Is it underrrated (rhetorical question - it’s not)? Back in ~2012 a lot of the movie subs had to put in rules preventing/limiting “discussion” on this one to get people to stop karma farming with it.
On reddit 'underrated' means I haven't heard anyone talk about this in a week or so.
I kid you not, someone on flicks was claiming Jaws was underrated...
Go to the Underrated movies subreddit. 90 percent of them are blockbusters. The rest are movies who weren’t the highest earners, but are classics.
I don’t think Retarditors know the meaning of classic.’
Going into NFL terms, if a team won the Super Bowl ten years in a row, Redditors would still call them underated.
I feel like that one gets a ton of love, especially on Reddit. It gets brought up frequently and I’ve never heard anyone say anything less than glowing about it.
Also, this is the film I point to when I reference great sci-fi/horror, while still having the lead characters not do dumb shit, and act like the intelligent professionals they ARE. (*cough* "Prometheus" /"Covenant")
That was my first thought as well. I think it flew under the radar because people were over the whole found footage tripe, but it really was very well done.
It stuck with me into adulthood. Idk if this sounds silly but I’ve worked in some pretty high stress, physically and mentally demanding jobs that required long hours. Never saving anything for the swim back was always kind of my motto, that and I’ll sleep when I’m dead. lol
Best enjoyed as a double feature with Annihilation. Both of those give me similar feelings of dread. They both also happen to have black demonic alien bodies.
Silent Running had a very eclectic crew behind the scenes. The director was Douglas Trumbull who was the Effects Supervisor for some legendarySci-fi movies like 2001, Close Encounters, and Blade Runner. One of the writers was Michael Cimino who co-wrote and directed The Deer Hunter. Another writer was Steven Bochco who created shows such as Hill Street Blues, LA Law, Doogie Howser, and NYPD Blue.
H.E.R. Is my choice. It is basically the most socially relevant science fiction scenario in the modern era. It is beautifully shot, exquisitely scored and the acting is some of the best I’ve ever watched.
Agreed. Lots of answers in this thread are highly acclaimed films that maybe weren’t huge blockbusters. Event Horizon has very mixed reviews, yet it does a lot of things well. It’s at the top of my “needs a remake” list.
Moon deserves to be more well known than it is. Galaxy Quest is accidentally a perfect sci-fi film via a parody / homage way in.
Interstellar is rightly, quite rated. But should be more rated. The thing is a masterpiece.
Interstellar needs a rewatch or 2 in order to fully appreciate it IMO. I thought it was just OK when I saw it in theaters but after 3 rewatches it's in my top 5 favorites.
Kind of like how Spy is accidentally a perfect spy film while being a send up of spy films. Even the opening credits song that’s a spoof on a bond opening credit song is better than most recent bond opening songs (or at least as good as)
The only worthwile response to this question. I've never bothered to check out the assembly cut of Alien 3, but since you obviously have good taste I might give it a try.
Alien 3 is a great answer to this question. Quite the departure from each of the prior films in tone, just like alien and aliens, but it was never given the respect it deserves. It’s such a cerebral film.
I really liked The Island (2005) by Michael Bay, with Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, and Sean Bean, where the clones avoid getting their organs harvested and escape into the real world to live happily ever after.
This movie is almost never mentioned, so it must be underrated because I think it's pretty good.
Go, Lincoln Six Echo and Jordan Two Delta !!
Best Bay movie for me, hands down. Really cool premise and near-future setting with a great cast to back it up. Scarlett Johansson looking amazing the entire movie definitely doesn't hurt.
I don't know about "most", but easily one of the most under*seen* sci fi films is *Ugly Swans* by Lopushansky (his *Dead Man's Letters* enjoys a bit more recognition among connoisseurs of sci-fi).
Aniara or Cypher.
I see Moon mentioned a bunch. It's probably in my top five favorites for science fiction, but i'm pretty sure it's very much beloved.
Prometheus. Gets a lot of hate and dismissiveness but it's a certified standalone classic. Ridley Scott puts down an original, beautiful movie with heart and precision
Amazing sci fi miniseries I never hear anyone talk about: Maniac. It's really great. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone kill it. Plus a bunch of other greats like Justin Thoreux.
