This Collider article by William Smith, published in July 2026, presents a ranked list of what it considers the ten greatest science-fiction thrillers of the 20th century. The piece is notable for its deliberately strict definition of the genre: the author excludes films widely regarded as classics — such as The Thing and Alien (both classed as sci-fi horror) and Aliens (sci-fi action) — arguing that their horror or action elements overshadow any thriller qualities. This narrowing is intended to make room for less obvious choices and cult classics, while still featuring well-known directors including James Cameron and John Carpenter.

The article details the entries as individual write-ups, of which the opening four are fully visible: Seconds (1966), John Frankenheimer's paranoid identity drama starring Rock Hudson; Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), an artificial-intelligence cautionary tale the author calls "scarily prescient"; Outland (1981), Peter Hyams's space Western starring Sean Connery as a marshal on a Jupiter moon; and Blade Runner (1982), Ridley Scott's film with Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer. Each entry combines plot summary, production context and critical reception, with the author noting, for instance, that Seconds bombed on release before earning a cult following, and that Colossus has largely vanished from streaming services.