The sci-fi genre is a wide umbrella for all sorts of movies, and this means that some masterpieces can fly under the radar. It isn’t always easy to find the true hidden gems with so many competing sci-fi comedies, alien invasion stories, animated movies, spacebound adventures and more.
While true sci-fi fans will be familiar with the classics likeAlien, Star WarsandThe Matrix,everyone has their own tastes. This means that sci-fi fans have their personal favorites that might be underrated within the genre as a whole. The weirder and more experimental movies that lack mainstream appeal can be the most interesting.
Okjaisn’t often cited as one ofBong Joon-ho’s best movies, and it was soon overshadowed byParasitetwo years later. Still, it’s an admirable blend of sci-fi and fantasy, as Bong constructs an environmental fable that comes into conflict with the emotionless gears of industry.
Okjafeels like a dream at times, with an introduction that borders on the surreal fantasy ofSpirited Away.This is soon replaced by ridiculous media stunts and hapless bureaucrats, as Bong’s dark capitalist satire kicks into high gear. There are surprising performances from the likes of Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano and Jake Gyllenhaal, who each help flesh out the bizarre world ofOkja.
Annihilationis based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer, but Alex Garland has to make plenty of changes to bring the story to the big screen. He visualizes certain concepts that are intentionally inconceivable, bringing a new kind of horror to his vision of a dangerous scientific anomaly.
It isn’t always easy to decipher thetrue meaning ofAnnihilation,since Garland creates so many confronting images in quick succession.These concepts are often designed to provoke a visceral reaction, rather than obscuring layers of metaphorical meaning. This doesn’t mean thatAnnihilationis empty, however, since it’s worth examining closely for new hints.
Attack the Blockis perfect for fans of the Cornetto trilogy. Not only is Edgar Wright a producer, with Nick Frost in a supporting role, butAttack the Blockhas the same sense of loving genre satire that can be seen inShaun of the DeadandHot Fuzz.Joe Cornish takes aim at the sci-fi genre two years beforeThe World’s End.
Attack the Blockuses a council estate in South London as the setting for its alien invasion story. The characters are completely unlike the typical scientists, politicians, and military men who normally comprise these sorts of movies, and this gives the story more unpredictability and flair. John Boyega has hinted thatAttack the Block 2could finally be on the horizon.
Robot and Franktracks the unlikely friendship that blossoms between a retired cat burglar and his new robot companion. There’s a lot of mileage in this unique comedic concept, butRobot and Frankalso shows that it has plenty of heart, and it offers some food for thought.
Robot and Frankis a disarmingly thoughtful exploration of artificial intelligence, casting a quizzical eye on the ways that humans might use this new technology, and what that says about our deepest fears and desires. There are also some touching sentiments about the nature of memory, aging and experience that takeRobot and Frankbeyond simple comedy.
Moonproves that great sci-fi doesn’t need an immense budget for explosive effects and jaw-dropping scenery. The film squeezes every last drop out of what it is, which includes a limited setting, Sam Rockwell in an outstanding dual role, and a fiercely intelligent script.
With some relatively simple elements,Moonuses sci-fi to cut to the heart of some human issues, namely the intersection between memory and identity. It’s easy to watchMoonand draw parallels to our own modern lives on Earth, although it’s even easier to get wrapped up in the story from the very beginning.
A Scanner Darklyis one ofRichard Linklater’s best movies, and another example of how he is pushing rotoscope animation to new places. His unique style often blurs the lines between reality and fiction, which is perfect for a story likeA Scanner Darkly.He also masters the art of intentionally ugly and confronting composition at times.
A Scanner Darklyperformed poorly at the box office, as any animation aimed at a mature audience is likely to do, but it’s a fascinating sci-fi movie for those who can appreciate its unusual flavor.It takes inspiration from a Philip K. Dick novel published in 1977, but its strange muddled battle between right and wrong feels perfect for the 21st century.
Fantastic Planetis considered a landmark in the medium of big-screen animation, and it still looks remarkably creative. It questions every traditional limitation of animation, coming up with a bold new style that has to be seen to be fully believed. It’s always been too strange to ever break into the mainstream.
Fantastic Planetis the perfect example of how sci-fi and animation go hand-in-hand. The medium allowsFantastic Planetto concoct several bizarre otherworldly sequences, as a group of humans attempt to survive on a surreal planet dominated by giant blue aliens and chaotic beasts.
The Vast of Nightis one of Prime Video’s hidden gems that any sci-fi fan should seek out.Made on a budget of just $700,000, Andrew Patterson’s directorial debut bristles with creativity. Not only is it a masterclass in economical filmmaking; it’s also a gripping sci-fi story regardless of the budget.
The Vast of Nighttakes place during the 1950s in New Mexico, and the story captures the essence of the distinctly American phenomena of small-town alien paranoia that rippled throughout the nation at the time. It’s a thrilling story about people dealing with extraordinary circumstances, but it also grapples with the idea of modern American mythology in interesting ways.
Scarlett Johansson has often mixed some unexpected and unpredictable roles into her filmography, even at the height of her Hollywood stardom.Under the Skincame out one year after the firstAvengersmovie, but it’s hard to find a more different kind of alien invasion film.
Johansson plays a shape-shifting alien stalking the Scottish countryside in search of male victims, who she then banishes to an abstract ink-black void.Under the Skinis the kind of movie that invites different interpretations, and critics have described Jonathan Glazer’s film as a feminist allegory, a surreal slasher and a meditation on modern life.
Ad Astracame out at the end of the 2010s, whenspace exploration movieslikeInterstellar, GravityandThe Martiandominated the box office. Perhaps owing to fatigue or the simple fact thatAd Astrais much slower than these other movies, Brad Pitt’s sci-fi epic never got the attention it deserves.
Ad Astrais a futuristic retelling of Joseph Conrad’sHeart of Darknessby way of Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odyssey,with an appropriate sense of scale and grandeur. It’s rare to see a modern blockbuster that’s so content to let its imagery speak for itself, butAd Astra’s broad brushstrokes are full of life.
