The sci-fi genre is large and has plenty of great movies within it, especially in the 90s with hits like Starship Troopers, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Independence Day. Special effects in the movies improved a lot from the 70s and 80s, and fans of today can appreciate them for laying the groundwork for modern movies.
While there are plenty of hits that fans are familiar with, there are some that might’ve slipped under the radar. These movies might not have been box office hits and have mixed reviews, but they are still entertaining to watch. Some have gone on to gain cult followings since their release, showing that some fans find them great films in their own right.
10 Darkman (1990)
Where To Watch: Can be bought or rented on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Vudu
Liam Neeson has been in a lot of films and has so many memorable roles that some might’ve forgotten about this underrated gem. In Darkman, he plays a scientist named Dr. Peyton Westlake, who is working on a new type of synthetic skin to help burn victims. After his girlfriend finds an incriminating document about the mob in their city, he is beaten and burned in acid before his lab blows up. After some radical treatments, Westlake now has enhanced strength and can’t feel physical pain, but at the cost of him becoming mentally unstable at times.
Leave it to Sam Raimi, who wrote and directed the film, to create a very compelling character who is the perfect mix of man and monster. The movie makes sure to build up Darkman’s character before and after his transformation, but manages to do so without sacrificing the action that viewers want.
9 Coneheads (1993)
Where To Watch: Hulu
A sci-fi comedy that is based on the Saturday Night Live comedy sketches of the same name. After their ship is shot down, Beldar Clorhone and his mate Prymaat settle into life on Earth after learning a rescue ship won’t pick them up for seven years. They have a daughter and live a relatively normal life while waiting. However, they have to deal with INS agents that are trying to find out the truth about them.
It’s a pretty good comedy movie with some sci-fi elements to it. Plenty of familiar faces from Saturday Night Live appear in Coneheads, from cameos to supporting roles. While it received negative reviews upon its release, it has since gained a more positive reception.
8 The Iron Giant (1999)
Where To Watch: Tubi TV and Hoopla. Can also be bought or rented on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, and Vudu.
The Iron Giant has gained a cult following, but didn’t receive much attention when first released. Hogarth Hughes is a 9-year-old boy that lives with his single mother, Annie, who discovers a giant 50-foot tall robot in a forest not too far from where he lives. He befriends him and a friendship develops between the two of them along with Dean, a junkyard owner who lets the Giant hide out there. However, the U.S. military and government are looking for the Giant, and Hogarth, Dean, and Annie's lives are flipped upside down.
The movie has its light-hearted and comedic moments, but it also tackles some heavy topics. Hogarth explains the cycle of life and death to the Giant while Annie deals with being a single mom after her husband was killed during the Korean War. This movie doesn’t shy away from its mature themes but keeps it simple for a young audience to understand.
7 Virus (1999)
Where To Watch: Can be bought or rented on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Vudu
A movie based on the comics of the same name by Chuck Pfarrer. Virus follows a crew who loses their cargo while sailing through a typhoon. After taking refuge in the eye of the storm, they discover a seemingly abandoned ship and decide to salvage it in hopes of making millions. However, the ship appears to be sentient and the only survivor tells them they’re in danger.
It didn’t do well at the box office and mostly has poor reviews, but it’s gained a cult following since its release. Fans of body horror might appreciate the special effects even if they’re considered a little outdated now. Plus, seeing Jamie Lee Curtis in a horror film is always a treat and lets fans see her in a different horror environment.
6 A Wind Named Amnesia (1993)
Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
A Wind Named Amnesia is a post-apocalyptic anime movie about a mysterious wind that blew all over the world and wiped out most of humanity’s memories, along with basic things like speech and civility. The movie follows a young man named Wateru, who travels the world after he was found by a man named Johnny, who taught him everything before passing away. Wateru encounters a mysterious woman named Sophia and together, they set off to see what’s become of humanity.
It might not have flashy action scenes, but the movie is a pretty good watch. Seeing how the survivors of the wind are living is interesting because most of them are now resorting to barbaric ways, with some sacrificing others to appease a higher power. Some have even been brainwashed by a supercomputer. It’s an entertaining movie that has some typical post-apocalyptic tropes, but also has some twists and turns to keep viewers watching.
5 The Astronaut's Wife (1999)
Where To Watch: Can be purchased or rented at Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Vudu
After losing communication while in space, astronauts Spencer and Alex return to Earth seemingly unharmed. However, Alex dies from a stroke and his wife dies a few days later. Jillian, Spencer’s wife, begins to suspect something happened after he starts exhibiting strange and rather aggressive behavior. But it might be too late for her to run now that she’s pregnant.
The Astronaut's Wife is a sci-fi thriller that has a strong resemblance to Rosemary’s Baby. Overall, the movie is a little predictable and has some classic sci-fi and thriller tropes, but it’s an entertaining watch nonetheless.
4 Star Kid (1997)
Where To Watch: Hoopla, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, and IMBd TV (via Prime Video)
Spencer is a seventh-grader who is shy and gets picked on a lot at school for it. After a meteorite lands in a nearby junkyard, he discovers that it’s carrying an exoskeletal suit with AI from another galaxy. He decides to try it on and decides to have some fun with it like flying around, getting back at his school bully, and rescuing his crush from a damaged carnival ride. However, he finds out that the suit isn’t the only thing that came to Earth and must decide if he wants to be a hero or not.
Though targeted towards children, Star Kid has a pretty sweet story. Some of the special effects will look a little outdated now, but that shouldn’t stop viewers from seeing this underrated gem.
3 Mars Attacks! (1996)
Where To Watch: Netflix
From the mind of Tim Burton comes a sci-fi movie that will leave fans laughing and shaking their heads at what’s on the screen. Aliens from Mars come to Earth and, naturally, humans want to befriend them and the government wants to know why they’re there. The Martians start invading Earth and the movie follows various characters as they try to survive the invasion.
Fans of Tim Burton will be surprised to see how different Mars Attacks! is compared to most of his works, which usually have a Gothic theme to them. There is plenty of action and comedy that will leave fans amazed at how the movie almost pokes fun at everything when it comes to alien invasion tropes.
2 Fire In The Sky (1993)
Where To Watch: Hulu
Fire in the Sky is a sci-fi movie about six loggers who run into what looks like an alien spaceship on their way home from work. When they stop to look at it, Travis gets out of the truck to get a closer look. After it appears he gets zapped from the mysterious ship, his friends leave out of fear until Mike pulls over and goes back to find him. Only Travis isn’t there anymore. The five friends tell their story to the police, only to be scoffed at. After a few days, Travis mysteriously returns, but it seems like he’s changed.
It has some suspenseful bits and lets viewers see first-hand what Travis went through after his disappearance. The scenes are a little disturbing, though not graphic. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing the aliens and what they look like.
1 Alien Resurrection (1997)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime
Set 200 years after the third movie, scientists have created a clone of Ellen Ripley using her DNA and mixed it with Xenomorph DNA, naming her Ripley 8. However, Ripley isn’t the only clone that was created and the Xenomorphs were recreated. After they escape, Ripley and a group of mercenaries must survive them as they try to escape.
Some sci-fi fans might overlook Alien Resurrection because its predecessor, Alien 3, is pretty underwhelming when compared to the first two movies. However, this sequel should not be overlooked. Ripley 8 is a little different from Ellen Ripley, being a more sarcastic and dark-humored heroine. Seeing Sigourney Weaver play a familiar yet different character adds a little nostalgia, but keeps both characters from being the exact same.