Science-fiction is one of my favourite genres, but it’s also one of the ones I’m pickiest about. Finding a scifi film I enjoy is more difficult than jeans for short girls at Forever 21. If you’re like me and love scifi but have a helluva time finding a good one, here are my five favourite for your perusal.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

An older film, but still compelling, it follows the story of an alien who comes to Earth with a message for humanity. A chilling metaphor for xenophobia, the Cold War, and paranoia, The Day the Earth Stood Still was chosen for preservation by the U.S. National Film Registry in the 1990s.

Also, do yourself a favour: never watch the remake. 

It’s that time of year again. Time for beach trips, expensive air conditioning bills, and films with so many explosions it could be one of Michael Bay’s wet dreams. I’m not as ecstatic as I was last year around this time, mostly because X-Men: Days of Future Past already hit theaters. BUT there are a few films that I will pay the exorbitant theater prices to see based on their trailers alone.

Lucy starring Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson won me over as Black Widow (so  much so that I’ll cosplay her at any opportunity), so this film with her as the lead? Yeah, I’m at the front of the line marked HELL YES.

In USA theaters July 25, 2014.