10 Sci-Fi Movies That Had No Right To Be This Good

Being an amazing sci-fi movie isn't easy, but these ones somehow managed it.
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[@buttnakedsneaks]

Dredd was so slept on. That was actually a good movie.

[@topher2113]

I absolutely loved District 9. It was a great surprise the first watch, and had held up through many many re-watches.

[@Tomy_Yon]

My all-time favorite Sci-fi 👽

[@dishmanw]

Yep, I loved it too, and I had high hopes for Chappie. Die Antwort helped make the movie, and Die Antwort destroyed it too.

[@damianstarks3338]

District 9 is nothing but a masterpiece.

[@darth_smooth81]

Unpopular opinion: I hated the movie. It had great special effects and overall a good plot, but the main character was just an idiot and I didn’t feel sorry for him in any capacity. He alone is the reason I ended up hating the movie.

[@hbeachley]

This is one of the most disturbing movies I’ve ever seen, but such a good movie.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

Edge of Tomorrow's poor box office is why we don't deserve nice things.

[@Bernard1127]

Hear! Hear!

[@AliceHope78]

I think I've watched it at least 4 times! And read the light novel too

[@mikegoldst46]

I've watched this at least a dozen times & will watch it many more.

[@vikassuryawanshi7525]

That movie doesn't make sense

[@Blackion_]

I worked in a theater at that time. I think 90% why is that the biggest writing on the poster was some phrase and not the name. Most people were buying tickets at the window by that phrase and not the actual name. I imagine a lot of people never connected the poster to the movie (and A LOT of people searched movies via swinging by the building and looking at the posters at the time)

[@kylefanning486]

Upgrade. It's one of the best sci-fi movies of the past ten years and nobody's even heard of it.

[@ellceek]

District 9 was excellent 👌

[@Bernard1127]

Top-Class!

[@HeyDirty]

'GATTACA'

[@madiantin]

OH MY GOSH YES GATTACA! That film was amazing.

[@queque391]

Equilibrium anyone?

[@danc7211]

I still remember my first time seeing Dredd in the theaters. I was bored one evening and wanted to get out of the house and on a whim, I had an "Eff it!" moment and decided to see a movie with some over-priced popcorn to pass the evening. Dredd 3D was barely on my radar and I figured it would be a decent choice for a throw away evening, not expecting much because of the Stallone installment. The movie ended up blowing me away and it has stayed a favorite ever since.

[@matthewthomson980]

The scene with they mini - guns 🤌

[@middleagedshred]

I waited for a Dredd film since the late 80,s reading 2000ad... the stallone one fell apart as a Dredd film as soon as he took his helmet off This one captured it perfectly..I wish they would make more.

[@seanbordenkircher7854]

You know what, I think Event Horizon was better than it had any right to be. It's a gory horror movie in space, it should be schlock, but it's gold! The cinematography, all the symmetrical shots, the acting between two incredibly opposite leads, and it works!

[@edisontruro2729]

And yet has such a dogshit score on rotten tomatoes. There is no justice.

[@turtlnickel]

Agreed. Definitely should be on this list.

[@jarrodbright5231]

Yep it's one of the movies I was expecting to see when I clicked on this video

[@YannMetalhead]

Event Horizon is a classic for sci-fi fans, the movie is great.

[@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511]

i rewatched it kinda recently. very good it is.

[@Michaelthekiwi]

One comment: District 9 isn't so much about Apartheid (although it draws many plot points like the relocation of a Shantytown District from events during the Apartheid era,) it's about how refugees are treated in the contemporary world. It's underlying message was for audiences to realise that this sort of thing was going on right now with other people.

[@ellceek]

They really hit the nail on the head with that message, if you allowed yourself to receive it

[@TalkingHands308]

What are you talking about? Literally every movie Neill Blomkamp directs is about Apartheid in some way, lol.

[@jarrodbright5231]

Blomkamp himself said it was about Apartheid when he made it. The refugee message does work, particularly now (though not as much at the time the movie was released), which is a sure sign of a strong theme well addressed - it's a message for humanity that stretches well beyond its initial reference point: examining how we treat those we see as "different" to "us", and the realization of this through someone part of the "us" group becoming part of the "other".

[@TalkingHands308]

@@jarrodbright5231 Literally every movie he makes is about Apartheid...

