Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* – Details, episodes & analysis

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Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

Ayesha Khan

Tv & Film

Society & Culture

History

Frequency: 1 episode/12d. Total Eps: 67

The Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* podcast looks back at more than a century of films, beginning in 1902 and working towards the future. Each episode focuses on a film, director or theme and brings in experts to discuss the history, politics, and influences. Join sci-fi enthusiast Ayesha Khan as she travels through time and space, encounters aliens, and battles authoritarian regimes all from the comfort of your home planet. Released every two weeks

*Almost

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🇨🇦 Canada - filmHistory
21/08/2026
#11
🇬🇧 Great Britain - filmHistory
21/08/2026
#5
🇬🇧 Great Britain - tvAndFilm
21/08/2026
#74
🇺🇸 USA - filmHistory
21/08/2026
#16
🇫🇷 France - filmHistory
21/08/2026
#31
🇨🇦 Canada - filmHistory
20/08/2026
#11
🇬🇧 Great Britain - filmHistory
20/08/2026
#5
🇬🇧 Great Britain - tvAndFilm
20/08/2026
#80
🇺🇸 USA - filmHistory
20/08/2026
#15
🇫🇷 France - filmHistory
20/08/2026
#37

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The Thing from Another World: Howard Hawks and the Cold War

Episode 15

Sunday, September 15, 2024 • Duration 52:24

As always there are spoilers ahead!
For the full show notes with no character limits you can click the episode on the website watch page here.

Description:
We are finally in the 1950s! The Golden Era of science fiction cinema.

Although the 1950s are known for may B Movies The Thing from Another World was produced (and possibly directed) but the very famous Howard Hawks and came from RKO which was a big name studio at this time.

This film capitalised on the growing appetite for science fiction in the USA which was up until this recently largely in print but also a little on television although studios were still wary of the science fiction label. Based on the John W Campbell novella Who Goes There? from 1938 there were a few significant changes made to the story.

The Experts
Jay Telotte is Professor Emeritus of film and media studies at Georgia Tech. He has written/edited numerous books and articles about science fiction film including the 2023 Selling Science Fiction Cinema.

Marc Longenecker is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Film Studies at Wesleyan University.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the show and guests
02:40 The 1950s sci-fi explosion
06:34 The studio aversion to science fiction and the paramount decree
09:55 Howard Hawks, Howard Hughes and who really directed this film?
16:20 If it walks like a Hawk: Hallmarks and the Hawksian woman
21:52 The Cold War, flying saucers and “the group”
34:05 Jay’s comparison to The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
36:26 The influence on John Carpenter and The Thing (1982)
44:21 The legacy of the film
48:56 Recommendations for listeners

NEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be taking a closer look at The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). You can check Just Watch to find out where it can be found in your region and is available to buy or rent at many outlets including Apple TV.

Read moreCollapse

Robert Duncan Milne: A Lost Pioneer of Science Fiction

Episode 14

Sunday, September 1, 2024 • Duration 40:48

Unlike most episodes there are no film spoilers ahead!

For full detailed show notes please click the episode on this page and scroll down.

This episode we take a huge jump back to the end of the 19th century and a side step to science fiction literature rather than film.

Robert Duncan Milne is a lost pioneer of science fiction literature. Milne’s work had largely vanished despite a book drawing attention to him in 1980. Born in Scotland in 1844 he died in San Francisco at the dawn of the 20th century. During his time in San Francisco he worked as a journalist as well as writing science fiction short stories.

In the many stories Milne wrote he included themes of time travel, alien life, teleportation, cryogenic preservation, remote surveillance and much much more.

My fantastic guests today have spent many years researching and compiling Milne’s work and trying to discover as much as possible about his life and work.

The Experts
Keith Williams is a Reader in English Literature at the University of Dundee where he runs the science fiction programme. He has a special interest in the pre 1945 period.
Ari Brin completed her Masters at the University of Dundee where she began her PhD research which focuses on the life and work of Robert Duncan Milne.

The book that Ari and Keith have been working on will be released in January 2025. It is available for pre-order for the ungodly price of £117 in the UK or $175 in the USA. We all hope a cheaper, consumer friendly version will be released in the future.

Shownotes:
00:00 Introduction
01:59 Why was this pioneer’s work lost?
03:21 Milne’s contemporaries and the topics he wrote about
06:57 The promising young man who vanishes from Scottish society
12:32 San Francisco: an exciting literary hub in the late 19th century 14:18 Milne’s excessive drinking and the Keeley cure 19:27 Milne’s journalism and how it fed into his fiction 22:20 The Great Moon Hoax of 1835 25:51 Milne, Wells and visions of the future 33:17 The death of Milne and his work 36:32 Keith and Ari’s book and the crazy price NEXT EPISODE! WE ARE IN THE 1950s!!!!! It is an exciting but overwhelming time so please bear with me. The next film we will be speaking about The Thing From Another World (1951). You can find out where you can watch it on Just Watch: It is available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and other outlets. If you are in the USA I believe you can watch it for free (with ads) on Tubi.

