5 Great Sci-Fi Movies With Seriously Dark Endings

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As a critic, I’ve always loved science fiction – it’s a genre that consistently delivers at the box office and boasts an incredible legacy. What I find so compelling is its ability to tell wildly imaginative stories, sometimes leaping into far-off futures and other times holding a mirror up to our own world. But sci-fi isn’t just about entertainment; the truly great films make you think. They tackle big questions about society, what it means to be human, and our moral compass. The best ones aren’t just visually stunning; they’re packed with layers of meaning, leaving you with a sense of wonder, maybe a little existential dread, and occasionally, a glimmer of hope about what’s to come.

I’ve noticed that while sci-fi movies can have happy endings, they’re actually pretty rare. A lot of the time, especially when a sci-fi film leans into scary territory, it ends more like a horror movie – really dark and unsettling. So, I’ve put together a list of five sci-fi movies with endings that are seriously bleak.

5) Annihilation (2018)

Released in 2018, Annihilation is widely considered a standout science fiction film of the 2010s, and rightfully so. The movie, inspired by Jeff VanderMeer’s novel, centers on a team of female scientists investigating a mysterious, quarantined zone created by an extraterrestrial presence. They’re searching for a previous team of male scientists who disappeared inside. Annihilation blends the unsettling elements of body horror with grand cosmic themes, resulting in a film that’s both beautifully made and intellectually stimulating.

The ending of Annihilation is deeply unsettling, but not overly dramatic. The film culminates in a confusing series of events involving alien copies of the characters, including a confrontation between Natalie Portman’s character and her double. The shocking final reveal – that the remaining survivors are actually these alien copies – suggests the Shimmer will continue to expand, ultimately leading to the extinction of humankind.

4) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange is a science fiction film from the 1970s that felt remarkably forward-thinking for its time. Released in 1971, the movie—based on Anthony Burgess’s novel—immediately sparked controversy due to its graphic and violent scenes. The film centers on Alex DeLarge, a criminal living in a futuristic world filled with extreme violence, and his forced participation in a radical psychological rehabilitation program.

The film first portrays Alex as a cruel and violent person, then shows the brutal treatment he undergoes in an attempt to change him. It seems like this reconditioning works, and we see Alex living a calmer, more peaceful life. However, the ending reveals the treatment was only temporary, implying that Alex – and perhaps everyone in the film’s bleak future – is ultimately beyond redemption.

3) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

While several films have been made under the title Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the 1978 version is widely considered the best. Starring Donald Sutherland, with notable performances by Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy, the movie centers around an alien race that arrives on Earth and can create perfect physical copies of humans, resulting in emotionless duplicates. It’s a classic science fiction film that continues to both entertain and frighten viewers of all ages.

I still think about the ending of Invasion of the Body Snatchers – it’s genuinely one of the greatest twists in science fiction history! It completely floored me when it turned out the hero hadn’t escaped at all, but had been replaced by a copy. It’s such a bleak and unsettling conclusion, and it really drives home the feeling that humanity is doomed. It just leaves you with this overwhelming sense of hopelessness, and it’s stayed with me ever since.

2) 12 Monkeys (1995)

12 Monkeys is a fantastic time travel film that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Bruce Willis plays a prisoner from a future devastated by a deadly virus. He’s sent back in time to the 1990s – the decade he grew up in – with the mission of stopping the virus from ever being released. He navigates a world that’s both familiar and distant, frantically searching for the source of the outbreak.

The ending of 12 Monkeys reveals a heartbreaking truth: the main character is stuck in a time loop and can’t prevent the deadly virus. He initially believes he can alter the past, but ultimately dies while witnessing his younger self, realizing he’s become the mysterious figure from his own memories. To make matters worse, the virus is still unleashed, suggesting the disastrous future is unavoidable.

1) Event Horizon (1997)

Often considered one of the scariest sci-fi films ever made, Event Horizon is a truly unforgettable horror story. The movie follows a rescue team sent to investigate a spaceship called the Event Horizon, only to discover its experimental engine has opened a gateway for a powerful, evil force. While the entire premise is deeply unsettling, the film’s ending is arguably its most disturbing part.

The crew is rescued after apparently destroying the creature that possessed Dr. Weir. However, the ending strongly suggests the creature actually survived, leaving a deeply unsettling feeling that it will continue to threaten humanity. The ending of Event Horizon is one of the most bleak and disturbing in science fiction cinema.

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2025-12-21 20:18