A silent black-and-white film with a running time of 10 minutes at 24 frames per second portrayed the moon with a man's face and a rocket landed in its right eye. This was Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first science fiction (sci-fi) movie released in 1902. Since then, sci-fi movies have evolved exponentially over the century. Not to mention the running time lengthening to over a hundred minutes (sometimes to the point of uncomfortable bathroom issues), mouth-opening computer generated images and ingenious plots have succeeded in alluring the general public. With numerous sci-fi blockbusters coming to theaters every year, they have become an irreplaceable genre in the movie industry. And although this year is already three-fourths gone, one sci-fi film seems to possess some amazing potential, and many others coming out next year are expected to be landmarks in the sci-fi genre.

One sci-fi film yet to be released this year that stands out among others is Interstellar. Directed by Christopher Nolan, acclaimed by critics and the public alike for his movies Inception and the Batman series, the film features a star ensemble cast; award-winning actors such as Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Michael Caine star in this film. Interstellar's plot is intriguing as well, as it is a story of finding new hope, a new home for the ill-fated dwellers of Earth. Humanity's shortsighted decisions in the past hundred years have led to the collapse of the planet's ecosystem, leading to a shortage of food all over the world. However, scientists discover a wormhole that connects us to a completely different part of space, one that could hold humanity's second home. Thus, an exploration team is assembled, a mixture of explorers and scientists to find the second Earth. As part of the team, as heartbreaking it is for McConaughey's character, he must leave his family on Earth to create a future for millions more. With what this crew and cast are capable of, combined with the sheer potential of Interstellar's plot, makes this upcoming sci-fi film definitely something to look out for this November.

While the remaining year of 2014 may have little else to offer other than Interstellar for the sci-fi genre, 2015 promises to not fall short on this year's previous sci-fi hits such as The Edge of Tomorrow or Guardians of the Galaxy. Take Avengers: Age of Ultron for example. The Avengers release in 2012 was phenomenal worldwide, and its sequel promises to do no less, if more. The Avengers return as expected, with a new villain and it's (the villain's an AI) heinous plan to destroy the world. If you recall, there was an Avengers hype in Korea back in April because they cast Kim Soo-hyun for a minor role and the filming crew actually shot a few scenes in various locations around Seoul. Be sure to look out for familiar places if you get a chance to watch this Hollywood blockbuster scheduled for release next May.

Another sci-fi movie to look out for next year is Jupiter Ascending. Directed by the science fiction virtuosos, the Wachowskis, this film is the answer to the question, "What would happen if you crossover The Matrix with Star Wars?" Focusing on the film's universe that humanity is only one of the many seeds planted by a higher order of aliens, from the previews it seems to be packed with action with Channing Tatum taking the male lead. While it was supposed to be released in July of 2014, it was pushed back to next Feburary to polish and finalize the considerable amount of special effects in the film. While it's a shame we weren't able to see it this year, let's hope the delay of the release will make the movie even more splendid.

At last but certainly not the least, Star Wars fans were thrilled to hear the announcement from Lucasfilm that it had decided to shoot Star Wars Episode VII. Almost 40 years after the first Star Wars film came out, the 7th installment of the epic space opera series will focus on the events some 30 years after the ending of the original trilogy, the Return of the Jedi. While the film will introduce new characters to the Star Wars franchise, glad-to-see old faces will show up as supporting characters such as Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and of course, Chewbacca, all played by their original actors. If you are a Star Wars fan, this is the one thing you cannot miss out on in late 2015.

So, whether you enjoy indulging in action scenes or want to set out on a journey that is limited only by your own imagination, look no further than to your nearest cinema. While you will have to wait a few weeks (or months), once you've seen it on the big screen, it'll have been definitely worth the wait.