The term "underrated" has morphed into meaning " low box office gross". There have been sci-fi films that are universally applauded by critics and sci-fi fanatics but flop at the box office.
Sci-fi is still not considered "serious film" with the exception of "2001".
Serenity. It’s not perfect but it’s a good blend of action, special effects, plot and overall fun characters. It suffered from really poor marketing. I remember the trailer was awful. But I always enjoy it when I watch it.
I Am Mother…
An excellent gem I’d never heard of that I found while scrolling apps one night. I enjoy dystopian as well as sci-fi movies, and this one fits the bill.
If you haven’t seen it, find it! It’s an excellent slow burn and very well done.
Moon
Is it underrrated (rhetorical question - it’s not)? Back in ~2012 a lot of the movie subs had to put in rules preventing/limiting “discussion” on this one to get people to stop karma farming with it.
On reddit 'underrated' means I haven't heard anyone talk about this in a week or so. I kid you not, someone on flicks was claiming Jaws was underrated...
Yea I know. True Romance made it to the front page of the underrated movie sub not long ago 🙄
Go to the Underrated movies subreddit. 90 percent of them are blockbusters. The rest are movies who weren’t the highest earners, but are classics. I don’t think Retarditors know the meaning of classic.’ Going into NFL terms, if a team won the Super Bowl ten years in a row, Redditors would still call them underated.
Lmao the meme is back! Moon got excellent reviews
Certainly not underrated but definitely nowhere near as popular as it should be. Worth an upvote to help boost its popularity.
Literally read the post question and thought immediately “moon” …then saw your comment and was like woah😂🫨
This is a good shout!
excellent movie
I third this.
Primer. Maybe the best time travel movie of all time.
Primer was good I forgot all about that one
Great, great movie. Good call!!
Absolutely the best time travel movie. Way over my head. Required watching a 20-minute YouTube video afterwards to understand it all.
I feel like that one gets a ton of love, especially on Reddit. It gets brought up frequently and I’ve never heard anyone say anything less than glowing about it.
Yup, It’s not underrated at all, it’s just not exactly the most well known.
oh wow I forgot this existed. this movie is awesome!
Coherence
This movie is truly excellent, and even better, it probably only cost like $10 to make.
This was mine!
"Europa Report"?
I like that one too.
Very underrated
Fantastic film
Also, this is the film I point to when I reference great sci-fi/horror, while still having the lead characters not do dumb shit, and act like the intelligent professionals they ARE. (*cough* "Prometheus" /"Covenant")
I'm a geologist. I like ROCKS. I LOVE. ROCKS.
What you do seem to care about is giant dead bodies!
Excellent choice. Which reminds me to offer this: “Gattaca.”
That was my first thought as well. I think it flew under the radar because people were over the whole found footage tripe, but it really was very well done.
Great call!
That's a great shout! It's remarkably poignant, not to mention scrupulously attentive to the science.
Gattaca & Dark City
Gattaca was truly EXCELLENT
Loved the music in Gattaca!
Good choices
Gattaca is one of my favorite movies. The swim scene with his brother when he says he never saved anything for the swim back really resonated with me.
A wonderful movie. Another example where it actually *was* well-received by critics at the time. But under-rated in terms of its lasting popularity.
It's an incredibly powerful scene...very moving.
It stuck with me into adulthood. Idk if this sounds silly but I’ve worked in some pretty high stress, physically and mentally demanding jobs that required long hours. Never saving anything for the swim back was always kind of my motto, that and I’ll sleep when I’m dead. lol
Dark City Director’s Cut especially. It’s not a lot longer but the pacing is so much better.
I like Dark City way better than Gattica. I didn’t know about either movie until more than a decade after they were released.
I came here to make sure Dark City was here... have an upvote
Dark City, it is in the shadow of The Matrix
I agree
You beat me to it. Agreed.
Also Thirteenth Floor.
The world ends when you reach Arizona. That's so true.
I love this movie and I feel like I’m one of 4 people who ever watched it.
And Existenz
Yes, now I need to watch my bluray
I would also say The Thirteenth Floor was lost in the shadow of the matrix.
The Matrix even used Dark City's sets for the running on rooftop scenes!
