Summary
Sci-fiis an inherently innovative and creative genre that ignites the imaginations of its viewers. However, not every sci-fi movie is created equal, as some push boundaries in ways the audience would never expect.These films break new ground on the viewer’s expectation of formulaand the rules of space and time within the science fiction oeuvre. Frequent viewers of sci-fi movies can usually guess how a story will unfold based on previous films, but these projects changed what critics and viewers thought they knew about sci-fi.
Every genre includes plot twists and misdirects to a certain extent, but that’s not what makes sci-fi movies popular and interesting as works of speculative fiction.
There are certainsci-fi thriller movies with confusing storiesthat audiences and critics agree might never be fully understood. However,the mark of a genuinely creative and unique work of science fiction isn’t in its success at tricking the audience.Every genre includes plot twists and misdirects to a certain extent, but that’s not what makes sci-fi movies popular and interesting as works of speculative fiction. to subvert expectations and break away from the tropes that define the genre, a film must have an intimate understanding of the rules of sci-fi.
10 Underrated Sci-Fi Movies With A Cult Following
Sci-fi movies are brilliant, but some niche and off-beat sci-fi films have managed to secure a cult following thanks to their incredible creativity.
Under the Skin
Cast
Under the Skin is a sci-fi thriller directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson. Johansson plays “The Female,” an alien from another world that hunts men in Scotland. Despite receiving high praise upon release, Under the Skin was a box office bomb, only making a little over half of its budget.
In a dramatic shift in her career, Scarlett Johansson signed on to play the protagonist of the film, an alien who takes the form of a young woman and preys on the men who cross her path.
BeforeJonathan Glazer’s movieThe Zone of Interestturned heads at the Academy Awards, the filmmaker was playing with form and character for many years. In a dramatic shift in her career, Scarlett Johansson signed on to play the protagonist of the film, an alien who takes the form of a young woman and preys on the men who cross her path. However,Under The Skindoesn’t make obvious claims about its themes or message.Moral judgments that would be obvious in a lesser script are left more ambiguousinUnder The Skin.
Though praised by critics upon its release,Under The Skinremains popular only with its cult following despite Glazer’s recent successes.Equally beautiful and terrifying,Under The Skintoes the line between sci-fi and horror,making the audience question who they’re rooting for. The meandering nature ofUnder The Skinand the film’s ability to communicate so much with sparse dialogue is a testament to how much can be understood through visual language.
Arrival
Arrival is a science fiction film centered on linguist Louise Banks, who is recruited by the military after alien spacecraft land across the globe. Tasked with determining the extraterrestrials' intentions, she embarks on a critical mission to decipher their complex language, exploring themes of communication and time.
For audiences familiar with the short story,Story of Your Lifeby Ted Chiang thatArrivalis based on, the twist might have been obvious, but it was still enormously impactful.The beats ofArrivalwouldn’t work without Amy Adams’s anchoring performanceas Louise, who is a linguist, called in to decode and understand the language of a species of aliens who land on Earth. Unlike other films surrounding alien invasions,Arrivalis not a story of violence and destruction. It’s about communication and understanding.
Though there’s little direct physical action until the end ofArrival, the movie has no shortage of stakes and tension, as Louise is uncovering the secrets of the alien’s gift as soon as they encounter each other.Much ofArrivalhinges on the fact the way humans experience time is only one way of traveling through the worldand that nonlinear time could open up the human world to new possibilities. However, the most impactful part ofArrivalis the choice Louise makes after she sees the entirety of her life laid out in front of her.
Primer
Primer is a low-budget independent film directed by Shane Carruth that centers around two engineers, Aaron and Abe, who accidentally invent a device capable of time travel. As they explore the potential and ramifications of their discovery, the boundaries between reality and possibility blur, leading to unexpected consequences. Known for its complex narrative and minimalist approach, Primer challenges viewers with its intricate plot and scientific dialogue.
The time travel proposed byPrimeris unlike anything else seen onscreen.
Primeris one of thebest time travel moviesof all time and for a film made on a microbudget, and many intense discussions about the physics behind time travel, this was quite a feat. Shane Carruth, the writer, director, and star of the film, has a background in mathematics and software development, making him uniquely qualified to dream up a project likePrimer. However, the time travel proposed byPrimeris unlike anything else seen onscreen.
