TOP 10 LOW-BUDGET AND UNDERRATED SCI-FI MOVIES

 

TOP 10 LOW-BUDGET AND UNDERRATED SCI-FI MOVIES

Hey everyone. I am sure that you might have heard about famous science fiction movies such as Star Wars, The Matrix, Terminator, Avatar, etc. But in this following article I am going to suggest you 10 names of sci fi movies which you might not have heard about. Personally, I have watched all of these movies and I feel they deserve some credit for their intriguing ideas and capturing plot. So here goes nothing:

10) CUBE

Year: 1997

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h30min

The best part about ‘Cube’ is its unique storyline. A group of strangers find themselves stranded inside a huge machinery filled with dangerous rooms. They have to find out a way to survive and escape before time runs out. It is a thrilling experience which will keep you glued to your seats. Although the theme of this movie is a little mature, but if you are well versed with ideas such as death, gore, torture and starvation then I would say you would probably love this movie. The only bad part about it is the ending, a trope which most movie directors seem to have a problem with. But apart from that, it is an intelligent movie which deserves your watch.

9) THE MAN FROM EARTH

Year: 2007

Rating: PG-13 (Self rating)

Runtime: 1h27min

What if I told you that a science fiction movie does not necessarily need to have super evolved concepts such as machines, AI, aliens, law-bending action, chase scenes, etc. But in fact, a movie can be made, shot in a single space which tells the story of an immortal and his adventures. ‘The Man From Earth’ is exactly what I am describing. This is a movie which does not have an antagonist, no CGI, no action, nothing. It is just a simple film which tells the story of a man named John Oldman who is a professor. He is leaving his college after working there for 10 years and before leaving he invites his colleagues to tell them his story and his real reason for leaving. I love this movie mainly because the entire film is shot in just one room. John’s house. Yet, it manages not to bore you. And talk about being historically accurate. The Man From Earth will keep you engrossed and leave you with a startling blow. You need to have some patience to watch this movie, but once you reach halfway through, you will be glued to it. I highly recommend you to watch this movie if you have a keen interest in the history if the world.

8) EXTINCTION

Year: 2018

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h35min

A movie that starts off simple and ends with a gobsmacking plot twist, Extinction is definitely one of the best science fiction movies I have ever watched. There are some movies such as The Sixth Sense, Fight Club, The Prestige, Us, etc. which have the kind of plot twist which you will never be able to anticipate. But as soon as you watch the scene unfold, it hits you like a wave. Extinction is the story of a father who tries to keep his family safe during an extra-terrestrial attack on the planet. It does not delve into high class action and extreme chase scenes. Yes, it does have a heavy use of CGI, but all of it is worth it. And especially the fact that amazed me was that they hired Michael Pena, an actor usually known for comedy roles, for a serious film.

I highly admire this movie and I suggest you watch it soon.

7) THE TRUMAN SHOW

Year: 1998

Rating: PG

Runtime: 1h43min

Okay I kind of agree that this movie is not totally unknown. It is a pretty famous movie, yet when you search on Google, ‘best sci fi movies ever made’, The Truman Show is not on the list. Which is morally wrong. The Truman Show deserves all the recognition it can get. Personally, it is in one of my top 10 favourite movies of all time. The story is pretty simple yet uncanny. Truman Burbank, a bank worker slowly finds out that his life is a television show and all his friends and family members are actors. Jim Carrey manages to pull off this role in a superb way, making us root for him. It is such a unique idea that after this movie was released, people were actually diagnosed with The Truman Show Syndrome, where they believed that they were the star of a reality TV show and that their life was watched by everyone.

I also love this movie simply because it is a satire. It mocks the modern-day world and the obsession of people with social media. This movie was way ahead of its time. It is so good that I have actually watched it twice just to appreciate it even more. The Truman Show definitely deserves a watch.

