Science Fiction Rating System - podcast cover

Science Fiction Rating System

Sam Draper, Alex Humphrey, Chris Readingsciencefictionratingsystem.com
Join Sam, Alex and Chris as they rank every science fiction film EVER. Every week we dissect a new film before adding it to a giant and highly scientific ranked list. We review a film a week until we run out of films.

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Episodes

The Postman

This week we watch Kevin Costner's big budget post-apocalyptic flop Waterw- no, the other one, The Postman . Join us as we slog through three hours of people not sending the post, and then people really REALLY sending the post. It's a film we've watched so you don't have to, cos we're nice like that. Next week, it's Things to Come ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on In...

Aug 06, 202455 minEp. 319

Virus

Donald Sutherland (RIP) season concludes with Virus ! Join us for some top Jane's Fighting Ships discussion, lots of robot talk, and the Baldwin Rating System Next week it's Things to Come ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 25, 202443 minEp. 318

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

This week we continue our impromptu Donald Sutherland (RIP) series with Invasion of the Body Snatchers ! Join us for a lot of discussion about how feasible this particularly snatching really is and Chris makes a horrible noise. Next week, more Donald, with Virus ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

Jul 18, 202449 minEp. 317

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

This week we belatedly celebrate the release of Furiosa with the last Mad Max we can watch for now. Join us as we head back to post-apocalyptic Australia, discuss some super deep lore, play a game of Max or Martin, and marvel at how terribly this film craters halfway through. Sam's audio is a mess again, but will be better from next week, so that's good! And next week will be Invasions of the Body Snatchers (1978) See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on...

Jul 11, 202451 minEp. 316

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

This week we watch Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within , a film so monumentally misguided that it managed to kill an entire company. Join us as we discuss high quality bad CGI, the concept of 'virtual actors', and what 3 things we would save on an asteroid. Also apologies for the audio quality on this one - Sam had some sort of insane crackle on the recording and some shitty kid screaming outside, and chris' recording was inexplicably 20 minutes shorter than the rest so has had to be chopped back ...

Jun 28, 202449 minEp. 315

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

It's a bumper episode as we head back to a galaxy far, far away, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Episode I . Join us for a predictably in-depth discussion of the making of the film, how our opinion of the film has changed over a quarter of a century, what a genuine child thinks about the film, and much more! Here is Jenny Nicholson's incredible 4-hour Galactic Starcruiser video which Sam mentions at some point Next week it's Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within ! See the new list! Play along ...

Jun 14, 20241 hr 15 minEp. 314

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

We return to discuss Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow ! But first, Alex makes the executive decision to discuss other films, so we briefly discuss Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Furiosa, Atlas, and You Can Call Me Bill. Then we sadly have to watch the film we're here to see. And it ain't great. But at least it's a good excuse for Alex to tell his story about his copy of Horton Hears A Who... Here are the far superior cutscenes from Jedi Knight - Dark Forces 2 Next week, prepare for a bu...

Jun 07, 202441 minEp. 313

The Chronicles of Riddick

This week we take a trip back to the Riddickverse (one of many verses) and watch Chronicles of Riddick ! Join us as we marvel at two films existing at once, chart the rise and fall and rise of Vin Diesel, chat a lot about mongers monging, and alienate anyone who likes metal. Sorry. Next week, it's Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow , which we said last time, but it genuinely is this time! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old l...

May 24, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 312

Annihilation

This week we 'celebrate' the release of Alex Garland's Civil War by looking back at Annihilation . Join us as we discuss the perils of adapting a story you don't actually know, whether Natalie Portman can actually act, and a strange bear. Next week, get your annoying steampunk tat at the ready - it's Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're...

May 09, 202453 minEp. 311

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Accidental post-apocalypse/ Fallout season with Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior . But first, Alex has a random newsblast? Join us as we take our usual detour into mourning the death of practical effects, ponder if this film invented the post apocalypse, and generally just enjoy a well-made film. We watch them occasionally. (When Sam keeps saying 'The man with no name' he means A Fistful of Dollars , obvs.) Next week, it's Annihilation ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the W...

May 02, 202451 minEp. 310

Cyborg

This week, Alex picks his birthday film - it's Albert Pyun's Cyborg ! Join us as we discuss JCVD's career, butcher's shops in the USA, double TKOs, missing contact lenses, and a quiz which, let's be honest here, Sam absolutely aces. Next week, accidental Fallout apocalyptic season continues with Mad Max 2 ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on Instagram and Facebook too! ...

