20 Greatest Sci-Fi Films Of The 21st Century

3. Children of Men

Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men might be the most fully realised screen depiction of a dystopian future ever. From the set design to characters and locations, Children of Men really feels like it's based off a true, historical location. In the year 2027, two decades of human infertility have pushed civilisation to the brink. Theo Faron, a government employee, is hired by his ex-wife to escort a young refugee across the borders since he can legally obtain transit papers. On the way, he realizes that he is escorting the first pregnant woman in twenty years and that essentially the entirely world is out to get them and use the baby for their own benefit. Children of Men is a masterwork of science fiction filmmaking. Cuaron is a master at setting just the right tone, blending just the right music with just the right actors, and the absolutely brilliant visual style seals the deal. Clive Owen has never been better and Chiwetel Ejiofor shows once again that he might be the best character actor working today. Children of Men might be the bleakest movie on this list but it also might be the best in terms of overall cinematic accomplishments. Its famous seven minute unbroken shot near the end is already a legendary scene, and the entire endeavor is a string of highs that make it one of the most breathtaking films of the century so far.