means occasionally getting

even if it means occasionally getting beaten over the head with a giant

beaten over the head with a giant

beaten over the head with a giant metaphor the last people to starve will

metaphor the last people to starve will

metaphor the last people to starve will be the first to suffocate seriously

be the first to suffocate seriously

be the first to suffocate seriously though sci-fi loves making its art

though sci-fi loves making its art

though sci-fi loves making its art reflective of the world we live in today

reflective of the world we live in today

reflective of the world we live in today tackling a variety of subjects from

tackling a variety of subjects from

tackling a variety of subjects from calls for humans to make peace not war

calls for humans to make peace not war

calls for humans to make peace not war – commentary on drone warfare sometimes

– commentary on drone warfare sometimes

– commentary on drone warfare sometimes it goes far enough to say that humans

it goes far enough to say that humans

it goes far enough to say that humans are to blame for everything I was a

are to blame for everything I was a

are to blame for everything I was a warrior between tea to bring peace if

warrior between tea to bring peace if

warrior between tea to bring peace if you’re ever feeling thirsty for a morale

you’re ever feeling thirsty for a morale

you’re ever feeling thirsty for a morale kick in the ass science fiction has got

kick in the ass science fiction has got

kick in the ass science fiction has got you covered

you covered

you covered they’re just goddamn trees you need to

they’re just goddamn trees you need to

they’re just goddamn trees you need to wake up Park no you need to wake up

wake up Park no you need to wake up

wake up Park no you need to wake up number four alien invasions

welcome to earth aliens play no small

welcome to earth aliens play no small part in science fiction but never is

part in science fiction but never is

part in science fiction but never is their presence more evident or so

their presence more evident or so

their presence more evident or so driving to the plot than when they

driving to the plot than when they

driving to the plot than when they invade our home planet violent visits

invade our home planet violent visits

invade our home planet violent visits from our intergalactic foes have been

from our intergalactic foes have been

from our intergalactic foes have been vital to science fiction ever since the

vital to science fiction ever since the

vital to science fiction ever since the genres early days it’s happened in a

genres early days it’s happened in a

genres early days it’s happened in a thousand different ways sometimes they

thousand different ways sometimes they

thousand different ways sometimes they steal our bodies and invade our

steal our bodies and invade our

steal our bodies and invade our governments sometimes they just blow

governments sometimes they just blow

governments sometimes they just blow shit up

either way we’d be lost without number

either way we’d be lost without number three

three

three artificial intelligence I’m sorry Dave I

artificial intelligence I’m sorry Dave I

artificial intelligence I’m sorry Dave I don’t have enough information never is

don’t have enough information never is

don’t have enough information never is sci-fi more potently important as a

sci-fi more potently important as a

sci-fi more potently important as a genre that when it makes us question our

genre that when it makes us question our

genre that when it makes us question our own consciousness by asking questions

own consciousness by asking questions

own consciousness by asking questions like what does it mean to be alive I’ve

like what does it mean to be alive I’ve

like what does it mean to be alive I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe

