There’s nothing inherently wrong with superhero films dominating the box office, but there’s something a bit sad about the lack of truly cerebral sci-fi getting released these days. We can’t do anything about America’s insatiable thirst for caped crusaders, but we can point you toward some more intellectually engaging material!
It’s an especially strange time to do an overview of prescient sci-fi considering our lives have become increasingly mediated by technology, especially within the past month or so. Luckily, this problem was foreseen by great authors and filmmakers before us. Could their warnings have helped prepare the world?
Whether you’re looking for campy thrills, avant-garde escapist masterpieces, or rigorous brain workouts, this list has you covered. Check out our rundown of the best obscure sci-fi movies you should be making yourself familiar with in these insane times.
(Content warning: Some of these movies feature physical and sexual violence.)
Project A-Ko (1986)
The City of Lost Children (1995)
Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)
Paprika (2006)
Demon Seed (1977)
World on a Wire (1973)
The Animatrix (2003)
The Super Inframan (1975)
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
The Lure (2015)
For more, you can check out our list of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now.
Editors' Recommendations
- The 11 best superhero movies of all time
- The 10 best Dominican cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
- The 12 best small cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
- The 10 best medium cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
- The 12 best sports movies of all time – From The Bad News Bears to Goon