16 Old Sci Fi Movies of the 70s That Somehow Still Hold Up in 2024

It's not about scientific accuracy, of course, but these films do make a pretty entertaining watch still. It's wild; think about it, tech from back then was pretty basic - no CGI, no high-def graphics. Yet, these films? They sure did dare to dream big on what looks like shoestring budgets now.

[@buffstraw2969]

You forgot The Andromeda Strain (1971).

[@Markus_Andrew]

Yep, one of the best - a true "hard" sci-fi movie. And remarkably faithful to Michael Crichton's novel, with just a couple of minor deviations.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

@@Markus_Andrewdeviations that I’d argue improve the story

[@Markus_Andrew]

@@mahatmarandy5977 Agreed.

[@talkingthetalk3640]

Maybe they didn't forget.

[@buffstraw2969]

@@talkingthetalk3640 A judgement call. Everyone has different tastes.

[@haroldbelfast]

Capricorn One, A Boy and His Dog, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Wizards, Alien, Star Trek the Motion Picture, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The 70's was gold for Sci Fi.

[@techserviceondemand9409]

Yes, and yes. Is there some reason Star War is excluded?

[@kurtwicklund8901]

No Zardoz? For shame. No list like this is complete without Zardoz.

[@rolandomichel2070]

ZARDOZ! Sean Connery in a loincloth! 😄

[@simonburley2692]

A fantasy created by a self-indulgent Writer/Director to tell a moralist tale that interests him. It isn’t Science Fiction. IMHO.

[@tbjtbj7930]

The ultimate flawed film - fascinating and ridiculous all at once. Apparently everybody really was on drugs making it. But I would classify it as Sci-fi (what might be/could have been) rather than fantasy. But a borderline case I admit.

[@armeswilli01]

Richtig der war richtig gut

[@jamescampbell2190]

I think we’re all working hard to erase the image of Sean Connery in a red diaper, thigh high boots and a ponytail from our collective subconscious.

[@ericabbott9128]

what about Colossus: The Forbin Project?

[@dougadams9419]

I have that on a PAL DVD along with Saturn 3 PAL DVD, both widescreen.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

I agree that one should absolutely be on here. That’s an overlooked classic. Definitely far more deserving of a list like this than Starcrash

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

@@mahatmarandy5977 Eric Braeden's first role under his "English" name. Starred on TV in "Rat Patrol" under his real name, Hans Gudegast...

[@juangallegos1048]

​@@mahatmarandy5977I totally agree with you, that film to me is the most frightening movie ever produced, I recommend every one should see it, especially in this day and age of a.i.

[@SeattlePioneer]

I agree. In fact, I've jest started listeni9ng to the audiobook "Colossus," upon which the movie was based. I've just reached the point where Colossus is about to be switched on in front of a world audience....

[@jonasslim]

Honorable mentions, A Boy and his Dog, Mad Max, The Last Wave, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Wars and A Clockwork Orange

[@Easy-Eight]

You didn't mention Alien?

[@alexius23]

Good Choices

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

"Star Wars" is NOT science-fiction. It's "space fantasy". BIG difference. Doesn't stop me from enjoying it.

[@ebinrock]

Star Wars an honorable mention?

[@matthewkirkhart2401]

A Boy and His Dog never gets enough love as far as I'm concerned. Probably because I'm an only child who had dogs throughout his childhood, but I've always loved that movie.

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

"Colossus: The Forbin Project"

[@11Stucat]

Ahh Damnation Ally. I bought the book from Scholastic Book fair in school when I was a 7th grader. Read it, loved it and saw it in the theatre. Great cast and if there ever was a movie that needed a remake it should be this. Great memory, thanks KZbin.

[@ericswain4177]

If you watched enough old Sci-Fi you would realize most of the current ones these days are remakes and redone with artistic license trying to keep them fresh and relevant.

[@johnnyv.5142]

Fans of HBO's Westworld should watch the original film. It still holds up today as great sci-fi, with Yul Brenner's memorable role as the Gunslinger/Man in Black!

[@glenchapman3899]

I saw the original in the theatre. Always remember the reaction of the audience at the end. We all just lost our minds lol

[@LindaB651]

Silent Running was such an amazing movie- I didn't completely understand it the first time I saw it, because I was so young, but over time- yep! Totally get it, might even have done the same! Bless you, Bruce Dern!