6) RADIUS

Year: 2017

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h33min

Forgive my obsession with plot twists but I can assure that after watching Radius, you will definitely be obsessed with it too. It starts off with a man who has no memories of his past and anytime he goes near a living person, they drop dead on the ground. And then, the fun begins. I cannot describe how much I love this movie. I strongly feel that Hollywood should remake this movie with a bug budget and cast big-time actors.

Radius is so extra-ordinary that I can promise you that you have never ever watched something like this before. In just a matter of an hour, the director is able to make us fall in love with the relationship between the main characters and their state. And towards the end of the movie, we are left aghast by the turn of events.

5) TIME TRAP

Year: 2017

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h27min

I was so stunned after watching this movie that I had to take a break just to encapsulate what I had watched. Time Trap is the perfect movie to watch alone, with friends, with your siblings and anytime else. It is a roller coaster ride that never disappoints. It shows the story of 5 teenagers who get stuck in a cave trying to rescue their professor. But unfortunately for them, in this cave, time works differently.

Time Trap never fails to awe you. You will be stuck to the screen forever and absolutely love every second of it. And the best part about it is, it has a happy ending, something which is not a trend nowadays. It is the kind of movie which has all the elements you thought a simple movie should have. The CGI may not be that good but it surely shouldn’t stop you from watching it.

4) THE SIGNAL

Year: 2014

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h37min

As soon as you finish reading this article, I want you to go and watch this movie. There are no words that can describe how brilliant this movie is. It has almost everything. Action, Mystery, Romance, Drama, Thriller, etc. and yet it never feels too much. I really wish that they would have made the movie at least 3 hours long. It feels so good that it feels short. It will keep you yearning for more. It is simply not something you can predict. The moment you think you know what will happen next, just know that you are incorrect. And that is the best part about The Signal. It follows the story of three friends on a road trip, who accidently manage to get abducted by someone. It manages to captivate the audience’s attention and leave them hanging on the edge of their seat. It ends with a cliff-hanger which I only wish they would complete with a sequel. You need to watch this movie ASAP.

And now comes the holy trinity. The top 3 low budget science fiction movies that you should watch before you die. Get ready as the upcoming 3 are one of the best ones out there.

3) THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU

Year: 2011

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h46min

This is the only movie in this list which is a sci fi romance. Also, the only movie which has a moderately star-studded cast. Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, Terence Stamp, this is a movie which is again criminally underrated. Up until now most of the movies were all about plot twists and escapism and being a low budget flick. But The Adjustment Bureau is totally different. It cannot be classified into a high budget movie but neither is it too famous for me to not put it up on this list. Would you watch a story where two people who are destined to never meet each other end up writing their own destiny? This is what The Adjustment Bureau is about. I am not going to reveal any plot details but it is certainly a movie you have to watch if you like science fiction and romance. 

2) COHERENCE

Year: 2013

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h29min

How do you make a movie about the multiverse yet just set it in one room? Just like The Man From Earth, this movie too is set in one neighbourhood. Yet it manages its creativity very well and baffles the audience’s mind. A group of friends get together for a dinner reunion but due to the passing of a comet above, things take a turn for the worse. I absolutely love this movie because it is not even a horror movie yet you will be scared to your core after watching it. It will make you bite your lips and hide under the pillows. Coherence is unlike anything you have ever seen. I would urge you to go and watch it right now.

1) THE MAZE RUNNER

Year: 2014

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h53min

The Maze Runner is everything. It is one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made. It is much better than any of the movies I have just mentioned above. It is the best. Period. It has everything. Action, adventure, thriller, romance, horror, mystery, comedy, drama, everything. It is the perfect trilogy of movies ever made. I can write an entire article on how good this movie is yet it would feel short. No plot details are going to be revealed by me as it would only spoil it. I have watched this movie countless times yet I never get bored of it. It is based on the novel of the same name by James Dashner. The Maze Runner is a trilogy in the order of – The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure. This is basically a combination of The Truman Show, The Hunger Games, Cube, World War Z and Divergent. Now what could be greater than that? This is a movie that deserves your attention now. More than ever. It is absolutely amazing. A masterpiece.