Frankenstein Goes to Hollywood

Episode 6

Sunday, May 12, 2024 • Duration 49:09

We're doing things a little differently this episode. There are still spoilers ahead!

Frankenstein is considered by many people to be a solid first choice for the first science fiction novel. (Before you start jumping up and down in disgust, yes, there are many stories from the 1600s and even ancient tales which are considered to be strong contenders for the first written sci-fi story. That does not take away from the influence of Mary Shelley.)

In 1816 the teenager* went on holiday to Switzerland and came up with the character of Frankenstein and his monster which would then develop into a novel titled Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Over 200 years later there are still films being made based on the characters from the book.

In this episode, we touch upon James Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein film but look at the origins of the story, examine why its monster has such a long lasting legacy, and why these stories resonate with us still.

For full detailed shownotes please click the episode at www.everyscififilm.com/watch and scroll down.

The experts
Roger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He specialises in literature, film and cultural history from the 19th century to the present. He has written many books and numerous articles on science fiction, horror and the Gothic.

Sarah Artt is a Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University. She has taught courses on Frankenstein in film and literature and co-led a 3 year project titled The Age of Frankenstein which examined the origins and legacy of the story. Her book Quiet Pictures comes out in May 2024.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction, thank you and guests
02:08 The origin of the monster
04:51 Mary Godwin: not your average 19th century girl
06:22 The monster is still with us
10:16 Mary Shelley as the monster: my hackneyed take
14:23 The ultimate goth princess15:02 Knowledge and punishment16:37 The horror film genre20:12 Frankenstein’s monster: a child of revolution!23:16 Why we love monsters29:58 James Whale and the Bride of Frankenstein31:38 Godzilla, B movies and pod people35:50 The Stepford Wives39:18 The slave becomes the master40:08 Burning cross, lynching and the mob42:59 Conclusions: class, prejudice and eugenics46:06 RecommendationsNext episodeThe next film we will be covering is Just Imagine (1930). Is is a musical, rom-com sci-fi set in 1980. You can watch it here: *Correction: I wrongly say at 02:37 that Mary Shelley is 16 or 17 years old when they arrive at Villa Diodati but she is 18.

Metropolis: The Most Influential Sci-Fi Film Ever*

Episode 5

Sunday, April 28, 2024 • Duration 54:37

*Almost.

As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
You can watch Metropolis (1927) here or here:

For full shownotes visit the watch page for this episode on the website: https://www.everyscififilm.com/watch

Description
After losing World War I Germany entered a time of economic hardship and political turmoil. In 1918 the Monarchy abdicated. The country was financially crippled by the reparations enforced by The Treaty of Versailles and German democracy began.

From 1918 until Hitler came to power in 1933 is known as the Weimar period. A time of political upheaval and artistic creativity. German Art and Cinema were thriving while the left and right were wrangling for control of the country.

In 1927 Fritz Lang made what is to this day considered one of the greatest films of all time. It is based on a story by Thea Von Harbou, his wife at the time, who went on to collaborate with Nazi Party on multiple films.

The ongoing influence of Metropolis on film is immense. Films like Blade Runner, Fifth Element, Frankenstein, Batman, and more recently Poor Things have all been influenced by it. And yet, the film itself was not a hit.

Luckily we have two luminary experts to help us understand the film, the society it came from and the themes it portrays.

The experts
Sonja Fritzsche is a professor of German Studies and an author/editor for many books about science fiction. She has taught courses on science fiction, utopia and Metropolis.

Noah Isenberg is a film historian and best-selling author. He is a professor at the University of Texas and editor of the book Weimar Cinema: An Essential Guide to Classic Films of the Era.Chapters00:00 Introduction, shownotes clarification and guests02:30 Weimar: economics, Hitler and creative legacy11:05 Fritz Lang15:00 Thea Von Harbou18:41 Lang’s Jewish heritage and Harbou’s Nazism21:05 The rediscovery of missing Metropolis reels22:05 Lang’s visual virtuosity26:05 Fear of the future and the three faces of Utopia27:50 The virgin, the whore and the workers unions31:41 Critical reception Vs visual spectacle35:32 Religious themes37:37 The Nazi connection45:23 Lang’s future: M, Woman in the Moon, Film Noir48:25 Is Metropolis the most influential sci-fi film of all time?50:36 Conclusions and recommendationsNEXT EPISODE!We will be looking at Frankenstein and speaking about monsters and their role in storytelling and science fiction. You can watch Frankenstein (1931) .Or check for where it is available.

