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No matter how many sci-fi movies make it into the top box office charts each year, there are still some that unfairly slip under the radar or don’t initially receive the acclaim that they deserve. That seems to have been a bigger issue in the 2020s, as the sanctity of the theatrical window was undermined by a global pandemic and changing audience behaviours. But looking backwards, these movies deserve another look and more praise.
7) Tenet
Christopher Nolan’s Tenet is one of the most divisive movies in his filmography. Sandwiched between Dunkirk and Oppenheimer, the 2020 film saw the director return to sci-fi, hearkening back to some of his most popular movies like Inception and Interstellar. While the movie’s marketing generated a lot of hype, many viewers were disappointed by the movie, calling Tenet complicated, heady, and a retread of Inception.
As of the writing of this article, Tenet is Nolan’s lowest-rated movie, sitting at 70%. While this is still a really good score, some Nolan fans still treat Tenet like it is a bad movie simply because it doesn’t meet the director’s incredibly high bar. However, the film has arguably the most unique sci-fi concept this decade, has incredible visuals, great performances, and some fantastic practical effects.
6) No One Will Save You
2023’s horror sci-fi film No One Will Save You is one of the best alien movies of the decade, yet barely anyone talks about it. The Hulu original is a silent film that stars Kaitlyn Dever as Brynn Adams, a woman who wakes up to discover that her home is being invaded by aliens.
The film only has five words of spoken dialogue, with this being the aspect that makes No One Will Save You so unique. While this gimmick may have turned viewers off, the constraint makes the film even more impressive, which is why it is such a shame that it has been overlooked.
5) The Invisible Man
Over the past 10 years, Universal has failed at bringing back some of its iconic monsters, with 2017’s The Mummy and 2024’s Wolf Man being major disappointments. However, 2020’s The Invisible Man is the best reimagining of a classic monster this decade, and it needs to be talked about more.
The film stars Elisabeth Moss as a woman who is being stalked by her ex-boyfriend, a mad scientist who has invented a suit that allows him to turn invisible. This unique twist on the classic monster makes The Invisible Man a fantastic sci-fi film, with director Leigh Whannell using the concept to discuss themes of toxic relationships and gaslighting. The film’s release just before the COVID-19 Pandemic likely contributed to it being mostly forgotten, which is a shame.
4) The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is the first feature-length, fully-animated Looney Tunes movie to get a theatrical release, and it fits into the sci-fi genre. The film follows Porky Pig and Daffy Duck as they uncover an alien conspiracy, forcing the wacky duo to work together to save Earth.
The Day the Earth Blew Up is a surprisingly fantastic homage to the sci-fi B-movies of the 1950s, honoring one of the best periods of the genre. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. didn’t release the film in North America, causing Ketchup Entertainment to take over. This smaller distribution company likely contributed to the film’s surprising lack of popularity, with it only making $15.2 million on a $15 million budget.
