Explore the world of cheesy sci-fi cinema as we delve into 10 classic and entertaining science fiction movies that have stood the test of time. Despite their cheesiness, these films continue to captivate audiences with their unique charm and charmingly bad special effects.
Though these 10 science fiction movies might be cheesy, they remain some of the most entertaining examples of the genre, and they deserve some love.
Sci-fi and cheesiness go hand-in-hand, and it's one of the unintended side effects of the genre. Trying to predict the future or prognosticate on upcoming technology is tricky business, and the vision of filmmakers is usually made obsolete by the real world. What's more, sci-fi often looks quite cheesy in retrospect because its special effects quickly become outdated.
This is especially true when science fiction crosses over with horror and creates some sort of rubber monster that stomps across the screen. Nevertheless, cheesy sci-fi is endlessly endearing because it shows how far we have come in just a short time. It also represents the dreams and fears of older generations, whether they came true or not. Like all genres, the key to a great cheesy sci-fi movie is sincerity.
If the filmmaker is aiming to be funny or winks at the audience, it isn't nearly as engaging as a movie that is trying to be taken seriously. Though some tongue-in-cheek moments are to be expected, the best corny science fiction movies are genuine expressions of someone's artistic vision. Most of the movies on this list could be called bad, but that's not to say they aren't entertaining.
Some are actually classics, but hold up because of their reputation and not necessarily because they aren't cheesy. After all, the most important thing a movie must be is entertaining, and these 10 science fiction gems have entertainment value in spades. 10 Ghosts Of Mars The early 2000s is known for its cheesy sci-fi action spectacles, and John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars might be the cheesiest of them all.
While transporting a dangerous prisoner on Mars, a band of soldiers encounter the long-dormant native inhabitants of the planet who are out for blood. The movie's sly messaging about Manifest Destiny is largely lost in its corny execution and bombastic action. Unlike Starship Troopers, which drips with sarcasm, Ghosts of Mars takes itself just a bit too seriously.
Therefore, the stilted dialogue and over-the-top twists are hilarious instead of exciting. All that adds up to a pretty fun movie experience, and its cheesy vibe is actually why it is often lauded as a cult classic. 9 Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman Attack of the 50 Foot Woman has aged poorly for numerous reasons, not the least of which is its somewhat sexist plot about a woman scorned.
A woman is transformed into a giant by an alien force, and she uses her newfound size to get revenge against her philandering husband. Naturally, the effects are quite cheesy by today's standards. Though it's one of the iconic '50s sci-fi B-movies, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is not as great as its contemporaries. It suffers from a lot of standing around and talking scenes, but the giant rampage moments more than make up for its shortcomings.
It's such a loveably goofy flick that it can't be denied, even though it is cheesier than even the silliest '50s sci-fi. 8 This Island Earth Infamously the subject of Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, This Island Earth is actually a pretty charming little piece of '50s sci-fi. Earth scientists are assembled by a mysterious man who turns out to be an alien looking for help to save his home planet.
The Universal picture has a noticeably higher production value than its B-movie contemporaries, but it's still pretty cheesy. The acting is over-the-top, and the alien designs are quite goofy, but the most cheesy part of the film is its self-serious tone. Everything is played completely straight, especially the forced love story between the main characters.
It's the perfect slice of '50s sci-fi cheese, and it's also a beautiful looking movie with a memorable monster that comes in at the end. 7 Timecop Jean-Claude Van Damme became a mainstream megastar thanks to Timecop, and the box office hit is exactly what cheesy '90s sci-fi is all about. A police officer tasked with thwarting illegal time travel faces resistance from his own government that could jeopardize his career and family.
Timecop has a glut of interesting ideas, but they are all executed in the goofiest ways possible. Van Damme's martial arts prowess is on full display, including an unnecessary split on the kitchen counter. The movie's genuinely intense emotional moments are hilariously overacted, and the visual effects look quite dated.
