Classic Science Fiction Films Based on Science Fiction Stories (Mostly)

A:? “Classic” = 25+ years old or older

B: “Based on” = a recognizably science fictiony story was used to generate the film.

C:? This list is compiled from those films that are currently hosted on the Classic Science Fiction Channel; others do exist, but since you can’t click on a link and suddenly find yourself watching them free of charge, they’ve been ommited from this list.

2001: A Spacey Odyssey adapted from Arthur C. Clarkes’ The Sentinel, which can be found in a variety of anthologies and a collection of the same title.?

20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea based on Jules Vernes novel of the same name.??? Not the only novel so treated by this founding father of the genre.

A Boy and His Dog based on Harlan Ellison’s novelette.? One of the few ‘working with Ellison’ tales that the author actually approved of.

The Andromeda Strain based on the novel by Michael Crichton.? The first version actually follows the novel pretty closely.

At The Earth’s Core based on Edgar Rice Burrough’s novel.? Maybe Burroughs will be getting better treatment with the upcoming Princes of Mars project.? Still, between Tarzan and his Pellucidar novels, he remains one of the most ‘adapted’ SF authors of all time.

Barbarella – based on a French comic book series by Jean-Claude Forest.

Children of the Damned - a sequel to a film based on John Wyndham’s The Midwich Cuckoos.

The Damned/Village of the Damned - based on the aforementioned Wyndham novel.

The Day of the Triffids - completes a John Wyndham triumvirate.? based on the novel of the same name.

The Day the Earth Stood Still – based on Harry Bates’ short story Farewell to the Master (available online)

Destination Moon - from an original screenplay by Robert A Heinlein, included here because it is based, in large part, both on Heinlein’s Future History and his YA novel Rocket Ship Galileo.

Dr. Strangelove - another Kubrick Klassic, based on Peter George’s novel Red Alert.

Empire of the Ants, our first offering by H.G. Wells, based on his short story of the same title.

The First Men in the Moon - quickly following is H. G. Wells’ second offering, based on the novel of the same title.

Forbidden Planet - William Shakespeare’s sole offering in a loosely adapted (and great) movie)

The Incredible Shrinking Man - based on Richard Matheson’s novel of almost the same title – The Shrinking Man.

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers – based on Jack Finney’s novel, The Body Snatchers.

The Island of Dr. Moreau - another offering based upon the writing of H. G. Wells.

Journey to the Center of the Earth - and once again back to Jules Verne.

King Solomon’s Mine - based on H. Rider Haggard’s novel of the same name.? Several of Haggard’s novels would be made into films.

The Last Man on Earth - based on Richard Matheson’s novel – I Am Legend.

Lost Horizon - a classic drawn from James Hilton’s novel.

The Lost World - a remake (the original was done in 1925) based on yet another world famous author who would have many works done up in film – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The Mysterious Island - another one from Jules Verne

The Omega Man - another version of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend

The People That Time Forgot - back to Edgar Rice Burroughs, from a novel of the same name.

Planet of the Apes.? Both versions are based on Pierre Boulle’s novel.

Quest for Fire, based upon the 1911(!) novel of the same name by J H Rosny.

Soylent Green is based on Harry Harrison’s Make Room! Make Room!

Starship Troopers - aborted from Robert A Heinlein’s novel of the same name

The Thing From Another World - based on John W. Campbell’s fantastic story – Who Goes There?

Things To Come – based on H.G. Wells’ The Shape of Things To Come

The Time Machine - another Wells offering, from the novel of the same title.

War of the Worlds – yet another movie based on an H. G. Wells novel

When Worlds Collide, based on the novel of the same name by Balmer and Wylie.

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Wow.? Close to a third of the films I’ve got up on that site are based on actual science fiction stories.? Some are good, some are bad, but maybe there is hope for the genre when it comes to film.