Stanley Kubrick released his sci-fi trailblazing classic back in 1968, and since then many directors have been inspired to make movies in its image.
Kubrick’s classic changed cinema forever, and these films took all the right cues from one of the greatest sci-fi pictures ever made.
In 1968, Stanley Kubrick unleashed his science fiction masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey unto the world, and though critics and audiences at the time were seemingly unable to appreciate what the legendary filmmaker had created, 2001 went on to become one of the most influential motion pictures of all time.
The iconic Steven Spielberg even singled out A Space Odyssey as the “big bang” of his film generation. The intergalactic adventure was remarkably released an entire year before man had even landed on the moon, a fact that gives fuel to conspiracy theorists to this day. Kubrick’s classic is almost unmatched when it comes to legacy in cinema, and there are countless movies that owe to 2001.
For fans of space movies, Matthew McConaughey’s appearance here will come as no surprise, though long before the “McConaissance,” the terrific Texan starred alongside Jodie Foster in Robert Zemeckis’ Contact. Based on the 1985 novel by the late, great Carl Sagan, Contact deals with the absorbing prospect of making the first contact with extra-terrestrial life.
The film aims for the epic mind-bending heights of 2001: A Space Odyssey, yet its central story is far more accessible for audiences, and its special effects far less timeless. Both are likely side-effects of Contact being a product of 1997.
9 Moon’s GERTY Takes Heavy Inspiration From A Space Odyssey’s HAL
Claustrophobic and outer-worldly, Duncan Jones’ 2009 sci-fi Moon is a slow-burning, fascinating look at what it really means to be human. Sam Rockwell puts in a fantastic performance as Sam Bell, a solitary miner stationed on the moon whose only companion is that of GERTY, a robot assistant that serves as a disturbing throwback to A Space Odyssey’s HAL. Moon is both thoughtful and haunting, and its central mystery is enough to keep viewers glued to their seats for all of its 95-minute run time.
8 Life Failed To Live Up To Those That Came Before
Any film featuring an atmospheric spaceship tour owes to 2001: A Space Odyssey in some aspect, and the 2017 sci-fi horror Life gets off to a great start by following in its footsteps. Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, and Rebecca Ferguson star as astronauts uncovering the first signs of life on Mars.
Life quickly decays into an all too familiar retread of sequences audiences have seen before, with its horror elements feeling like unimaginative copies of scenes from Alien. Life’s climactic twist is also maddeningly predictable and left many audience members frustrated after watching.
7 Tron: Legacy Used A Space Odyssey’s Delightful Design Tricks
Disney’s long-awaited sequel to Tron features one of cinema’s most obvious nods to the 1968 epic. In the film, Flynn’s safe house is an unsubtle callback to A Space Odyssey’s Jupiter Room, to the point at which viewers could reasonably assume Tron: Legacy had hired 2001’s interior designer for the sequence.
It’s a welcome homage, as the 28 year wait for Tron: Legacy was decidedly worth it for many fans. The film is packed full of references to other sci-fi greats, but none as influential as Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece.
6 A Space Odyssey Set Star Wars And Many Others Up For Success
Without HAL, there may be no C-P3O. Though George Lucas’ legendary space opera took no inspiration from 2001 in terms of story, visual nods are scattered throughout the original trilogy and the prequels. Lucas even mentioned A Space Odyssey as a huge influence.
The supervisor behind 2001’s “The Dawn of Man” sequence was also a significant part of Star Wars. Stuart Freeborn designed the puppet for the one and only Yoda, allegedly using his own face and that of Albert Einstein as benchmarks.
5 Event Horizon Is A Horrifyingly Good Cult Classic
Though the outlandish terror of Paul W. S. Anderson’s Event Horizon is a far cry from the seriousness and poignance of A Space Odyssey, the influence is clear for viewers to see. Some critics have also noted Event Horizon’s similarities to one of Kubrick’s other greats in The Shining.
Although the sci-fi horror was a failure upon release, recent years have been kinder to it, and it’s looked at as a cult classic that offers up some unique, albeit terrifying ideas.
4 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Is Kubrick Meets Spielberg, Quite Literally
A sci-fi film that began development with Stanley Kubrick himself, A.I. Artificial Intelligence sadly never saw the screen in Kubrick’s lifetime, as after handing the project over to Steven Spielberg in 1995, the development stalled, only gaining momentum after Kubrick’s passing a few years later in 1999.
A.I. is the story of a robotic boy who longs for love in a futuristic society. Kubrick’s fingerprints are all over the finished product, and that mixed with Spielberg’s signature heartwarming charm make A.I. a wonderful, intriguing, and ultimately fascinating watch.
3 Arrival Is A Captivating Classic That Kubrick Would Likely Be Proud Of
Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival is regarded by many as a masterpiece of science fiction storytelling, the film’s list of accolades is a long one, and there are moments within the picture that incredibly manage to match the excitement and sense of wonder of Kubrick’s classic.
Amy Adams stars as a linguist tasked with communicating with freshly arrived alien lifeforms. Arrival’s climax is enough to leave chests tight and jaws open. In a word, Arrival is mesmerizing.
2 Sunshine Is Danny Boyle’s Terrific Addition To The Space Movie Subgenre
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland were well established as a dynamic duo in cinema by 2007, and the psychological thriller Sunshine only further cemented this. Dazzling visuals, intense action, and a bleak look at humanity along with the eclectic talents of Cillian Murphy helped make Sunshine a success with audiences and critics.
Director Danny Boyle has always been open regarding his influences for the film, of course citing 2001: A Space Odyssey, as well as classics such as Das Boot and Alien.
1 Interstellar Is A Space Odyssey For The Modern Age
Interstellar and 2001’s similarities are surface evident, from the cinematography to the design of the spaceships, Christopher Nolan’s space adventure took many cues from Kubrick’s classic, yet Interstellar does more than enough to stand on its own.
The film’s excellent script drip-feeds information at a perfect pace, daring to answer more questions than Kubrick’s movie, and Nolan’s direction really shines with assists from a truly impressive cast including Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. Nolan’s good luck charm Sir Michael Caine is also present, and Hans Zimmer’s mesmerizing score may well be the finest of his illustrious career.
