Best Sci-Fi Movie Ever Made (According to Hollywood, At Least) is Now on Prime

Summary

• Upon its release in 1969, Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey received mixed reviews, dividing audiences into those who hated it and those who immediately recognized it as a masterpiece.
• Nevertheless, 2001: A Space Odyssey is now considered a classic and was ranked number one on Time Out's list of the best sci-fi movies.
• It is currently available on Amazon Prime.

Not so long ago, science fiction may have been considered less prestigious in cinema, ignored by academics, but that doesn't change the fact that sci-fi has been one of the most sophisticated and fascinating genres for a century. From Fritz Lang to Robert Wise, from Andrei Tarkovsky to John Carpenter, the most important filmmakers in world cinema have been no strangers to the genre, even if audiences and critics have not always responded favorably to sci-fi, preferring more realistic narratives.

However, it can't be denied that science fiction is no stranger to quite realistic and even down-to-earth themes, despite the elevated artistic framing. Many of these films not only offer a perspective on the future of humanity, but also allude to the state of modern society and its problems. It was against this backdrop that 2001: A Space Odyssey, written by Stanley Kubrick and classic science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, was released in 1969.

The film received polarized reviews upon its release, but in the years that followed it came to be regarded as one of the most profound, spectacular, and unconventional examples of Hollywood production, now considered a masterpiece. Today, the most acclaimed filmmakers, writers, critics, and even scientists consider 2001: A Space Odyssey to be the finest example of science fiction ever made, so there is all the more reason to revisit it (or watch it for the first time) now that it has been added to the Amazon Prime repertoire.

The Movie Now Considered a Cinematic Masterpiece

Time Out has compiled a list of the 100 best sci-fi films in the history of cinema, based on the opinions of journalists and other notable figures, including filmmakers like John Carpenter and Guillermo del Toro, writers like Stephen King and George R. R. Martin, scientists like Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Jim Al-Khalili, and experts like Kim Newman and Robin Ince.

As a result, Stanley Kubrick's film topped the list, which is not surprising given its influence on cinema, thanks to its existentialist themes about the past and future of humanity, the role of artificial intelligence, and its profound symbolism without giving definitive answers.

Dr. Bowman finds an alien monolith and travels to Jupiter to investigate it. He is transported through time and space under the protection of higher beings and is reborn as a Star Child.

Does the finale represent human evolution or our helplessness in the face of the cosmos? There have been hundreds of interpretations of the cult classic, and you're free to come up with your own.

How to Watch Stanley Kubrick's Iconic Movie?

As mentioned above, 2001: A Space Odyssey has recently become available on Prime. However, you won't be able to get it with a standard Amazon subscription, as you'll also need a Max subscription.

A Prime subscription itself costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, or $7.49 per month or $6.99 per month for students and members of the EBT, Medicaid, and SNAP programs. However, if you've never subscribed to the platform before, Amazon offers a 30-day trial that can be canceled at a later date. You'll need to pair this with a Max subscription, which costs $9.99 per month.

Alternatively, if you're interested in the movie itself but don't want to subscribe to these services, you can rent or buy it. It costs $3.99 to rent in HD quality and $14.99 to buy. You can also rent or buy 2001: A Space Odyssey on other platforms, including Apple TV, Vudu, DirecTV, Microsoft, YouTube, and Google Play.