Top 10 Underrated Science Fiction Movies

Top 10 Underrated Science Fiction Movies

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These aren't the droids you're looking for; in fact, you might have completely missed these robots, spaceships and dystopias, but you should definitely give them a chance. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Underrated Science Fiction Movies. For this list, we’ll be looking at films that deserve a higher rating or that should’ve had a larger audience. For whatever reason, these films were never commercial or critical successes—but they should’ve been.

#10: “2010” (1984)

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Also known as “2010: The Year We Make Contact,” this sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s classic “2001: A Space Odyssey” is likewise based on Arthur C. Clarke’s writing, but doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves. We know that sequels are often terrible, but this is definitely an exception to the rule. American and Russian astronauts head to Jupiter, trying to understand what happened to the first ship that attempted the mission and what went wrong with sentient computer HAL. Not only is the film well-acted, action-packed and beautifully filmed, but it tackles a lot of mysteries that the original left conspicuously unanswered.

This micro-budgeted movie is a complicated film that puts a lot of faith in its audience’s intelligence. The premise is simple enough—two guys build a time machine and try to use it to make money—but it becomes very complex in the telling. “Primer” delves deeply into all the classic time travel issues, like what happens if you change something in the past or if you run into yourself in another time. Like we said, the movie – written by a former engineer – doesn’t dumb things down, and while it’s a complex watch, it’s worth it. If we could travel to the future, we would certainly find that “Primer” goes down in history as a classic.

It may be an animated film, but it certainly wasn’t made for kids! “Heavy Metal” features several different storylines all set in different times and places, linked only by the ever-present Loc-Nar, a physical manifestation of evil. They’re also linked by their use of—you guessed it—heavy metal music by some of the biggest acts of the time, including Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult and Sammy Hagar. Though this anthology film received mixed reviews at the time of its release, it has since developed a cult following. We figure that’s at least in part thanks to its extreme violence, nudity and sexuality.

#7: “Mr. Nobody” (2009)

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This artistic drama combines a great story with fascinating ideas and excellent cinematography, not to mention Jared Leto’s stunning performance as Nemo Nobody, the last mortal human in the world. In a world where science has eradicated death and old age, Nemo fascinates the immortal humans that surround him. And why not? He’s a man with a past that is contradictory and jumbled. The movie was a bust at the box office but has been steadily gaining viewership ever since – and not just among immortals. A story about choices and time, emotional weaved together by great acting and effects.

Imagine a live-action version of “Wall-E” made for adults, and you’ve got something pretty close to “Silent Running.” In the film, plant life can no longer grow on Earth and the last samples are now housed in spacecraft orbiting Saturn. What happens when the crew, including botanist Freeman Lowell, are ordered to destroy the last remaining greenhouses in order to make room for standard cargo? Freeman disobeys, of course, and teams up with three drones named Huey, Dewey and Louie to protect the last forest at all costs. Okay, we know that environmental destruction is a common theme in science fiction, but rarely is it presented as compellingly as it is in this movie.

Emotion and art are so threatening to the leaders of society in “Equilibrium” that they’re illegal. Taking no chances, the leaders also force citizens to take drugs that suppress all feelings and artistic impulses. That may sound a little familiar, but it’s presented in a totally absorbing manner. The cinematography and the production design are key, creating a dark, unsettling ambiance for this dystopian vision of humanity’s future. Not only that; the stylized fight scenes combine gun work with martial arts to create truly impressive action sequences. There’s also an adorable puppy. What’s not to like?

#4: “Strange Days” (1995)

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“Strange” is a good word to describe this film’s combination of rock ’n’ roll, cyberpunk and odd drug addictions. But, as it’s directed by Kathryn Bigelow with some writing, production and editing work by her ex-husband James Cameron, it’s strange in a fascinating, artistic, entertaining way. Ralph Fiennes plays a small-time criminal who records people’s memories and sells them on the black market, but he gets in trouble when he picks up the memories of various murders. What follows is simply mesmerizing. Don’t be put off because it didn’t do so well in theaters —“Strange Days” is definitely worth your time.

Brought to us by body-horror master David Cronenberg, this is another virtual reality film, but it’s certainly not just another virtual reality film. The use of nightmare-fuel organic material, like bio-ports and guns made out of bone and flesh, make it a truly creepy and thought-provoking movie. The characters in this near-future setting voluntarily use bio-ports to enter a virtual world, but once there they slowly lose their grasp of reality. The plot masterfully uses its imagery to tackle ideas of consciousness, the relationship between nature and science, and what it means to be human, making this twisty sci-fi an essential gamer movie.

The sun is going out, so a team of international astronauts is sent to reignite it. The film throws all these characters into a very claustrophobic environment and forces them to deal with the sun’s incredible power to both give life and to destroy. But it also focuses on how the actions of one individual can similarly decide the fate of an entire planet. The acting is great, the CGI is well done, and director Danny Boyle skillfully builds it all to a suspenseful and exhilarating climax that helps make this one a must-watch. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - “Sphere” (1998) - “Titan A.E.” (2000) - “Enemy Mine” (1985) - “Pitch Black” (2000) - “Stalker” (1979)

#1: “Moon” (2009)

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Our choice for the most underrated science fiction movie will keep you on the edge of your seat, make you love the characters and seriously mess with your head. Sam Bell has spent three years completing a mission alone on the moon, with only a robot for company. He’s all set to return home when things start going wrong. For the most part, Sam Rockwell is the only actor on screen, and he does a brilliant job at keeping the tension high and action dynamic. Like all great science fiction, “Moon” is an exciting adventure that sheds light on the human condition and forces you to question your sense of reality. Don’t miss it. Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite underrated science fiction movie? For more exhilarating Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.