Aelita: The 100 Year Old Queen of Mars

Episode 4

Sunday, April 14, 2024 • Duration 51:52

As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!

You can watch Aelita Queen of Mars (1924) here. For full shownotes visit the watch page for this episode on the website: https://www.everyscififilm.com/watch

Lenin, the leader of the Russian revolution and the new soviet Russia declared “cinema is for us the most important of the arts”. He recognised the power of film to reach a wide range of audiences and its potential as propaganda. The country was struggling as was its film industry which was nationalised in 1919.

In the first half of the 20th century Russia has been through a world war, a revolution and a civil war which ended in 1923.

Some months later the words “Anta Odeli Uta” started appearing in the press and distributed leaflets. The words are from Aelita Queen of Mars which was Soviet Russia’s first big film. A film they hired acclaimed pre-revolutionary film director Yakov Protozanov to make. This film was intended to make a big impact, to be popular and be a beacon of the new emerging soviet Russia. Although the film was a commercial success, communist critics were harsh in their verdict.

The film has a mishmash of themes which make for confusing viewing. Part communist propaganda (oppressed Martian workers rise up against a cruel king), part romantic drama (jealousy and obsession), part social commentary (corrupt government officials and bumbling policemen) amongst many other things.

Luckily we have two heavyweight scholars to help us rein in the confusion.

The experts
Denise Youngblood is Professor of History Emerita at the University of Vermont. She is a specialist on the history of Russian and Soviet cinema from 1908 to the present. She has written extensively on the subject, including seven books and numerous articles and film reviews. Denise has a PhD from Stanford and was one of only three Americans who studied Soviet film history at VGIK (the Soviet state film institute in Moscow) during Soviet times.Rachel Morley is Associate Professor at UCL's School of Slavonic & East European Studies where she is also co-chair of Russian Cinema Research Group. She has published widely and presented papers on Russian film.Chapters00:00 Introduction to show and guests02:43 The pre-revolutionary master returns07:01 Where is the communist propaganda?13:00 Anta Odeli Uta and the critics Vs fans18:34 Is the protagonist meant to be unlikable?23:12 Women: past, present and future28:34 The working class32:17 A vision of the future: costumes and set design35:22 Russian sci-fi after Aelita: Stalin Vs Khrushchev38:38 Aelita: a warning to Soviet filmmakers40:53 Did Aelita inspire Fritz Lang’s Metropolis?43:12 Protozanov’s future44:27 Stalin’s restrictions on the film industry48:02 ConclusionNEXT EPISODE!Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is next! It is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of the silent era. You can watch it at the internet archive or on YouTube. Or you can check or options. DVDs of the film are also available(There are many versions of the film due to editing, lost footage and restorations. There is also a 1984 Giorgio Moroder version with an 80s soundtrack!)

The Creator: David Eagleman's favourite sci-fi film ever

Episode 3

Sunday, March 31, 2024 • Duration 29:39

As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!

Every once in a while we take a break from watching and learning about old science fiction films and speak to a guest about their favourite sci-fi film. In this episode I speak to David Eagleman about The Creator and what about this 2023 film made it to the top of his list.

For full shownotes with references to the subjects mentioned in this episode you can visit https://www.everyscififilm.com/the-creator-david-eagleman-s-fvourite

The guest
David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford University, a best-selling author of multiple books, and an entrepreneur. He is cofounder of Cognito Entertainment, a production company that focuses on science-based films and documentaries and he also directs the US based Center for Science and Law. David is the host of the Inner Cosmos podcast that delves into topics about the human brain and perception. You can find out more about him at https://eagleman.com

Chapters
00:00 Introduction of show and guest
01:19 Overview of The Creator (with spoilers)
03:24 Why The Creator resonates with David
05:38 Consciousness, AI, and neuroscience
10:16 Human tribalism and prejudice
14:28 AI: friend, foe, fear, and the future
17:50 Mimicry, humanity, and the potential of AI
19:15 Can AI adapt and excel beyond the human brain?
23:01 Sad robots and subjectivity
24:52 Religious AI, heaven, and the cynical ending

NEXT EPISODE!
The next film we will be looking at is Aelita Queen of Mars. A 1924 film from Soviet Russia. You can watch the film here on YouTube. In some locations you can check where it is available to stream, rent or buy at . The film is available to buy on Amazon in some places. DVDs of the film are available though not common.