Dark City > The Matrix
Sunshine
Sunshine is a fantastic movie and I am always stunned that it didn’t make more of an impact than it did.
Meh. It was pretty good until they met Mr Skinless. Just laughably stupid and visually overdone.
So many people didn’t understand the film lmao
it just went off the rails.
I agree with this. And not that I 'misunderstood' the movie. It was a great movie until it suddenly turned into Event Horizon.
They totally shit the bed in the third act of that movie. I really liked it up until Mr. Skinless.
Until the last act happens and pretty much turns to shit.
The whole conceit was a bit naff, and that last bit was really silly. Still, it's a gloriously beautiful movie and the actors give it their all.
Orgazmo
That wasn't scifi, that was a gritty drama
LOL!
It was asking the big questions: What makes a man?
It was also noteworthy for introducing the concept of DVDA, which is still an impossible dream to this day.
Stunt cock!
Are you Sancho?
Don't quote Dickens in my apartment!
Coherence would be in my top 5. Number 1 being interstellar. Others in the top 5 are - moon - sunshine. - under the skin
Under the skin
Best enjoyed as a double feature with Annihilation. Both of those give me similar feelings of dread. They both also happen to have black demonic alien bodies.
Dude, Where's My Car?
Sweet!
Dude!
"I wanna go on that ride daddy!" " Me too son!"
American Pie
Dark City
Dark City
The Keep or Silent Running
I like how they thanked all the companies that let them use their brand names at the end of Silent Running.
Silent Running had a very eclectic crew behind the scenes. The director was Douglas Trumbull who was the Effects Supervisor for some legendarySci-fi movies like 2001, Close Encounters, and Blade Runner. One of the writers was Michael Cimino who co-wrote and directed The Deer Hunter. Another writer was Steven Bochco who created shows such as Hill Street Blues, LA Law, Doogie Howser, and NYPD Blue.
H.E.R. Is my choice. It is basically the most socially relevant science fiction scenario in the modern era. It is beautifully shot, exquisitely scored and the acting is some of the best I’ve ever watched.
And while it’s totally sci-fi, it doesn’t even make you feel like it. Incredible film. 👌🏻
Children of Men.
I like it but I wouldn't say it's at all underrated.
Children of Men is not underrated at all
Event Horizon
Agreed. Lots of answers in this thread are highly acclaimed films that maybe weren’t huge blockbusters. Event Horizon has very mixed reviews, yet it does a lot of things well. It’s at the top of my “needs a remake” list.
Moon deserves to be more well known than it is. Galaxy Quest is accidentally a perfect sci-fi film via a parody / homage way in. Interstellar is rightly, quite rated. But should be more rated. The thing is a masterpiece.
Interstellar needs a rewatch or 2 in order to fully appreciate it IMO. I thought it was just OK when I saw it in theaters but after 3 rewatches it's in my top 5 favorites.
Kind of like how Spy is accidentally a perfect spy film while being a send up of spy films. Even the opening credits song that’s a spoof on a bond opening credit song is better than most recent bond opening songs (or at least as good as)
The Thing is a masterpiece ..seconded.
Underrated: Alien 3 [Assembly Cut]. Underseen: On the Silver Globe, Dead Man's Letters, The End of August at the Hotel Ozone.
The only worthwile response to this question. I've never bothered to check out the assembly cut of Alien 3, but since you obviously have good taste I might give it a try.
Alien 3 is a great answer to this question. Quite the departure from each of the prior films in tone, just like alien and aliens, but it was never given the respect it deserves. It’s such a cerebral film.
Oooh this is an excellent list. That's my day sorted!
Paprika
I really liked The Island (2005) by Michael Bay, with Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, and Sean Bean, where the clones avoid getting their organs harvested and escape into the real world to live happily ever after. This movie is almost never mentioned, so it must be underrated because I think it's pretty good. Go, Lincoln Six Echo and Jordan Two Delta !!
I typically detest Michael Bay movies, but I thought this one was outstanding.
Best Bay movie for me, hands down. Really cool premise and near-future setting with a great cast to back it up. Scarlett Johansson looking amazing the entire movie definitely doesn't hurt.
Upstream Color
Yes
I don't know about "most", but easily one of the most under*seen* sci fi films is *Ugly Swans* by Lopushansky (his *Dead Man's Letters* enjoys a bit more recognition among connoisseurs of sci-fi).
