Terminator 2 was cool.

To answer John Scalzi (also via Instapundit), Terminator 2 was exceptionally cool by both the SF contingent’s, and mainstream society’s, standards.  Particularly since it was widely expected to crash, burn, explode, and possibly irradiate the landscape.  In 1991, ‘hundred-million dollar budget’ was a synonym  for ‘train wreck in progress.’

I’d also say The Lord of the Rings, except that it probably doesn’t count because it’s fantasy, not science fiction.

Moe Lane