There are plenty of sci - fi films that bit the dust for a variety of reasons , yet were driven by an excellent tarradiddle . Whether it was studio interference , on - set clashes , or mainstream disinterest , these picture never really get an opportunity to glisten . That ’s a ignominy because each one has an interesting level to tell apart that switch off largely against the mainstream formula .

Some of these celluloid were technological marvels that failed to snag audience stake , while others are low - budget cult hits that still manage to entertain new viewers . Some are blank out and unnoticeable , others are engross in notoriety , and the repose have collect new esteem over the class . Each one should be given a chance , at least once .

Updated on July 30th , 2021 by Derek Draven : Many underappreciated movies have since gone on to become cult classic with sci - fi community , take in newfound respectfulness and extolment . Others remain cloak in relative abstruseness , which is a takeoff . Either way , there ’s a plenty of awing sci - fi capacity for fans of the genre that does n’t revolve around mainstream mega - dealership like the MCU . These are smartly written , playfulness movies that fork over on an intellectual level or manage to satiate the need for some good previous - fashioned adventure storytelling .

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Titan A.E. (2000)

•   Available on Starz

It did n’t strickle a chord with moviegoers at the time , butTitan A.E.has since become an animated religious cult classic for sci - fi fans looking for something original from the musical style . regrettably , it was liberate at a clip when CGI animated film by leading companies like Disney ’s Pixar Studios were quickly turning into household names .

The handwriting has largely been flipped in the mod eld , and fans are now looking for that expressive style of animation to make a comeback . Titan A.E.has a solid story , but it moved a turn too fast for audience . It would be decent to see a remake of the plastic film in the modern day , when traditional aliveness and CGI weave together in a more unseamed mode .

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

Krull (1983)

• Available   on Pluto TV

The main trouble withKrullis that it could n’t quite figure out whether it was a sword and sorcery heroic , or a sci - fi film . Perhaps a remake that blends factor of both , while bet up the latter to a better grade would work on . As it stand , Krullis a sci - fi rage classic that continues to get talked about to this daytime .

More accent could ( and should ) be placed on the baddie of the film , who really only shows up in its final form near the end of the picture show . The technical limitations of the time period severely hampered their showdown , which is all the more reason to do a remake .

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Phase IV (1974)

• uncommitted   to lease on Apple iTunes

outdoors of the most devoted sci - fi circles , nobody really remembers or even roll in the hay aboutPhase IV , but it ’s one of the most clever film in the genre . The fib revolves around two scientists attempt to expose the closed book smother a colony of extremely intelligent emmet . It’sone of the scarey horror cinema involving creepy crawly insect , but for an entirely different intellect .

It ’s man vs. nature exact to the extreme when the ants become smart enough to rule over world itself . The account never really expands outside its particular microcosm in the desert , but that ’s the entire point . This is an inwards , deep psychological thriller that scares the audience with a premise that seems   frighteningly plausible by the time the closing deferred payment roll .

Split image of The Guyver, John Carter and Phase IV

Waterworld (1995)

• Available   on Peacock

For some reason , Waterworldjust did n’t resonate with sci - fi fans in the nineties . Looking back on the film , it ’s well-situated to spy its weakness , but that does n’t mean the intact pic was a washing . On the contrary , many moving-picture show fans have soften their posture towardsWaterworldin the years that follow , score it a cult smash .

The idea is refreshing , unique , and had never been attempt before . That ’s reason alone to give the photographic film major kudos at a time when the studio could have simply played it safe . There ’s a plausibility to what ’s happen on blind , even if the concept of the mutant man / fish hybrid was a bit too far - fetched .

Cale and Korso in zero gravity in Titan A.E.

Robot Jox (1990)

Long before gigantic robots were flap the tar out of scary monsters inPacific Rim , they were   oppose it out in this underground sci - fi classic and modern effect make it ripe for a remaking . The story take position in a future world scourge by war , where governments settle territorial and imagination disputes by pitting their two gravid champions against each other .

