15 Best Sci-fi Movies You Haven’t Seen Update 04/2024

Best Sci-fi Movies You Haven't Seen

Here are some of the best sci-fi movies you may have missed, from The Box to Scanners. Fans of the genre should not miss these.

It wasn’t until 1902 that the first science fiction film, Le Voyage dans la Lune, hit the screens. The film’s 18-minute runtime has earned it acclaim for its significance in cinematic history. Since then, filmmakers of all kinds have attempted to bring their distinctive perspectives to the science fiction genre. Sci-fi, more than any other cinematic genre, may take on virtually any tone or tenor. The sci-fi film canon can be used as a springboard for a plethora of storylines.

The amount of time available to see a movie, even mind-bending sci-fi that defines an entire genre, is finite. For every Matrix film, there’s an Equilibrium or Existenz in the canon. Strange Days, Flash Gordon, and Dark City are all cult classics that have a following. Even if you don’t consider yourself a sci-fi fan, you should see classics like Star Trek II and Planet Of The Apes. Take a look at a few of the lesser-known works in this genre today!

This page was last updated by Shawn S. Lealos on April 17, 2020. Even if you’ve already seen a lot of science fiction films, you may not have seen all of them. In truth, the most original and ground-breaking science fiction stories have come from independent films that were never well-known to the general public. Our search for five more great works of science fiction resulted in the discovery of everything from time-travel thrillers to treasured cult favorites.

1. REPO MAN (1984)

REPO MAN (1984)

Repo Man, a 1984 indie film starring Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton, is Alex Cox’s first feature film. Estévez stars as a young punk musician named Otto, who is enlisted to assist repossess a 1964 Chevy Malibu with a dangerous and enigmatic trunk. It’s all about the aliens, UFOs, and televangelists these days, it seems. A true cult classic, it can be found on the Criterion Collection for anyone who wants to see it.

2. MOON (2009)

In 2009, Duncan Jones made his feature film directorial debut with Moon. Source Code and Warcraft have shown that he is capable on the big screen, but his best work to date is the feature film debut of Sam Rockwell in this role. On a lunar outpost for three years, a lone astronaut is forced to fend for himself. As his time runs out, he begins to see alternate versions of himself and fears he is going insane.

3. TIMECRIMES (2007)

TIMECRIMES (2007)

When Timecrimes was released in 2007, it was a spanish-language time travel film.

In this science fiction picture, Nacho Vigalondo directs, the viewer is compelled to ponder about what they are seeing. As the tale weaves its way through multiple time loops, no one is quite sure what is happening until the very end, when the audience realizes that nothing is as it seems in Timecrimes, a film that plays with the notion of time travel.

4.  EX MACHINA (2015)

With Ex Machina, Alex Garland returned to the big screen with a science fiction film that skirts the boundaries of morality. As a young programmer, Domhnall Gleeson portrays a young man who earns a chance to work for an eccentric software genius (Oscar Isaac). A connection is formed with an advanced robot (Alicia Vikander) in this location. Filmgoers are left discussing the morality of the film’s finale at the end of it all.

5. DARK CITY (1988)

In 1998, Alex Proyas directed the film Dark City, which starred Jennifer Connelly and Kiefer Sutherland. This film is a work of art in the genre of science fiction. A sci-fi thriller as well as a noir detective novel, it’s a must-read. Having a city that never sees the sun, a city that is cramped with insomniacs and a city that changes shape, this film stands apart from the rest of the crowd. This is a must-see film for fans of the science fiction genre.

6. A Boy And His Dog (1975)

A Boy And His Dog (1975)

Everybody knows that dogs are man’s best companion. The sandy wastelands of 2024 will necessitate that for Vic to survive. Viktor and his dog Blood (who can communicate telepathically) come across an underground society in one of Don Johnson’s first film roles as an actor.

Predecessors to many of the more popular and well-known apocalyptic films that followed are a bizarre and experimental film.

7. Cube (1997)

Rubik’s Cubes can be difficult to solve. Imagine being trapped in a massive one where nearly every room is a trap. Cube, a science fiction/horror film, depicts just such an event. A group of strangers wake up and have no idea where they are, why they are stuck, or why they are being held captive together.