[@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511]

i don't remember the district 9 aliens being shuttled in with free hotels and phones and food and cash and clothes

[@jikae10]

I might be alone on an island, but "Oblivion" with Tom Cruise is up there. Fairly generic story, but really fun to watch. Plus, a really good cast with Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, and Olga Kurylenko, plus a whole batch of actors of whom I can't spell the names of. Also, directed and designed by Joseph Kosiniski, the director of Tron: Legacy.

[@TalkingHands308]

Oblivion was great.

[@samanthareninger4667]

We love it!! Watch it whenever it happens to be on

[@HashNub]

You're not alone. I really enjoyed it as well.

[@jmsmith1767]

I love Rogue One. It was like an action movie with a sci-fi backdrop.

[@tardis9905]

So far, it's the best of all SW movies.

[@MrKrtek00]

and Andor became even better, in my opinion

[@slimmccoy8863]

Would add "Soldier" to this list, possibly just due to bad marketing. Went in expecting mindless shoot-em-up action, was pleasantly surprised.

[@jahmaicherry]

The Matrix. After seeing so many Keanu Reeves movies that lacked...depth, I was blown away by the concept coupled with the action and special effects.

[@stephenkeen5737]

Totally. Even the fact that it needed to be rewatched cos the first time was too mind twisting.

[@YannMetalhead]

Matrix achieved something only a few movies are capable of: changing the industry. And I don't mean the movie industry, Matrix revolutionized pretty much every single entertainment industry.

[@nigelhickman2274]

How the hell did Galaxy Quest not make this list ?????????????

[@mrgraham5521]

Great question. Bravo.

[@zimriel]

Fair question if a Trek movie made it . . .

[@Sckipt]

I would put Ex Machina on the list. For one it totally predicted the possibilities of AI and secondly, it took a basic, fairly saturated concept and made a largely unique experience with it. It basically proved that Sci Fi movies can be made on very small budgets (half what District 9 cost). It also had some fantastic twists. The fact the film only made 35 million dollars is honestly criminal for how great the execution was.

[@avgjoe5969]

Ex Machina was in a very long list of AI gone bad tales done to death. So no. it doesn't get credit for "predicting" something already regurgitated many times. Yes it was done well, but no, there were no surprises, no originality. You had some great acting, but the plot followed the dots to its very predictable end. Blade Runner did this better. Then Battle Star Galactica, the West world series, beat the horse to death and refused to end (until it mercifully did). So... No. Of Couse it did badly. The execution doesn't matter when you beat a dead horse. The audience knew every major plot point as it was brought up. Imagine their growing disappointment as it nears the end and they know the "big reveal" is inevitable. No one's coming to the sequel either (see West World).

[@stephenkeen5737]

And such a great dance scene 😁

[@scotenat2843]

I absolutely love it. Every time I watch it the ends still a gut punch.

[@the100thmonkeyjakeparsons5]

Watch “The Artifice girl” best movie in this realm since Ex Machina

[@beezig]

Blade Runner 2049, I cant explain it, it just does something to me, its just a perfect film, the visuals, the soundtracks, the themes, just perfection 👌

[@damrat]

Agreed. The original Blade Runner remains my favorite film of all time, and I was very worried when I heard about the sequel. But, wow, it’s just phenomenally good. I actually disagree with this video’s statement that it doesn’t measure up to the original, because it very much does. It some ways, it bettered it.

[@strikingmachine2975]

imo Blade Runner is overrated, and 2049 is underrated..

[@stephenkeen5737]

I'm reading the book right now (Do Androids dream of electric sheep). It's blowing my mind. Adds so much depth. Did you know they're trying to make a Blade Runner series? There's a whole lot of comics from other periods to work on (2029, 2039 etc)

[@dastoryteller8472]

Predestination is a highly underated movie..the acting is on point and the mind bending plot is amazing..Sarah Snook deserves more from Hollywood...

[@caronstout354]

It's the only decent adaptation of a Heinlein story/novel...

[@mabatch3769]

Oblivion is another good Cruise sci-fi flick. Pitch Black should be on the list, imo.

[@Mike-fq1jl]

I loved every single movie on this list. My favorites are Dredd and The Terminator

[@madiantin]

The answer is: Pirates of the Caribbean. I remember hearing they were making it and thinking it would be absolutely dreadful. I was so wrong. I always liked Alien 3. Never understood why it was so panned. Best line in Star Trek Beyond: I like the beats and shouting. Of course Karl Urban's Dredd was fab. Karl Urban is such a good actor. He's pretty fab himself.

