Ranker FilmList RulesVote up your favorite Black sci-fi movies.
Did you know that Francis Ford Coppola directed a movie that George Lucas produced and starred Michael Jackson called Captain EO? That is just one of the best Black sci-fi films on this list that should be watched immediately. What are the greatest Black sci-fi films of all time? That’s up to you to decide.
In his essay, “Black to the Future,” author Mark Dery coined the term “Afrofuturism.” According to HuffPost, Afrofuturism is the “re-imagining of a future filled with arts, science, and technology seen through a Black lens.” Many of the new Black sci-fi films on this list reflect Afrofuturism, which differs from traditional science fiction, because of how immersed the movie is in ancient African culture combined with technology.
Certainly some of these films are just straight up science fiction movies. However, a film like Black Panther for example, is thematically filled with the ideals of Afrofuturism. Social commentary and even political satire seem to find a nice home within the science fiction genre.
Which do you think are the top Black sci-fi films? Vote up all your favorites.
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279Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. JordanReleased: 2018
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film, based on the Marvel Comics character,... more2
216Blade
Kris Kristofferson, Wesley SnipesReleased: 1998
Directed by: Stephen Norrington
Blade is a 1998 American vampire superhero action film starring Wesley Snipes and Stephen... more3
2410Men in Black
Will Smith, Tommy Lee JonesReleased: 1997
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Men in Black is a 1997 American science fiction action comedy film directed by Barry... more4
114Blade II
Kris Kristofferson, Wesley SnipesReleased: 2002
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Blade II is a 2002 American vampire superhero action film based on the fictional Marvel Comics... more5
126Sorry to Bother You
Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa ThompsonReleased: 2018
Directed by: Boots Riley
Sorry to Bother You is a 2018 American sci-fi fantasy comedy film directed by Boots Riley. In... more6
75Space Is the Place
Sun Ra, John BaileyReleased: 1974
Directed by: John Coney
Space Is the Place is an 85-minute blaxploitation science fiction film made in 1972 and... more7
66Event Horizon
Laurence Fishburne, Jason IsaacsReleased: 1997
Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Event Horizon is a 1997 British-American science fiction horror film. The screenplay was... more8
55An Oversimplification of Her Beauty
Terence Nance, Talibah Lateefah NewmanReleased: 2012
Directed by: Terence Nance
An Oversimplification of Her Beauty is a 2012 animation, comedy, drama film written and... more9
55Pitch Black
Vin Diesel, Radha MitchellReleased: 2000
Directed by: David Twohy
Pitch Black is a 2000 science fiction horror film co-written and directed by David Twohy. The... more10
55Afronauts
Yolonda Ross, Hoji FortunaReleased: 2014
Directed by: Frances Bodomo
Afronauts is a 2014 short film written and directed by Frances Bodomo....11
45The Meteor Man
Bill Cosby, James Earl JonesReleased: 1993
Directed by: Robert Townsend
The Meteor Man is a 1993 American superhero comedy film written by, directed by, and starring... more12
58The Last Angel of History
The Last Angel of History, directed in 1996 by John Akomfrah and written and researched by... more13
15Black Orpheus
Marpessa Dawn, Marcel CamusReleased: 1959
Directed by: Marcel Camus
Black Orpheus is a 1959 film made in Brazil by French director Marcel Camus and starring... more14
58The Brother from Another Planet
David Strathairn, Joe MortonReleased: 1984
Directed by: John Sayles
The Brother from Another Planet is a 1984 science fiction film written, directed and edited by... more15
58A Wrinkle in Time
Oprah Winfrey, Reese WitherspoonReleased: 2018
Directed by: Ava DuVernay
A Wrinkle in Time is a 2018 American science fantasy adventure film directed by Ava DuVernay.... more16
02Babylon A.D.
Vin Diesel, Mark StrongReleased: 2008
Directed by: Mathieu Kassovitz
Babylon A.D. is a 2008 French science fiction action film based on the novel Babylon Babies by... more17
04The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury
Vin Diesel, Keith DavidReleased: 2004
Directed by: Peter Chung
The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury is a 2004 made-for-DVD animated science fiction film. It... more18
46The Chronicles of Riddick
Vin Diesel, Judi DenchReleased: 2004
Directed by: David Twohy
The Chronicles of Riddick is a 2004 American science fiction film which follows the adventures... more19
05Brown Girl Begins
Mouna Traoré, Nigel Shawn Williams20
46Captain EO
Michael Jackson, Anjelica HustonReleased: 1986
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Captain EO is a 1986 American 3D science fiction film starring Michael Jackson and directed by... more21
59Blade: Trinity
Wesley Snipes, Jessica BielReleased: 2004
Directed by: David S. Goyer
Blade: Trinity is a 2004 American vampire superhero action film written, produced and directed... more22
59The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Eddie Murphy, Alec BaldwinReleased: 2002
Directed by: Ron Underwood
The Adventures of Pluto Nash is a 2002 Australian-American science fiction comedy film... more23
48Son of Ingagi
Spencer Williams, Daisy BuffordReleased: 1940
Directed by: Richard C. Kahn
Son of Ingagi is a 1940 American film directed by Richard C. Kahn. Son of Ingagi is the first... more24
510Sleight
Jacob Latimore, Seychelle GabrielReleased: 2016
Directed by: J.D. Dillard
Sleight is a 2016 American drama film directed by J.D. Dillard. A young street magician (Jacob... more25
26Riddick
Vin Diesel, Dave BautistaReleased: 2013
Directed by: David Twohy
Riddick is a 2013 British-American science fiction thriller film, the third installment in the... more
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