10 Underrated Sci-Fi Movies From The 1980s You Need To See

Some of the best sci-fi movies ever were made in the 1980s, from scrappy indie flicks to genre-defining blockbusters. This was the decade when Mad Max went post-apocalyptic and when Marty McFly first gunned that DeLorean to go back to the future. Several of the best “Star Trek” movies were released in the ’80s too, while the original “Star Wars” trilogy wrapped its run during the decade. Simply put, if you’re a science fiction fan, you’re probably acutely aware of some of the genre flicks to come in the ’80s.

But we’re not talking about the more well-known genre movies to come out of the ’80s this time. Instead, we’re taking a look back at the cult classics and overlooked sci-fi gems that came out during the decade. Some of these movies were popular enough at the time, but have since fallen into relative obscurity over the subsequent decades. With everything from sci-fi horror to space opera, we’re looking at a wide breadth of what the genre offered cinematically at the time. 

Here are 10 underrated sci-fi movies from the 1980s that you need to see.

While Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” was memorably remade into a Western as “The Magnificent Seven,” it’s not the only time an American studio reimagined the classic tale. Producer Roger Corman’s “Battle Beyond the Stars” is a sci-fi remake of Kurosawa’s samurai epic that has to be seen to be believed. The game has a small band of mercenaries defend the agricultural planet of Akir from interplanetary warlord Sador (John Saxon). This leads the ensemble to make a heroic last stand, despite being significantly outnumbered by Sador’s incoming army.

“Battle Beyond the Stars” is essentially a cross between “Seven Samurai” and “Star Wars,” but it’s still a lot of campy fun. A young James Cameron took “Battle Beyond the Stars” to the next level, working extensively on the movie’s visual effects, setting the foundation for his own sci-fi films years later. These elements, along with a whole host of character actors like Robert Vaughn and George Peppard, elevate the overall proceedings above most Corman fare. A freewheeling sci-fi pastiche that wears its influences on its sleeve, “Battle Beyond the Stars” is stronger than most “Star Wars” knock-offs.

The 1980 movie “The Final Countdown” provided audiences with a World War II story driven by a time-bending twist. The movie follows a modern American aircraft carrier that enters a temporal vortex that takes them back to the eve of the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The crew becomes torn whether they should preserve history by avoiding combat or alter the timeline by attacking the approaching Japanese fleet. This is complicated by the presence of a U.S. Senator rescued by the aircraft carrier who was fated to die in the lead-up to the attack.

“The Final Countdown” is a sci-fi war movie perfect for alternate history fans, bringing a surprising amount of action despite its timeline-preserving premise. The movie also offers an impressively detailed look at life on an aircraft carrier, especially since the bulk of the story is set on one, grounding the narrative. Making all of this work are strong performances from Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen, as they realize what exactly they’ve stumbled into. A fun twist on a date that will live in infamy, “The Final Countdown” is elevated by its quiet verisimilitude despite its premise.

Before seeing a career resurgence with high-profile projects like “Never Say Never Again” and “In the Name of the Rose,” Sean Connery starred in the claustrophobic 1981 thriller “Outland.” Connery plays William T. O’Niel, a federal marshal sent to a remote mining community located on a Jovian moon. Investigating a series of violent incidents, O’Niel uncovers a corporate conspiracy that stretches to the highest levels of the mining outpost. Separated from backup, O’Niel finds himself making a last stand against the corporate goons looking to gun him down in a cat-and-mouse hunt around the facility.

Sean Connery’s sci-fi Western doesn’t get the recognition that it deserves from modern audiences and was largely overlooked during its theatrical release. At its core, the movie’s story is a retread of “High Noon,” albeit with more steaminess and violence, along with a hard sci-fi setting. This is anchored by a reliably good performance from Connery who handles the neo-noir and action elements well. Lean and mean with a central mystery quickly giving way to thriller action, “Outland” is a solid ’80s gem.

Just as “Return of the Living Dead” combined zombie horror and punk rock, “Repo Man” infused sci-fi with similar punk aesthetics. The 1984 movie centers on disaffected young man Otto Maddox (Emilio Estevez) who finds himself unemployed, with his girlfriend leaving him for his best friend, and just in a generally sorry state. Otto agrees to work as a repo man with a man named Bud (Harry Dean Stanton), looking for a Chevy Malibu with mysterious cargo in its trunk. This leads the car to be targeted by a bunch of different interested parties, with Otto caught in the middle of this hunt.

A true cult classic, “Repo Man” is a near-perfect sci-fi movie you might have missed, transcending its relatively humble production. Like its moody protagonist, the movie takes aim at so much from contemporary culture, from self-help gurus to shadowy government figures. But the movie really thrives as a nihilistic rebellion against the institutions that have failed us, with the radioactive premise almost a relief from the ennui of modern capitalism. At the end of the day, “Repo Man” is just a great story about running from various societal pressures, with an otherworldly MacGuffin raising the stakes.

Not all apocalyptic stories have to be powered by doom and gloom all the time, as evidenced by “Night of the Comet.” The 1984 movie has the tail of a comet pass over Earth, with its cosmic energies devastating the planet. Much of the populace is reduced to red dust while others are transformed into mindlessly ravenous zombies attacking survivors. The movie follows teenage sisters Reggie (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Sam Belmont (Kelli Maroney) as they navigate the post-apocalyptic world.