[@alexdesuys5712]

I remember the trailer with all the skeletons and my wife and I were categoric that the kids would not be watching it. And then it became a favourite family movie.

[@iainjames03]

Valid choice as a film which had no right to be as good as it was - but I'm not sure PotC could ever count as 'Sci-Fi'...

[@madiantin]

@@iainjames03 Lol, you are so right! My mistake.

[@alexdesuys5712]

@@madiantin went over my head too. Still happy to have talked about it.

[@seanbigay1042]

I have to disagree. IMHO the best line in Star Trek Beyond is "Let's make some noise."

[@ahseaton8353]

A buddy of mine took a date to Alien on its first weekend of release. He was expecting just another SciFi movie and was blown away. He did not recommend it as a first date movie. 😮

[@seanbigay1042]

Funny thing about Edge of Tomorrow -- its tagline "Live, Die, Repeat" is so much better as a title that the planned sequel was called Live, Die, Repeat and Repeat.

[@gumbercules1969]

Alien 3 is a gem hidden in plain sight.

[@CashelOConnolly]

Really,really 😳

[@caronstout354]

There were only 2 movies in the Alien franchise..only 2!

[@gumbercules1969]

What the heck does that mean?

[@Westerner]

Assembly Cut of Alien 3 is FANTASTIC. Fills out the plot and subplots, and gives the minor characters much more depth.

[@alexdesuys5712]

It's the most different Director's cut I've ever seen and brings the quality up to the first two. Bleak, savage and brilliant.

[@Westerner]

@@alexdesuys5712 it really is just as good as the first two. The only fault is killing Hicks and Newt.

[@alexdesuys5712]

@@Westerner it was painful but I respect the artistic decision. They wanted to finish Ripley off and leaving Newt would have seemed as brutal.

[@hippomancy]

I loved Alien 3... #1 horror, #2 action, #3 gothic ... Dredd was also amazing... actually this whole list was pretty spot on...

[@WhiteHorseBlackHat]

Even as a mid 90s 4th grader I loved Alien 3. It was a good sci fi tragedy with a great setting. Ripley felt like Odysseus never being able to make it home. I liked that each Alien movie had a different flavor.

[@HashNub]

I'm glad you guys are able to admit (unlike so many others, it seems) that Tom Cruise is, in fact, a good actor. I grew up watching this man, and he's one of my favorites.

[@ghw7192]

He was before he got in the Mission Impossible rut, IMO. Rainman was excellent!

[@stephenjacewicz4594]

Blade Runner 2049 is one of the greatest sci-fi movies made. It's soundtrack is insane but more towards the end. Edge Of Tommorow is also one of the greatest sci-fi and action films.

[@damianstarks3338]

Agree with you here on these SciFi movies.

[@peterproductions5015]

Hell yes. It’s my favorite sci-fi movie, and I love the original.

[@loudick9603]

A few years ago my friends were poopooing the idea of rewatching Alien 3. I told them "Don't think of it as Alien or Aliens, think of it as an Alien movie made by David Fincher." First off, they didn't know it was Fincher, and they saw it at a young age where people have grown accustomed to movies hitting certain beats. I rewatched it with them and they were surprised that they actually liked it. They then tried rewatching Resurrection and that didn't hold up super-well.

[@MrKrtek00]

I saw it in the theater when it came out. I loved its unique tone

[@ChonkySlotDonkey]

Blade Runner 2049 doesn't fall THAT short of the original, I know what you mean by the original being ground breaking and timeless, but 2049 was AMAZING in it's own right as a follow up, Gossling's acting, Harrison Ford's as well, the cinematography, soundtrack, story line, it follows the original perfectly and was way to slept on. It's a really really really good compliment to the original, done with love with Ridley as a producer and Denis as the genius director that he is.

[@superawesomeboy]

Finally, a list with stuff I've seen. Glad that Ewan narrated it, ai love that guy!

[@paulrackouski6609]

Upgrade.. come on!

[@jamessweebe373]

Is Ewan really back or is this an old video? It would be really nice to see him back at WhatCulture.

[@aaroncee1454]

Alien 3? Abram Trek? Rogue One? I'm so sorry for your loved ones, my condolences.

[@Jose-ht2lw]

I would put annihilation and arrival here. There i said it.

[@kevinfrushour]

I'd like to see annihilation again, but no one seems to be streaming it free.

[@stephenkeen5737]

Both great.

