Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

Ayesha Khan
  • 4.6 (251)
  • Film History
  • Updated Biweekly

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Oct 9

    2001: Special Effects That Changed Cinema

    "Please read the show notes!" She screamed into the void of a blank page. (I realise no one apparently reads the show notes but this time I genuinely think it might be useful to you.) This is episode two of the 2001: A Space Odyssey mini-series! I like to keep episodes under an hour to make them digestible but there is a 15 minute longer version of the episode available for Patreon members or to buy as a one off for £3 or $3. You can find it here: https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm It is being released early because I am going on holiday and I have no idea how great my internet is going to be or how often I'll be able to check it while I am away. (I do know that in the summer of 2024 it once took somewhere between 3 and 6 hours to upload the podcast from my mum's house.) We have two more episodes to go (one about the sound and the other about Kubrick). If you missed the first episode I would suggest you go and take a listen to both parts. If you have not watched 2001: A Space Odyssey you can find an overview of it here on the Wikipedia page. I have also mentioned the IMDB page during the episode and the full list of credited cast and crew can be found here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm This episode is about some of the mind-blowing, ahead of their time (by at least 11 years or so when Star Wars came along) and fantastical special effects of the film. I never watch videos for podcasts myself, but I would perhaps consider it for this episode as Paul expresses the practicalities of special effects quite well with hand gestures. There are clips of the special effects you may want to look at. You can find the video on YouTube and on Spotify. As always, there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.  The special effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey were shocking in 1968 but still amaze almost sixty years later. I have managed to procure two heavyweight guests to talk us through this mammoth achievement. (I wanted to make an ape pun but I remembered I don't actually like puns.) Paul Franklin is a Special Effects Supervisor for many blockbuster films including the Dark Knight series and has won Oscars for his work on Interstellar and Inception. Julie Turnock is Professor of Media and Cinema studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign she has written extensively about special effects in cinema including in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Chapters 0:00 Intro 01:35 Special vs Visual Effects 06:12 Impact of 2001 A Space Odyssey special effects 12:45 Douglas Trumbull and more 29:03 The Discovery centrifuge 33:38 A slow visionary film 39:35 Defying gravity 41:47 Joy Sneddon's moon 43:51 The floating pen 45:34 Front projections on The Dawn of Man 49:53 Legacy 54:36 Recommendations   Recommendations: The Lost Worlds of 2001 by Arthur C Clarke Bodies in Space: Film as "Carnal Knowledge" by Annette Michelson: https://www.artforum.com/features/annette-michelson-on-stanley-kubricks-2001-a-space-odyssey-210883/   NEXT EPISODE! I shall be speaking about the music and sound of 2001: A Space Odyssey so no need to watch any films in the meantime. If you are extra eager about what comes after the mini-series, I will be taking a detour (kind of) to discuss the 1968 origin of the modern zombie: The Night of the Living Dead.

  2. Sep 27

    2001: A Space Odyssey (Part 2)

    As always there are spoilers ahead! This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 2. If you have arrived here before treading the ground of part 1 turn back now!  The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification. (Yes I'm repeating the same text from part 1. Do you even know how busy I've been and now I must copy and paste to get this out on time!)  You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Thankfully my two guests are heavy weight bearing beams (of light?). I am indeed getting my metaphors in a mix. That makes no sense. Apologies.  Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece. Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner. Clarification: The quote I use near the beginning "Politics and religion are obsolete. The time has come for science and spirituality" originates from Indian philosopher Vinoba Bhave. Arthur C Clarke used the quote in a keynote address. Kubrick underlines the second half in his copy of the speech. (Michael then goes on to open his fantastic book with this quote.) 28:25 The concept of a technological singularity is a theoretical scenario in which technology increasingly becomes so advanced that is has unpredictable and irreversible effects ono humanity. 34:13 JPL is short for Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.  48:23 Mad magazine's parody of 2001 is available to view here: https://www.tumblr.com/keirdullea/34795391907/201-minutes-of-space-idiocy-a-mad-magazine Lastly: I concede that my internet search for the giant baby may have led me to some very dubious sources.    Chapters 00:00 Introduction 19:00 The Sublime 11:30 Kubrick's minimalism 20:32 HAL 34:58 Doug Trumbull and George Lucas' Star Wars droids 37:57 Slow pace and filming restrictions 39:58 Legacy 46:50 Recommendations for the listener   Recommendations Childhood's End and The Sentinel both by Arthur C Clarke 201 (minutes of) A Space Idiocy by Mad Magazine. (Link above)   NEXT EPISODE! In the next episode we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001 in two weeks' time!