It is an unglamorous and grueling process that takes intense physical and emotional tolls on the travelers. It becomes increasingly difficult to follow the many timelines and multiple versions of the past and future characters as they make the time stream more complex and convoluted. Whilethe main characters turn to predictable time travel tropes like cheating the stock market and saving their loved ones,the ultimate effects are nothing the audience could have imagined.
Run Lola Run
Run Lola Run is a German thriller film that follows Lola, a young woman who must navigate the streets of Berlin to find 100,000 Deutschmarks to save her boyfriend’s life within 20 minutes. With the clock ticking, Lola’s desperation grows as she encounters a series of obstacles and characters that test her resolve.
The German experimental filmRun Lola Runis less about time travel than it is about the time loop that the protagonist, Lola, is stuck in until she can save her boyfriend. Franka Potente plays Lola and works herself to the bone as the loop gets more dangerous and heart-pounding with each iteration.Run Lola Runis a great sci-fi movie because it doesn’t explain how she came to be trapped in this time loopor the science at work behind the scenes, opting to let the audience draw their own conclusions about what’s happening to Lola.
Run Lola Runtranscends genres as it’s just as fast-paced as an action movie and has all the sex and gore of a thriller, but it uses these familiar elements of filmmaking to play with the form and concept of a movie. Even while depicting the basest human desires and impulses,Run Lola Runremains introspective and pushes the audience to think criticallyabout what they’re viewing onscreen. A smash at the international box office, the film remains a standout of the late 1990s.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Thetimelines of all thePlanet of the Apesmovieshave gotten confusing by this point in the series, but the original remains the best and most groundbreaking of the franchise.It stars Charlton Heston as George Taylor, the astronautwho finds himself on a planet where humans have primate-like intelligence and apes are the apex species.Planet of the Apeswas unlike anything audiences had seen in 1968, as it openly questioned what it meant to be human and was a metaphor for the many social justice movements of the decade.
Though the final reveal at the end ofPlanet of the Apesmight seem corny by today’s standards, it was an unbelievable twist in 1968.
Though the final reveal at the end ofPlanet of the Apesmight seem corny by today’s standards, it was an unbelievable twist in 1968. Additionally,the makeup and prosthetics used to create the visual effects ofPlanet of the Apeswere groundbreakingfor the time, and they make an excellent case for the use of practical effects. While the newerPlanet of the Apesfilms have incredible CGI, they have lost some of the warmth of the original.
Blade Runner
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi neo-noir film set in 2019 in a dystopian cyber-punk society. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, tasked with hunting rogue replicants, genetically engineered humans designed to tackle tasks that human beings cannot. When four replicants go rogue and begin killing humans, Deckard is forced out of retirement to hunt them down and stop them - but the truth isn’t as simple as it seems. Deckard will have to reckon with the philosophical dilemma of what makes someone human.
Ridley Scott was and is one of the biggest names in sci-fi, with landmark films likeAlienand his revolutionary projectBlade Runnerunder his belt. Few cinema buffs can claim that they haven’t been transformed by the aesthetics and storytelling ofBlade Runner.Harrison Ford, who was already associated with one of the most famous sci-fi franchises of all time,Star Wars, managed to shed the persona of Han Solo. Hestepped into the role of Rick Deckard,creating one of the most iconic characters of all time.
The long-awaited sequel,Blade Runner 2049, is visually even more dynamic than the original, but the firstBlade Runnerhas inspired generations of filmmakers. It could be argued that landmark works of film and television likeGhost in the Shell,Cowboy BeBop, andGattacawouldn’t exist withoutBlade Runner.However, being influential doesn’t automatically mean that something is innovative. Few other movies have been bold enough to interrogate critical intelligence and human violence asBlade Runnerdoes.
10 Best Sci-Fi Movies Based on Short Stories
Some of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time began life as short stories from writers such as Ted Chiang, Ray Bradbury and Philip K. Dick.
Moon
Duncan Jones presents Moon, a sci-fi mystery drama that follows Astronaut Sam Bell, who has spent the last three years working at a lunar mine in isolation and is coming up at the end of his shift. However, as Sam prepares to return home to his family and meet his daughter for the first time, he begins to experience vivid hallucinations of a younger version of himself and begins to experience hazardous events. Before Lunar Industries arrives to relieve him of duty, he must uncover the reason for his recent psychosis and free himself of his mental prison.