seen things you people wouldn’t believe

seen things you people wouldn’t believe it accomplishes this by portraying

it accomplishes this by portraying

it accomplishes this by portraying computers and robots that have become

computers and robots that have become

computers and robots that have become capable of thought our mind is growing

capable of thought our mind is growing

capable of thought our mind is growing it’s true we could have limited

it’s true we could have limited

it’s true we could have limited ourselves to just evil robots for this

ourselves to just evil robots for this

ourselves to just evil robots for this entry but that would ignore many

entry but that would ignore many

entry but that would ignore many different aspects of artificial

different aspects of artificial

different aspects of artificial intelligence across massive spectrum

intelligence across massive spectrum

intelligence across massive spectrum films we’ve been afraid of them we’ve

films we’ve been afraid of them we’ve

films we’ve been afraid of them we’ve laughed with them

laughed with them

laughed with them we’ve even fallen in love with them I

we’ve even fallen in love with them I

we’ve even fallen in love with them I know know why you cry

but it’s something I can never do number

but it’s something I can never do number two technobabble using an SSL to

two technobabble using an SSL to

two technobabble using an SSL to encryption 128 family to technobabble

encryption 128 family to technobabble

encryption 128 family to technobabble please let’s face it people it’s called

please let’s face it people it’s called

please let’s face it people it’s called science fiction for a reason we can’t

science fiction for a reason we can’t

science fiction for a reason we can’t count how many times we’ve heard our

count how many times we’ve heard our

count how many times we’ve heard our favorite characters talking about

favorite characters talking about

favorite characters talking about dilithium crystals Scotty you promised

dilithium crystals Scotty you promised

dilithium crystals Scotty you promised me an estimate on the dilithium crystals

me an estimate on the dilithium crystals

me an estimate on the dilithium crystals or flux capacitors this is what makes

or flux capacitors this is what makes

or flux capacitors this is what makes time travel possible flux capacitor or

time travel possible flux capacitor or

time travel possible flux capacitor or AI cores or hyperspace drives this is

AI cores or hyperspace drives this is

AI cores or hyperspace drives this is often done to show how fancy some

often done to show how fancy some

often done to show how fancy some futuristic technology is or to explain

futuristic technology is or to explain

futuristic technology is or to explain why the impossible in reality is

why the impossible in reality is

why the impossible in reality is possible in the movie it exists now only

possible in the movie it exists now only

possible in the movie it exists now only as part of a neural interactive

as part of a neural interactive

as part of a neural interactive simulation that we call the matrix

simulation that we call the matrix

simulation that we call the matrix whether the mystical technology is real

whether the mystical technology is real

whether the mystical technology is real or not we don’t really care because the

or not we don’t really care because the

or not we don’t really care because the movies couldn’t be possible without it

movies couldn’t be possible without it

movies couldn’t be possible without it whatever it is to plan a half major an

whatever it is to plan a half major an

whatever it is to plan a half major an evolving philosophy what is the

evolving philosophy what is the

evolving philosophy what is the molecular formula human and stuff like

molecular formula human and stuff like

molecular formula human and stuff like crystals before we unveil our top pick

crystals before we unveil our top pick

crystals before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions Wow

here are a few honorable mentions Wow

here are a few honorable mentions Wow what is happening you are just beating

what is happening you are just beating

what is happening you are just beating his calm down

his calm down

his calm down my daughter will teach you our ways

my daughter will teach you our ways

my daughter will teach you our ways learn well Jake su Lee

instead early try to realize the truth

instead early try to realize the truth what truth there is no spoon

what truth there is no spoon

what truth there is no spoon number one human existence is threatened

number one human existence is threatened

number one human existence is threatened as long as the matrix exists the human

as long as the matrix exists the human

as long as the matrix exists the human race will never be free before we can

race will never be free before we can

race will never be free before we can worry about anything else we have to

worry about anything else we have to

worry about anything else we have to worry about the very survival of the

worry about the very survival of the

worry about the very survival of the human race

human race

human race maybe the human race deserves to be

maybe the human race deserves to be

maybe the human race deserves to be wiped out this is a theme that is

wiped out this is a theme that is

wiped out this is a theme that is dominated a huge array of science

dominated a huge array of science

dominated a huge array of science fiction mostly because the human race

fiction mostly because the human race

fiction mostly because the human race could be threatened by anything from

could be threatened by anything from

could be threatened by anything from aliens to a mysterious virus to even

aliens to a mysterious virus to even

aliens to a mysterious virus to even killer robots not a man

killer robots not a man

killer robots not a man mushy terminator the genre allows for

mushy terminator the genre allows for

mushy terminator the genre allows for this idea to be realized in a marvelous

this idea to be realized in a marvelous

this idea to be realized in a marvelous fashion and has become nearly synonymous

fashion and has become nearly synonymous

fashion and has become nearly synonymous with the jar of science fiction in

with the jar of science fiction in

with the jar of science fiction in general which is why it’s at the top of

general which is why it’s at the top of

general which is why it’s at the top of our list a human race is going to be

our list a human race is going to be

our list a human race is going to be adrift do you agree with our list yes

adrift do you agree with our list yes

adrift do you agree with our list yes sure which sci-fi movie cliches did we

sure which sci-fi movie cliches did we

sure which sci-fi movie cliches did we miss it wasn’t the right time for us to

miss it wasn’t the right time for us to

miss it wasn’t the right time for us to meet but there’ll be other nights are

meet but there’ll be other nights are

meet but there’ll be other nights are there stars for us to watch

there stars for us to watch

there stars for us to watch that will be back for more intergalactic

that will be back for more intergalactic

that will be back for more intergalactic top 10s published every day please

top 10s published every day please

top 10s published every day please subscribe to watchmojo.com it’s better

subscribe to watchmojo.com it’s better

subscribe to watchmojo.com it’s better for me better for you it’s better for

for me better for you it’s better for

for me better for you it’s better for them

”

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