It’s common for truly great movies to go unnoticed when they first come out. Several films are released each week, and sometimes, really good ones get lost in the shuffle and don’t find an audience in theaters. This happened with horror movies like Slither, Near Dark, and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, and with comedies like Heathers, Dazed and Confused, and Office Space. However, science fiction films often face this problem more than any other genre. Luckily, these overlooked gems don’t stay hidden forever.
Over time, truly great movies become well-known. With so many films readily available through streaming, it’s easier than ever to find them – you just need a good recommendation. Often, those that are consistently recommended eventually find their audience and gain critical acclaim, if they hadn’t already.
7) The Iron Giant
As a ’90s kid, The Iron Giant is one of those movies I absolutely loved, even though it could be pretty intense! It’s such a nostalgic treat for me. But honestly, when it came out in theaters, it had a really tough time. The Sixth Sense was the new big thing, The Blair Witch Project was still packing theaters, and movies like Runaway Bride and Deep Blue Sea were already doing well in their second week of release. It was a crowded summer for blockbusters!
Despite being released when Tarzan was leaving theaters and Inspector Gadget was already three weeks in, The Iron Giant didn’t really capture the public’s attention. Surprisingly, it earned less money on its opening weekend than Inspector Gadget did during its third week – even though many consider it to be far superior to that live-action film. This was a financially weak start for director Brad Bird, but he quickly recovered with the huge success of his next movie, The Incredibles.
6) Dredd
The 2012 film Dredd is widely considered one of the best comic book adaptations of the decade, offering a gritty and compelling take on the source material that far surpasses the 1995 Sylvester Stallone version. Despite its quality and a modest budget of around $45 million, the movie unfortunately didn’t perform well at the box office.
The film is now widely considered a standout action movie from the 2010s. It has a dedicated and enthusiastic fanbase that continues to campaign for a sequel. Many would welcome a continuation of the story, especially with Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby reprising their roles, as they were both perfectly cast.
Stream Dredd on HBO Max.
5) Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a complex and thought-provoking sci-fi thriller that requires multiple viewings to fully grasp. Though it features a talented cast, it was always likely to be a niche film, and it’s generally a rather sad and somber story – interesting, but definitely downbeat.
It’s easy to see why Donnie Darko didn’t get a wide release. It started in only 58 theaters, and that number quickly dropped each week – to 26, then 17, and eventually just 10. Ultimately, it earned a little over $500,000 in the US, despite costing $6 million to make. The main reason for this limited release was the events of 9/11. The film’s trailer showed a plane crashing into a bedroom, and that imagery was too sensitive to show so soon after the terrorist attacks. However, over time, the film found an audience and is now considered one of the most important and influential independent films of its time.
Stream Donnie Darko on Prime Video.
4) Children of Men
Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men is a strikingly intense and thought-provoking film, widely considered one of the most impressive of the 2000s. Despite critical praise, it didn’t receive all the recognition it deserved. The film earned three Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Cinematography thanks to its captivating, continuous shots, but it wasn’t nominated for Best Picture.
There were several reasons why the film didn’t do well in cinemas. First, a $76 million budget was quite a lot for a complex, sci-fi action movie like this one. Second, even at its peak, it was only shown in 1,524 theaters, which isn’t considered a wide release. Finally, Universal Pictures should have promoted it more aggressively, especially when it was being considered for awards. Luckily, after the film received Academy Award nominations, many people discovered it and enjoyed it, ultimately finding a much larger audience than it had in theaters.
3) Starship Troopers
Widely considered one of the greatest sci-fi action films, Starship Troopers is a thrilling, entertaining movie with genuine tension. However, it was initially misunderstood by many critics, who believed it promoted fascist ideas, similar to the Robert A. Heinlein novel it’s based on. In reality, the film is quite the opposite. Like Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop and Total Recall, it uses a deliberately over-the-top and dangerous futuristic setting to deliver insightful commentary through satire and dark humor.
When Starship Troopers came out, audiences didn’t get it, and it almost flopped. Despite a large $110 million budget – a lot for a new movie in 1997 – it earned a decent $22 million initially but quickly lost momentum. It only barely made back its costs in theaters, eventually becoming profitable thanks to fans discovering it on VHS and DVD. Today, it’s recognized as the clever, anti-fascist satire it was meant to be.
Stream Starship Troopers on Paramount+.
2) The Thing
As a huge film buff, I’ve always loved The Thing, and these days, it’s widely considered one of John Carpenter’s best films, maybe even the best. But honestly, it didn’t start out that way. It had the really bad luck of coming out around the same time as E.T. – everyone was so caught up in that Spielberg magic, it was tough for anything else to get noticed, and The Thing really suffered because of it.
While E.T. was a huge hit with audiences, John Carpenter’s The Thing initially struggled. It only earned a fraction of its $15 million budget when it was first released in theaters. Over time, though, the film gained a dedicated following thanks to VHS tapes and home video. This led critics to reconsider their original negative reviews. When it first came out, The Thing was seen as a shockingly graphic movie that didn’t focus enough on its characters. Now, it’s celebrated for its incredible practical effects and how it captures the anxieties of the Cold War era.
1) Blade Runner
Despite being one of the five films that made 1982 a landmark year for science fiction, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner didn’t make a huge splash in theaters. Its release date actually coincided with The Thing, meaning John Carpenter’s film took some of the audience, while E.T. captured the majority of moviegoers’ attention.
Scott’s movie, made with a $30 million budget, ultimately earned only $27.5 million. While it brought in around $14 million internationally, it wasn’t considered a financial success. Critics were also divided on the film; it didn’t receive widespread acclaim. It took years for the movie to gain a dedicated following and be recognized as a classic, but by 1993, it had earned critical respect when it was included in the National Film Registry, about a decade after its release.
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2025-12-10 02:13