30+ Space Operas

The Best Genre of All Time

Macross Frontier (2008)

Here’re some movies loosely fitting the idea of the SPACE OPERA: an over-the-top extravaganza with a futuristic setting.

Wikipedia defines space opera as “a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, melodramatic adventure, interplanetary battles, as well as chivalric romance, and often risk-taking.” The whole Wikipedia article is great. As is this list of space opera media. But I wanted something just off the top of people’s heads.

These are listed in their original order of appearance from a Facebook thread on my wall; if you want to comment in any votes for the best ones or additions, I’ll totally reorganize/reorder.

I also think this list could use a lot more anime. Macross is lonely.

1. The Fifth Element
2. Jupiter Ascending
3. Flash Gordon
4. Barbarella
5. Forbidden Planet
6. Zardoz
7. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

8. Star Wars (all of them)

9. 2001

10. Ice Pirates

11. Dune

12. Lexx

13. Babylon 5

14. Dark Star

15. Farscape

16. Kin-dza-dza! / Кин-дза-дза!

17. Battle Beyond the Stars

18. Macross: Frontier

19. Demolition Man

20. Starcrash

21. Space Mutiny

Space Mutiny (1988)

22. Blade Runner

23. first 2 Alien movies

24. Lots of Star Trek, particularly Wrath of Khan

25. Jason of Star Command

Jason of Star Command (1978)

26. Stargate SG-1 (the later seasons)

27. Red Dwarf

28. Spacehunter

Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983)

29. Liquid Sky

Liquid Sky, 1982

30. Star Maidens

Which are your favorites? And, I know there’s a wealth of stuff from Japan and Russia that we’re missing — so, please suggest!