- Experimental – this is when early films helped to formalize convention, for example, Metropolis (1927) which set up the ideas of other planets and robots and futuristic technology that had the ability to do this we could hardly imagine.
- Classic – this is when the phase of films which established the narrative conventions of the genre in it’s most successful and defining period, for example Star Wars (1977) which continues the ideas of other planets, robots and futuristic technologies, though this time these conventions are used to greater effect and propels these ideas further forward
- Parody – these are films that have mimicked the genre in some comical way, for example Spaceballs (1987) which takes the ideas from Star Wars and takes an ironic stance on many of the technologies and typical characters in sci-fi movies.
- Deconstruction – this is the phase where films which have taken generic elements from the genre and amalgamated / merged them into sub genres, for example Donnie Darko (2001) which merged the the idea of philosophical arguments of time travel and alternate realities which is represented in the nonlinear structure of the film and the actual plot of the film and the genre of psychological thrillers.