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Although things are relatively more straightforward with the tech available, the success of an excellent sci-fi film is, at its core, the writing and setting. A proper environment - maybe an intriguing planet like Mars or an unexplainable void, can bring forth a tale that can go down in history as a cult classic.
7 Total Recall
Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the peak of his career in the early 90s and was one of the era’s most sought-out action heroes. Having starred in a sci-fi blockbuster, Terminator, in 1984, destiny called him again to star in yet another sci-fi classic, Total Recall.
Based on the novelette We Can Remember It for You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick, the film follows Douglas Quid, who is troubled by visions of himself on Mars. Taking up a memory implant, things change drastically, and so does the very existence of his previous life. Apart from being the classic sci-fi 90s movie with a few sprinkles of explicit content, the film dives deeper into many philosophical and political layers that make one question the very essence of humankind.
6 The Space Between Us
The Space Between Us is one of the most underrated sci-fi romance movies from recent years and deserves much more attention. The 2017 film by Peter Chelsom follows the characters of Mars’ first son and a high school teenager back on Earth as they fall in love with each other through a chat platform connecting the two planets.
With love at the core of his heart, Gardner Elliot must find a way to Earth and conquer the weight of the planet’s atmosphere and gravity to win over his love interest.
5 The Martian
The Martian needs no introduction as Ridley Scott’s directorial reputation is known far around the globe. Based on the book by Hugo Award winner Andy Weir, The Martian follows the life of US Astronaut Dr. Mark, who has been left behind on Mars as the harsh Martian atmosphere forces the team to scrub their mission and evacuate the planet.
Presumed to be dead, Dr. Mark (played by Matt Damon) now finds himself as a survivor on planet Mars and must use his skills as a botanist and mechanical engineer to hold on to dear life until the top guns on Earth can muster up an inexpensive plan to bring him back.
4 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most loved and celebrated anime during the turn of the millennium, so much so it warranted a live-action Netflix adaptation several decades later. However, before these two events, a single spin-off movie by the name Cowboy Bebop: The Movie was released in 2001 and saw good success for its size.
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The film puts the bounty hunters in pursuit of a terrorist who threatens to wipe out the Martian population by unleashing a deadly pathogen on the planet. It is up to the heroes aboard the Bebop to find the terrorist and end the looming threat.
3 2036 Origin Unknown
The 2018 British film 2036 Origin Unknown is probably a little-known sci-fi movie with its own critical ups and downs, but for hardcore fans of the genre, this could very well be a good watch.
The film follows the mission control lead Mackenzie and her AI system ARTI as they discover an unidentified object on Mars that somehow communicates between the red planet and Earth. The two must keep it together in the dark space to unravel its hidden mysteries and have a mind that can comprehend things that are unimaginable to humankind.
2 Red Faction: Origins
Movies and games make a great combo as the source material gets a broader appeal on the bigger screen. Multiple games such as Doom, Assassins Creed, and Tomb Raider have all been a part of pop culture cinema, irrespective of their box office returns. On that list, one such unfamiliar film is the Red Faction’s spin-off movie - Red Faction: Origins.
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The film stands out from the game and explores the political, economic, and hidden backstories of the various plot points of the game, thereby expanding its universe even more. This is a worthy watch, even for those unfamiliar with the game.
1 Ghost Of Mars
John Carpenter is never shy of exploring new subgenres with his horror themes and having had tremendous success with The Thing, it was time for him to get back to his finest elements with his 2001 sci-fi horror film Ghost of Mars.
Set in the 22nd century Mars, the mines of the colonized planet have a supernatural threat looming inside its depths while possessing the convicts and criminals there. A group of police officers must end this mayhem and find a way to restore balance on the planet. Despite the film being a massive bomb at the box office, the film now enjoys a cult following for its sheer audacity to bend science with the supernatural.
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