Wil Wheaton has been a favorite in the fandom community for over 30 years. He got his big break in the hit film Stand by Me, but his reputation as a sci-fi icon began in 1987 when he joined the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. For seven seasons he played Wesley Crusher, a young man who has recently lost his father, but slowly becomes an important member of the Enterprise crew.
Since then he’s continued starring in sci-fi hits like the show Eureka, and he’s reprised his role as Crusher numerous times, including having a lead role in Star Trek: Prodigy. From 2009-2019, Wheaton also hilariously played himself in numerous episodes of The Big Bang Theory. So, with decades of sci-fi experience under his belt, what are Wil Wheaton’s favorite sci-fi movies and shows? Read on to find out, and discover where they’re all streaming right now.
Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009)
Created as a reimagining of the original 1978 series, Battlestar Galactica picks up after a deadly war breaks out between humans and the sentient AI race of Cylons. After losing the war, humans have lost all their homeworlds, and now only a remnant population survives aboard various spacecraft. Their goal is to explore space and find a fabled habitable planet called Earth. “I loved Ron Moore’s Battlestar Galactica,” Wheaton says. “I was absolutely crazy about it.”
Battlestar Galactica is one of the biggest fandoms in sci-fi and the series was praised by audiences and critics. The series earned itself 25 Emmy nominations and even won a Peabody.
Blade Runner: The Director’s Cut (1992)
Wheaton says that Blade Runner is one of his favorite sci-fi movies, but he made sure to point out that he’s specifically talking about the director’s cut. The film is notorious for having numerous versions, with the main ones being its US release version, international version, director’s cut, and the final cut.
In the director’s cut, Ridley Scott removed a lot of content that studios forced him to add in to make the movie more “palatable” to mainstream audiences. With full creative control, Scott’s cut is darker and more nuanced than the original theatrical version… which is exactly how Scott wanted it.
Star Wars (1977)
Wheaton makes it clear that he loves the *original* Star Wars film (which is why I’m afraid to even add in A New Hope since that addition came later). “None of this reboot bullshit,” he said, “the original Star Wars from 1977. The way it was intended to be seen, where Han shoots first.”
The original film picks up with the Rebellion stealing blueprints for the Death Star from the Empire. But after Princess Leia is captured by the evil Darth Vader, it’s up to a smuggler, a Jedi, a few androids, and a Wookiee to save her. It’s campy and ridiculous, but tons of fun. There’s a reason why the franchise has such an enduring legacy.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Some argue that Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is the most iconic and influential sci-fi movie ever. It’s story of a rogue AI killing those who created him has become eerily relatable in the modern era, and its deep themes of death, rebirth, technology, and the broader universe give the film so many undertones that you continue thinking about 2001: A Space Odyssey long after the movie is over.
Plus, even today its visual effects look fantastic. It’s shocking to think the movie was made in 1968, because it still looks visually stunning. There’s a good reason why it won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Sugar (2024)
Wheaton also loves the cult Apple TV+ series Sugar. “It's one of the great sci-fi series of the last five years that I never really heard people talk about,” the actor says. The show is a noir thriller that blends in fantastic sci-fi elements and follows a private investigator (Colin Farrell) who has a secret of his own. “I loved it,” Wheaton continued, “I thought it was brilliant and extremely well-done.”
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
It’s rare for a sci-fi action film to get rave reviews…and it’s even rarer for it to earn an Oscar nomination. But Mad Max: Fury Road ended up scoring 10 Oscar noms, including for Best Picture. The film follows Max as he teams up with the rebellious Furiosa to take down the tyrannical Immortan Joe and free his harem of enslaved wives. The film was so successful that it even spawned the prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Where to Watch Wil Wheaton’s Favorite Sci-Fi Movies and Shows
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