Apr 25, 202452 minEp. 309

Ghostbusters II

This week we watch Ghostbusters II , except Chris who got the wrong film. But first, we have a little bonus spoilercast about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire , which unlocks a classic Chris Rant­. And then we watch the main feature, discussing the impact of The Real Ghostbusters , what you want from a sequel, the bad vibes that come from good vibes, and I think our third passionate defence of Peter Venkman. Next week, it's Alex's birthday pick, Cyborg ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in t...

Apr 18, 202455 minEp. 308

Star Trek

This week, we take our annual trip to the world of Star Trek. Having watched all the original ten films, it's time to follow a very old Spock through a black hole and join the Kelvin timeline. Join us as we discuss rebooting franchises, a terrible bad guy, fate vs. logic. and the perils of stunt-casting unfunny comedians. Next week, we celebrate (?) Ghostbusters being back in cinemas by watching Ghostbusters II ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on ...

Apr 11, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 307

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

This week, we continue the modern Planet of the Apes franchise seven years (!) after watching the first instalment. Join us as we marvel at the CG, complain about everything else, get into a very, very long discussion about post-apocalyptic survival (yet again) and we learn that Chris is prepared to play any game, no matter the game. Game on. Note for Sam's brain: You are confusing Jason Clarke with Jai Courtney because they are both charisma vacuums and were both in Terminator: Genisys ! Next w...

Apr 04, 202449 minEp. 306

Dune: Part Two Spoilercast!

This week, Chris and Sam spoiler their way through the latest Denis Villeneuve sci-fi blockbuster, Dune: Part Two at Alex, who hasn't seen it yet. But first, Austin Butler's face, a mini spoilercast of Priscilla, Agent Elvis and a lot of other stuff that is absolutely definitely related to the film in question. And there's a Dune quiz! WARNING: Spoilers for Dune: Part Two and the other Frank Herbert Dune books Next week, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get ...

Mar 28, 202434 minEp. 305

Re-Ranking Special III

This week, we add three old films to the new list in another Re-Ranking special! Join us as we apply PROPER SCIENCE to Dune, Predator , and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Also, Alex reviews some modern dance. Next week, we look at some more apes with the confusingly titled Rise sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on Instagram and Fac...

Mar 15, 202447 minEp. 304

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids

We're back! And we return with a classic of our childhoods, the grammatically troubling Honey, I Shrunk the Kids . Join us as we discuss the superb practical effects, sense memories of Oreos, and we have possibly our 2nd Ant-based quiz. Next week, we re-rank a bunch of films! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

Mar 07, 202453 minEp. 303

Zardoz

Our infinite look at sci-fi films finally hits upon Zardoz , John Boorman's psychedelic cult (?) classic (???) which turns 50 this year. Join us as we try to follow along, discuss Sean Connery's 'unique' contract, Sean Connery's 'unique' acting style in this film, and Sean Connery's wedding dress. Next week we take a trademark SFRS hard turn into something completely different - it's Honey, I Shrunk the Kids ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on You...

Feb 16, 202443 minEp. 302

Wild Wild West

The pod heads back to the Weird West for Barry Sonnenfeld's ill-advised follow-up to the hugely successful (and quite good) Men in Black - its Wild Wild West ! Join us as we discuss our general dislike of all things steampunk, marvel at how a film from 25 years ago feels like it was written in the 1800s, and ask the most important question of all: Kevin Kline - why? Next week, we take another trip into pre- Star Wars insane sci-fi with a look at Zardoz ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get...

Feb 09, 202450 minEp. 301

Detective Pikachu

We celebrate our 300th episode (which is insane) by watching Detective Pikachu , our final look back at 2019 releases! Join us as we revel in the CG, have varied opinions about Ryan Reynolds, worry about the idea of being merged with your pet, and Alex officiates a Poke Battle. Next week, we watch wicky wicky Wild Wild West ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on Instagram...

Feb 01, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 300

Bacurau

2019 season continues with Chris' choice, Bacurau! Join us as Chris sprinkles a little Cannes stardust across the pod, we discuss the merits of ambiguity in plot, and try and work out if this is Poppins or not. Next week, it's the final 2019 film, Alex's wildcard pick: Detective Pikachu ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. Se...