    2001: A Space Odyssey (Part 2)

  3. Sep 27

    2001: A Space Odyssey (Part 1)

    As always there are spoilers ahead! As we chronologically venture through science fiction history it is finally time to examine one of the heaviest of heavyweight sci-fi films. 2001: A Space Odyssey. The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 1. Part 2 is also out. (Why two parts? Because I prefer a more digestible length of podcast.) Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm This is the longest episode I've ever recorded (hence the two parts) and I simply couldn't cut much of it down because of my phenomenal guests. Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece. Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner (which we will get to in good time). 34:48 The literal translation of "alte kackers" which is how Stanley Kubrick's wife Christiane described the people at the premiere is "old shitters".   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:43 Childhood cinematic experiences of the film 07:31 Not understanding the film 09:57 The impact on sci-fi cinema 10:28 The proverbial good science fiction film 14:35 The philosophical nature of science fiction 17:09 Kubrick and Clarke in the mid 60s 21:26 Initial intentions 25:46 Special effects and immersion 33:04 The reception of the film 46:32 The ape arm throws a bone 51:15 Kubrick and improvisation 53:52 Outro to part one   NEXT EPISODE! The next episode is already out and it's part 2 of this discussion! After that we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001: A Space Odyssey in two weeks' time.

    2001: A Space Odyssey (Part 1)

  4. Sep 13

    Planet of the Apes: Evolution, Supremacy, & the Death of Liberty

    As usual there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm The novel Planet of the Apes was released in 1963 in France by French author Pierre Boulle. In that same year publicist Arthur Jacobs bought the screen rights while he was looking for something "like King Kong". Five years later in 1968 the film was released with one of the most famous twist endings of cinematic history. The film is a fun "off-planet" sci-fi adventure story with heavy commentary on societal expectations and standards. I have two lovely guests to help us understand this sci-fi classic. John Wills is a Professor of American Media and Culture at the University of Kent. He has written lots about popular culture including his new book Doom Town USA Phil Nichols is Senior Consultant to the Ray Bradbury Center at Indiana University, and formerly Film & Television course leader at the University of Wolverhampton. The Scopes trial was a 1925 case in the USA in which a teacher was accused of violating the law by teaching evolution in schools. The trial was set up on purpose to challenge the Butler Act which prevented the teaching of evolution. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Book vs film 03:53 Arthur Jacobs 06:28 From astronaut to animal 11:10 Simian society 15:43 Concepts of civility 20:07 Western vibes 22:39 The Trial 26:40 Race 32:46 1968 USA 39:25 The twist ending 42:34 Liberty in ruins 47:37 Legacy 52:18 The brains behind the ending 53:19 Recommendations   Recommendations Inherit the Wind (1960) Soylent Green (1973)   NEXT EPISODE! Eep! It's finally here. I tried to put it off for as long as I could but the 2001: A Space Odyssey mini-series will begin next week with a two-part first episode.  The film is available widely. According to Just Watch (where you can find the availability in your region) it is included in the HBO subscription in the USA and Australia. In Canada it's included in the Crave subscription. In the UK it's Prime video and Now Cinema.  But the film can also be bought or rented online from many outlets including Apple, Fandango, Spectrum and Prime. Or you could buy a fancy DVD of it to add to your collection.

  5. Aug 30

    Barbarella 1968: Pop Art, Sex & Space Opera

    As always, there are spoilers ahead.  You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.  If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm  Graphic novels and comics were widely considered to be for children in the early 1960s. It was a relatively small number of artists and publishers who were working to have comics seen as a viable form of art as well as making comics for adults.  Although the history of comics for adults is definitely older, this period marks a surge in European interest in the medium. Famous film producer Dino de Laurentiis helped this when he bought the filming rights to adult comics Diabolik (from Italy) and Barbarella (from France) turning them both in to movies in the 1960s. De Laurentiis originally wanted Bridget Bardot for the title role and after she turned it down, he looked to Sophia Loren who did the same. His third choice was Jane Fonda who initially rejected the script until her then husband Roger Vadim convinced her to take it. Vadim joined as Director and the rest is kitschy sci-fi history. I have two fantastic guests to talk through this swinging 60s sci-fi space opera oddity.  Lisa Yaszek is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and has written/edited extensively on science fiction.  Hugo Frey is Professor of History at the University of Chichester. He has a special interest in graphic novels and is co-author of the 2026 book The Look of the 1960s. Barbarella and the Pulp Pop Comics. CORRECTION: In the question about the legacy of Barbarella I say Star Trek when I mean Star Wars.     Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:17 Sci-fi precedence 03:45 Barbarella comic origins 06:31 1960s France and the rise of adult comics 09:37 Jane Fonda playing it straight 10:59 Jean Claude Forest 12:22 Jane Fonda: Body dysmorphia and sexploitation 14:01 Censorship 19:19 Pop Art and design 26:56 Big hair and science fiction 32:24 Terry Southern 35:50 UK vs US reception 41:48 Government girl with a gun 44:22 A progressive Barbarella? 46:48 Masculinity and femininity 55:37 Recommendations   Recommendations: Born in Flames (1983) Bardot, Deneuve and Fonda: The Memoirs of Roger Vadim Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024)   NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about The Planet of the Apes (1968). Planet of the Apes is available to rent or buy from major online platforms including Apple TV. It is also available on Disney+ in the UK. You can check the Just Watch website to find where it may be streaming in your region.