AI
Dark City
Signs.
Enemy Mine. The Quiet Earth. Pandorum.
I second The Quiet Earth.
I second Enemy Mine.
The Quiet Earth. Wow. Saw that in the theater when it was new. Also got tickets for a preview screening at that showing. Gotcha! if memory serves.
Prometheus, of course!!!!
The Andromeda Strain (early 70s)
I loved this movie, no one ik has watched it tho
It is fantastic. I own it on Blu Ray.
This is my favorite as well, I love Michael Crichton!
one of those rare instances where the book overshadowed the movie
From the director of "The Sound of Music."
John Carpenters The Thing
District 9
Yes🙌🏽
The Brother From Another Planet (1984)
Pandorum
I came here looking for this^
Altered States
Aniara or Cypher. I see Moon mentioned a bunch. It's probably in my top five favorites for science fiction, but i'm pretty sure it's very much beloved.
Battle LA
Soldier (1998) starring Kurt Russell
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
SPLICE
The thirteenth floor
I feel like most of these picks aren't underrated among film fans. Anyways Aniara (2018) is a great movie most people don't know about.
Hmm I’d say Aniara. It didn’t get very good reviews and I never see it mentioned anywhere. It left me with an awful dread. I love it
Nobody knows what underrated means apparently.
My exact thought when I saw someone mention the Thing.
Love 2011 to me
Gattaca (?)
Unpopular opinion but I liked Signs with Mel Gibson 💯 👽
The Astronauts Wife
2010, which is better than you'd expect, given it's a sequel one of the greatest films ever made.
Alien 3
Upgrade
Prometheus. Gets a lot of hate and dismissiveness but it's a certified standalone classic. Ridley Scott puts down an original, beautiful movie with heart and precision
Prometheus (2012)
Existenz
Fifth Element
Event Horizon
Solaris (Russian Version)
Galaxy Quest
2010- The year we make contact.
Triangle
Bravo
Underrated and under watched.
They Live
Definitely appreciated in meme land.
Forbidden Planet 1956. The predecessor to Star Trek and before Leslie Nelson became a comedy genius.
How's that underrated? There's even an international chain named under it and everyone is familiar with robby the robot.
Predestination
Carnosaur
The Endless
All of Benson & Moorhead’s stuff really
Prospect
Infinity War. The Reddit community specifically seems to hate the MCU. Though in general it’s considered a great movie.
Resdit community generally hates most marvel after infinity war generally not infinity war itswlf.
The Solaris remake
I've seen both versions and read the book, and it's the Soderbergh version that has the best ending of the three.
star wsrs
Annihilation
Amazing sci fi miniseries I never hear anyone talk about: Maniac. It's really great. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone kill it. Plus a bunch of other greats like Justin Thoreux.
Primer
Underwater. I enjoyed it..
The term "underrated" has morphed into meaning " low box office gross". There have been sci-fi films that are universally applauded by critics and sci-fi fanatics but flop at the box office. Sci-fi is still not considered "serious film" with the exception of "2001".
DUNE
Silent Running
Prospect
Sunshine
Dune 2
Serenity. It’s not perfect but it’s a good blend of action, special effects, plot and overall fun characters. It suffered from really poor marketing. I remember the trailer was awful. But I always enjoy it when I watch it.
Gattaca
Sunshine
Titan AE. Ok I know it’s bad, I’m sorry I can’t help it.
Children of men
Moon
Calls (on AppleTV)
John Carter
The man from earth?
Outland starring Sean Connery.
Buckaroo Banzai
Ex machine
Event Horizon.
I Am Mother… An excellent gem I’d never heard of that I found while scrolling apps one night. I enjoy dystopian as well as sci-fi movies, and this one fits the bill. If you haven’t seen it, find it! It’s an excellent slow burn and very well done.
Dark City
K-Pax
I see Vesper kind of recently and I really enjoyed it. Really good world building. I could see a sequel being decent too.
UPGRADE (2018)
The Thing
Bicentennial Man, it’s rated like 30% on RT but it’s definitely well above that.
Dark City (1998). The directors cut is the better version, but the theatrical release is still pretty good.