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Saw it a couple of months ago. First time since the seventies. Did I cry at the end! 😭

[@joegroup1]

Over 50 years since the film I think more of humanity can see that we are part of the biosphere of this planet. Some people, companies and govts are more environmentally aware. Gaia through climate change will cause humanity to see we are not separate or above all life on this planet, we are integral part of the life on this planet, and what we do to the atmosphere, the oceans and soil, affects many other life forms on this planet, as well as ourselves.

[@buffstraw2969]

Logan's Run the novel is SO MUCH BETTER than the inferior movie version. Read the book, skip the movie.

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

I cannot skip young Jenny Agutter in a thin skimpy wet dress... ;-)

[@carlfromtheoc1788]

...and miss out on the amazing Jenny Agutter? I think not.

[@buffstraw2969]

@@carlfromtheoc1788 Watch "Walkabout" instead. Much better movie AND she has a nude scene (tastefully done).

[@matthewkirkhart2401]

I did love the book more, but I liked the movie too just for the visuals, costumes, etc.

[@Sparky0627]

What's annoying is they said that he became a runner for questioning his society. WTF? No, he was forced to become a runner because they wanted him to find Sanctuary so they could destroy it! 😡😡🤬🤬🤬

[@ThomasGidley-kv2uj]

Wow. The two best were Alien and Andromeda strain.

[@HailAnts]

Some of these are better forgotten..

[@mancima]

The Car is in no way shape or form a science fiction film.

[@MrCh1cken]

Maybe it's on the list because of "self-driving" cars of today.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Quite agree. Might as well put 'Killdozer' there too

[@mancima]

@@Thenogomogo-zo3un I disagree. Killdozer was animated by an alien entity from a meteor while the Car is animated by Satan. I can see Killdozer being considered SciFi. Plus it as written by Theodore Sturgeon.

[@richardbidinger2577]

Definitely Horror.

[@robertrochester403]

Actually the Cat from Outer Space has the same basic plot as E.T.

[@nickn1782]

I saw The Cat from Outer Space on its original theatrical release.

[@robertrochester403]

@@nickn1782 Always loved old style Disney!

[@Tool-Meister]

One man’s Forbidden Planet is another man’s Mars Attacks. You might want to expand your list to 20 or 25 Titles …. AND, you might want to reconsider on some notable duds contained in this list. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[@alexalex13131]

IMO many of the films cited weren't that good to begin with.

[@alexius23]

There was little movie called Star Wars….I heard it did ok…

[@robertrochester403]

You can't say it's forgotten or underrated!

[@alexius23]

@@robertrochester403 I was trying to be tongue in cheek

[@robertrochester403]

@@alexius23 So I suspected!But I thought you might have been on a expedition to New Guinea for 50 years and not noticed.Use the force Luke!

[@herbypumpkin1256]

Stepford Wives was probably the best and not mentioned. Doppelganger was a favourite of mine (Also known as 'The Other side of the Sun).

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

'Journey to the far side of the Sun' But it was released in 1969, so doesn't really belong on the list. Damn good film though.

[@mikeburkhart8336]

Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!!!

[@44excalibur]

You may have forgotten Star Wars, Alien, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Andromeda Strain, and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

[@rabidsamfan]

Starcrash was awful. It didn’t hold up the first time it was in the theatres.

[@JoseyWales44s]

True, but it did have Caroline Munro.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

@@JoseyWales44s Good enough reason to watch it. At the Earths core too

[@JoseyWales44s]

@@Thenogomogo-zo3un Yep, and "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad", if I remember correctly. She was a real beauty.

[@AbelMcTalisker]

It`s at least watchable, unlike a lot of the other "Spaghetti Star Wars" knock-offs.

[@pisceanogre]

Because science fiction used to be about progress and science and social issues through the lens of Science Fiction. Now it’s about crazy big guns BFG’s and is the purview of teenage boys. Thanks a lot sci-fi channel.

[@dalethelander3781]

What, no Laserblast or The Incredible Melting Man?

[@tbjtbj7930]

The Car is horror, not Sci-fi. Good film but wrong list. And IMO Death Race 2000 doesn't hold up, its aged poorly. Unlike Rollerball - panned at the time but looking rather prescient today.

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

1975 Rollerball was far and above its remake...

[@JoseyWales44s]

Death Race 2000 was supposed to be a campy satire. For what it is, it holds up as well today as it did then,

[@seanbigay1042]

Anybody notice how depressing most of these movies were? No wonder the original "Star Wars" was such a breath of fresh air!

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Right about that!

[@luddite4change449]

It wasn't just SI-FI. most 70's movies were dark and synical . Three Days of the Condor, Network,

[@seanbigay1042]

@@luddite4change449 The Godfather ...