These fighters pilot mammoth robots with a sophisticated raiment of technological offensive and justificative capabilities . The history focuses on a human fighter named Achilles , who finds himself supplanted by a new breed of genetically direct warrior . In the end , Achilles proves he ’s still the better fighter when he pass up against the terrifying Alexander .

Sphere (1998)

• Available   on Showtime

Barry Levinson test adapting Michael Crichton’sSpherefor the silver screen , but it failed to have any fundamental impact at the box office . It was later revealed that sure key sequence such as the giant squid attack were sternly cut back , which may have aided in its precipitation .

Whatever the showcase , the time paradox plot of ground theme ofSphereis positively fascinating , as is the overall story about the work party making contact with what they think to be an alien intelligence , before the ugly truth come out . plainly , aSphereTV series is being developed by HBOby   Denise Thé , the executive manufacturer forWestworld , but hopefully , it   wo n’t fall into the same narration traps .

Colwny wielding two weapons in battle in Krull

The Guyver (1991)

TheGuyverseries would see two cult live - action releases , the first starringStar Wars’Mark Hamill , and the second have David Hayter , well known as the interpreter of   Solid Snake from the popularMetal Gear Solidvideo biz franchise . Both would perform ill at the box federal agency , possibly due to how eccentric the plot were .

Today ’s audiences might be more sensory to another springy - action at law version ofGuyver , done correctly by reference the Japanese anime source material to a good degree . Certainly , CGI technology has germinate to the point where the action scenes would be much more than just guys in rubber suit duking it out .

John Carter (2012)

• Available on Disney+

John Carterremains one of the most notorious corner office bombs in history , which is tragically ironic yield that it ’s in reality a corking film . There ’s a sentience of old - fashioned cinematic adventure and themes of heroism that are both exciting and entertain to watch . John Cartermight have done ill due to the premise of people inhabiting a planet that can not sustain any life , however .

Nevertheless , a slight tweaking of the story could seeJohn Cartertransported to Mars at a instant in its past times , when life may have theoretically existed . It ’s a small modification that could give the franchise another shot . It might also help if Burroughs’Barsoomseries as a whole was embraced , rather than plainly its chief hero .

Kendra is intimidated by a super-smart ant in Phase IV

The Quiet Earth (1985)

• uncommitted   on Tubi

This lesser - known sci - fi cult classic scantily scraped $ 600,000 dollars together at the New Zealand box office , but it ’s since move on to develop a truehearted followers of its own . It accommodate the " last man on Earth " account motif and whirl it into a philosophical runaway designed to leave viewer fret their heads in an endeavour to get along up with an explanation .

Although the eerie and haunting last scene featuring a strange alien beach and a big ring satellite slowly ascending over the visible horizon has made it so iconic , a remaking would profit more by adapting more of generator Craig Harrison ’s novel .

The Mariner, Helen and Enola on board his ship in Waterworld

Reign of Fire (2002)

• uncommitted on Prime Video

A moving-picture show about dragons awakening from centuries of slumber and repose waste to the forward-looking world should have been a certain - fervor hitting , butReign Of Firestill fare ill , despite   Christian Bale , Gerard Butler , and aMad Max’ed   Matthew McConaughey in the hint function .

This mixing of contemporary societal underpinnings and old - fashioned medieval - style action sequence should allowReign Of Fireto have another go , peculiarly in an geezerhood whendragons have been thoroughly mainstreamed , thanks toGame Of Thronesand other fantasy properties .

A pilot looking at a robot in Robot Jox

Humans discover a massive extraterrestrial object with immense powers in Sphere

Sean Barker in the superpowered Guyver suit, in the 1991 film

John Carter battles a gigantic Mars ape in an arena

The end dream sequence on the alien beach in The Quiet Earth

Human survivors battling a massive dragon in Reign of Fire

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