While B-movies don't generally have a great reputation, that doesn't mean the audience can't enjoy them. Often, they're made on a lower budget and with lesser-known actors, but that's not a rule set in stone. Some science fiction B-movies became cult classics because they work to this day and new viewers find their way to them, regardless of how aged the special effects are or how bizarre the plot seems to be.
The best science fiction B-movies are so charmingly campy that it's easy for the fans of this genre to ignore all the potential faults they have and instead focus on the unique experience the movies offer.
5 The Blob (1958)
Steve McQueen went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the 20th century, but this 1958 sci-fi proves that every actor has to start somewhere. In The Blob, McQueen plays a high school student who takes on a giant pink blob that's eating everything that crosses its path.
The movie has the power to make the audience laugh since it's difficult to take anything that happens all that seriously. The Blob doesn't take itself too seriously either, unlike the 1988 remake. As a result, it's one of the best sci-fi B-movies from the 1950s that's so bad that it actually becomes good.
4 Braindead (1992)
These days, Peter Jackson is best known for his work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy or the subsequent The Hobbit movie series. However, just like a lot of talented filmmakers, Jackson started out his career by directing low-budget movies. That doesn't make them any less interesting for the fans of sci-fi and horror.
Braindead focuses on the young and shy guy Lionel who finally meets a girl he likes but has to deal with his mother who has turned into a zombie. Just like Jackson's low-budget movie, Bad Taste (1987), Braindead has a lot of dark humor, shed blood (as well as other bodily fluids), violence, and it takes place in beautiful New Zealand settings. While this movie might be too tough to swallow for some viewers, those who don't have a queasy stomach when watching a movie are in for an unforgettable experience.
3 Critters (1986)
Aliens can have many forms but more often than not, they look like humanoids... because it's cheaper and easier to film. In this case, the aliens are small creatures that can roll around in a ball, and they have sharp teeth. When they end up on Earth, they attack the Brown family but luckily, alien hunters are after the Critters. The design of Critters and their behavior might have been terrifying once but these days, the movie mostly comes across as a comedy.
It was one of the cult sci-fi classics of the 1980s and spawned multiple sequels, however, most people believe that the first movie is also the best one. Critters is a dark sci-fi comedy with the occasional horror moment sprinkled in, and the alien attackers belong into the category of creatures that are so hideous that they're actually cute.
2 Death Race 2000 (1975)
Since film has been a thing, people have liked to imagine what the future would be like and show their vision on the big screen. The comedy sci-fi Death Race 2000 tells the story of a race across the USA during which it's allowed to kill people. The special effects as well as the plot make Death Race 2000 a B-movie right from the start but everybody who enjoys the genre is in for a treat.
The movie has a lot to offer – fast cars, violence, and known names such as David Carradine or Sylvester Stallone. It became so iconic that it got several sequels, including one taking place in 2050 (Death Race 2050 from 2017) that's just as campy as its predecessor, and also stars familiar faces such as Manu Bennett and Malcolm McDowell.
1 Gremlins (1984)
While Critters have their unique charm, Gremlins are actually adorable pets. But only if their owner follows a very specific set of rules. When Billy gets the Gremlin Gizmo as a gift, he soon makes a mistake and as a result, the city is suddenly overrun by many Gremlins who are much less friendly than Gizmo. The movie is an undeniable classic and also a good story to watch around the holidays if the viewers are in the mood for a less usual Christmas piece.
The stakes are high in Gremlins and the danger is real, yet Gremlins still ultimately come across as a feel-good fun piece. It helps that it contains some wonderfully bizarre scenes, such as when the Gremlins get into a movie theater, start watching the Disney animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), and sing a song from the movie. Just like their less handsome cousins, the Critters, Gremlins also got several sequels, but the first movie has the best audience reviews.