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

"At the Earth's Core" still holds up? Really? BULLSH!T... several of these movies are NOT "sci-fi"...

[@Davidbirdman101]

say waaaaaaattt??

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

At least you have Caroline Munro

[@dougadams9419]

Don't forget "Barbarella".

[@DrRock2009]

1968.

[@richardhockey8442]

the villain 'Duran Duran' and orgasmatron

[@jongilbertson2106]

How about Capricorn One, where the Government decides to fake landing the first man on Mars ( hint, hint)?

[@haitolawrence5986]

Are you suggesting the United States actually faked 6 moon landings and one failed attempt (Apollo 13) and not one of the 35,000 people involved came forward???

[@johntravolto7812]

Starcrash by Luigi Cozzi...Italian pride 😘

[@ronzombie6541]

Star 'crush' more like it!

[@robertrochester403]

With Caroline Monroe in space underwear!

[@richardhockey8442]

@@robertrochester403 St Exmin from Battle Beyond The Stars kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWXLf5mPbriagtk (the main character's ship has a pretty big rack as well :) )

[@robertrochester403]

@@richardhockey8442 Yes so I noticed!The ship even has a girls personality!

[@jamesomeara2329]

Dumb question, but The Car always seemed more supernatural than science fiction to me. Was it sold as science fiction back in the seventies?

[@kevindahlenburg6014]

I saw it on tv as a kid and thought it more paranormal than sci fi. Don’t recall it being advertised as sci fi

[@richardbidinger2577]

The car itself was supposed to be possessed by the devil. I've always considered it horror.

[@alanconway94]

Great backing track - and I'll have to rewatch Dark Star. 🙂

[@AbelMcTalisker]

"The Omega Man" was based on the novel "I Am Legend" so the more recent version that kept the original title is a remake.

[@richardbidinger2577]

The original was a black and white film with Vincent Price called Last Man On Earth. It's worth a watch.

[@soppdrake]

Nice list, except for Black Hole. THX 1138 is a piffed up version of Lucas' student film. He named his sound system after it.

[@Zekiran]

Having recently watched Starcrash ... oh my god no, it is definitely not 'standing up' in 2024 lol. I'd swap out a couple of these for the often mentioned Andromeda Strain (arguably a better movie than almost all of them) and certainly Invasion of the Body Snatchers was definitely one of the best remakes of an older movie that is equally good.

[@crazyman8472]

The Ones I Haven’t Seen: At the Earth’s Core Starcrash Futureworld Dark Star The Car (1977) 😎

[@glenchapman3899]

Dark Star is definitely worth looking for. Seen as the template for Alien, as in a realistic space ship. And easily the best alien ever committed to film.

[@richardbidinger2577]

Dark Star is a little campy but worth the watch.

[@trollonwiggins]

Worst line ever...Death Race...when Frankenstein removes his glove the girl in the car comments, "That looks like a grenade." He replies, "Yes, it's a hand grenade!"

[@bearbrown2597]

I love old sci fi... something gritty and rustic about those films

[@burtonwilliams5355]

Heavy Metal, Killdozer

[@kevindahlenburg6014]

Loved Killdozer! Scared the crap out of me as a kid. Thought Maximum Overdrive was a copy of it with different vehicles

[@markgraves4156]

As a kid this was one of my favorite episodes.

[@Driven2Beers]

I've been waiting for _Rifftrax_ to lampoon a few of these movies. BTW, _Asphyx_ sounds like a type of plastic surgery that the Kardashians would get. One more thing: the blonde on the right in the _Futureworld_ clip is none other than Blythe Danner (Gwyneth Paltrow's mom), and Peter Fonda is on the left (Henry Fonda's son).

[@biffstrong1079]

Big fan of the world building in Logan's Run. The TV show wasn't bad. One of many post apocalyptic imaginings. Bruce Dern in Silent running was very good. Soylent Green is People. Okay At the earth's Core was pretty bad Don't know Asphyx. Rollerball , yes classic. Loved Westworld. First Michael Crichton based movie where he suggests you shouldn't try anything cause things go wrong. THX 1138 Lucas's 1984 knock off. Damnation alley, another Post apocalyptic world (see Mad Max). Black Hole was better than you'd think. Don't know Dark Star but feels like a couple episodes of Voyager.

[@richardhockey8442]

Dark Star directed by John carpenter - philosophical debates with an AI controlled fusion bomb and a comedy beachball alien loose on the ship

[@richardbidinger2577]

​@@richardhockey8442I always rooted for the alien.

