'Blade Runner' tops sci-fi film poll

Cult hit 'Blade Runner' has been named the greatest sci-fi film of all time by movie buffs – beating the ever-popular 'Star Wars'.

Ridley Scott’s futuristic tale, starring Harrison Ford as android hunter Rick Deckard, triumphed in a poll for Total Film magazine.

The film, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, initially struggled at the box office but went on to be viewed as a classic.

'Star Wars' finished fifth in the list, while the second film to be made in the series – 'The Empire Strikes Back' – was the most popular in George Lucas’s saga, ranked second in the poll.

Stanley Kubrick’s '2001: A Space Odyssey' was third, while director Scott had another entry in the top 10 with his chilling 'Alien' placed fourth. The sequel 'Aliens' – made by James Cameron – was seventh.

Just one film from the 21st century – 'Inception' – made the top 10, half of which was made up of movies from the 1980s.

'Avatar' – the most successful film of all time at the box office – missed out on the top 10, and was placed 11th.

Jamie Graham, deputy editor of Total Film, said: “Once seen and heard, so many scenes from Blade Runner burn into your brain forever. It’s sci-fi at its bleakest and most brilliant.”

The top 50 science fiction films are listed in the new edition of the magazine which is out tomorrow. The top 10 are as follows:

1. 'Blade Runner' (1982)

2. 'Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back' (1980)

3. '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)

4. 'Alien' (1979)

5. 'Star Wars' (1977)

6. 'ET: The Extra Terrestrial' (1982)

7. 'Aliens' (1986)

8. 'Inception' (2010)

9. 'The Matrix' (1999)

10. 'The Terminator' (1984)