3. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Another science fiction piece, 2001: A Space Odyssey has long been considered one of the seminal works of cinema and remains one of the most visually stunning films ever made. 2001: A Space Odyssey spans from prehistory to the future but the main story occurs in 2001, where a team of astronauts are sent to investigate a mysterious radio transmission sent from an obelisk found on the moon. In addition to using groundbreaking special effects, director Stanley Kubrick managed to use conventional methods to make 2001 look as good as it did. Kubrick conducted extensive research and consulted with experts from NASA and a variety of Aerospace companies in order to achieve the maximum amount of scientific realism. Some of the most memorable scenes of the film are comprised almost entirely of visual storytelling: the Star Gate scene, the breathtaking opening and closing scenes, and the many shots of the Discovery One floating through space constitute just some of the visual wonders that abound in 2001.