Serenity has outstripped Star Wars as the best sci-fi movie of all time in a poll of 3,000 fans by SFX magazine.

The 2005 movie spin-off of acclaimed but cancelled series Firefly picked up 61 per cent of the vote, relegating George Lucas's magnum opus to second place (with 28 per cent of votes). Blade Runner picked up third place in the poll.

Joss Whedon, the mastermind behind Serenity, Firefly, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, conceded that Star Wars had an "enormous influence" on Serenity, the BBC reports.

SFX editor Dave Bradley expressed surprise that Serenity bettered Star Wars in the poll, but acknowledged the elements of the film that made it so enjoyable to fans. "The TV show may have been cancelled, yet the Serenity universe clearly struck a chord with fans, thanks to its likable characters, witty dialogue and amazing special effects," he said.

Top sci-fi movies, according to SFX readers

1. Serenity
2. Star Wars
3. Blade Runner
4. Planet of the Apes
5. The Matrix
6. Alien
7. Forbidden Planet
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey
9. The Terminator
10. Back to the Future

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