  6. Aug 16

    Je t'aime, je t'aime (1968): Time Travel, Memory and Loss

    Translation for the intro: A race against time. Office time against outside time. Who's winning? I don't know yet.   Apologies as I am coming down with a heavy cough and need sleep. I am so out of it that I almost forgot that it is release day! But I jumped out of bed with quite a shock and here you have the episode. Phew! As always, there are spoilers ahead. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm   1968's Je t'aime, je t'aime (AKA I Love You, I Love You). A wonderfully unusual science fiction film about memory, love and loss by French New Wave director Alain Resnais. If you would like an overview of the plot you can find it on the Wikipedia page here. The time code after the beep (indicating the discussion about sexual violence is done) 50 minutes and 40 seconds. I have two magnificent guests! Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has written/edited extensively about science fiction cinema. Mani Sharpe is a lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Leeds. He is the author of the book Late-Colonial French Cinema: Filming the Algerian War of Independence. At one point Mark mentions Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius by Jorge Luis Borges and I'm mentioning it here as I had to look it up and it might be on interest. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:42 Alain Resnais 07:20 France in 1968 11:27 Cancelled Cannes Film Festival 13:51 Editing and Chronology 20:10 Continuity conventions 24:33 Editing words and memories 33:23 Unreliable Narrator 39:05 The film watching experience 44:21 Loss and heartbreak in sci-fi 50:55 Legacy 55:05 Recommendations   Recommendations New Rose Hotel (1998) by Abel Ferrara Alain Resnais by Emma Wilson     NEXT EPISODE! Wish me luck as I attempt to arrange an episode on Barbarella in two weeks. As this hasn't been finalised I would suggest that you might also like the watch Planet of the Apes just in case should the fates be tricky! Both of these films are quite easy to find to rent.

  7. Aug 2

    Destroy All Monsters 1968: Godzilla's Kaiju in Combat

    Translation for Intro:  "Fire Dragon can reduce Tokyo to ashes in just a few hours." Godzilla ROARS. "It's Godzilla!" As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have like to wear a monocle and talk about fancy artisan cheeses maybe you would like to be a patron of the podcast? Luckily neither of those things are a requirement! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm If you are interested in the plot of the film you can read an overview on the wikipedia page here.   Correction: In the intro I say Japanese Air Base when I mean Japanese Moon Base. Welcome to the podcast! TIME FOR PANIC TO ENSUE!!! We are in 1968! It's finally here! Am I ready for the 2001: A Space Odyssey? No, I am not! But I'm getting there. Please bear with me.  In the meantime, I shall distract you with a chat about one of the most visually delightful of Kaiju Films (Although one of our guests' recommendations may have it beat in visual delights). You can see an array of the stills from Destroy All Monsters on my Instagram account. This is the swinging 60s Japan style! In 1968 ToHo studios decided to wrap up the Godzilla Franchise with a big bang! A Kaiju extravaganza featuring 11 monsters. Let me list them for you. Godzilla  Rodan Angurius Mothra (very tragically in larva form) Gorosaurus  Minilla (Godzilla's son who gives me the creeps. Sorry!) Kumonga Baragon Manda Varan King Ghidorah  Due to international success the franchise continued on. Hoorah! I have two gargantuan guests for you. (They actually are, as far as I am aware, human sized although I have no proof.)  Yuki Miyamoto is Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Humanities Center at DePaul University. Her work focuses on the ethics around nuclear discourse. Blair Davis is a Professor of Media and Cinema Studies at DePaul University. He has written a lot about cinema and comics and including the book The Battle for the Bs: 1950s Hollywood and the Rebirth of Low-Budget Cinema. Chapters  00:00 Introduction 01:33 Sci-Fi films from 1950s to 1968 03:14 Comparison to Godzilla 1954 05:23 1960s Japan 08:49 Blair's love of the film 09:59 The intentions behind the film 11:14 The 'Monster Rally' tradition 13:53 Visual delights 14:36 The first 10 minutes 18:22 The island connections 21:14 The Showa Era and Japan on the global stage 24:49 Aliens! The Kilaaks 29:38 The Izu Peninsula and Shogun 30:16 The Kaijus 40:17 The final battle 43:12 A changing Godzilla 46:52 Legacy 49:26 Recommendations   Recommendations: Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) Godzilla in Hell by James Stokoe    NEXT EPISODE! Next episode (if all goes well) we will be talking about the Je t'aime, je t'aime (1968) which is available on BFI player in the UK (which is accessible through Apple TV) but seems very elusive elsewhere. There is a version on YouTube but it is in French. The English title (I Love You, I Love You) did not seem to help. The BluRay is also available but for slightly silly prices outside of the UK from what I can see. I wish you luck in finding it!

