Sci-Fi Starter Pack: Star Wars, Blade Runner, The Matrix, Mad Max & More

Sci-Fi Starter Pack: Star Wars, Blade Runner, The Matrix, Mad Max & More

Author: James Payne July 30, 2026 Duration: 26:31

New to Journey Through Sci-Fi? Start here.

Before we launch our next full series on friendly aliens, we're taking a journey back through the archive with a special starter pack episode, featuring some of our favourite clips from past series.

Across this episode, we revisit some of the biggest ideas in sci-fi cinema: the mythic storytelling of the original Star Wars trilogy, the artificial intelligence and uneasy humanity of Blade Runner, the time-loop perfection of Groundhog Day, the simulated reality of The Matrix, the collapsing world of Mad Max, and the haunted-house-in-space horror of Event Horizon.

Featuring discussions of:

  • Star Wars Original Trilogy
  • Blade Runner
  • Metropolis
  • Groundhog Day
  • The Matrix Trilogy
  • Mad Max
  • Event Horizon

Whether you're a longtime listener revisiting old favourites or a new listener looking for the best place to begin, this episode is a guided tour through the many worlds, subgenres and strange obsessions of Journey Through Sci-Fi.

Our new series, We Come in Peace, exploring the history of friendly aliens on screen, begins soon. Follow Journey Through Sci-Fi now so you don't miss it.


Ever wondered how a silent film from a century ago connects to the spectacle you saw at the multiplex last weekend? That’s the kind of thread Journey Through Sci-Fi: A Science Fiction Film Podcast follows, tracing the entire arc of the genre from its flickering beginnings to its CGI-drenched present. Hosts Matt and James act as your guides, not just reviewing movies but unpacking the ideas that fueled them. They’re interested in how a particular film’s design changed movie-making, or how a story from the 1950s reflected the anxieties of its time, creating a conversation across decades. You’ll hear detailed discussions that place each film within a larger historical tapestry, making connections you might have missed. This isn't a random list of reviews; it's a curated, chronological expedition. By focusing on one film per episode, the podcast allows for a deep dive into the context, the production challenges, and the lasting cultural footprint of each title. Whether it's the pioneering special effects of a classic or the philosophical questions posed by a modern epic, Matt and James explore how science fiction cinema holds a mirror to our own world. Tune in for a thoughtful analysis that appreciates both the artistic ambition and the pure entertainment value of the genre, discovering how every spaceship, robot, and alien visitor tells us something about ourselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Journey Through Sci-Fi: Science Fiction Film History
Podcast Episodes
The Fly (1957) & The Fly (1986): When Science Turns to Horror [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:19
This week, we're discussing The Fly—both the 1958 and 1986 versions—to talk about teleportation experiments gone very, very wrong. From the old-school murder mystery of the original to Cronenberg's stomach-churning body…
Dune: Prophecy, Star Trek: Section 31, Captain America & More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:55
We're back with our sci-fi check-in! This month, we dive into Dune: Prophecy, Kraven, and Wallace & Gromit's latest adventure (yes, really). We also break down new releases, including Star Trek: Section 31, Companion, an…
Severance Season 1 Recap: Theories, Spoilers & Unpacked Secrets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:38
Get ready to step back into the office… if you dare! With Severance season 2 just around the corner, we're releasing our deep dive into the mind-bending first series! While we enjoy our festive break (before reality and…
Dr. Cyclops (1940) & Downsizing (2017): Tiny Terrors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:12
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we're tackling the science of shrinking with two unique takes on mad experiments. First, the technicolor terror of Dr. Cyclops (1940), where a power-mad scientist shrinks his colleagu…