The First Science Fiction Film Ever

Episode 2

Sunday, March 31, 2024 • Duration 46:28

As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead! I would love for you to join in by watching the film, Le Voyage Dans La Lune here. The film was made by the pioneer French film director George Méliès in 1902. It is widely considered to be the first sci-fi film ever. There is a small rumble of a potential contender which I have added at the bottom of the full shownotes.

For full shownotes with references to the subjects mentioned in this episode you can visit https://www.everyscififilm.com/the-first-science-fiction-film-ever

The experts
Richard Neupert is the Charles H. Wheatley Professor of the Arts and a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor at the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Georgia. He has written extensively on film including numerous books. His book French Film History, 1895-1946 was published in 2022.

Bert Ulrich probably has one of the best jobs in the world! He acts as NASA’s liaison for film and TV collaborations. He is a film and visual arts author. In 2022 his essay A Legacy of Spectacle: The Impact of George Méliès on Science Fiction Filmmaking was published in the academic journal Film International.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to show and guests
01:37 How the son of a successful bootmaker became a theatre performer
04:14 George Méliès watches a Lumiere brother’s screening
06:35 A quick overview of the film
08:12 Méliès satire and style
12:30 The father of special effects
15:27 France’s Belle Époque: optimism, industrialism, and exploration
20:47 Success and piracy
23:42 The pros and cons of Méliès’ solo working style27:54 Méliès’ decline31:27 Rediscovery of his work33:49 The development of Sci-fi cinema since 190244:18 Concluding thoughtsNEXT EPISODE/S!Next episode I will be speaking to David Eagleman, Stanford neuroscientist and best selling author, about his favourite Sci-fi film The Creator. This 2023 film is streaming on Disney+. You may be able to check where you can rent or buy the film at JustWatch. The next film we will be looking at is . A 1924 film from Soviet Russia. You can watch the film here on YouTube. You can check where it is available to stream, rent or buy at JustWatch. The film is available to buy on Amazon in some locations. DVDs of the film are available though not common.

What is Science Fiction?

Episode 1

Sunday, March 31, 2024 • Duration 01:14:28

And so we begin! The very first episode. Before we start the journey of examining every single sci-fi film ever* we must understand what science fiction is. In this episode I speak to science fiction scholars Lisa Yaszek and Glynn Morgan about the definitions of this well-known genre. What is the difference between science fiction and fantasy? Are superhero movies sci-fi? Are the we the real monsters? Please be warned: as always there are spoilers ahead! Link for the next film is at the bottom.
*Almost

For full shownotes which explain more about the topics, names and books mentioned in this episode you can visit https://www.everyscififilm.com/what-is-science-fiction

The experts:

I am extreme lucky to have these guests with me.

Lisa Yaszek has known sci-fi very well for very many years. Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech, she researches and teaches science fiction and has authored, compiled, and edited numerous books on the topic. Her Future is Female books not only draw attention to the huge contribution of women writers in the genre but also have wonderful retro covers! (I am not judging a book by its cover but I am judging the cover!)

Lisa was President of the Science Fiction Research Association from 2009-2010 and serves as an advisory board member for About SF. She has won many awards for contributions to science fiction and serves as a juror for sci-fi writing awards.

Glyn Morgan is Curator of Exhibitions at The British Science Museum and put together the Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination exhibition which has moved on from London, UK and is currently showing in Hong Kong. He is a lecturer and former editor of Vector, the Critical Journal of the British Science Fiction Association. He has written extensively about sci-fi and speculative fiction and has served as an award judge.

Trailer: Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 • Duration 01:04

Every single sci-fi film ever. Almost.

Award-winning podcast producer and sci-fi film enthusiast Ayesha Khan volunteers for the task. Her continuing mission: to explore strange old films, seek out the experts, and to boldly bring them to you.

We will begin our journey with an episode dedicated to finding out what science fiction actually is.

Then we move to Paris, 1902, to watch and discuss the first sci-fi film ever: Le Voyage Dans La Lune.

Occasionally we will take some detours to hear some fascinating people discuss their favourite sci-fi film. Episode three features Stanford neuroscientist, best-selling author, and the host of the Inner Cosmos podcast David Eagleman. He tells us why The Creator (2023) made it straight to the top of his list.

Join me in watching a film and then hearing some clever, heavily decorated connoisseurs release knowledge torpedos. For us! For posterity!

If you're joining in, I would love to hear from you. For feedback, comments, or queries leave me a message at https://www.speakpipe.com/everyscififilm

The podcast launches on March the 31st 2024.

Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* – Details, episodes & analysis

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Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other48

Goodreads19

Youtube12

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other48

Goodreads19

Youtube12

Apple Podcasts

Spotify