The 2010s were a good decade for all fans of science fiction thanks to franchises such as theMCU,Star Trek,andStar Wars. As a result, a lot of smaller movies flew under the radar despite the fact that they have a lot to offer to the audience.
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Even though their budgets might not have been as large as the blockbuster movies had, some best-hidden jewels have either a fascinating story, a strong cast, or both of these things. What’s more, they prove that with the right idea, the creators don’t need science fiction props such as spaceships or laser beams to make a sci-fi movie worth watching.
Brandon Routh isbest known for playing two superheroes, Superman inSuperman Returns(2006) and Ray Palmer, aka the Atom, in the Arrowverse. However, those who like comic book stories and want to see Routh in a leading role shouldn’t miss out on watching this mostly forgotten movie. Routh stars as the titular Dylan Dog, an investigator who just came across a very strange crime and has to figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.
The movie has the power to surprise the audience with its plot twists, it has several funny scenes, and the actors do a decent job. So even though it’s obvious it didn’t cost as much money as other science fiction movies,Dylan Dog: Dead of Nightmore than makes up for it thanks to its atmosphere.
5Womb (2010)
Wombwill be a tough pill to swallow even for those who love the science fiction genre because the movie offers a unique story and strange relationships between the characters. Eva Green plays a young woman, Rebecca, who’s devastated when her love Tommy (Matt Smith) dies in an accident. That’s when things get strange.
Instead of trying to move on, Rebecca decides to give birth to Tommy’s clone and raise him as her son, without ever telling him about the unusual circumstances of his birth. Of course, the new Tommy wants to live like everyone else, but Rebecca has a very close bond with him…and not the type of bond that a mother should have with her son.
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Wombis ultimately a psychological drama/thriller more than it is a science fiction movie, but without the science fiction element, the story wouldn’t be possible. The movie digs deep into the minds of the characters, and what it finds there isn’t always pretty. That doesn’t make it any less fascinating, though. Eva Green gives yet another excellent performance and those viewers who loved Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor inDoctor Whowill no doubt be interested to see him in a very different science fiction role.
4Priest (2011)
Priestis a movie that got a lot of criticism from the viewers, those that didn’t ignore it entirely. At its core, though, the movie is nowhere near as bad as the critics would like others to believe. For one, the setting in which it takes place, a devastated Earth populated by vampires, among other things, is hauntingly beautiful. The actors give strong performances,Paul Bettany shines in the leading roleand Karl Urban plays an unforgettable villain.
Even though more experienced viewers might guess some plot twists in advance, it doesn’t change the fact that the movie is full of action scenes and tension, which helps it keep a fast pace. So in the end,Priest’s biggest problem could be that it came at the wrong time and also that it didn’t get a sequel.
3Grabbers (2012)
Not everyscience fiction movie has to take place in spaceor on a starship.Grabbersis a good example of that as it’s set in a small Irish village. Deadly sea creatures attack the village and the locals soon realize that the only way how to fight them is to get very drunk. With the free-spirited theme, the movie goes on to conjure up multiple funny situations as the characters face nightmares beyond their imaginations and drink loads of alcohol at the same time.
It looks like the actors were having fun while doing the movie, so, in return, the viewers will also have a laugh while watching it. Plus, fans of TV shows might recognize a few familiar faces, such as Russell Tovey (Being Human) or Richard Coyle (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).
2R.I.P.D. (2013)
Ryan Reynolds has done a lot of movies that belong to the science fiction genre,such asDeadpoolor the recentFree Guy. That’s why this movie is mostly hiding in the background. Reynolds plays a cop who dies and joins the team of undead cops who are tasked to catch dangerous creatures roaming the Earth. To make matters worse, he can’t see his wife anymore and is forced to work with a rough partner, Roy (Jeff Bridges).
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The exchanges and arguments between Reynolds and Bridges belong among some of the best moments in the movie.R.I.P.D.also takes advantage of the fact that people who are alive see the main heroes with different faces. The story itself has a few weak points, but overall,R.I.P.D.is an enjoyable action-filled piece with a solid cast.
1Z For Zachariah (2015)
Sometimes it’s possible to have an excellent cast, a compelling story, and still fly under the radar.Margot Robbie is best known for playing Harley Quinnin the DCEU, and Chris Pine starred as Captain James T. Kirk in the renewedStar Trekmovie trilogy. When these two joined forces in this relatively obscure movie, with the equally talented Chiwetel Ejiofor, an unforgettable experience is ensured.
In a world that went through an apocalypse, Ann and Loomis (Ejiofor) meet each other, and as the only two people around, they begin forming a fragile bond. However, things get complicated when a third person, Pine’s Caleb, enters the picture. The movie doesn’t really focus on what happened beforehand. Instead, it creates complex relationships between the heroes. Thanks to the clever script as well as the amazing actors,Z for Zachariahis an intimate science fiction story that deserves more attention than it had gotten from the audience.
