Sci-Fi Hotel Films: A Journey Through Time and Space

Description: This film features a futuristic theme park where guests can live out their fantasies in a Wild West setting. The park's hotel serves as a hub for the guests, and the malfunctioning androids within create a sci-fi horror scenario.

Fact: The film was one of the first to use digital image processing to create the effect of the androids' point of view. Also, it inspired the HBO series of the same name.

Description: Although more horror than sci-fi, the Overlook Hotel's eerie presence and its supernatural occurrences make it a fitting addition. The hotel's isolation and the psychological horror it induces on its guests are central to the film's chilling narrative.

Fact: The film was shot at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, but the interior scenes were filmed at Elstree Studios in England. Also, Stanley Kubrick famously had the set of the Overlook Hotel's maze constructed to confuse the actors.

Description: This neo-noir sci-fi film features a city that changes at night, controlled by mysterious beings. The hotel where the protagonist stays becomes a key location in his quest to uncover the truth about his identity and the city.

Fact: The film's director, Alex Proyas, was influenced by German Expressionism, which is evident in the film's visual style. Also, the city was entirely constructed on a soundstage.

Description: While the film's main setting is a futuristic New York, the hotel scenes where the characters meet and plan are integral to the plot. The hotel's futuristic design and the interactions within it add to the film's sci-fi charm.

Fact: The film was one of the most expensive European films ever made at the time of its release. Also, the character of Leeloo was originally conceived as a male role.

Description: While not centered around a hotel, the concept of virtual reality and the "hotel" of the Matrix itself, where characters can plug in and out of reality, fits our theme. The hotel-like construct of the Matrix offers a unique perspective on what a hotel can be in a sci-fi context.

Fact: The film's "bullet time" effect was groundbreaking and required the use of hundreds of still cameras to capture the action from multiple angles simultaneously.

Description: The film features a mysterious group that controls human destiny, and their headquarters, which resembles a grand hotel, plays a pivotal role in the story. The setting blurs the lines between reality and a controlled environment.

Fact: The film's concept was inspired by Philip K. Dick's short story "Adjustment Team." The Bureau's headquarters was filmed in the New York Public Library.

Description: While not strictly sci-fi, this film's surreal, whimsical setting and the story of a legendary concierge and his lobby boy at a famous European hotel make it a unique entry in our list. The hotel itself becomes a character, with its own mysteries and secrets.

Fact: The film's pastel color palette was inspired by the work of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Also, the hotel's design was based on real-life hotels like the Hotel Gellért in Budapest.

Description: This film explores themes of existentialism and virtual reality, with the protagonist working from a dilapidated church converted into a hotel-like space. The setting reflects his isolation and the surreal nature of his work.

Fact: The film was directed by Terry Gilliam, known for his unique visual style. The church setting was inspired by Gilliam's own experiences with isolation and the search for meaning.

Description: Set in a near-future Los Angeles, this film revolves around a secret hospital for criminals, disguised as a hotel. The futuristic setting and the hotel's high-tech security systems make it a sci-fi gem.

Fact: The film's director, Drew Pearce, also wrote the screenplay for "Iron Man

Description: Based on Stephen King's novella, this film involves a group of passengers who wake up to find themselves in an eerily empty airport hotel after their plane passes through a strange phenomenon. The hotel becomes a setting for their survival and exploration of the time-traveling mystery.

Fact: The film was part of the ABC miniseries "Stephen King's The Langoliers." It was one of the first major adaptations of King's work to be filmed in Canada.