A second criteria for a science fiction film is a certain amount of believability. Believability should be included in the development of the characters, the story, and in the visual aspects. Even if the characters are not human, they should pocess human characteristics in order to make them endearing to the viewers. Star Wars again exemplifies this point. Two of the most enjoyable and human like characters were the androids, R2D2 and C3PO. They didn't even look like humans let alone sound like them, yet the viewer could still understand and relate to what they were feeling because they were believable emotions. The Replicants also pocessed human qualities. It was obvious that Roy felt strong emotions, perhaps even love for his fellow replicants. After Deckard killed Pris, Roy leaned over her and kissed her showing that he may have loved her. He also showed these feelings for Pris and Zhora in this clip of him breaking two of Deckerd's fingers, one for Pris and one for Zhora. Although this act seemed quite inhuman, the motivation behind it seemed quite believable. He also showed many human emotions during his soliloquy as he talked of the horrors he had endured.It was obviously very difficult for him to take these nightmares and they effected him much in the same way it would have effected any human. He also exhibited human qualities when he saved Decker from falling off of the building. He couldn't see another person die.

It helps that in a science fiction film the plot is not so incredible that it is impossible to believe. It helps if the plot could relate to something in today's society of even in the past. The basic plot of Blade Runner was good versus evil. There was nothing entirely out of the realm of believability. Also, they manage to place the story so far into the future that with a little imagination, it could happen. Technology in today's society is advancing at a very rapid pace.

One other reason why the story was believable, was because visually the film was reallistic. The film incorporated many images that could have come from today or the past along with futuristic concepts. Decker's apartment, for example, included a normal looking piano that could have been built in the 20th century. The cloths and the hair that Rachel wore looked as though she came out of the forties.

Even the futuristic ideas still resembled items of the past and present. The design of the Tyrell Corporation building was extremely futuristic. The Tyrell building does not emulate a typical New York City Sky scraper in any way, yet it vaguely resembled a building. The transportation vehicles incorporated both new and old features. They resemble cars and yet, they fly without any steering mechanism. This mixture of both old and new visual concepts helped to give Blade Runner a sense of believability. This visual concept also ties in the third criteria for a science fiction movie, well developed visual effects.