As asci-fifan, it can often feel like you’ve seen it all, and it can be difficult to find something decent to watch after you’ve already made your way through all the classics. While there have been plenty of greatunderrated sci-fi moviesin recent years, such asUnder the SkinorAnnihilation, even these feel like they are always being recommended by those in the know. However, there are plenty more lesser-known movies that have flown under the radar for sci-fi fans to seek out.
Some of thebest sci-fi movies evermade didn’t reach a large audience and have been festering in obscurity, just waiting to be reappraised. This includes forgotten classics from bygone eras, cyberpunk stories that predated the success ofThe Matrix, or evenbox office flopsthat just didn’t get a fair shake the first time around. With so many different types of sci-fi movies to enjoy,these lesser-known releases deserve more attention from modern audiences.
While Keanu Reeves will always be associated with the cyberpunk due to his role as Neo inThe Matrix, not everyone will be aware that this was not his first movie in this genre. Four years before the Wachowskis shattered the illusion of reality, Reeves starred inJohnny Mnemonic, a film written by andbased on William Gibson’s short storyof the same name. Set in a futuristic dystopian society, Reeves played a data courier harboring a brain plant containing highly secret and sought-after information.
As a thrilling exploration of technological anxieties during the 1990s,Johnny Mnemonicmay look dated today, but it was still packed with thought-provoking ideas. WhileJohnny Mnemonicwas badly received upon release, it has slowly built up a reputation as a cult classic and was even re-released in 2021 asJohnny Mnemonic: In Black and White, a version that Gibson stated (viaScreen Slate) better represented his original vision. As an early glimpse of Reeves’s future status as a major action star,Johnny Mnemonichelped open the doors forThe Matrix,Constantine, andJohn Wick.
With glam rock icon David Bowie in the starring role as the alien Thomas Jerome Newton,The Man Who Fell to Earthwas an extraterrestrial story like no other. Featuring Bowie as a humanoid alien who travelled to Earth seeking water for his doubt-stricken planet, Newton soon found himself falling for the vices of humanity, which eroded and corrupted his existence. As a film produced while Bowie was in the midst of his own crippling cocaine addiction, his gaunt, otherworldly performance was truly mimicked the struggles of his character.
While much of the imagery fromThe Man Who Fell to Earthhas become iconic due to itsassociation with Bowie’s Thin White Duke musical persona, the film itself remains criminally underseen. This is a real shame because Roeg’s movie powerfully addresses themes of environmental and social decay through an effective use of imagery and surrealism. As an experimental triumph that laid the groundwork for later movies, such asUnder the Skin, sci-fi fans who haven’t seen it should check outThe Man Who Fell to Earth.
The 1970s were full of great sci-fi movies, including classics like Steven Spielberg’sClose Encounters of the Third Kindand George Miller’s franchise starterMad Max, yet it also included highly underrated releases likeSilent Running. With environmentalist themes,Silent Runningwas set in a future where flora had gone extinctand saw Bruce Dern portraying an astronaut ordered to destroy the last of Earth’s plant samples that are being kept on a spaceship’s greenhouse.
As a unique sci-fi journey with melancholic undertones,Silent Runningtapped into contemporary fears of environmental erosion and the need for conservation, preservation, and protection of natural resources. While the overly political nature ofSilent Runningmay be a prime reason it hasn’t endured in the public consciousness the same way other movies from the same era have, its message around environmental issues has only become more relevant as the years have gone on.
Attack the Blockwas a massively underrated sci-fi comedy that starred a young John Boyega, years before he achieved worldwide recognition as Finn inStar Wars: The Force Awakens. With a story following a group of teenagers fighting back against aliens attacking their London neighborhood, this extraordinary directorial debut from Joe Cornish was one of the best British sci-fi movies of the 2010s. WhileAttack the Blockreceived widespread praise from critics, this sadly did not translate into box office success, and the film failed to recoup its $13 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo.)
Attack the Blockmay not have reached a large audience, but its unique sense of humor, impressive visuals, and thoughtful social commentary mean it more than holds up today. With a sense of class consciousness and enjoyable character development,Attack the Blockhas slowly found a committed audience and is quietly building a cult following. ConsideringBoyega’s bright future inStar Warsand Jodie Whittaker’s later leading role inDoctor Who,Attack the Blockwas a true star-making vehicle that failed to gain proper appreciation in its own time.