“Night of the Comet” is an underrated apocalyptic movie that deserves your attention, perfectly capturing that distinct ’80s vibe. From chasing arcade high scores to venturing into shopping malls, albeit filled with zombies like “Dawn of the Dead,” the setting suits its teenage protagonists well. The horror elements are certainly present, but the movie leans more into slapstick comedy than several of its horror comedy contemporaries. A more freewheeling take on an apocalyptic sci-fi horror premise, “Night of the Comet” feels like a teeny-bopper twist on Romero’s bleak zombie stories in a fun way.

While he’s best known for his work in horror and thrillers, one of filmmaker John Carpenter’s best movies is the 1984 sci-fi drama “Starman.” Jeff Bridges plays the titular extraterrestrial, who takes the physical form of Scott Hayden, the late husband of Jenny (Karen Allen), cloned from a lock of his hair. Pursued by the authorities, Starman and Jenny embark on a road trip from Wisconsin to Arizona to be picked up by his people. Along the way, the pair form a romance as Starman helps Jenny overcome the grief of Scott’s death.

An admitted tonal outlier within Carpenter’s wider filmography, “Starman” is the most emotionally vulnerable movie the venerable filmmaker ever directed. A lot of that nuance and depth comes from the rapport between Allen and Bridges, with Bridges getting his first-ever Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in the film. There is a serenity to the way Bridges plays Starman, but also a fish-out-of-water comedy element that keeps the proceedings engaging. An excellent showcase for Carpenter’s under-appreciated storytelling range, “Starman” should’ve been a bigger deal when it debuted in 1984.

One thing about ’80s B-movies that the social commentary and themes felt like a particularly prominent part of their narratives. This distinction spreads to “The Stuff,” a 1985 sci-fi horror movie written and directed by B-movie legend Larry Cohen. The movie opens with the discovery of a strange white and sweet substance emerging from the ground that’s as delicious as it is addictive. The substance quickly becomes a commercial craze as customers nationwide begin buying up and consuming the odd concoction. Of course, this being a sci-fi movie list, there’s the revelation that the stuff is an extraterrestrial parasite that turns those who eat it into mindless zombies.

“The Stuff” doesn’t try to disguise its takedown of rampant consumerism, specifically in regard to corporate-backed food eschewing any health concerns. But as unsubtle as this messaging is, the movie works because it leans into how ridiculous its premise is with a wink at the audience. More than anything, the movie also captures a distinct mid ’80s vibe, with its supermarkets and commercials evoking the era. Silly but still standing by its message, “The Stuff” wisely knows not to take itself too seriously, still delivering an entertaining ride.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” filmmaker Tobe Hooper teamed up with “Alien” screenwriter Dan O’Bannon for the British sci-fi horror movie “Lifeforce” in 1985. The movie opens with the discovery of a spaceship traveling in the wake of Halley’s Comet, with bat creatures and humans in stasis. Bringing back several of these entities to London, the scientists involved are shocked to discover that these creatures subsist by draining the lifeforce from their victims. With an outbreak of vampires growing in London, two men work together to prevent the world from being subjugated by these ravenous monsters.

“Lifeforce” is a fun twist on vampire tropes that wears its Gothic horror influences on its sleeve, even with the sci-fi trappings. Like many movies on this list, this isn’t high cinema, but it has fun with its premise and recognizes its B-movie bonafides, including plenty of nudity and creature effects. This is matched by a solid British cast, including a pre-“Star Trek” Patrick Stewart in a supporting role as a doctor targeted by the vampires. An overlooked gem in Hooper’s filmography, “Lifeforce” mixes Gothic imagery with a campy sci-fi setting to great effect.

“Mad Max” ruled ’80s apocalyptic cinema and there were plenty of pastiches released over the years, both played seriously and for laughs. 1988’s “Hell Comes to Frogtown” certainly falls into the latter camp, taking advantage of the tough guy persona cultivated by professional actor and lead actor Roddy Piper. The movie has Piper star as post-apocalyptic drifter Sam Hell, who wanders the wasteland after Earth was devastated by a nuclear war. Sam tries to escape from Frogtown, a community run by militant mutant amphibians, rescuing a group of human women in the process.

“Hell Comes to Frogtown” is just as ludicrous in execution as it sounds and cinema is all the better for it. Anyone who’s ever seen “They Live” knows that Piper can effortlessly command a scene and the over-the-top premise suits his talents well. The appeal here is the movie’s clear sense of humor, powered by Piper’s performance, seeing him squash cheaply presented amphibians. An undeniably campy source of B-movie fun, “Hell Comes to Frogtown” is one of the delightfully sillier riffs on “Mad Max.”

As the Cold War reignited during the Reagan Administration, renewed anxiety surrounding the possibility of nuclear war informed a lot of ’80s pop culture. This definitely provided the premise for 1988’s “Miracle Mile,” starring Anthony Edwards shortly after his memorably tragic role in “Top Gun.” Edwards stars as Harry Washello, a man who accidentally discovers that nuclear war is imminent when trying to contact his new girlfriend Julie Peters (Mare Winningham). Determined not to go spend his potential final moments on Earth without her, Harry searches for Julie as Los Angeles descends into chaos.

The sci-fi elements of “Miracle Mile” really only coalesce in the movie’s final moments, as the apocalyptic elements finally come pass. But the threat of nuclear war and the what-if implications of impending armageddon definitely feel sci-fi coded in their presentation. Throughout all the chaos and disruption of daily life, the movie keeps its focus on the relationship between Harry and Julie, giving the story its emotional grounding. A bleak reminder of how fragile and helpless we all are in the grand scheme of global politik, “Miracle Mile” offers a more grounded take on the apocalypse.