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The 25 best science fiction movies of all time

What are the best movies about mysterious planets, visitors from other worlds, and the future on our very own Earth? Check out our picks!

1. 'Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back'

Lucasfilm, Ltd. & TM/AP
'Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back' stars David Prowse.

In director Irvin Kershner's 1980 film, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) sets off to receive Jedi training from the wise Yoda, while smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) try to elude Empire search parties. The movie takes the characters we already knew and puts them in ever more perilous situations, with the humor of Han's ship troubles nicely balancing out Luke's solemn Jedi training. And who says every good movie has a happy ending? This one (decades-old spoiler alert) ends with Luke losing a hand and learning the devastating truth about his father while Han is taken away by the enemy. Dark is good for the "Star Wars" universe (though not as dark as "Revenge of the Sith." We don't need to talk about that one).

Actor David Prowse, who wore the suit of Darth Vader, never actually said the line "I am your father" to Hamill on set, according to Entertainment Weekly. Prowse said instead, "Obi-Wan killed your father" and the real dialogue was dubbed in by actor James Earl Jones, who voiced Darth Vader, later on. Hamill was only told of the actual line right before his reaction was to be filmed. 

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

Dear Reader,

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