As a film that combined the Lovecraftian terror ofEvent Horizonwith the claustrophobic intensity ofAlien, it’s a real shame thatPandorumis so often overlooked by sci-fi fans. This dark sci-fi follows two astronauts waking up on an abandoned ship with seemingly no memory of how they got there, only to discover something horrific lurking in the shadows. As a deeply psychological tale of survival in the face of unspeakable terror, whilePandorumwasn’t the most original movie, its paranoid atmosphere and psychological tension made it totally compelling.
Despite the way thatPandorumrecalled some of the great space-set sci-fi movies of all time, it flopped at the box office and was criticized by media publications for being overly derivative. Yet, to dismiss this movie entirely would be a mistake, as its themes of isolation, survival, and the dangers of deep-space travel made it one of the most enjoyable monster movies in years.
Predestinationwas a mind-bending sci-fi release from the Spierig Brothers that made viewers question the very nature of selfhood. As a truly strange time travel saga,Predestinationstars Ethan Hawke and futureSuccessionstar Sarah Snook in a story with so many twists and turns it’s at times in danger of being overwhelmed by its own narrative. With Hawke as the mysterious Agent Doe, it’s fascinating to watch how the connection between him and Snook’s character slowly reveals itself.
Through complex themes of confused identity, the lines between Hawke and Snook’s characters begin to blur throughoutPredestination’sruntime as it builds toward its thrilling twist. With an unexpected reveal that recontextualizes the entire film,Predestinationwas a clever and ambitious sci-fi moviethat played with the form itself. As one of Hawke’s most underrated movies, those who like their sci-fi a little different will certainly enjoyPredestination.
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The simple concept ofAnother Earthwas also deeply thought-provoking as it posed the question of what if another version of our planet appeared in the sky, and if that alternate world contained another version of you. This low-budget indie sci-fi powerfully addresses this question throughthe story of Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) and the guilt she carries. Reeling from a drunk-driving accident that put a man in a coma and killed his pregnant wife, the news of Earth 2 offers her an opportunity for redemption.
WhileAnother Earthdidn’t contain any of the big-budget spectacle of other sci-fi movies, its rich philosophical exploration of trauma, guilt, and regret made it a fascinating character study. With a focus on emotional depth and the internal reaction of a potential identical planet in the sky, Marling delivered a compelling performance that encouraged viewers to reflect on their own lives. With a script co-written by Marling, this actress and writer would later expand on these themes in her Netflix seriesThe OA.
With a fascinating setting, well-developed characters, and an intriguing sci-fi setup, it’s shocking just how much audiences have slept onProspect. Featuring Pedro Pascal in a starring role, this story of betrayal and survival featured a father (Jay Duplass) and teenage daughter named Cee (Sophie Thatcher) landing on a poisonous forest moon to mine for valuable gems. However, encounters with mercenaries and rival prospectors lead to betrayals, alliances, and conflict.
Prospectfeatured an impressive amount of world-building and was an exciting debut from writers and directors Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell. WhileProspectboasted a talented cast, it was Thatcher as Cee who truly stood out in this story of a teenage girl trying to survive a truly treacherous situation. With breathtaking visuals and a smaller-scale story than the average space-set sci-fi movie,Prospectdeserves a far larger audience than it ever reached.
The cult sci-fi moviePrimerdepicted time travel in a way never previously seen and embraced its philosophical complexities and daunting realities from a scientific position. From writer, director, and star Shane Carruth, to describePrimeras merely confusing would do it a disservice, as its experimental style and technical dialogue meant it made for challenging viewing. However, Carruth truly had a singular vision and did not dumb his movie down to appease the average viewer.
Telling the story of four friends fighting over the device they invented,Primerwas a smart movie that also included hilarious dialoguelike “Are you hungry? I haven’t eaten since later this afternoon.” While repeated viewings may be necessary to fully take in the complexities ofPrimer, this sci-fi triumph managed to build a cult following despite being made on a shoestring budget of just $7,000.
Moonwas an extraordinarydirectorial debut from Duncan Jonesthat explored a man’s personal crisis on a three-year solitary space mission. With an astounding performance from Sam Rockwell, this tour-de-force performance was one of the actor’s most intense and compelling roles to date. As a thoughtful and moving movie,Moonused its sci-fi concept to explore the very nature of self, as isolation, loneliness, and a lack of human connection lead to deep torment within its enclosed spaceship setting.
Classicsci-fithemes of doubling, identity, and the human psyche run throughMoon, as it is as much about Sam Bell’s (Rockwell) personal need for connection as his quest for an alternate fuel source on the Moon.Moonwas also widely praised by the scientific community for its exceptional presentation of cognitive science and ranked highly in the Cognitive Science Movie Index list of best brain science movies (viaLive Science.) WhileMoonhas been rightfully lauded by critics, it deserves far more attention from general viewers.
