Science Fiction is full of technology and designs that push the boundaries of human imagination, especially in outer space. One of the best parts of sci-fi cinema is seeing how these designs come to life, notably that of the spaceship, which has been a fixture of the genre for decades. Even before sci-fi movies became a hit, people would write and talk about the possibilities of interstellar travel.
These ships have, in many ways, defined the sci-fi genre, with many films featuring spaceships that are as much a part of the story as their characters. These are instantly recognizable vehicles, typically unique in their world, standing out ahead of the pack of alternatives. While some of these starships are made for battle, others can serve as the home of the movie's characters.
10 Klaatu Arrived In A Flying Saucer In The Day The Earth Stood Still
In The Day the Earth Stood Still, an alien diplomat named Klaatu arrived on Earth to convince them to better themselves to ease the intergalactic community of planets. The ship that brought him to Earth was the quintessential flying saucer that defined the '50s starship.
Klaatu's starship, accompanied by the powerful robot, Gort, served to bring to life the image so many people at that time had in their minds of what a spaceship was. Its alien feel and design truly hammered home Klaatu's otherworldliness and mission to Earth.
9 The Saluco Perfectly Set The Space Marine Tone
The action-packed sequel to Alien, James Cameron's Aliens, took the franchise to a new height, trading isolated horror for all-out war with the xenomorphs. Aliens begins with Ellen Ripley being teamed up with a company of US space marines, carried to LV-426 by the USS Saluco.
The Saluco had a daunting, militaristic appearance, almost designed to resemble a gun flying through space - perfect for its crew of marines. The ship was enormous, boasting a huge docking bay, an impressive assortment of armaments, and a military purpose – capable of destroying a planet from orbit.
8 The Event Horizon Was A Living Starship From Hell
Event Horizon followed a small crew aboard the starship Lewis and Clark, on a mission to recover the lost ship the Event Horizon. When they arrived, the crew discovered the ship seemingly abandoned, but were soon caught amid strange happenings.
As the film progressed, they started to believe the Event Horizon itself was responsible for what was happening. What made the Event Horizon such a fascinating ship wasn't merely a case of its possible sentience, but the journey it had undergone and the sights it had seen, still a mystery to fans.
7 Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Had A Ship Communicating Through Music
Close Encounters of the Third Kind was a fascinating movie that followed a man as he became convinced that UFOs existed and wanted to prove it. One of Spielberg's greatest stories, the movie culminated in the epic arrival of the alien craft, an enormous, flashy take on the flying saucer.
The ship could communicate with humanity by the emission of musical notes and flashing lights. The ship's sheer size, what it represents in the film, and its incredible design cannot be understated, and, to this day, it's one of the most visually stunning alien crafts on film.
6 The X-Wing Fighter Can Run Circles Around A Tie Fighter
The X-Wing fighter was the Rebellion's multi-role starfighter, and proved key in their battles with the Empire over the years. It was in an X-Wing that Luke successfully battled his way through the Death Star trench and fired the fatal blast that destroyed the space station.
Although the Empire has its own fighter, the TIE fighter, the X-Wing has shown itself the superior craft, with some pilots bringing down multiple enemies. The excellent fighter is the ship of choice of Luke Skywalker, and received an impressive makeover for Poe Dameron.
5 Max Was A Sentient Starship On A Research Mission
In Flight of the Navigator, a young boy mysteriously disappeared one night, only to reappear years later - without having aged a day. The boy, David, reconnects with his abductor, the sentient starship Max, a small alien research ship that had spent time studying David.
David and Max form an unlikely friendship, and thanks to David's input, Max absorbs information and media from Earth. When Max assimilates the data, he develops a charming and somewhat eccentric personality, with fun pop culture references and a bouncy personality.
4 The Serenity Carried The Iconic Firefly Crew
Joss Whedon's Firefly was beloved by a cult fandom that loved the characters and their numerous sci-fi adventures. The characters were carried by and lived in the starship the Serenity as they traveled their star system in the aftermath of a Civil War, which they had lost.
Beginning in the series, The Serenity and its crew later appeared in the eponymous movie Serenity, which picked up where the show had left off. The ship is a Firefly-class transporter, and was as much a part of the show as the crew itself, appearing in every episode of Firefly.
3 Boba Fett's Slave I Transported The Galaxy's Greatest Bounty Hunter
Boba Fett, the greatest bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe, traveled the galaxy in his Slave I Firespray gunship. Originally belonging to Jango Fett, Boba's father, the starship carried some incredibly destructive and useful armaments, which have served the Fetts well over the years.
It was in Slave I that Boba tracked Han Solo's Millennium Falcon to Bespin and the ship where he took Solo back to Jabba. Thanks to The Mandalorian, Slave I has enjoyed more recent screen time, with more shots of its customized interior and rotating hull.
2 The Enterprise Has Explored The Final Frontier
The Star Trek franchise is well known for its core mission, followed by its various crews – the exploration and discovery of the furthest reaches of the universe. Most crews of Star Trek have traveled in some variation of the USS Enterprise, although the original series had the most iconic version.
The Enterprise is defended by an energy shield, and armed with phaser weapons and torpedo cannons, one of the most capable ships in Starfleet. The Enterprise has several capabilities and roles, such as a flagship, a research ship, a rescue ship, and, when needed, a warship.
1 The Millennium Falcon Will Always Be The King Of Space Travel
The king of pop culture vehicles, the Millennium Falcon, was a Corellian freighter originally, but had been modified by Lando Calrissian and Han Solo. For most of its time in the Star Wars mythos, it was operated by Han Solo and Chewbacca, initially as a smuggling ship.
The Falcon has seen its best use, however, when fighting the Empire, whether under the command of Han, Lando, or Rey. It's the fastest ship in the world of Star Wars and one of the most agile and maneuverable; Han Solo famously boasted that it made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs.