5 Great Sci-Fi Action Movies Nobody Talks About

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Science fiction and action movies are consistently popular with audiences, even as tastes change. While one genre might be more in demand at a given time, they often appear together. The combination works really well – the imaginative ideas of sci-fi pair naturally with the excitement and energy of action, creating thrilling movies. Many of the most successful sci-fi films, such as Alien, Star Wars, and The Terminator, heavily feature action elements.

As a critic, I’ve seen countless sci-fi action films, and let me tell you, nailing that blend is hard. When it works, though, the payoff is huge – these movies can become massive hits. But even a genuinely good sci-fi action flick can get lost in the shuffle, becoming overlooked or seriously underrated. It’s frustrating, because it means there’s a whole treasure trove of fantastic movies out there that hardly anyone talks about – films that deserve a lot more attention than they get.

5) Project Power (2020) 

While plenty of good superhero films exist outside of the Marvel and DC universes, they often don’t achieve the same level of popularity. Project Power is one such movie, focusing on a drug dealer, a police officer, and a former soldier who team up to stop a drug that gives people unpredictable superpowers for five minutes. The 2020 Netflix film stars Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Dominique Fishback.

It’s possible that because Project Power went straight to streaming, it hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. The movie boasts a unique and exciting story, filled with memorable sci-fi action sequences. With strong visuals and good performances, it’s a solid superhero film that blends sci-fi and action elements, making its relative lack of recognition quite surprising.

4) Oblivion (2013)

As a longtime Tom Cruise fan, I’ve seen a lot of his action films, and there’s one that really deserves another look: 2013’s Oblivion. Cruise plays Jack Harper, a tech working on a future Earth that’s been wrecked by an alien invasion. Honestly, the cast is incredible – you’ve got Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and even Melissa Leo alongside him. It should have become a sci-fi classic, but for some reason, it’s often overlooked. I think it’s time we all rediscovered it!

I really enjoyed Oblivion – it’s got that cool sci-fi vibe with plenty of action, but it’s also surprisingly mysterious and keeps you guessing, which I loved. Visually, it’s stunning, and the actors are fantastic. Honestly, it feels a little underrated, and I think it deserves to be talked about more because it’s a genuinely fun and well-made sci-fi action film.

3) Upgrade (2018)

I recently watched Upgrade from 2018, and it totally blew me away. It’s a sci-fi action movie, but it’s also really creepy and unsettling. The story follows Grey Trace, played by Logan Marshall-Green, a mechanic who gets paralyzed and then gets a high-tech implant that lets him walk again – and get revenge on those who hurt him. It’s written and directed by Leigh Whannell, and while it’s definitely sci-fi, it has this really unsettling, almost body-horror vibe that makes it feel much darker and more intense than your typical action film.

Blending science fiction, action, and horror is tough, but the movie Upgrade pulls it off seamlessly. It was both a critical and commercial success, yet it remains surprisingly under-the-radar despite its quality and compelling mix of action and sci-fi themes.

2) Déjà Vu (2006) 

It’s not unusual for some good time travel movies to fade from memory, and 2006’s Déjà Vu is one of them. This action thriller, starring Denzel Washington, doesn’t get much attention despite being a compelling story. Washington plays Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who uses new time travel technology in an attempt to stop a terrorist attack.

Despite receiving somewhat mixed reactions from critics, Déjà Vu is a fun, action-packed movie with a strong science fiction element. It shares similarities with Tenet, blending exciting action sequences with complex ideas about time travel. Though it might not be as thought-provoking as some other time-bending films, Déjà Vu remains a solid sci-fi action movie that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

1) eXistenZ (1999)

David Cronenberg’s 1999 film, eXistenZ, is a fantastic but often overlooked cyberpunk action movie that has gained a dedicated following. Though it hasn’t reached the same level of fame as some of his other work, it’s a high-quality film with a strong cast including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Callum Keith Rennie, Sarah Polley, Christopher Eccleston, and Willem Dafoe. It truly deserves more recognition.

The film follows a game designer who finds herself the target of assassins after launching a groundbreaking virtual reality game. It’s a thrilling mix of cyberpunk aesthetics, unsettling body horror, and fast-paced action. While critics loved it, eXistenZ didn’t achieve the same mainstream success as The Matrix, which came out around the same time, and that might be why it’s mostly known as a cult favorite. However, it’s a fantastic movie that deserves a wider audience and more recognition than it currently gets.

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2025-10-25 18:43