  8. Jul 19

    Sci-fi & Architecture: Visions of the Future

    There are spoilers ahead! For many films I'm afraid. I would especially avoid the episode until you have watched Ex-Machina (which you really really should immediately it really is phenomenal) as Jes does talk directly about the ending between 53:23 till 53:46. I have made a list of the films and books mentioned below. This is another detour episode and perhaps you're thinking I'm trying to avoid the very big task of recording 2001: A Space Odyssey content. And perhaps you're right. But I hope you enjoy this discussion. If you try to think of a futuristic city your mind may be drawn towards a real place but it could just as easily be drawn towards the great science fiction films that render our future on our screens. Films like Blade Runner, Minority Report, Fifth Element and (the granddaddy) Metropolis have all shown us what human futures could look like. Sometimes these visions are intimidating, terrifying or occausionally aspirational. These images in turn can affect and inform own understanding of what an unwritten future should be like. I have two wonderful guests to talk through the somewhat symbiotic relationship of science fiction and architecture Amy Brookes is an architect and an Associate Professor at the University of Reading. She has written extensively about architecture and one of her special interests is Architecture in science fiction literature and film. Jes Deaver is an award-winning architect as well as a filmmaker and writer. She is the author of the article The Architecture of Imagination which explores the parallels between science fiction and architecture. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:32 The SF-Architecture connection 06:40 How the symbolism of the tower changes 14:38 Anxieties in architecture 17:00 The reciprocal relationship 27:10 Fears of suburbia 30:27 Non place and virtual space 33:43 Apocalyptic futures 40:02 Hopeful alternatives 49:04 Favourite architectural sci-fi films 53:46 Recommendations Recommendations: And He Built a Crooked House by Robert Heinlein Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements   Films mentioned in the episode: Metropolis (1927) Blade Runner (1982) Minority Report (2002) Chappie (2015) District 9 (2009) Attack the Block (2011) Fifth Element (1997) Just Imagine (1930) Gagarine (2020) Atlantics (2019) Tommorowland (2015) Truman Show (1998) Stepford Wives (1975) Edward Scissorhands (1990) Soylent Green (1973) Don't Look Up (2021) Children of Men (2006) Snowpiercer (2013) Hunger Games (2012) Robocop (1987) Nation Estate (2012) Silent Running (1972) High Rise (2015) Ex Machina (2014)   Books mentioned: Rem Koolhaas (Remment Lucas Koolhaas) is a Dutch Architect and author of the book Delirious New York published in 1978. Ready Player One by Ernest Kline. (Made into a film by Steven Speilberg in 2018) Every Version of You by Grace Chan. Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R Weaver. Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 by Eman Abdelhadi and M. E. O'Brien Mouldiness Manifesto by Friedensreich Hundretwasser   TV Shows mentioned: Westworld Andor   Other links of interest: A page from Mark Bould's website about the city: https://markbould.com/tag/paul-verhoeven/ '5 Minute Modern' YouTube  video about Brutalism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib82VYtjFtY An interesting article about Fritz Lang's depiction of the future city The German Take on Gotham: https://jacobin.com/2025/12/the-german-take-on-gotham   NEXT EPISODE! The next episode will be about Destroy All Monsters which features lots of Kaiju, a Japanese Moonbase, evil aliens who look like beautiful women and groovy 60s outfits. You can rent the film on Apple TV (at least in the UK) but take a look at Just Watch and Rotten Tomatoes to see where the film is showing in your region. DVDs and Blurays of the film are also available for relatively reasonable prices.

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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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Ayesha Khan
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*
  • Show Website
    Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

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