Top 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movies

I love science fiction and fantasy movies. Since you're here, I assume you do too!

Science fiction and fantasy unlocks the imagination, making anything possible. The genre is full of unique, innovative and surprising films. But these films are far above par. They were some of the most influential films I watched growing up.

If you haven't watched these yet, hit up Netflix or Amazon for the DVD 'cause you're going to love'em!

10. ET: Extra-Terrestrial - This is a classic by Steven Spielberg featuring a young Drew Barrymore. ET is an alien who accidentally gets left behind but becomes fast friends with a young, fatherless boy. Government agents track him down and almost get the chance to experiment on him. But ET gets away and makes it back to his spaceship. The film also has classic product placement scenes with Reese's Pieces.

9. The Princess Bride - A classic tale of love and sacrifice, rescuing a princess from marrying an evil man, and lots of good action. What more could a fantasy film need?

8. Terminator - Earth is destroyed by atomic bombs and machines take over. Traveling back in time, the Terminator is a near unstoppable cyborg on a mission to kill. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governator, starred as the gun toting cyborg. Luckily, the Terminator's target, Sarah Connor, has a protector - Kyle Reese.

7. Predator - Yet another Schwarzenegger film, this time he's a gun toting soldier on a mission in the jungles of South America. What was supposed to be a hunt for survivors turns into a battle to survive. They are being methodically picked off by a strange, alien creature with powerful weapons.

6. The Matrix - Computers and intelligent machines end up in control, creating a dream world for humans to "live" in. Neo is seeking out the answer to the question, "What is the Matrix?" Morpheus has the answer. Your choice...the Red Pill or the Blue Pill. Choose wisely. There's no going back.

5. Harry Potter (series) - Orphaned boy wizard, Harry Potter, is mysteriously tied to the fate of Lord Voldemort, the wizard who murdered Potter's parents. Once he's of age, Potter is carried off to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he learns to use magic. Harry battles a variety of wizards, snakes, spiders, dragons and, of course, Lord Voldemort himself. This is truly a series for the ages.

4. Alien (series) - When I was young, this was the scariest and most awesome alien horror movie I ever watched. To this day, it is my favorite movie about aliens. Sigourney Weaver, who I met in Portland, Oregon, stars in this series about carnivorous aliens. Nope, that's not a stomach ache...that's a baby alien eating through your torso!!

3. Star Trek (series) - I have to admit that my favorite Star Trek movie was the most recent one with Chris Pine. However, I'm a big fan of all the Star Trek films.

2. Lord of the Rings (trilogy) - I love the way all three films were made at once, it created a strong sense of continuity in the series and there wasn't an obvious aging of characters like throughout the Harry Potter films. Frodo and Sam must journey to the Cracks of Doom in Mordor to destroy the One Ring.

1. Star Wars (original trilogy) - Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is drawn into the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. No other movie series has a more iconic villain than Darth Vader. He's scary and awe inspiring but you can still relate to him on some level. Over the course of the trilogy, Luke and his friends - Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia Organa, R2D2, C3PO and others defeat the Empire and rebuild the Republic.