5 Sci-Fi Scripts to Learn From

2022
Written by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan

One of my favorite sci-fi movies in recent years, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is a bonkers film that will have you laughing one minute and then crying over rocks the next. This ambitious script follows a middle-aged Chinese American immigrant, Evelyn, who discovers she must connect to parallel universe versions of herself to save the multiverse.

This is the kind of script that permits writers to take big swings. This script embraces the strange and absurd, utilizing those things to subvert expectations and break traditional narrative structures. Being a sci-fi film allows the script to blend many genres while also exploring diverse characters, creating abundant experiences.

While the film is full of spectacle, at its core, there is emotional depth in the form of a relationship between a mother and daughter. “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is a unique and memorable cinematic journey.

2004
Written by Charlie Kaufman

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is a thought-provoking science fiction romance all about the complexities of love and memory. The film follows a couple who, when their relationship deteriorates, both undergo procedures to have the other person erased from their memory. This script does a great job of melding emotional depth with a surreal, mind-bending concept.

Being a Charlie Kaufman script, the film is full of themes about identity crises, love, loss, and the meaning of it all. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is a great example of nonlinear storytelling and how it can be used to direct how and when the audience engages with certain plot points.

2023
Written by Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier

“They Cloned Tyrone” is a science fiction mystery that also serves as a callback and celebration of blaxploitation films from the 1970s. This film is one of the most fun and innovative sci-fi releases in recent years!

“They Cloned Tyrone” follows an unlikely trio who stumble upon and investigate a cloning conspiracy in their neighborhood. This is another sci-fi script that encourages writers to take bold risks.

The melding of genres in this film makes “They Cloned Tyrone” feel like a fresh and groundbreaking take on the sci-fi genre. The film also expertly uses the genre as a vehicle to explore social commentary.

1999
Written by Lana and Lilly Wachowski

“The Matrix” is an iconic science fiction film that pushed the boundaries of visual effects and introduced many to the cyberpunk subgenre. The film follows computer hacker Neo as he discovers that the world he lives in is actually a simulation created by malevolent machines.

The first “The Matrix” script does an incredible job of introducing and establishing a dystopian world with many complexities in an accessible way. The franchises’ themes of transformation and breaking free are fully felt in the first film.

The script’s strong character development takes Neo from a disillusioned hacker to an empowered savior of humanity. This is a must-read script for writers seeking to build unique worlds while keeping their characters relatable and grounded.

2018
Written by Alex Garland

“Annihilation” is a mind-bending science fiction meets horror film that combines science themes with existential mystery. The film follows as a biologist joins a group of explorers investigating a quarantined zone that doesn’t seem to obey the laws of nature.

The script successfully creates an eerier and mysterious atmosphere that intrigues the audience. “Annihilation” uses scientific concepts and philosophy to explore the unknown. This script demonstrates a melding of science and imagination in its writing. The film's use of horror and philosophy makes for a storyline that haunts audiences long after the movie ends.