The protagonist Sam, played by a brilliant Sam Rockwell, appears in many forms throughout the story, and the audience questions who the real Sam is.
Though fewer audiences have seenMoonthan many of the biggest sci-fi heavy hitters, that doesn’t make it less important in the history of the genre.Moonis a test of patience and willpowerfor both the character and the audience. The protagonist Sam, played by a brilliant Sam Rockwell, appears in many forms throughout the story, and the audience questions who the real Sam is.Moonrelies heavily on Rockwell’s performance, as he is practically the only character in the entire movie, and his scene partner is often himself.
It’s incredible thatMoonwas the director Duncan Jones' directorial debut, as he’s in conversation with the whole of science fiction cinema that came before him. It’s this knowledge and understanding of cinema that allows filmmakers to then break the rules and defy all expectations.Moonasks questions about the ethics of cloning, humanity’s reach as we begin to travel the stars,and what it means to be human. It’s refreshing to see a film about a lunar station and not worry if the computer is going to take over, asMoondeftly avoids these overly done traps.
Vanilla Sky
Vanilla Sky is a psychological thriller directed by Cameron Crowe, featuring Tom Cruise as a wealthy publishing magnate named David Aames. Released in 2001, the film explores themes of identity, reality, and the consequences of one’s actions, intertwined with surreal events. Co-starring Penélope Cruz and Cameron Diaz, the film is known for its intricate narrative and engaging performances. Vanilla Sky is a remake of the Spanish film “Open Your Eyes.”
Though viewers now almost exclusively think about Tom Cruise in relation to his action franchises likeTop GunandMission: Impossible, he used to be a movie star in every genre of film. While his best dramatic performance is inEyes Wide Shut, Cruise gives his all to portraying David inVanilla Sky, which begins as a psychological thriller and then becomes so much more by the film’s conclusion. The sci-fi elements of the movie aren’t apparent until later in the story, but once the audience realizes the conceit of the story, everything falls into place.
Despite being a box office hit,Vanilla Skywasn’t overly praised by critics, as the interweaving themes and metaphors are easily lost as the film treads more nebulous territory. However, this type of narrative has only become more popular in recent years. It is a self-aware project for a movie star as the plot is openly about the narcissism and shallow nature of people with money and power.Cameron Diaz’s turn as Julie is hauntingly unforgettable,as she holds just as much star power as Cruise.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet star in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski, a couple who rediscover their love after erasing each other from their memories. The 2004 drama is written by Charlie Kaufman, directed by Michel Gondry, and includes Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Wilkinson in its cast.
Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet give career-best performances in the incredible film that uses every cinematic trick in the book to give its viewers the most satisfying story possible.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindis often misconstrued as a romantic comedyor a vehicle for the vehemently hated “manic pixie dream girl” trope, but it’s neither of these things. The movie is a dramatic meditation on what two people can mean to each other and the fact that the only way to experience true happiness in life is to suffer through loss and pain. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet give career-best performances in the incredible film that uses every cinematic trick in the book to give its viewers the most satisfying story possible.
Almost universally beloved at its release,Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindhas only grown in audience and critics' estimation.Utilizing a non-linear structure is something that many science fiction films attempt. However, few have captured its nuances and abilities so successfully asEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The otherworldly elements of the films set the story on its path, but it’s the humanity of the characters that keeps the audience invested until the end.
Children of Men
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men is a dystopian drama set in the year 2027, where infertility has left humanity facing the possibility of extinction. Clive Owen stars as former activist Theo Faron, with Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam, and Pam Ferris in supporting roles.
Both a dystopian thriller and a dark addition tosci-fimovies,Children of Mendoesn’t use the traditional elements of the genre but is still greatly emotionally impactful.The film primarily chronicles the journey of Theo and Kee as they try to find asylum for Kee as the last known pregnant woman on Earth. In the past few decades, dystopian films have seen an increase in themes about fertility and the end of the human race, butChildren of Menmanages to find some hope amid this darkness.
The director, Alfonso Cuarón, has captured other elements of sci-fi in his filmGravity, and the seeds of this later film can be seen inChildren of Men.Children of Menhas strong discussions of inequality and other social commentaries in its story, making iteasy to forget that the narrative unfolding in front of the viewer isn’t happening in real life.Many of the most innovative and otherworldly films show their skill by transporting the audience completely into the story without overt or clunky exposition.