[@stephenkeen5737]

If you haven't seen Alex Garland's series Devs, do it asap. It's great (and it's only like 8 parts or something so not too much)

[@loganford3921]

Nemesis (1993) is a great Sci Fi action Movie. Definitely one to check it in the future.

[@Rune__]

I clicked video in hopes there was a movie i hadn’t seen, sadly, i’ve seen them all 😭

[@jad43701]

I absolutely love Edge of Tomorrow. Went in expecting a filler movie for movie night, and was pleasantly surprised. I had pretty much written Tom Cruise movies as just formulaic blah movies. Glad I was wrong.

[@vwhite3055]

How to say I've never seen a great movie in my life without saying so? "Alien 3 and Star Trek Beyond are underrated gems!"

[@jamalvargas6146]

Starchaser The Legend Of Orin Or Idiocracy Are my 2 choices classics In my personal opinion

[@zimriel]

my dad (rip) took me to Starchaser. i liked it... he thought it was a saturday morning cartoon

[@sonqasawa2622]

I expected EQUILIBRIUM to be right up there. That was a sci-fi movie that had no right to be so darn good! Yet it still makes for compelling viewing every time. I would most definitely put it above many on your list.

[@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511]

was that the "gun fu" 1984? absolute car crash. from what i remember

[@RoryMarverous]

I would suggest the 2014 Automata. It stars Antonio Banderas and is surprisingly thoughtfull and ends way differently than you'd think. Oh, and the 2015 Chapie. Both sort of flew under the radar and are actually really enjoyable and the effects are really good!

[@stanacondasv]

In Alien 3, I'm pretty sure Ripley didn't feel robbed of the artificial person bishop but did feel robbed of Newt and Hicks.

[@edisontruro2729]

You got there before I did

[@user-io8bm6gz5z]

predestination is one of the best movies I have ever seen in so many ways.

[@Zombiesnyder13]

Directing GRAN TURISMO will be a career suicide for Neil Blomkamp

[@TheVampireAzriel]

"That would be Boss" Bringin' it back!

[@k012957]

Although the effects and makeup are dated, I will always take a few hours to rewatch The Terminator.

[@adamgreenspan4988]

This is a really good list. Well done, Gabriel, Ewan, and Stephen.

[@princebloodgrave8097]

The Cell and Donnie Darko are both GREAT Sci-Fi movies.:D

[@wyldhowl2821]

From this list? 1. The Terminator, 2. Dredd, 3. Rogue One. 4. District 9. 5. Edge Of Tomorrow

[@tracidavis3565]

Dread was so good. We need a 2nd movie. However, I can’t understand how WhatCulture goes back and forth with Alien 3 being a bad movie to being a good one.

[@seanbigay1042]

Dredd. Not "Dread." You better hope he doesn't find out about this.

[@alexdawson868]

I dont think 2049 falls too short of Blade Runner

[@StephenLeGresley]

Ewan actually does a pretty good "I am the law" imitation. I'd love to see his top 10 Sci-fi of all time.

[@andrewd2400]

District 9 is the greatest Syfy movie I've ever seen.

[@thunderwarrior1759]

2049,District 9, Dredd along with Rogue One are four movies that has had me going back for multiple viewings and what we got on the big screen still holds up today..but Alien 3 the extended version fills in so many holes the big screen version left wide open,i would of liked Ripley holding the newly birthed Xenomorph. Back to my first mentioned movies,the inclusion of Red & Gold leaders in Rogue One made me feel eight years old all over again and back in 1977 watching the original Star Wars

[@AdamAntiumSI]

Dredd is one of my favourite films of all time. Criminally slept on.

[@AllThingsMyTV]

Avatar in 3d is AMAZING 😍😍😍

[@Zombiesnyder13]

Star Trek Beyond proved that Justin Lin can do more than just mindless action movies That's he shouldn't have returned for F9

[@stephenkeen5737]

Wait... isn't beyond a mindless action movie? 😅

[@SighManP]

Hmm what about…. Upgrade?

[@Bassquake76]

9:58 Michael "Bine"?? 🙄

[@touncy1533]

thought d9 was to have a sequel. didn't they say they'd 'be back in a couple/three years?

[@mumlee4807]

I'm still waiting for it.🤥

[@timothyivey5497]

Thank you for your Alien 3 praise! I thought I was the only one lol. The Assembly Cut is extremely dope.

[@prisonmike4971]

Predestination and Coherence I watched on the same day and it was so rad.