However, Timecop is such a classic because it is so much a product of its time that it's nostalgic and charming in equal measure. 6 Soldier Soldier is a bloated and ridiculous sci-fi action film, and every minute of the Kurt Russell vehicle is genuine popcorn-munching gold. In the future, highly-trained soldiers are discarded on a barren planet and must defend themselves against their genetically-enhanced replacements.
The film is a notorious box office bomb, but it now has a growing fanbase. Everything bad that's ever been said about Soldier is absolutely true, but that's what makes it so fun. It tries desperately to be a serious action flick, but its ham-fisted script topples under the weight of its own self-seriousness. It has tenuous connections to Blade Runner, which makes it look ever sillier by comparison.
If one doesn't take it too seriously, Soldier is a fun cult classic. 5 Death Race 2000 It would be wrong to say that Death Race 2000 is an entirely serious film, and the Roger Corman-produced classic is certainly a parody of sorts. With the United States under a totalitarian regime, the most popular televised sport is a transcontinental race where contestants must win by any means necessary.
Death Race 2000 is the first in a long line of deadly games in cinema. Director Paul Bartel's subtle humor is certainly funny, but the real cheesiness comes from the low-budget execution of everything else. There's an obvious cobbled-together look to the production design that comes more from constraints than artistic choice. It's also so over-the-top that it circles back to cheese.
Nevertheless, it's one of the best sci-fi films from the '70s because of its topical themes. 4 Moonraker The biggest critique of the Roger Moore era of James Bond is that his movies are far too goofy, and Moonraker lends credence to that argument. Bond is on the trail of an international villain who has stolen a space shuttle, and his adventure takes him all the way to outer space. Arguably the franchise's shark-jumping moment, Moonraker certainly is absurd.
The big budget production of Moonraker means the film certainly doesn't look cheap for the era, though the visual effects have grown stale in the decades since. Under all that, Moonraker is still a Bond flick with some competent moments sprinkled in.
A few great action sequences save the film from being total space junk, and the climax is endearing in its own cheesy way. 3 Flash Gordon Though the '80s is looked back on with nostalgic fondness, it was a decade of nostalgia too. Flash Gordon revives the classic comic strip and serials from the '30s, and sees the titular football star head into space to fight Ming the Merciless.
Every moment is crafted to be heightened, so Flash Gordon is intentionally cheesy at times. Subscribe to the newsletter for more cheesy sci‑fi gems Rediscover cheesy sci‑fi and cult classics by subscribing to the newsletter for curated picks, context, and behind‑the‑scenes commentary that highlights why these films endure and how they helped shape genre favorites. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
However, there is an additional layer of cheese that has kept the film at the forefront of sci-fi fans' minds for decades. The goofy '80s effects and contemporary score are endearing and dated, but that's what makes the film so much fun to watch.
It is nostalgia filtered through nostalgia, and is an intentional creative choice spawning unintentional positive consequences for its legacy. 2 Fantastic Voyage Fantastic Voyage is a classic science fiction film that deserves a lot of praise for its ambitious choices and clever storytelling. As a Soviet scientist defects, an American military crew must shrink down and travel inside his body in order to save the ailing man.
Though the concept is oft-repeated in science fiction, Fantastic Voyage did it first. The effects are impressive for the 1960s, but they show their age. The movie's real cheese comes from the writing which borders on schlock quite frequently. Like a lot of great science fiction films from the era, Fantastic Voyage's greatest strength is its ambition and it is simultaneously its biggest weakness.
Regardless, it's a real gem that has only gotten more enjoyable because it's so goofy. 1 Forbidden Planet With its vibrant colors and fantastical production design, Forbidden Planet is an iconic part of the science fiction cinema quilt. A shuttle travels to the planet Altair IV to investigate a missing crew, and must learn the truth of the world's mysterious inhabitants.
The film's Robby the Robot is an icon of pop culture, and influenced generations of robots on the big screen. A loose adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest, Forbidden Planet is a bit richer than the usual drive-in fare.
However, it still suffers from '50s cheesiness with its stagey acting and corny sets. It's often the image that comes to mind when conjuring cheesy '50s science fiction, and it straddles the line between bona fide gem and silly classic.
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