Illustration by Lee Kuruganti © 2006
Top Ten Bikinis in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Films
By Brianna Kelly
Ah summer, time to take off those heavy spacesuits or throw away the bearskin cloaks and show some skin.
The top ten bikinis in Science Fiction and Fantasy films were chosen from over a hundred movies as compiled by the IMD movie database.
The bikini dates back to ancient Greek times, depicted on wall paintings and urns. Bikinis also have a popular history as optional clothing for women in Science Fiction and Fantasy films.
This list defines the definitive bikini as a scanty two-piece suit featuring top and skimpy bottoms.
There are three main types of bikini: leather, chain mail, and futuristic fabrics. The top ten represent the best and most creative bikinis from prehistoric times to the future, (but not necessarily the best films.) Wraps permitted, but one pieces excluded. As you might suspect, Sword and Sorcery films dominate the list, but will they be number one?
10. Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1993)
This gad-awful made-for-TV movie stars Daryl Hannah as Nancy Archer, a married woman who catches her husband cheating. She runs away and has an encounter with aliens that mutate her into a 50 ft. woman bent on revenge. The original 1958 movie features Mrs. Archer in queen-sized white bed sheets. This version has Daryl in what looks like gold lame sheets from a cheap motel. This film wins the prize for biggest bikini!
9. Red Sonja (1985)
Brigitte Nielsen plays Red Sonja, the Warrior- ess that practices abstinence. She must never give of herself to a man (right!) Technically, Red Sonja wears a modified bikini called a tankini —a tank top and bikini hybrid—made of red snakeskin, leather, and chain mail.
8. Barbarella (1968)
Jane Fonda is super space nymph Barbarella from the year 40,000. Her mission is to save the world from the evil scientist, Duran-Duran . Unfortunately, in the future, clothes are not very sturdy. Barbarella's outfits are constantly coming apart at the seams. Her best costume features a chain mail bikini top with white cloth that falls off with a sneeze. Ah- choo!
7. Conan the Barbarian (1982)
What kind of woman loves a barbarian? The answer is the brave Valeria, as played by Sandahl Bergman in the famous Conan movie. She wears an x-top, wrap-around warrior- ess, patent brown leather bikini. Nearly all the women in “Conan” wear clothing, inspired by the artwork of famous fantasy artist Frank Frazetta.
6. The Mummy Returns (2001)
What's better than two barely-clad babes in a cat fight? Number six, is a tie between Rachel Weisz (right) and Patricia Velasquez (left) as they fight Egyptian-style in their past lives as Princess Nefertiti and Anck Su Namun . Their string bikinis feature embellishments of gold and precious jewels. Around their hips are sheer wraps made of gold cloth and dyed linen. It is amazing how their bikinis stay on during the fight (talk about gravity defying!)
5. The Scorpion King (2002)
Kelly Hu is the beguiling Sorceress Cassandra, a pawn in evil King Memnon's plan to take over the world. Only The Rock, I mean Mathayus can stop her…Oh, never mind the plot, jut watch Kelly. Her bikini is pure gold chain mail with a matching see-thru crepe wrap.
4. Sheena (1984)
Sheena, played by former Bond girl Tanya Roberts , is delicious as the scantily clad jungle girl who talks to animals. Her bikini is handcrafted from simple rawhide leather (and we hope not from the hide of one of her animal friends.)
3. Conan the Destroyer (1984)
Grace Jones as Zula, helps Conan ( Arnold Schwarzenegger ) rescue a princess. They don't come any tougher than Zula. She's a wild woman fighter. She wears a complex black leather bikini that barely covers her gorgeous muscular frame.
2. One Million Years B.C. (1966)
What a body! Raquel Welch is the ultimate prehistoric playmate as Loanna the cave girl who stands by her man. Loanna's luscious fur bikini is made of form-fitting soft saber-tooth rabbit pelts. *(Little known fact: The cave girl invented the razor.)
1. Star Wars, Episode VI : Return of the Jedi.
(1983)
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia is captured by the loathsome, Jabba the Hut. The slobby outlaw makes her his slave girl. (No worries, she is rescued by the good guys.) Red silk and gold define her metallic bikini. The Princess Leia bikini is so famous that it even has its own website: Leia's Metal Bikini
And there you have it, the very best bikinis from Sci-fi and Fantasy films.