Which Fictional Weapons Would You Add To You Imaginary Arsenal?
From ray guns with a cyberpunk aesthetic to the always-coveted lightsaber, science fiction has always been the perfect outlet for screenplay writers and designers to let their inner child play. Sure, these films act as thoughtful societal criticisms, warnings about the future, and big philosophical questions, but it's the cool tech, special effects, and amazing world-building that keep us coming back. Some of the most memorable and imaginative weapons ever conceived come from sci-fi. They define worlds, direct the plotline, and inspire fans. Here are 20 of the coolest and most terrifying sci-fi movie weapons.
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1. Lightsaber
You can't talk about sci-fi movie weapons without bringing up the most quintessential one: the lightsaber from the Star Wars franchise. It may not be as powerful as some of the intricate gadgets and powerful mega-bombs from other sci-fi universes, but it's a sword made of superheated plasma. How cool is that?
2. Genesis Device
The Genesis device from Star Trek wasn't created as a weapon. It rearranges matter on the molecular level, breathing new life into dead celestial bodies. However, it also has a terribly destructive capability if activated in an area where life already exists.
3. Proton Pack
Proton packs from Ghostbusters is an unlicensed nuclear accelerator according to the government in the movie. A signature piece of ghost-catching equipment and an integral part of the ensemble with its large backpack design, it creates a beam of positively charged energy that is used to create lassos to trap ghosts.
4. The Noisy Cricket
Men In Black is full of funny and outrageous weapons and plot devices, and the noisy cricket is no exception. It's the weapon Agent J is first supplied with when he joins the MIB organization. It's tiny and unassuming, but immensely powerful, its unexpectedness making for the perfect running joke throughout the film.
5. Identity Disk
The identity disk from Tron has the primary function of storing data, but it can also be used as a powerful weapon and shield. When thrown, it can dissolve anything it bounces off of into a million little pixels. An integral part of life in the Grid, programs wear them on their backs or sometimes on their chests where they're integrated into their suits but can be detached at any time.
6. The Alpha-Omega Bomb
The alpha-omega bomb was introduced in the 1973 iteration of Star Trek. It's an incredibly powerful weapon of mass destruction, its detonation implying the complete destruction of an entire planetary system.
7. Head Bomb
The Head Bomb is a terrifying explosive that's affixed to someone's head like a collar in Total Recall. If the wearer tries to remove it or fails to meet the conditions set up for them, it will explode. It's a particularly cruel and terrifying weapon of control.
8. The Auto 9
The Auto 9 is RoboCop's custom-built handgun in the 1987 action film. It's a modified Beretta M93R with a more futuristic design and longer, blockier barrel which RoboCop conceals in his thigh holster. It's not explicitly explained in the movie what's so different about this gun, but it sure does look cool and completes that dystopian, futuristic aesthetic.
9. Deckard's Gun
Deckard, the main character of Blade Runner, has a special "blaster" gun that has a distinct chunky and industrial-looking design. It fires powerful energy blasts that are capable of "retiring" replicants and it's an extremely iconic part of the movie's futuristic cyberpunk aesthetic.
10. M41A Pulse Rifle
The M41A pulse rifle is easily one of the most iconic classic sci-fi movie weapons. The bulky, rugged, matte black weapon was created for the 1986 movie Aliens out of components from real firearms. It has a very recognizable pulse sound when it fires and is one of the primary weapons used throughout the film by the colonial marines as they fight for their lives on LV-426.
11. Phaser
The phaser is an iconic weapon used by Starfleet and other advanced civilizations in the Star Trek universe. It fires a beam of nadion particles which are fictional subatomic particles that can stun, cut, vaporize, or explode targets. The design of the phasor has evolved over time, but they generally look sleek and futuristic.
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12. L.O.O.K.E.R. Gun
The Light Ocular Oriented Kinetic Emotive Responses (L.O.O.K.E.R. gun) was created for the 1981 movie Looker and was the most memorable part of the movie. It doesn't fire bullets, but hypnotic pulses of light that stupify opponents.
13. Monomolecular Wire
Monomolecular wire is a recurring concept in sci-fi, not unique to one film, but the coolest example of it can be seen in Johnny Mnemonic where it's used as a garrote. It's a razor-sharp, impossibly thin wire that can be used lethally in traps, swords, and whips.
14. Smartgun
The smartgun is another powerful weapon used by the colonial marines in Aliens. It fires large ammunition at a fast rate and has a large, prominent barrel, a deep firing sound, and a defining "smart" feature that guides the gun's aim with motion sensors.
15. Plasma Caster
The plasma caster or shoulder cannon is the long-range weapon of the predators in the Predator films. A super dangerous weapon that fires bolts of superheat plasma using a sophisticated targeting system.
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16. ZF-1
The ZF-1 is a hilarious example of over-engineering in The Fifth Element. The ridiculously versatile firearm features a titanium recharger, flamethrower, ice thrower, net launcher, arrow launcher, rocket launcher, and self-destruct button, among other things. Like most things built to do too many things, it's not very user-friendly and it often humorously malfunctions.
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17. Heat Ray
The heat ray is the central weapon in the 1953 version of The War of the Worlds. It's the terrifying, mysterious, pulsating read beam emitting from the aliens' war machines causing havoc, destruction, and a whole lot of anxiety.
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18. Magnet Gun
The magnet gun is the bulky, futuristic pistol used by the main character, Joe, in the film Looper. It fires specialized ammunition that's designed to be magnetically accelerated and completely soundless, making it perfect for stealthy operations.
19. Seismic Charge
The seismic charge in Star Wars: Episode II is a powerful explosive designed to clear large areas like asteroid fields or enemy ships, creating a massive, blue, seismic wave. It gives off one of the weirdest and most iconic sound effects out of any movie gadget which certainly helps make it memorable.
20. Mini Nuke
The mini nuke is exactly what it sounds like: small, handheld explosives that pack enough power to burn a hole in the earth. These were used in Starship Troopers against swarms of relentless, plasma-firing alien bugs.