[@chriskelly929]

Alien, Capricorn One, Close Encounters and Star Wars

[@mahatmarandy5977]

Capricorn one isn’t really a Science Fiction movie. It’s one of those post Watergate conspiracy movies. Nobody even goes into space in the movie.

[@TheWaynos73]

Capricorn One is amazing.

[@mauricefaulkner455]

Iam surprised Emmerdale Farm was left out

[@sci-fi.tsunami]

The Black Hole is freakin awesome! I love that movie. The Cygnus is one of the greatest spaceships ever created. I just wish the lights didn't turn on until after they docked & explored a bit. It would have been creepy as hell & way better.

[@davidbgreensmith]

No Alien?

[@romanbrough]

Seen most of them. Logan's Run and Damnation Alley are my favourites. Death race is weird, but we saw it on the second date we went on in 1976. Unfortunately the second film was a near Porno, and not a good one. Still together 48 years later.

[@dennisanderson3895]

EVERY entry a worthy classic!

[@ebinrock]

"Too bad" Blade Runner is from the 80's - I'd definitely put it on this list.

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

Where's It's Alive, God Told Me To, Piranha, and The Man Who Fell to Earth?

[@dougadams9419]

1 Million Years BC. Caveman 1981.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

1 million years BC came out in 1968, which is not the 1970s. And caveman doesn’t really count as Science Fiction. Neither does 1 million years BC now that I think about it.

[@davidnoel9355]

While I generally agree with most of the movies on this list, Star Crash was literally one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. I might put it on the list as one of those "so bad it's good" movies but it took itself way too seriously.

[@MrEab2010]

I have seen and enjoyed most of these in their original run.

[@kevinputry5655]

All of these are entertaining although some would question some of these as holding up today. Starcrash is pure B-movie ludicrousness. A Star Wars rip-off that managed to become a cult classic anyway. And The Car isn't sci-fi but purely horror. I would add to this list: Idaho Transfer, The Stepford Wives, Demon Seed and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

[@sansabark]

You forgot Star Wars. It’s pretty good.

[@richardjohnson1195]

Saw at the earths core at the local drive in in 76. Seems like only yesterday

[@ChirumboloFilm]

I agree with the majority of this list, but The Black Hole? It didn’t hold up when I saw it in the theater during its original run. Slow, uninteresting, poorly acted (and there are some great actors in the cast), just disappointing on every level. I put it on occasionally if I’m having trouble getting to sleep. Works like a charm.

[@alwega2923]

Ooh thanks, never heard of the Asphyx before. Will check it out. Apart from that, Logans Run FTW !! Apart from that, Starcrash doesnt hold up at all, but yummy ;-)

[@JohnRandomness105]

Logan's Run: where did "utopian" come from?

[@porflepopnecker4376]

Classic movies always "hold up." It's modern audiences that often don't.

[@TheWaynos73]

Capricorn One (1978) crazy underrated film of a faked Mars landing and the insidious conspiracy to silence the Astronauts involved…forever.

[@sidneygreen9120]

Westworld was an excellent movie 👍

[@robertjeffcoat441]

The Land That Time Forgot. The People That Time Forgot. Superman. The Man Who Fell to Earth. Invasion of the Body Snatchers. 😮 👽 🛸🚀 🤖

[@fatbloke143]

The Car made it on there and Z.P.G. didn't? The Car is a straight up horror that doesn't even belong on a sci-fi list, and Z.P.G. is a dark look at a dystopian future that makes a few of the entries on this list look like utter cheese.

[@glenchapman3899]

Thank you. My tired old mind was replaying scenes in my head about ZPG, but do think the name would come to me. And you are right, a very dark film, that really has a lot to say.

[@tomlovin8931]

You include all these movies that get really low rotten tomatoes scores, yet you leave out Alien

[@satyb]

The Ultimate Warrior (1975). Yul Brynner faces off with William Smith to save humanity.

[@dougadams9419]

I did not see The Asphyx. I was in the USAF at the time. I've seen all the rest at one time or another, theater or Cable TV.

[@ewellford]

Beneath(1970), Escape from(,1971) Conquest of(1972), and Battle for(1973) the Planet of the Apes. Also, Battlestar Galactica (1978) was released theatrically before it was broadcast on television as the 2 part pilot episode(s) of a new series. Th e Car looks like a remake of Duel(1971), a made for TV "Movie of the Week" starring Dennis Weaver, a commuter, battling a demonic big rig truck, directed by Steven Spielberg. I never heard of The Car or The Asphyx, but I soent most of this decade in a small city next to a large USAF Base with only 3 theaters, counting the one on base, and no multiplexes within driving distance. Multiplexes were more of a big city novelty and general admission was only $3 in most of the country(lees than $1 on military bases)until Star Wars(1977)raised the price to $5.

