Every genre has its inherent strengths when it comes to stories, but for me, science fiction is one of the best because it allows creatives to explore the world not only as it is, but as it could be. Beyond that, sci-fi can be a great avenue for creating or perfecting new effects technology. It’s really a win-win for the film industry and creative storytelling.
But not every science fiction movie gets the respect it deserves. Unfortunately, it’s a genre that tends to underperform at the box office, even if it can find a second life on streaming or digital sales. Some of my favorite sci-fi movies are ones that tend to be overlooked by general audiences.
Moon
Watch Moon on Xumo Play
While some of his latest output has been mediocre-to-bad, Duncan Jones’ directorial debut Moon is brilliant, thoughtful, and well-acted. Sam Rockwell, especially, brings gravitas to multiple versions of the same character. Each of his clones feels very distinct, and Rockwell gives a performance that I still think should have brought him some nominations.
Moon is a sobering take on cloning and how it would be abused by corporations and governments alike. At the same time, it’s not overly preachy, instead relying on mood and a lingering sense of existential dread to convey its themes. Moon is just as relevant and fantastic as it was when it was released back in 2009.
Sunshine
Watch Sunshine on Hulu
Sunshine has something of a preposterous premise: In the future, some astronauts are sent on a mission to stop the sun from dying, which would basically ensure the end of humanity as we know it. But Sunshine plays its premise seriously, and thanks to a great script by Alex Garland and expert direction from Danny Boyle, it’s a film that works way better than it probably should. Though the third act does turn into something of a horror film, it’s a little tonally off-putting.
Still, there’s also a great cast here, with A-listers like Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, and Rose Byrne carrying the film. Despite all of the talent involved, Sunshine was a box office disappointment, and it’s sort of been forgotten by modern audiences. Sunshine is the type of movie that’s perfect to discover now on streaming services, and I highly recommend you watch it as soon as possible.
Upgrade
Watch Upgrade on Netflix
This is one of those hidden movies I found on Netflix recently, and I just can’t get enough of it. Upgrade has a lot on its mind for what is essentially a revenge thriller, because it uses the power of science fiction to raise a lot of interesting questions. What does our humanity mean in a world of mind-altering technology? Does it change our perception of reality? Finally, and more bluntly, what would happen if AI robbed us of our autonomy?
These are the questions that Upgrade ponders during its runtime, as its main character Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) carves a bloody path through a tech-fueled underbelly of crime and dystopian fear. It has one of those endings that I still can’t get out of my head. As invasive as the AI that Grey uses to be able to walk again, but at a great cost. I didn’t expect much from this movie, but Upgrade surprised me in the best way possible. It’s a sci-fi film that will leave you questioning your own reality.
Europa Report
Watch Europa Report on Xumo Play
Europa Report is a great example of a movie where everything continues to go wrong for everyone involved, and you start to wonder where you’d draw the line and just give up. A horror-tinged sci-fi film that centers on a crew that discovers life on Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter. It’s not exactly a happy affair, though, as the crew experiences tragedy after tragedy while trying to prove the existence of this life.
Europa Report is a low-budget affair that is way better than it has any right to be. Not exactly flowing with A-list talent, it’s still incredibly well-acted, with rich characters that actually have some depth to them. If you missed this film when it originally came out, and judging by the box office returns, you probably did, then there’s never been a better time to get lost in its claustrophobic and deadly atmosphere.
Safety Not Guaranteed
Watch Safety Not Guaranteed on Tubi
Part science fiction time travel movie, part romantic comedy, Safety Not Guaranteed has a lot of charm. It’s not exactly a film super interested in the mechanics of time travel or exploring hard science fiction elements. Instead, the uncertainty surrounding the validity of character Kenneth’s (Mark Duplass) claim to be a time traveler carries a lot of the film. Well, that and the instant chemistry between him and Darius (Aubrey Plaza).
While Safety Not Guaranteed doesn’t add anything particularly new to either genre it lives in, it elevates the material with its acting, writing, and directing from a pre-Jurassic World Colin Trevorrow. Plus, there’s a sweet, affecting story at the center of it that you can’t help but fall in love with. You won’t feel like you wasted your time when its brief hour-and-a-half runtime ends.
Sci-fi remains a surprisingly underrated genre
While science fiction does fairly well in the literary world, it’s rare for the genre to do consistently well on the big screen. And for me, these are the best science fiction films that have gone unnoticed for far too long. Hopefully, you find some joy in them, too. Though if you’re looking for science fiction shows that measure up to the greats like Andor, I’ve got you covered there, too.