As a group, they’re all putting in their best effort to get to know one another and help each other escape the box. For an indie film, some of the effects are severe, such as a laser net that entirely dismembered one of the characters.

8. The Box (2009)

Everything about The Box’s set up is thrilling and horrifying all at the same time. When a package is delivered to your doorstep, there is no return label attached to it. To the left of the red button is a wooden box. If you hit the button, a disfigured stranger promises to give you $1 million in exchange for your cooperation. The drawback is that someone you’ve never met before will die as a result of this..

In exchange for your time, the stranger offers you $100 and walks away. It’s up to James Marsden and Cameron Diaz’s Arthur and Norma Lewis (played by James Marsden and Cameron Diaz) to decide what happens next.

9. THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

George Lucas’ Star Wars was a huge hit when it was initially released. For six years previous to the events of the series, a terrible sci-fi dystopian film called THX-1138 depicts a dystopian vision of the future. An automated police force governs the world’s populace in the year 2599 in the sci-fi film “Silicon Valley.” In order to keep that population in check, chemicals are used to ensure that all of the workers are compliant.

The concept of family, love, and friendship have been banned. As THX-1138 begins to break free of his restraints, the society as a whole begins to disintegrate.

10. Westworld (1973)

Science fiction author Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) has a new scary tale. Westworld, a future theme park, offers a wide variety of rides for those who have the money to pay for them.

When Peter Martin and John Delane arrive at the amusement park, they see lifelike robot cowboys ready for a shootout. Robots in science fiction nearly often imply that some type of mechanical failure will occur. When the gunslinger android begins firing live ammunition, this is exactly what occurs!

11.  Scanners (1981)

Fans have come to expect thoughtful and breathtaking sci-fi/horror films from David Cronenberg over the course of his career, and Scannersis no exception. Ahead of its time, the film is a masterpiece. Those who are Scanners in the film are born with special telepathic powers.

They are being sought after by a business named ConSec. Scanner Revok proven to be the strongest during testing. He famously blows up a Scanner’s skull and flees the scene.

12. Brazil (1985)

Brazil (1985)

Irrespective of how much you think you know about Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, it’s highly unlikely that you do. Rewatch it if you haven’t before. If you’re a fan of Gilliam’s work, you’ll need to watch the film multiple times in order to fully grasp the story.

Lowry’s fantasy is to rescue an attractive woman .’s In the meantime, the government captures Archibald Buttle instead of suspect Archibald Tuttle and mistakenly kills him. To inform the widow, Lowry realizes he’s just met the woman of his dreams. Just a few minutes into the film! Many lovers of this film have had to see it multiple times in order to fully get it, but they persevere. It’s well worth the effort.

13. In Time (2011)

Today, time is more valuable than money. When a person reaches the age of 25 and has accrued a certain amount of time, he or she has the option of continuing to live. The poor and working-class have only 24 hours in a day, and they must work every day to maintain their lifestyles. There is ample time for everyone else, but the wealthy and elite have enough time to live forever.

It was a man who had given up on his own life who gave 116 years of time to a manufacturing worker.

The Timekeepers (who believe Salas killed the man) are soon on the trail of Salas as he gives away his 116 years like Robin Hood.

14. Contagion (2011)

It’s not uncommon for the best science fiction films to be based on situations that could actually occur. When a lethal virus is unleashed on the world in Steven Soderbergh’sContagion, it poses a threat to everyone on it.

Race to identify, contain, and locate the virus, while simultaneously researching a cure and searching for the first victim A hypochondriac might wish to avoid this article.

15. The Island (2005)

The Island (2005)

You can be cloned for spare parts in 2019 (indeed, right now). If your clone wins the lottery to be taken away from your loved ones to a better life, you’ll be whisked away from them as well.

As it turns out, that “better existence” is essentially a process of deconstruction. Lincoln and Jordan, two clones, uncover the lie and flee to find their place in the world. Michael Bay’s interesting adventure film is one of his most underestimated efforts.