10 Most Influential Sci-Fi Films Of All Time

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Another Ridley Scott sci-fi classic that has inspired countless makers of the genre is 1982's Blade Runner, though unlike Alien it was not well received upon release in North America and remained underappreciated for a number of years. Positive reactions overseas and the steady growth of a cult following forced critics to reevaluate their reviews, and this neo-noir sci-fi has gone on to influence countless works.

Scott's near-future Los Angeles with its neon-lit blimps hovering above garishly looming high-rises was a vision that struck a chord across countless mediums. The producers behind the re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica have cited Blade Runner as a major influence on the show, and both the story and style of Blade Runner served as inspiration for cyberpunk animé classic Ghost in the Shell, which would in turn inspire The Matrix.

Countless video games have also taken inspiration from Blade Runner, with its gritty neon aesthetics proving popular among designers - Deus Ex creator Warren Spector listed the film as a major influence, not only on that game but on his career in general. The widespread influence of Scott's film can also be heard in the music industry, being one of the most sampled movies of the 20th Century.