Star Trek (JJ Abrams, 2009)
JJ Abrams stylish reboot of the Star Trek franchise managed to please (most) long-term fans and attract new ones in the process. Jam-packed with action, and featuring a cameo from the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy (above), Tim Robey, writing in the Telegraph, described it as “a grand success”.
Moon (Duncan Jones, 2009)
Duncan Jones assured debut, featuring a man alone on a moon station, brought to mind the sci-fi films of yesteryear. Light on the special effects but heavy on the existential crises, this lo-fi picture managed to bring fresh life to a genre that had grown tired.