Top 10 Sci-Fi Films Set in Universities

Description: A group of high school students suspect their teachers are aliens, leading to a battle for control of their school. While not set in a university, it captures the essence of academic settings and sci-fi intrigue.

Fact: The film features a young cast that would later become well-known, including Josh Hartnett and Elijah Wood.

Description: John Sullivan, a New York City police officer, discovers he can communicate with his deceased father through a ham radio, altering the past from his university dorm room. This film intertwines time travel with the emotional bond between father and son.

Fact: The film's plot was inspired by the real-life phenomenon of radio waves traveling through time. The movie was shot in Toronto, standing in for New York City.

Description: Gabriel Yulaw, a former Multiverse Authority agent, travels through parallel universes to kill his alternate selves, gaining their energy. The film's university setting provides a backdrop for discussions on quantum physics.

Fact: Jet Li plays multiple versions of himself in this film, showcasing his martial arts prowess. The concept of the multiverse was quite novel at the time.

Description: Alexander Hartdegen, a professor at Columbia University, invents a time machine to change the past, leading him on a journey through time. The university setting is crucial as it's where his scientific curiosity is born.

Fact: This is a remake of the 1960 film, which was based on H.G. Wells' novel. The film's time travel sequences were inspired by the original book's illustrations.

Description: This film follows Evan Treborn, a young man who discovers he can travel back in time to his childhood, altering events to change the present. The university setting provides a backdrop for his psychological journey, exploring the consequences of changing the past.

Fact: The film's title refers to the chaos theory concept where small changes can have large effects. The original ending was much darker than the theatrical release.

Description: Aaron and Abe, two engineers, accidentally invent a time machine in their garage, leading to complex time-travel scenarios. The film's intellectual rigor and university-like discussions on physics make it a unique entry.

Fact: The film was made on a budget of just $7,

Description: While not strictly sci-fi, this film explores the concept of time through the lens of history, as a group of students prepare for university entrance exams. Their discussions on time, memory, and the past give it a speculative edge.

Fact: The film is based on a play by Alan Bennett, who also wrote the screenplay. It was nominated for several BAFTA awards.

Description: Professor John Oldman reveals to his colleagues that he is a 14,000-year-old caveman, sparking a philosophical debate in a university setting. This film delves into immortality and the human condition.

Fact: The entire film takes place in one room, with the dialogue driving the narrative. It was shot in just a few days.

Description: An alien arrives on Earth with a warning, and his interactions with a university professor and her stepson form the crux of the narrative, exploring themes of humanity and survival.

Fact: This is a remake of the 1951 classic. The film's title refers to the alien's demonstration of his power by stopping all electricity on Earth.

Description: David Norris, a politician, discovers that his life is being controlled by a mysterious group known as The Adjustment Bureau, set against the backdrop of his university days and political career.

Fact: The film is loosely based on a Philip K. Dick short story. The Bureau's headquarters was filmed in the New York Public Library.