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Science fiction

Science fiction
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Science fiction. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Lee Min-ho as space tourist Gong Ryong in a still from Netflix K-drama When the Stars Gossip.
Korean drama reviews

When the Stars Gossip midseason recap: giant leap back for Korean sci-fi

This Netflix series, like many sci-fi Korean dramas, doesn’t have the science or the fiction to be anything more than a formulaic romcom.

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American cinema

Michelle Yeoh on her ‘liberating’ role in Star Trek: Section 31

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Korean drama reviews

When the Stars Gossip: Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin in space station romcom

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American cinema

Support for Interstellar’s IMAX re-release ‘magical’, Christopher Nolan says

Director pleased to see ‘new audiences’ experiencing sci-fi epic on big screen – and proof watching with others in a cinema is still a draw.

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Matthew McConaughey in a still from Interstellar. Its sold-out re-release at IMAX cinemas in North America, gratified director Christopher Nolan, who reflects on the success of his sci-fi epic. Photo: AP
American cinema

I don’t want to see scary movies, star who acted in many says

Sigourney Weaver – Ellen Ripley in Alien films – tells BBC host she avoids ‘scary films’; Nosferatu star says he was scared seeing the film.

Fame and celebrity

Benedict Wong on ascending from deep-fat fryer to sorcerer by no easy route

The British actor, who faced agent indifference and was often typecast in predictable Asian roles early in his career, is now master of the sorcery required to make it as a star in Hollywood

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Asian cinema

Review | Uranus 2324, Thai sci-fi girls’ love film with LGBTQ stars FreenBecky

‘GL’ fans will love watching lesbian stars Freen Sarocha Chankimha and Rebecca Patricia Armstrong, but Uranus 2324 offers little to others.

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Freen Sarocha Chankimha (front) and Rebecca Patricia Armstrong in a still from Uranus 2324 (category IIB; Thai, English), directed by Thanadol Nualsuth.
American cinema

Director mocks Tesla’s Musk over sci-fi movie looks of Robovan, Optimus

Director of I, Robot film suggests Elon Musk copied its designs for Tesla’s Robovan autonomous bus, Cybercab and Optimus robot.

TV shows and streaming video

Could Nightmares and Daydreams be the Indonesian Black Mirror?

Netflix looks to keep feeding the growing regional audience with more local productions, following the success of last year’s Cigarette Girl

American cinema

Ranking every Alien film from worst to best, including Alien: Romulus

With Alien: Romulus seeing the series’ return to form, we rank the entire franchise from worst to best, including the Alien vs Predator films, Prometheus, the classic original, and the new movie.

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A still from Alien: Romulus. Photo: 20th Century Studios
Asian cinema: Japanese films

Review | Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction Part 2 – chaotic finish

The end of humanity and an alien invasion vie for attention with the escapades of a group of young women in part two of a story that stumbles in its efforts to fully realise the potential promised in part one.

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A still from Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction Part 2. Image: Inio Asano/Shogakukan/Dededede Committee.
Asian cinema: Japanese films

Review | Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction Part 1: great sci-fi soap opera

Japanese anime Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction Part 1 mixes the dramas of a group of teenagers and an alien invasion of Tokyo to great effect, leaving us eagerly awaiting Part 2.

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Star Wars

Mexicans embrace the Force with lightsaber training

Mexico’s Jedi Knight Academy teaches fencing ‘with lightsabers in the style of Jedi teachings’.

Profile

From Wolf Totem to the Three-Body Problem, her China publishing career

Jo Lusby recalls halcyon days in Beijing, early career success with Penguin that saw her handle books from Peter Rabbit to Michelle Obama’s memoir, and a move to Hong Kong. Now she’s dealing with another hit.

Jo Lusby in her time at Penguin China in Beijing. Photo: Ben McMillan
Hong Kong society

Letters | What Doraemon can teach us about promoting STEM education

Readers discuss how the Doraemon manga can inspire us to solve real-world problems, why Hong Kong should be more selective about mega events and how a politeness campaign should extend to the city’s motorways.

Passengers take a selfie on a Doraemon-themed MTR train on the East Rail Line in Hong Kong on June 1. Photo: Dickson Lee
Asian cinema

Can’t wait for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga? 5 post-apocalyptic movies from Asia

While you wait to see Anya Taylor-Joy battle Chris Hemsworth, how about treating yourself to some of the best Asian films depicting an uninhabitable future, from Akira to Snowpiercer.