[@w41duvernay]

THE only good thing about Alien 3 was Charles S Dutton's performance. It totally crapped on the Previous movies storyline.

[@YannMetalhead]

Till this day it still baffles me District 9 being that good. I had zero expectation before watching and it ending up being one my favorite movies ever. Great movie!

[@cassiebrzozowski9905]

I was bummed Pacific Rim didn’t make the list.

[@salemslotandmore8278]

Thanks for the List and Video 😀

[@glenncheatham1320]

District9 was amazing!

[@javib2978]

District 9 is amazing. But some moments like some scenes and dialogue. To me, almost made me laugh unintentionally.

[@user-pt6nk1cv4z]

I liked predestination alot

[@caronstout354]

The best adaptation of any Robert A. Heinlein story/novel yet...

[@edisontruro2729]

Try ‘Worlds Greatest Dad’ with Robin Williams. So underrated and perhaps his last truly great film.

[@kevinlindstrom8486]

Great list. These movies are definitely better than people give them credit for.

[@Taylorwintz]

The apes trilogy is one of the best trilogies ever made.

[@stainlesssteelfox1]

Alien 3 will never be acknowledged by me as anything more than a cash in that shares the name. Like Terminator 3 is obliterates the hopeful tone the previous movie ended on, and that I find unforgivable.

[@jeanninelockridge5235]

District 9 was so sad.

[@CashelOConnolly]

It broke my heart seeing so much CGI ruined 😂😂😂😂

[@diplomatsking]

Hardcore Henry

[@chegenjonjo1381]

"Oblivion" and "war of the worlds" should have been there.

[@thedarkonestaint6105]

Dread is great

[@dylanogg347]

Edge of Tomorrow is an average action movie, and a watered-down adaptation of "All You Need Is Kill". Cruise is great in it I'll admit.

[@TitularHeroine]

Great list! If there's a follow-up, I'd like to recommend Chappie. Very underrated I think.

[@amai_zing]

Is Ewan actually still around or is this some back catalogue stuff?

[@ShadowCthulhu]

Starting strong with Predestination and Edge of Tomorrow then we have Dredd and the Terminator.

[@moviechannel6477]

Mom and Dad Save The World. .... The BEST Sci-Fi movie EVER made! Hands down.

[@TalkingHands308]

Wait, did you just say Alien 3 robbed Ripley of Newt and Bishop while showing them throwing the bodies of Newt and Hicks into the fire? Bishop was the android...

[@Thex1xManBetter]

I recommend OverLord and SnowPiercer for tribute

[@Darxide23]

Under the very strict criteria of "better than it has a right to be" then sure, Alien 3 fits. But at the end of the day, it's still not a very good film. The only other critique that I have is that the Star Wars stories movies are not good at all. Rogue One is so painfully bland and "meh" that I only vaguely remember what it was about. And Solo was utter garbage. It was not only boring, but extremely _bad_ at the same time. Just awful. One of the very few times I had buyer's remorse over a movie ticket.

[@hannibalstrausskahn4033]

Why did no one ever talk about southland tales?

[@skylined5534]

Did I really see a clip of The Terminator mixed with this opening gambit? Hoo-boy.

[@warrencochrane5155]

Wait, is that Ewan back at Whatculture?!?!

[@Kermit1970]

Newt and Hicks were killed off. Bishop was ripped apart by the alien queen

[@seanbordenkircher7854]

To the editor, choice work on the lip syncing, it makes me laugh every time

[@ghw7192]

Rogue One deserves a sequel, but it's hard to do with everyone dead!

[@seanbigay1042]

It already has a sequel -- A New Hope.

[@goddamntube]

Where is the great Samaritan that posts movie list in comments?

[@budday9545]

I loved Alien 3. I don’t care who knows. One of my favorite films.

[@adamgreenspan4988]

EdgaTommaru… with TommiDaCruz, EmmiDiBlunt… “Daaaad, STOP!”

[@jerryschramm4399]

When I heard that Villaneuve would be doing "2049", it immediately became a "must see". It didn't disappoint. What I continue to understand is all the love for "Rogue One", a mess of a movie, full of loose ends, and a plot that doesn't seem to know where it is going. A very weak entry, IMO.

[@Corman7088]

~~Dredd is awesome&possibly the best here. (Terminator's a given)

[@patricktebraak1284]

Karls Dredd is way underrated!

[@TheWorldMemeDatabase]

Upgrade!