Best Bruce Willis Sci-Fi Movies

Bruce Willis is one of the most iconic movie stars in cinema history. His no-nonsense everyman persona has been shown in roles such as Die Hard, The Last Boy Scout, and Pulp Fiction. Though mostly known for his action roles, he has appeared in a whole range of genre movies that have often been critical hits. From supernatural thrillers such as The Sixth Sense to quirky comedic roles like Moonrise Kingdom, Bruce Willis has been a part of some of modern cinema’s best titles.

Among his many credits, some of Willis's most memorable roles have been in sci-fi films. Though he's not hugely known for this genre, the actor can ground these often extravagant movies with his down-to-earth performances and engaging screen presence.

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8 G.I Joe: Retaliation

IMDB Rating: 5.7

Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Released: 2013

Based on the famous toy franchise, G.I Joe: Retaliation is a sequel to the 2009 movie G.I Joe: The Rise Of Cobra. Willis plays a minor role, but adds extra star power to an already impressive cast. The role of General Joe Colton is a small one, but the film is a testament to Willis's onscreen presence, as he fully inhabits the few scenes he appears in. Bruce Willis is an old hand at this point, and expertly plays the character with all the authority his career has afforded him.

G.I Joe: Retaliation follows on from the original movie, as the Joes battle their archenemy Cobra, as well as forces within the government. It offers over-the-top fight scenes, big explosions, and everything else viewers would expect. The film may not be the best of Willis's career, but it is a fitting flick for Hollywood's best action stars.

7 Surrogates

IMDB Rating: 6.3

Directed by: Jonathan Rostov
Released: 2009

Surrogates presents an all-too-believable future in which the majority of the population has given up on real life, existing through robotic avatars called surrogates. Willis stars as a cop investigating a string of murders involving these surrogates and their controllers. To solve the case, Willis must leave his home and his avatar for the first time in years and venture out into the dangerous real world.

Though the premise itself mainly carries the film, it is a solid performance from Willis. While we may have seen similar characters before, Willis commands the screen, even through the de-aging effects used for the surrogate. The film offers an interesting concept, high-quality effects, and solid performances throughout. Although it doesn’t fully realize its potential, Surrogates is a fun and engaging sci-fi movie with a premise that many can relate to in the modern age.

6 Armageddon

IMDB Rating: 6.7

Directed by: Michael Bay
Released: 1998

A classic disaster movie, Armageddon was a hit, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler alongside Willis. The film follows a group of deep-core drillers as they are tasked with saving the world from an asteroid that will hit the Earth in less than a month.

Armageddon is far from a perfect film. It is director Michael Bay at his most absurd, creating a classic popcorn experience. Willis is great in the role and further proves his star power by bringing his down-to-earth persona and leading man's charisma to every frame he inhabits. Leading the heavyweight cast in a last hope to blow up the asteroid and save the world, he exemplifies the heroic everyman perfectly.

5 Planet Terror

IMDB Rating: 7.0

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Released: 2007

Planet Terror is the second film in the double-bill Grindhouse release by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Directed by Rodriguez, this entry is an over-the-top pleasure that revels in its chaos. The plot revolves around the release of a bioweapon that turns people into crazed zombies that terrorize the local population.

The film has an all-star cast of memorable characters, most notably Rose McGowan as the gun-toting one-legged femme fatale named Cherry Darling. Bruce Willis plays the no-nonsense Lt. Muldoon, who is partly responsible for the release of the bioweapon and who comes to a grotesque end. It’s easy to forget Willis’s comedy pedigree with his long history in action films, but Planet Terror shows that his sense of humor is alive and well. Willis plays Muldoon with the seriousness he brings to all his performances, creating the perfect satire of his onscreen persona.

4 Unbreakable

IMDB Rating: 7.3

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Released: 2000

Unbreakable was the second collaboration between Bruce Willis and director M. Night Shyamalan after first working together on The Sixth Sense. Unbreakable tells the story of a man who discovers he has superpowers after he survives a disastrous train crash unharmed, when every other passenger dies.

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The film attempts to portray superheroes in a more realistic and understated way, and features many of the tropes seen in the big blockbuster versions of the genre. From the origin story to the supervillain, the film presents a unique twist on the comic book movie. Willis was an ideal choice for the role. With his long history as an action star, the character is completely believable as an everyday man who can’t quite believe the truth about himself. His signature understated performance fits perfectly with the quiet tone of the film.

3 Looper

IMDB Rating: 7.4

Directed by: Rian Johnson
Released: 2012

Looper is an action sci-fi time travel movie in which Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis play the same character at different ages. The film centers around Joe, an assassin who can be sent back into the past to carry out hits, which change the course of the future. Looper is a high-concept movie that has fantastic effects and excellent performances from its central cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt may look a bit odd, with his face digitally altered to look more like Bruce Willis, but the film is a modern sci-fi gem.

Bruce Willis plays Gordon-Levitt's future self, sent back to the past to end his loop. Willis gives a strong performance, proving that even as he ages he can still hold his own against younger stars. Looper is a dense film with a lot of gritty details. including ideas of evolution, as psychic powers are becoming more common in the world. Looper connects all these ideas well, centering around the great performances of Willis and Levitt.

2 The Fifth Element

IMDB Rating: 7.6

Directed by: Luc Besson
Released: 1997

One of the most over-the-top and iconic movies in the history of sci-fi cinema, The Fifth Element is a unique, extravagant movie with a strong cult following. The film centers on a cab driver with an elite military past, who must help save the Earth from a seemingly unstoppable evil racing towards the planet. Willis’s long-suffering character must protect the mysterious and lovable Leeloo, who is the key to saving everything.

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The Fifth Element is a pulpy sci-fi epic, featuring an assortment of strange aliens and bizarre characters. Bruce Willis anchors the film with a strong performance that counterbalances the wackiness going on around him. Among the chaos, Willis stands out with his effortless charisma and likable persona. The Fifth Element shows the actor at his wise-cracking action best. The film has become a favorite among sci-fi fans, with many of its references seeping into popular culture.

1 Twelve Monkeys

IMDB Rating: 8.0

Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Released: 1995

Twelve Monkeys is a post-apocalyptic time-travel movie that follows a convict from a bleak future, who is forced to travel back in time to discover the source of the virus that killed off humanity. A classic in the genre, Twelve Monkeys is one of Terry Gilliam’s best movies and has all the style and surrealism that makes his films so unique.

Bruce Willis holds his own alongside a scene-stealing Brad Pitt, who plays a psychiatric patient and animal rights eco-terrorist. The movie is a fever dream, and stands as one of Willis’s most unique and intense roles. Willis plays the unhinged time traveler perfectly, centering Gilliam’s chaotic style of filmmaking with a believable character who knows the end is coming and is fighting to stop it. Twelve Monkeys blends a high concept with standout performances, and stands as a highlight in Bruce Willis’s exceptional career.