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China's economic recovery

Can China’s sci-fi industry, led by 3 Body Problem, help tech hit warp speed?

In the spotlight due to the Netflix hit 3 Body Problem, China’s sci-fi industry saw revenues grow by 29 per cent year on year to 13.29 billion yuan (US$15.6 billion) in 2023.

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | 3 Body Problem recalls one of Chinese history’s worst traitors

(Spoiler alert) A character in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem brings to mind a Chinese military leader who has been vilified as a traitor for nearly 400 years for allowing Manchu troops to overrun China.

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(From left) Yu Guming and Zine Tseng in a still from Netflix’s 3 Body Problem. The series brings to mind Wu Sangui, who is considered one of the worst traitors in Chinese history. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix
Korean drama reviews

Blood Free: is Disney+ sci-fi K-drama dumping its big ideas already?

Ju Ji-hoon and Han Hyo-joo star in Blood Free on Disney+, a sci-fi series by writer Lee Soo-yeon that looks set to drop its interesting premise involving lab-cultured meat and global food production.

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Fame and celebrity

‘Too pretty’ for Hollywood? 3 Body Problem star Eiza González’s journey

The Mexican actress dated Timothée Chalamet, was linked to Cristiano Ronaldo, and appears to be Guy Ritchie’s new muse

TV shows and streaming video

Can Netflix sci-fi series 3 Body Problem match Game of Thrones’ success?

Game of Thrones producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and The Terror: Infamy producer Alexander Woo, talk about their Netflix adaptation of Liu Cixin’s sci-fi trilogy Remembrance of Earth’s Past.

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A scene from 3 Body Problem on Netflix featuring Eve Ridley as The Follower and Sea Shimooka as Sophon. Photo: Netlfix
TV shows and streaming video

3 Body Problem piracy in China shows some American shows can still break through

BitTorrent downloads topped 90,500 on the first day of release, far surpassing those of other popular Netflix series like Squid Game and Stranger Things.

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Netflix’s 3 Body Problem opens with a scene from the Cultural Revolution, something that was handled mostly through dialogue in the Tencent adaptation of the Hugo Award-winning science fiction novel by Chinese writer Liu Cixin. Photo: Netflix
TV shows and streaming video

Review | 3 Body Problem: Netflix sci-fi adaptation is the latest event television

Netflix drama 3 Body Problem, from the makers of the Game of Thrones series, is an adaptation of Chinese writer Liu Cixin’s sci-fi masterpiece, and depicts the fight against an alien invasion of Earth.

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American cinema

Review | Dune: Part Two – Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi sequel is a masterful epic

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya return in Denis Villeneuve’s excellent Dune: Part Two, which features amazing set pieces, stunning cinematography and thunderous, moving music.

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American cinema

How The Butterfly Effect with Ashton Kutcher filled a void in US cinema

Calling it a masterpiece might be a stretch but the 2004 time-travel thriller The Butterfly Effect – despite its chaotic plotline – filled a void left by a dearth of quality horror films.

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Calling it a masterpiece might be a stretch but the 2004 time-travel thriller The Butterfly Effect – despite its chaotic plotline – filled a void left by a dearth of quality horror films. Above: Ashton Kutcher in a still from the film. Photo: New Line Cinema.
European cinema

Review | Spaceman: Netflix sci-fi drama starring Adam Sandler squanders its potential

Starring Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano, Netflix sci-fi Spaceman – which premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival – has its moments, but director Johan Renck struggles to sustain interest.

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Adam Sandler (left) and the spider-like Hanus (voiced by Paul Dano) in a still from Spaceman, directed by Johan Renckand and co-starring Carey Mulligan. The movie premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024. Photo: Netflix
European cinema

Review | Another End: Gael Garcia Bernal lights up a derivative sci-fi tale

Gael Garcia Bernal plays a widower whose wife is reanimated in the body of another woman (Renate Reinsve). Piero Messina’s film is hackneyed and gets bogged down in jargon, but is visually appealing.

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TV shows and streaming video

‘I get to die!’: Jean Yoon of Kim’s Convenience on new Netflix sci-fi role

From a corner shop to outer space, Jean Yoon’s career trajectory has been out of this world. The Canadian actress talks about her starring role in Kim’s Convenience and her intergalactic turn in Code 8: Part II.

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