Not all science fiction films are megahit . Some of the verybest sci - fi filmsare small , self-governing moving-picture show made by first - time film director . In fact , many film producer have done some of their good workplace early in their career and on a shoestring budget .
For these sci - fi movie , it is more about the conception , story , and themes than the extra essence and action . Despite the lower budget , these films are deserving seek out . You may be surprised at the hidden gems that are out there hold off to be discovered .
The City of Lost Children (1995)
An international co - production from French directors Marc Caro and Jean - Pierre Jeunet , The City of Lost Childrenis a dreamlike experience that sticks with you long after the credits .
The film stars Ron Perlman as One , a carnival strongman whose younger brother fall prey to an evil being who feeds on the dream of small fry . The world is populated by a bizarre cast of characters including marry twins , a cyclops , a dwarf , and a disembodied brain house in an elaborate tank . feature a steampunk aesthetic and unbelievable product design , Caro and Jeunet ’s film explore the disconsolate side of capitalism , exploitation of kid , and red ink of innocence .
Just as much sci - fi as it is a macabre fairy tale , The City of Lost Childrenis one relatively apart cinema that should n’t be missed .
A Boy and His Dog (1975)
Based on a short story by Harlan Ellison , A Boy and His Dogfollows a teenage boy named Vic ( a young Don Johnson ) and his telepathic dog Blood . They travel the post - apocalyptic waste of Southwestern United States in search of intellectual nourishment and , in the titulary son ’s character , sex .
Taking a much more twisted access to the post - revelatory narrative , A Boy and His Dogis deeply unsettling . First of all , Vis is an unlikable lede character whose morals and ethics have been stripped forth in the wake of the nuclear final solution . Plus , it ’s never made clear whether Blood is actually telepathic or if Vic is just hallucinating that he can peach .
If you could do by the rearing misogyny , there ’s much to appreciate aboutA Boy and His Dog .
Source : Screenshot via LQ / Jaf production
Strange Days (1995)
Kathryn Bigelow would n’t reach the rank and file of A - list director until her 2009 Iraq War dramaThe Hurt Lockerwon her a Best Picture Academy Award . Despite being relatively unidentified before then , she had been quiet building an impressive filmography for decades prior .
Featuring a script co - written by Bigelow ’s ex-husband - husband James Cameron , 1995’sStrange Daysis a sci - fi thriller with celluloid noir constituent . It focuses on a futurist practical world system that allows users to experience life-time as other multitude . However , that system comes with some dark consequences , include the origination of young case of criminal offence .
Strange Dayscan be read as a comment on Los Angeles in the 1990s , a tenner that saw a rising in police ferociousness and racism . feature stellar lead carrying into action from Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett , Strange Days ‘ themes arguably resonate just as powerfully today as they did more than two decades ago . For that alone , it ’s a must - watch for any sci - fi fan .
Source : Screenshot via Lightstorm Entertainment
2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
You ’d have to be half-baked to try and make a continuation to Stanley Kubrick ’s genre - defining2001 : A Space Odyssey . However , it turns out someone not only had that idea but come it made too .
relinquish in 1984,2010 : The yr We Make Contactis an version of author Arthur C. Clarke’s2001sequel,2010 : Odyssey Two . The swelled ground why2010is so often overlooked is that Kubrick had nothing to do with it . rather , the picture was directed by Peter Hyams , who deliberately went out of his room to try and make something that did n’t ape Kubrick ’s filmmaking aesthetic .
Whereas2001is a highly sensorial viewing experience , Hyams ’ film has more of a traditional story that is easy to follow . He also stuffs his continuation with characters who feel human in a bid to make a more emotionally engaging film . Unfortunately for Hyams , this has helped make2010quite unpopular among fans of Kubrick ’s film .
If you may set aside the bequest of2001 , there ’s a heap to like about2010 , which is arguably a sci - fi classic in its own right .
Source : Screenshot via Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer
Cube (1997)
As the Canadian Film Centre ’s first feature film project , Cubefollows a grouping of grapheme abduct and held a prisoner in a set of giant third power - shaped room . Featuring a cast of unknown actors , managing director Vincenzo Natali crafts a mysterious and alarm viewing experience ; one where you’re able to never be quite sure who is going to be killed off next .
