5 Forgotten Sci-Fi Films That are Perfect From Start to Finish

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Science fiction is a hugely popular genre in film, with both big-budget blockbusters and smaller, independent movies falling into the category. While many sci-fi films are forgettable, some truly exceptional ones have been overlooked. Here are five fantastic sci-fi movies that deserve more attention.

Science fiction films often make people think of huge franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, Avatar, and the Marvel and DC universes. Because building futuristic settings, aliens, and robots is costly, many assume only big-budget blockbusters can handle these kinds of stories. However, there are many other fantastic sci-fi movies that deserve just as much recognition, even though they’ve largely been forgotten over time.

5) Upgrade

Leigh Whannell has become a well-known horror director with films like The Invisible Man and Wolf Man, but many consider his 2018 sci-fi action movie, Upgrade, to be his best work. The film centers on a man paralyzed in an attack who receives an extraordinary opportunity: a tech billionaire offers him an experimental implant. This artificial intelligence, called STEM, restores his ability to walk and grants him superhuman strength, setting him on a path to avenge those who attacked him.

Despite being made on a small budget, Upgrade delivers impressively choreographed action sequences and a gripping, quick-moving plot. It’s a fantastic film, and if you enjoy action movies like John Wick, you won’t want to miss this one.

4) Titane

Science fiction horror is a popular type of sci-fi movie, featuring classics like Alien, The Thing, and Predator. The 2021 film Titane takes the genre in an even stranger direction with its focus on body horror. Directed by Julia Ducournau, this French-Belgian film tells the story of a woman with a titanium plate in her head who develops unusual connections to cars and a violent streak.

Though Titane is a strange, unconventional film, and originally made in a foreign language, it’s understandable that it didn’t reach a huge American audience. However, viewers who did see it have widely praised it as a standout body horror film, perfectly satisfying fans of both horror and science fiction.

3) Ad Astra

The 2019 film Ad Astra seemed destined for blockbuster success. This sci-fi adventure, with a $100 million budget and starring Brad Pitt, follows an astronaut on a dangerous mission to Neptune. He’s tasked with stopping a powerful cosmic ray that threatens all life, but his journey is also personal – he’s searching for answers about the last mission of his long-lost father, who was also an astronaut. Directed by James Gray, the movie blends thrilling action with a deeply emotional story.

Despite being beautifully filmed with impressive visuals, Ad Astra was a surprisingly thoughtful take on space exploration – making it one of the most original films in the genre this century. Unfortunately, it didn’t perform well at the box office, possibly because 2019 had so many other excellent movies competing for attention.

2) Mars Express

Released in 2023, Mars Express is the newest movie on this list. This French animated sci-fi film, directed by Jérémie Périn, centers around a detective and her android companion who are sent to Earth to find a hacker. Upon returning to Mars, they stumble upon a conspiracy with far-reaching implications.

While Mars Express uses familiar sci-fi themes like robots and space travel seen in many other movies, it stands out as something truly special. The animation is breathtaking and a major highlight, but the film also boasts a captivating story, excellent acting, and a wonderfully realized world, making it a must-see for animation and sci-fi enthusiasts.

1) Threads

Released on BBC2 in 1984, Threads is a chilling film directed by Mick Jackson. Set in Sheffield, England, it tells the story of Ruth and Jimmy, a couple expecting a child, as global tensions rise. The movie depicts a world where political conflict – sparked by Soviet invasion of Iran following a US-backed coup – escalates into nuclear war. A bomb detonates near Sheffield, and the film then realistically portrays the devastating aftermath and the struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic Britain.

Threads is a deeply disturbing and remarkably realistic film about the consequences of a nuclear attack. While often categorized as science fiction, it focuses on the grim biological and societal effects of such a war. Sadly, it’s a film that doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but it’s one everyone should see.

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2026-06-14 22:14