Science fiction is one of those genres that tends to be dominated by just a few really popular series. When you hear sci-fi, you immediately think of Star Wars. Or Star Trek. Or any other series with the word “Star” in the name. But there are a ton of movies out there than deserve way more attention than they get. The world of sci-fi is huge and incredibly varied, and there are tons of good adventures to be had if you look close enough. Here are just a few selections of sci-fi movies that we believe should be cult classics.
Contamination (1980)
Some movies just seem born to become cult classics. The Room was never a movie that was going to be an award show hit, but it works perfectly in midnight theaters in front of an audience of irony-loving fans. When you first watch Contamination, you’ll be shocked that it doesn’t get mentioned right alongside The Room and Rocky Horror. From a critical standpoint, the movie really just isn’t good. The special effects are low-budget and cheesy. The writing is predictable. The premise is literally ripped off from the Alien series. But that’s the stuff that cult classics are made from! It’s the perfect movie to watch for fun with your pals. It also helps that Goblin did the soundtrack. Yes, the same Goblin that provided the music to the cult classic horror film Suspiria.
Moon (2009)
Moon is a movie that starts off quietly. It follows a man working alone on the moon who (spoiler alert) ends up slowly being replaced by a clone of himself. He then finds out that he himself was just a clone that was made to think that he was the original. In actuality, he is only one of hundreds of different clones that each replace one another when the time is right. It’s creepy, it’s thought-provoking, and it’s not your typical sci-fi flick filled with intergalactic spaceship battles. Moon is a movie that sticks with you for all the right reasons long after you turn it off. Oh, and Sam Rockwell delivers a pretty amazing performance throughout the whole thing.
Videodrome (1983)
Coming to you from the twisted mind of Cronenberg, Videodrome is something you need to see to truly understand. We could tell you all about the amazing body horror scenes that have aged quite well. We could tell you about the creepy premise. We could tell you what James Woods’ character does with a VHS tape. We could do all that, but it feels so much more effective when you actually watch it. Videodrome definitely has become a cult classic in the horror arena, but it doesn’t get enough love from sci-fi fans. The science fiction elements of the movie are front and center the entire time. Here’s hoping it gets even more love in the future.
Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Man, the 80s were really a fine time for “so good they’re bad” movies, eh? Galaxy of Terror is definitely bad, but that’s what makes it so good. Are you following us here? It has about as naked of a premise as possible: space explorers land on a planet, and there are aliens there. That’s about all you need to know. But the rest of the movie takes this concept and pulls all it can from it. Scenes that are just as hilarious as they are disgusting follow, and they don’t really stop until the film ends. If you’re a fan of 80s special effects, you’re going to love this one. Just turn your brain off and enjoy the alien carnage. We all need a movie like Galaxy of Terror every once in a while.