In a way , theSawseries owes a debt toCube , . This Canadian revulsion photographic film introduce the room trap construct years before the firstSawwas publish . luckily , Cubeis much more than just torture porn .
A cultus classic , Cubewent onto spawn two sequels . Unfortunately , neither could live up to the master copy .
Source : Screenshot via Trimark Pictures
Time After Time (1979)
Nicholas Meyer is recognise for write the screenplay toStar Trek II : The Wrath of KhanandStar Trek IV : The Voyage Home . Before these success , Meyer made his directing launching in 1979 withTime After Time .
meter After Time is a fresh and piquant clock time - change of location film . It follows author H.G. Wells ( Malcolm McDowell ) , who pursue Jack the Ripper ( David Warner ) to the 20thCentury after the notorious killer slip the author ’s clip machine . Tracking Jack the Ripper to 1970s San Francisco , H.G. Wells fall for a bank cashier named Amy ( Mary Steenburgen ) , who turn out to be Jack ’s next target .
While not have the largest budget , Time After Timeis still a playfulness movie . One that easily stand up the trial of time .
Source : Screenshot via Orion Pictures / Warner Bros.
Primer (2004)
Primerepitomizes what is imply by an “ independent sci - fi flick . ” Made on a paltry budget of $ 7,000 , the movie is about two scientists who build up a time machine .
With no literal budget for special effects to limn time travel , the movie instead focus on something stranger , but far more believable . The two main character , who are both locomotive engineer , decide to use the time machine to beat the store grocery store . Although they succeed at first , things eventually take a turn for the bad .
Made by first time director Shane Carruth , Primeris a chic and engaging movie . It succeeds in take a crap the viewer forget that there are no especial effects to speak of in this picture show about clip change of location . Instead , we are left with a thought - provoking morality story that ’s the opposite of the dumbed - down , big - budget sci - fi films we mostly see in theater of operations today .
Source : Screenshot via THINKFilm / IFC Films
Slipstream (1989)
Slipstreamhas it tough . It hardly made release in 1989 and is super hard to find today . That ’s a shame since it features two genre icons in player Mark Hamill and Bill Paxton .
Mark Hamill plays futuristic bounty hunting watch Will Tasker . Tasker kidnaps a wanted manslayer from the police force so he can collect the bounty for himself . What follows is a terrific following across a world ravaged by nuclear war , where the dominant way of transport is riding gliders on giant winds known as the “ Slipstream . ”
Despite how difficult it is to find nowadays , Slipstreamis well deserving the campaign .
Source : Screenshot via Entertainment Film
Stalker (1979)
Stalkerwas made by Andrei Tarkovsky , who splendidly directed the 1972 sci - fi classicSolaris . WhileStalkeris not quite in the same league asSolaris , it is still worth turn back out . But be warned thatStalkeris a unknown motion picture that ’s knockout to follow on first consider .
Stalker is set in a post - apocalyptic waste known as The Zone . A mutant child leads the master character — plainly known as the sneak and the writer — into the mettle of the nuclear destruction in hunting of a mythical place known only as the Room . Anyone who enter the Room will purportedly have their earthly desires immediately fulfilled . As is typical of dystopian options , a gradual disintegration start before the eventual devastation and reality of the Room is revealed .
noetic sci - fi , you bet . But also dark and grim . Stalkeris not for the faint of heart .
beginning : Screenshot via Mosfilm
No Blade of Grass (1970)
This thoughtful , low budget science fiction movie from 1970 remains relevant to this daylight .
No Blades of Grassis about a computer virus that attacks and destroys the world ’s food supply . This event plunges humanity into anarchy as some turn to cannibalism . John Custance ( Nigel Davenport ) get away London with his family and heads to the Scottish Highlands for guard . However , it turns into a fight for survival .
Amid the dystopian backcloth and violence , No Blades of Grassexpresses anti - government sentiments and environmental concerns . There is even cite of the death of bees and their importance to the food chain — a problem we are facing in real living .
While the clothes , music , and style might seem date today , No Blades of Grasscontains a message that is as eerily relevant today as it was back in 1970 .
