Science fiction is such a broad idea that an almost infinite expanse of content and ideas could fit within its ill-defined boundaries. Genres exist to give potential viewers a hint at what they might be in for with a work of fiction, so dividing up such a huge idea into smaller concepts is key, even if the lines are blurry.
From a cursory glance, science fiction and fantasy would be the two perfect polarized opposite ends of genre fiction. The former is concerned with grounded speculation on the possible future of mankind or the potential wonder of space. The latter is based entirely on imagination, often with no justification necessary. Combining the two, however, creates something else entirely.
10 Awesome Sci-Fi Movies That Are More Fantasy Than Science
Science fiction is often bound by the rules of science as we understand it, while fantasy exists opposed to them. Science fantasy is the combination of sci-fi and fantasy that lands slightly outside the bounds of either. Pinning down a strict definition for the term is pointless, but there are tons of science fantasy works that have become extremely popular. In a science fantasy work, things may appear to be supernatural or magical, but the work will always offer an in-universe scientific explanation to ground its details. A science fantasy work might feature the same kind of impossible magical powers, fantastical creatures, or enchanted items, but they'll be explained away. Typically, they're explained by advanced technology, inexplicable aliens, and scientific techno-babble respectively.
Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek is often considered one of the seminal works of science fantasy, but even that is debated. Elements of the franchise's technology are completely based on
Read more on gamerant.com