[@JoseyWales44s]

Other than than the fact that there is no supernatural element in Duel and the truck is only menacing the lone protagonist, it just like it. Just kidding, they are not alike at all other than both films feature vehicles and roads. I found "The Car" more entertaining than Stephen King's "Christine".

[@richardbidinger2577]

The Car was actually a horror movie. The vehicle itself was supposed to be possessed by the devil.

[@robertrochester403]

You left out Escape to Witch Mountain.

[@mooveeluver]

I don't recall any Westworld survivors being invited to Futureworld. The Car was strictly present day horror. Starcrash was hot garbage.

[@JoseyWales44s]

Caroline Munro was just plain "hot".

[@user-yi6nb9sj9i]

You left out the one that's plot was copied to produce "Terminator "!! It's title is "Colossus, the Forbin project ". You might want to check it out . Great movie !!

[@Bobalicious]

An interest bunch of movies. Some are certainly better than others, but all of them are entertaining.

[@antwesor]

Some of my favorite sci fi movies, but i am an old guy

[@richardbidinger2577]

Rollerball was awesome. The remake was trash.

[@speedmastermarkiii]

Starcrash didn't even hold up in 1978.

[@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv]

What about star wars and Alien?

[@simonagree4070]

Not a bad list, not a great list either. I agree with those who say that Zardoz and A Boy And His Dog belong on this list too, and that The Car doesn't (that's the only one I've seen on Svengoolie!). The thing is, there's a certain aroma of "cheese" about these movies, as there should be, which makes the inclusion of certain major motion pictures, such as Alien, seem out of place. Part of that cheesy aroma is the heaping helping of nonsensical science in most of them, so let's not discuss the difference between science fiction and science fantasy. By the way, I really like Dark Star -- it was a fixture of midnight movies back in the day -- it's the first evidence I ever saw of the influence of Philip K. Dick in the movies (they stole the "talking to the dead ship's captain" bit from Dick.

[@T101cyberdynesystems]

The Asphyx is a good movie

[@dondee5439]

Not from the 1970's but 1982's film Forbidden World has the lovely Dawn Dulap. Worth the time just to see her.

[@dondee5439]

The current trailer at IMDB has her topless shower scene from the film uncensored.

[@dondee5439]

The current trailer at I M D B has the uncensored shower scene.

[@tomp8871]

The print destroys everything, can't see

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Man who fell to Earth

[@randyk636]

I would add “Looker” to the list

[@willdecker4630]

That was the 80's

[@randyk636]

@@willdecker4630 oops, I thought it was ‘79

[@reubendobbs8011]

Omega man was 1968

[@deronwlodarski3463]

Seen all but 3

[@FP194]

At the Earths Core ? Wow that one should be in a trash bin not on a list

[@jaimeosbourn3616]

half these movies were trash then and are trash now.

[@SeattlePioneer]

"Forbidden Planet"?

[@KrawmKruach]

1956

[@ScreamingScallop]

A third of these movies are trash and the list is missing a TON of better films. _Starcrash? Damnation Alley? AT THE EARTH'S CORE?? THE CAR???_

[@ftolead]

Capricorn One

[@JanRademan]

ok, Why is Star Crash (33%) on this list?

[@JoseyWales44s]

Two words, Caroline Munro. But, yeah, that's about the only positive thing in the movie.

[@Bonnieward]

Coma! Wheres Coma

[@hazelswain9768]

2001

[@StevenLubick]

Came out in 1968, so does not fit here.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

There were really only two movies on this list that I think count as 1970s films that hold up really well. And there were two that I never heard of. But I’ve seen all the rest.

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Stupid text to speech bot...

[@arcas8423]

Alien?

[@jerrysilverstein4055]

I don't know how you pick your movies possibly throwing darts because half or more are crap.

[@TheLookingOne]

A lot of gloom and doom

[@glenchapman3899]

Sorry but Damnation Alley was an astonishingly bad film. The source material was very good, but this was absolute disaster.

[@BoBoNomad]

You have terrible undemanding old fashioned taste - some of these are unwatchable these days. To be honest, some of them were unwatchable when released.

[@geraldmartin7703]

Kind of arbitrary list.

[@Davidbirdman101]

who cares bout rotten maters????