These exciting science fiction thrillers might be all but forgotten, but they are nearly perfect from start to finish. The sci-fi thriller is one of the most unique mashups in all cinema, and they combine the best elements of both genres. They often feature futuristic tech or mind-bending science, while also examining the visceral fears that drive the thriller genre.
Unlike traditional science fiction, the sci-fi thriller takes its heady concepts and explores the darker side of scientific possibility. Though they aren’t always action-packed, there’s usually a fair amount of action to be had. Some are also downright terrifying, offering nightmarish scenarios that put many horror movies to shame. There are popular sci-fi thrillers, but many slip by with little notice.
Huge spectacles like Inception are prime examples of sci-fi thrillers that broke through to become bona fide hits. Often, underrated science fiction films are too far ahead of their time, and it takes a while for audiences to catch up. These movies might be forgotten, but that doesn’t take away from their important legacies in the science fiction genre.
Whether they’ve grown into cult classics or are still awaiting discovery, these forgotten sci-fi thrillers are all must-watch movies in their own right. They tend to come from the last few decades, but there are examples that come from even further back. No matter the era or medium these films come from, they are united by strong themes that delve deep into the thrilling possibilities of science and humankind.
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eXistenZ (1999)
If you’re wondering why David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ is forgotten today, it’s because it had the unfortunate distinction of releasing a month after The Matrix. The plot of the film concerns a video game designer who must retreat into her own virtual world in order to escape real-life assassins. The sci-fi thriller incorporates Cronenberg’s penchant for icky body horror.
eXistenZ examines the juxtaposition of man and machine, and is one of the more sincere cyber thrillers from the ’90s. Like a lot of sci-fi thrillers, the hidden gem argues that the imperfections of humankind are ultimately what corrupt scientific development. eXistenZ eschews CD-Roms and hacking and embraces visceral biological technology.
That’s the biggest reason that the film isn’t dated. The action is crisp and exciting, and the performances of Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh are stellar. As previously mentioned, eXistenZ was completely bowled over by The Matrix, and it doesn’t help that both films share similar themes. Nevertheless, it isn’t a mere rip-off.
5
Strange Days (1995)
When Strange Days landed in theaters in 1995, it came about five years too early to be fully appreciated. In a near future where memories are sold as entertainment, a former cop delves into a murder locked in someone else’s mind. Kathryn Bigelow’s criminally underrated film is a prescient look at the modern surveillance state and the rise of social media.
Strange Days is a dark subversion of the proliferation of information technology, and it tells a strong thriller story in the process. The thrills help keep the story grounded, while the not-to-distant-future science fiction offers a terrifying look at what could be on the horizon. In many ways, Strange Days is the quintessential sci-fi thriller.
Science fiction is always sink or swim, and Strange Days did the former when it hit theaters. Many underrated ’90s sci-fi movies faced the same fate, and Bigelow’s box office bomb has since earned quite a few fans. Over 30 years later, the thrills have only gotten more thrilling because Strange Days is slowly coming true year after year.
4
Sunshine (2007)
With Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, and Chris Evans in the cast, it’s amazing that Danny Boyle’s Sunshine is almost completely forgotten today. With the sun dying, humanity’s last hope rests on a mission to revive the star. Unfortunately, things quickly go haywire. The philosophical sci-fi flick is more of a psychological thriller than an action-packed romp.
Penned by Boyle and Alex Garland, Sunshine has the same depth and complexity as the duo’s other great films. However, it’s also a bleak look at the inevitability of death, and how that influences the animal parts of humanity’s collective mind. There are religious themes as well, and Sunshine is one of the most thought-provoking science fiction films of this century.
Despite a star-studded cast, there’s a reason that Sunshine bombed back in the day. It’s a difficult film to market, and a sci-fi psychological thriller is a tough sell for a general audience. Nevertheless, interest in the film continues to spike. It’s now considered one of Boyle’s true masterpieces, and it’s difficult to find any flaws.
3
Coherence (2013)
It’s not so much that Coherence is forgotten, because that would imply it was ever mainstream in the first place. The 2013 low-budget indie flick concerns a dinner party on the same night a comet passes overhead, and the strange events that unfold. The movie primarily relies on improvisations from the actors, giving it a realistic tone.
Similar to the mumblecore movement of the 2000s and 2010s, Coherence has a scrappy DIY spirit. That’s not to say the film isn’t well-crafted, and that’s why it hooks everyone who sees it. It delves into very heady sci-fi concepts, and makes them scary by forcing the audience to grapple with their reality. The personal nature of the plot is where the thriller concept really shines.
The movie was never going to be a big hit, and it didn’t get a huge distribution back in 2013. No matter how many “best sci-fi movies” lists Coherence ends up on, it will always be a forgotten gem. It’s worth seeking out for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the film does the mind-bending alternate reality twist better than most sci-fi films.
2
Seconds (1966)
Science fiction transformed forever in 1968 with the release of 2001: A Space Odyssey, but an overlooked sci-fi thriller came before. Seconds is the story of a depressed middle-aged man who undergoes a new procedure to put his mind in a younger body. Unfortunately, he struggles to transition to his new life. John Frankenheimer’s moody thriller is one of the most underrated movies of the 1960s.
Even decades ago, fears about the encroachment of technology were gripping the nation. Seconds is about the importance of identity, and how modern life can strip one of the most essential parts of their humanity. Though it’s quite light on actual science fiction, it makes up for it with a heaping helping of thrills. The noir-inspired visuals are just a cherry on top of a delicious cinematic sundae.
Though cinema was changing in the ’60s, not every revolutionary piece of media was embraced right away. Seconds remains a challenging watch, and its razor-sharp edges haven’t been dulled by time. Just as Seconds is one of the most underrated sci-fi movies of the ’60s, it’s also one of the scariest. However, the sci-fi thriller works by being subtle instead of jumping off the screen with overt action.
1
Paprika (2006)
Paprika is a highly influential piece of sci-fi thriller media, but it still hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. A sleep scientist spends her nights in the world of dreams in order to recover a psychiatric device that has fallen into the hands of terrorists. Satoshi Kon’s tragically short career produced a handful of animated films that exceed their live-action counterparts in terms of creativity and inventiveness.
The dream-like logic of the story spills into the visuals, but it also starts to encroach on the movie’s real world as well. It’s visually stunning from start to finish, just as it’s an intriguing puzzle to try and piece together. As far as anime movies go, Paprika is one of the greatest of all time. Its biggest legacy seems to be the movies that it’s inspired, including Christopher Nolan’s Inception. The aforementioned blockbuster borrowed heavily from Paprika.
The Japanese release didn’t stand a chance in the international market, and Western viewers largely passed it by. Paprika defies what most Westerners expect from animation, proving it’s a medium and not necessarily a genre. All that said, Paprika is one of the few perfect science fiction thrillers because it manages to elevate both halves of its genre mashup.
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