Jan 26, 202445 minEp. 299

The Wandering Earth

2019 season continues with Sam's pick, The Wandering Earth , the Chinese film industry's attempt at an American blockbuster, complete with a nonsensical plot, unlikeable characters, and a film that's too long. Join us as Chris dissects just how stupid the science on display here really is and we try to steer away from matters that might get us blacklisted in certain parts of the world. Next week it's Chris' choice of film, Bacurau ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the W...

Jan 18, 202453 minEp. 298

Serenity (2019)

A new year begins and SFRS are back for an 8th year of rating science fiction films! As is tradition, we start the year with a selection of films from the newly unlocked and primed to rate films from 2019. First up is Alex's pick, Serenity (not the Joss Whedon one). Join us as we discuss the strange career of Steven Knight, the even stranger plot of this film, Matthew McConaughey's illicit bongo playing, and so much more! Next week we watch as Earth gets rocket power and flies away in The Wander...

Jan 10, 202457 minEp. 297

The 7th Annual SFRS End of Year Jamboree!

As is tradition, we see out the year with a look back at the last twelve months, like a Spotify Wrapped but MORE SCIENTIFIC. Join us as we discuss some of our favourite films and TV shows of the year, take a quiz to see if we can remember what we watched on the pod, and then announce which films from newly unlocked 2019 we'll be watching in January. p.s. no spoilers for anything science fiction, but we do accidentally spoil the end of Succession ! Thanks again for listening, everyone, as we ente...

Dec 31, 202338 minEp. 296

Godzilla Minus One Spoilercast!

On Christmas morning SFRS leave a special bonus gift for you, a spoilercast for the fantastic new proper Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One ! Join Sam and Alex for a spoiler-free overview of the film until 14:10 when Godzilla STOMPS the spoiler wall and we go into lots of detail about what makes this new entry in the franchise feel fresh and exciting as anything thats come before. Want more Godzilla? We've also discussed, Godzilla (1954) , Godzilla (1998) , Godzilla (2014) and Shin Godzilla (2016...

Dec 25, 202344 minEp. 295

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

It's Christmas Eve (or thereabouts) and as is tradition around these parts, we finish the year by watching a Star Wars! We realise too late we could have watched A New Hope and so watch The Force Awakens, JJ Abram's nostalgia-drenched sequel. Join us as we discuss nostalgia vs creativity, the problem with not having a plan, a Star Wars quiz, we try to prise at least one positive comment from Chris, and we have the exclusive story of how Alex is actually responsible for a major piece of sequel tr...

Dec 21, 20231 hr 11 minEp. 294

Arrival

Ladies First season concludes with Arrival , which we watched absolutely ages ago in an old list with an old format, so now it gets the proper SFRS review and rating. Join us as we discuss deceiving the audience, the paperwork of first contact, and as ever we get in a bit of a mess with logistics of a mechanic of this script that I can't really discuss here for spoiler-y reasons. Next week, it's our traditional Christmas trip to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awaken...

Dec 14, 202355 minEp. 293

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Ladies First season continues with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines . Join as we discuss the questionable decision to restart SkyNet development after T2, the questionable abilities the new Terminator thinks are essential to her mission, and we discover who won Sexiest She-Villain 2004. Next week Ladies Night concludes with Arrival ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play along at home! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the soundtrack! Buy our Merch! And we're on...

Dec 07, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 292

Unbreakable

This week, we begin a new season of films - it's Ladies First/Night! Our respective partners pick their favourite science fiction film for us to watch starting with, er, Unbreakable . Join us as we discuss what's gone wrong with the decision to watch this film, Alex's secret director's cut of the film, and the many ways this isn't very good. Next week, we watch another film: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (it is at least definitely sci-fi) Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! P...

Dec 01, 202353 minEp. 291

The Creator Spoilercast!

Hi, we're back! This week, we take a quick break from your normal pod-based rating system for the latest in our long-dormant series of spoilercasts! Alex is a busy bee so Chris and Sam hop online to chat about The Creator , Gareth Edward's latest sci-fi flick. It's not all bad, but it's mostly bad. And just in case the name of this episode wasn't enough of a clue, be warned: SPOILERS of The Creator , pretty much from the start. Next week, it really is Unbreakable . Sorry for the break, plans are...

Nov 20, 202333 minEp. 290
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