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Last Updated: Monday, 2 April 2007, 13:44 GMT 14:44 UK
Serenity named top sci-fi movie
Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres and Nathan Fillion in Serenity
Serenity starred Nathan Fillion (r) as former sergeant Malcolm Reynolds
Space thriller Serenity has beaten Star Wars to the title of best sci-fi movie in an SFX magazine poll of 3,000 fans.

The futuristic release from 2005 was based on the short-lived TV series Firefly. Both were the work of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon.

Star Wars - which Whedon has conceded had "an enormous influence" on Serenity - came second in the survey.

Blade Runner was third, followed by Planet of the Apes, The Matrix, Alien and Forbidden Planet.

Serenity is about the crew of a space ship of the same name, and at the time of its release, Whedon declared it was a way of showcasing the "gritty" side of the genre.

TOP SCI-FI MOVIES
Peter Mayhew, Mark Hamill, Alec Guinness and Harrison Ford in Star Wars
1. Serenity
2. Star Wars (pictured)
3. Blade Runner
4. Planet of the Apes
5. The Matrix
6. Alien
7. Forbidden Planet
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey
9. The Terminator
10. Back to the Future
Source: SFX magazine
"There's something in science fiction, which I love very much, that I've missed of late - which is a sort of grittiness, the reality of what it must be like to be up in a small community or a small ship," Whedon told the BBC in 2005.

"I had a perfectly disparate set of elements.

"I had people who were actual size in a story that was larger than life, and I think when you put those two elements together you get the most exciting kind of film-making."

SFX editor Dave Bradley said it was a "massive surprise" to see Serenity beating Star Wars.

"The TV show may have been cancelled, yet the Serenity universe clearly struck a chord with fans, thanks to its likeable characters, witty dialogue and amazing special effects."


VOTE RESULTS
Which is the best sci-fi film?
Serenity
 16.95% 
Star Wars
 21.70% 
Blade Runner
 20.42% 
Planet of the Apes
 19.78% 
The Matrix
 21.15% 
116704 Votes Cast
Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion

SEE ALSO
Wonder Woman film director quits
05 Feb 07 |  Entertainment
Sci-fi beats Pride in film chart
11 Oct 05 |  Entertainment
Whedon seeks return of 'gritty' sci-fi
07 Oct 05 |  Entertainment
Buffy's final slaying
21 May 03 |  Entertainment

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