Top 9 interesting and unusual science fiction movies

Science fiction movies were popular both 50 years ago and now. And even though there are more than enough movies of this genre coming out in recent years, we shouldn’t forget about the classics that aren’t so often on the radar.

Science fiction movies have been popular both 50 years ago and now.

You may know about Alien and Predator, but don’t underestimate the 1982 movie Dark Crystal. It may look ridiculous (computer graphics were a rarity at the time), but it’s a worthy representative of its genre.

It’s a good movie.

The Predator (1987)

At the beginning of the movie Predator, a group of soldiers are sent on a mission in the war-torn country of Central America. But the covert operation turns into a fight for survival after an unknown creature begins stalking the team in the jungle. The creature can disguise itself, mimic human speech and has technology beyond anything humans have ever seen. The Predator is now an iconic figure in horror and science fiction fandoms, but when the movie was first released, it was something new to audiences and highly unusual.

The Predator is an iconic figure in horror and science fiction fandom, but when the movie was first released, it was something new to audiences and highly unusual.

The combination of jungle adventure and a terrifying alien villain still makes “Predator” a classic. The movie is mesmerizing whether you’re watching it for the first or tenth time. Those watching the movie for the first time will also notice that “Predator” features an all-star cast from the 1980s, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, the late Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura.

Predator is a great movie.

Melancholia (2011)

Provocative auteur Lars von Trier brought clinical depression to poetic life in his 2011 film Melancholia. In the movie, a young bride (Kirsten Dunst) is plunged into despondency on her wedding night. The situation becomes even more dire when it is revealed that a rogue planet named Melancholia is likely to orbit Earth and eventually collide with our planet, destroying everything around it. Everyone takes the news differently: some panic and commit suicide, others see it as part of cosmic destiny, and still others solemnly accept their impending death.

“Melancholia” is not the easiest movie to watch. It leaves you feeling empty inside, but the plot is so incredibly gripping and well-crafted that you won’t be able to stop watching. Dunst was even honored with a Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, and it’s recognition she deserves.

And it’s a recognition she deserves.

Evolution (2001)

“Evolution” — a hilarious sci-fi comedy about a small Arizona town that is forever changed when a meteor falls into the town park, revealing a previously unknown cave system underneath. The meteor also contains some kind of extraterrestrial slime that evolves millions of times faster than life on Earth. Over the course of a week, the cave system becomes an alien world filled with creatures that evolve rapidly and eventually spawn human-sized primates and other fun-loving monsters.

An alien world filled with creatures that evolve rapidly and eventually spawn human-sized primates and other fun-loving monsters.

The movie stars David Duchovny, who just left “The X-Files,” Julianne Moore, Orlando Jones and Seann William Scott. Sure, it’s not the smartest or most compelling thrilling sci-fi movie, but “Evolution” — an enjoyable and easy movie to watch.

An enjoyable and easy movie to watch.

Dark Crystal (1982)

Jim Henson’s sci-fi movie The Dark Crystal was a modest hit when it premiered in the 1980s, but it has since gained a huge cult following and is considered by many fans to be Henson’s best work. In the movie, a boy must fulfill a prophecy and find the missing piece of the crystal to save his race. What really makes the movie special are the elaborate costumes and puppets that the film is known for, creating a dark, mystical setting, almost Tim Burton-esque.

The movie’s costumes and puppets are a great addition to the movie, creating a dark, mystical atmosphere, almost Tim Burton-esque.

In recent years, the movie has become so popular that novels and manga have been written based on it, and Netflix has even launched its own prequel series to the movie called “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” in 2019.

The movie has become so popular that novels and manga have been written about it, and Netflix is even launching its own prequel series to the movie called “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” in 2019.

Finding the Galaxy (1999)

“Galaxy Quest” proves that great comedy doesn’t have to be gross. This PG-rated movie brilliantly pays homage (and is a scathing satire on “Star Trek” and sci-fi culture in general). The movie is about an old sci-fi television series called Galactic Quest (an obvious allusion to Star Trek). But what the actors don’t know is that the aliens are watching reruns of that show and now think the actors are — real space heroes traveling the galaxy.

And now they think the actors are — real space heroes traveling the galaxy.

The movie is rife with sci-fi tropes and skillfully plays with them, twists them and mocks them, while lovingly paying the genre homage and respect. “Galaxy Quest” succeeds because you can see that its creators don’t mind making jokes and are sci-fi fans themselves. In addition, the movie has assembled a great cast, including well-known actors such as Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman, as well as comedy connoisseurs such as Missi Pyle and Rainn Wilson.

The movie has a great cast, including well-known actors such as Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman, as well as comedy connoisseurs such as Missi Pyle and Rainn Wilson.

Monsters (2010)

Monsters premiered at SXSW in 2010 to rave reviews. In the movie, alien creatures begin to take over Mexico. A man and a woman try to flee the country before the U.S. can build a huge wall to stop the creatures and quarantine Mexico. Beneath the madness of the movie is a strange love story that turns it into more than just your average monster movie.

A strange love story.

“Monsters” was a hit at festivals and even earned a BAFTA nomination for first-time director Gareth Edwards, who went on to direct such box-office hits as 2014’s “Godzilla” and 2014’s “Outcast One: Star Wars. Stories” in 2016.

The Invisible Man (2020)

In 2020, H.G. Wells’ classic story “The Invisible Man” has been retold for a new generation. In the movie, Elisabeth Moss played the role of Cecilia Cass, a woman in an abusive relationship with a man who, unfortunately for her, turns out to be a world-famous optical engineer. She escapes from him, but instead of finding peace and freedom, she feels a ghostly presence that torments her. Is she being haunted by her boyfriend or is it just her imagination?”

She is haunted by her boyfriend or is it just her imagination?

The Invisible Man was a hit with critics and audiences, and despite premiering just two weeks before the COVID pandemic forced theaters around the world to close, the film grossed an impressive $144 million.

The film has grossed an impressive $144 million.

The Void (2016)

Lovecraft fans will love the 2016 movie The Void. In the movie, a group of strangers find themselves in an abandoned hospital surrounded by cultists in robes. Things take a turn for the worse when people start turning into monsters after the cult leader reveals that he has found a way to make deals with otherworldly beings. Like all Lovecraftian horror films, “The Void” emphasizes cosmic horrors and plenty of tentacles, pus, slime and disease-causing creatures.

The Void

The movie “The Void” has received mostly positive reviews, but there is some negative criticism of the plot, which leaves more questions than answers. But fans of the body horror genre or those who like Lovecraft’s style will not be disappointed by the movie, thanks to the magnificent monsters.

The Void

Film will not disappoint.

The Cube (1997)

In the movie The Cube, a group of strangers wake up in a giant cube made up of smaller, ever-changing cubes. The movie never explains who created the cube or why the group ended up in it. Instead, it focuses on the desperation and paranoia that arises from trying to get out. The group also has to deal with another dilemma: some of the cubes are equipped with traps, and the only way to find out which one contains the trap — is to unravel the secret code contained in each cube’s number.

The Cube was critically acclaimed and even won the Best Canadian Feature Film award when it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Many noted its similarities to “Saw,” calling it a spiritual predecessor to that film due to its dark confined spaces and creepy traps. The popularity of “Cube” led to two sequels and a 2021 Japanese remake. In 2022, Bloody Disgusting reported that Lionsgate is also in the early stages of working on a U.S. remake.

The Top 9 interesting and unusual sci-fi movies was first published on ITZine.ru.