The Blood of Heroes (1989)
Writer David Webb Peoples and actor Rutger Hauer are known for their piece of work on the 1982 masterpieceBlade Runner . However , the two collaborated on another excellent science fable film – 1989’sThe line of descent of Heroes .
The rip of Heroesis similar toMad Max . It ’s set in a post - apocalyptic humans where a brutish , futurist game resemble football is played . Rutger Hauer whizz as a attaint former adept precede a ragtag group of participant to one of the remaining nine cities on Earth for glory and personal redemption . atomic number 27 - starring histrion Vincent D’Onofrio , Delroy Lindo and Joan Chen , this picture show is unearthly , marvelous , and reprehensively hard to regain .
devotee ofBlade Runnershould compensate homage to David Webb Peoples and Rutger Hauer by seeing this largely forgotten movie .
Source : Screenshot via New Line Cinema
Alphaville (1965)
Made by French auteur Jean - Luc Godard , Alphavilleis about as intellectual a science fiction flick as you may find . It is a dissent against people who are obsessed with scientific discipline and logical system .
Alphavilletakes place in a futuristic world where emotion are obsolete and public exhibition of them is illegal . In game sees secret agent Lemmy Caution change of location to the technocratic dictatorship of Alphaville on a three - tiered mission . First , lookup for miss agent Henry Dickson . Second , belt down the Maker of Alphaville . Third and at long last , destroy the futuristic city ’s dictatorial electronic computer known as “ Alpha 60 . ”
While not your formal sci - fi moving-picture show , Alphavilleworks . Just as long as you do n’t mind English subtitles .
Source : Screenshot via Athos Films
Quintet (1979)
Given thatQuintetwas target by Robert Altman and starred Paul Newman , you would strike that it would be a more mainstream sci - fi cinema . However , the movie confuse critic when released and ended up leaving audiences dusty ( pun intended ) . As a result , Quintetquickly left theaters and fall into obscurity . Despite its failing at release , time has been kind toQuintet .
Paul Newman plays a man named Essex , who is a subsister in a frozen wasteland . Essex lives day - to - day until he is drawn into a mysterious secret plan called “ Quintet . ” Quintet is a role - recreate game , where if you die in the game , you die in real life .
As the managing director , Robert Altman does a unanimous job of make an standard pressure and a constant good sense of impend day of reckoning . There are long stretches inQuintetwhere nothing come about before the screen is emphasize with natural process and violence . As the star of the movie , Paul Newman gives a tightly hand-build performance full of nerves and crude instinct .
seed : Screenshot via 20th Century Studios
The Terminal Man (1974)
Written by author Michael Crichton ( Jurassic Park , The Andromeda Strain),The Terminal Manstars George Segal as Harry Benson . Benson is a genius computer computer programmer who suffer from seizures that cause him to pretend violently . To contain his violent tendencies , Benson volunteer to have a tiny electronic computer plant in him to verify his behavior . However , Benson revel the sensation of being settle down down . So much so that he starts prompt more red ictus to have the chill out down effect more often .
channelise by Mike Hodges , The Terminal Manwas poorly received upon acquittance . Despite the misfortunate receipt , the film has aged well .
Source : Screenshot via Warner Bros.
Dark Star (1974)
InDark Star , we see the seed of the movie that would becomeAlien . In fact , Dan O’Bannon , who both wrote and acted inDark Star , went on to compose the screenplay forAlien . Both movie are about a work party in deep space take in to contend with an alien creature on display panel . The central difference is thatDark Staris encounter for laughs , alternatively of repulsion .
As the first full - length motion-picture show to be take by genre legend John Carpenter , Dark Staris a low - budget sci - fi moving picture about four astronauts in deep blank . Their mission is to put down unsound planets in star systems that are to be colonized . As their mission nears mop up , the astronauts must deal with a runaway alien on their ship that resemble a beach ball , a faulty figurer system , and a impudent bomb that think it ’s God . If this sound weird , it is because it is unearthly .
Dark Staris form of a stoner sci - fi film . Well , the movie ’s tagline is “ The Spaced Out Odyssey ” .
root : Screenshot via Bryanston Distributing Company
