This should be pinned, thank you!

Terror in the year 5000 never heard of it! (Creepy women) of 60s

I love Silent Running, but in no way would I classify it as as realistic science. For all its science flaws, I might substitute Jurassic Park in its place.

@@mikehawk5492 ...but not under-rated...

The Andromeda Strain, Silent Running, and Marooned are all epic. Much of the plot The Martian is the same as Marooned. Silent Running has some of the best songs preformed by Joan Baez. Andromeda Strain illustrates how mad the world can become over a virus. Real viruses have an equilibrium. Either they are deadly and kill the spreading host or the are mild so the host can spread them. Covid used to be the former but is now the latter.

Absolutely, it is superb and it is incredible how underrated it is. I don't regard it as 'just' a sci-fi movie but as a classic movie and I am a big sci-fi fan.

My favourite

Have you seen Andrew Niccol's film "In Time"? Not as thoughtful as GATTACA but it's got his sci-fi trademark of an interesting/twisted world that he drops characters into.

Absolutely right, but perhaps a little bit too close to reality to be a Science-Fiction any longer.

I was confused about why the whole DNA-based oppression thing was going on. Also the launching in a rocket (going... where?) while standing in a business suit bit. No acceleration couches or pressure suits?

Hi. I have seen all the movies in the video, and about half on your list, but you have mentioned quite a few I haven't seen. Thank you for the recommendation!

Sci Fi is not only about *out of space* Thanks for the list i'll search them.

Read the Sphere, do not watch it.

There is also *Cargo* (not the one with Bilbo) and *Aniara.* You could also add *Sayonara Jupiter*

Colossus: The Forbin Project still gives me nightmares, but it is great!

As a teen, I saw this in the theater, and yes I cried at the loss of the one robot....so sad...

Silent Running is a beautiful movie. I worked a graveyard shift near a Drive-In Movie theater that was showing the double feature, "Silent Running" and "Jesus Christ, Superstar" - so naturally - as a Bruce Dern fan from our running backgrounds at the time, I went early before work to watch him in this movie. After the first night, I went five more times while the movie was playing there for the rest of the week. I have such admiration and respect for this film. it is my favorite on this list. Thank you for the upload!

My mum taped it for me to watch back in the late 90's. Really good Sci-fi but I've never watched it again, the ending was just too sad for me 😭

Wow how about a spoiler alert. And a titel list? I didn't finish this at all after seeing how much you spoiled Contact.

Universal decided to give one million dollars to five relatively unknown filmmakers to see what they could do with the modest budget. Douglas Trumbull made "Silent Running" and George Lucas made "American Graffiti". I'm not sure what happened to the other three but Lucas turned his into the most profitable film of all time, until "The Blair Witch Project", with a return of something like 150 million dollars.

Contact, The Andromeda Strain, and Arrival were all big budget films that cannot be called underrated. Ditto Robot & Frank. Although I’ve read the book and seen two versions of the movie, I can never remember anything about Solaris. (Big Stanislaw Lem fan back in the day). I guess I’m saying its not underrated. 😁

I totally agree! I saw Andromeda Strain in the movie theatre when it came out. It's so good in every way. I was recently talking about it due to covid.

Before its time and very well done.

Total classic. Terrified the hell out of me as a kid and was always my fave Sci-fi until Children of Men, although I always thought the ending could have been better. The remake was crap, but would be worthy of another go.

I would have to disagree, this was not so underappreciated. Its probably one of the most popular ones on the list.

I had never seen the movie till recently. For me, It was terrifying. It was perfect. One of my favorite Sci-Fi movies of all time.

Always wanted to meet James Woods guy seems so down to earth as does Matthew.

@@captinundies6049 After the second day's shoot was over, James came back into our area and chatted with us non-SAG members. He was just your regular kind of guy - no evidence of, "I'm throwing you a bone, so be grateful." Of course, he could be just that good of an actor, but I don't think he was acting at the time.

@@Fadamor Professionals actors can make a difference between work and public appearance. Stars on the set he treat everyone around them as co-workers: they try to be as friendly as possible since their success is depending on the team. However don't expect from any actor to even recognize you in public, because they are on a different job where fans and press is their co-workers not you.

@@kpbendeguz Um... okay? I guess? I never claimed James Woods would recognize me in public. What I did say was that after that shoot had wrapped, James came down into the area the extras were in and chatted with the extras who were still there. Jodie and Matthew didn't interact with the extras at all. That was the difference I was pointing out, not some claim that James was now best friends with me and would pick me out of a crowd.

I would have loved to have been in your shoes for that great movie.

I was total engrossed with the story, I couldn't turn away.

Woofie!

Yup

One of the best movies I've ever seen. Made a big impression.

First time i've ever heard anyone but me say that :')

Agreed: And the end of the film is powerful...

I agree. This was a film that really stuck with me. I've always liked Bruce Dern, and his performance was superb in this. Back when science fiction films were more like the novels of the time -- relevant extrapolations of our current trajectory as a civilization.

It's a good movie but it's not worth gatekeeping over

This film pushing the narrative of ecological destruction on earth and trying to save it and this made in the 70s

I saw this film as a kid when it aired on TV. I loved it. I've loved Sci Fi ever since.

Kevin Stacey's acting should have earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

I kinda feel like they mean underrated for casual watchers. For example, the average book reader probably won't get into Asimov's Robot-Empire-Foundation series too deep (or at all, tbh), hence it seems underrated in everyday life. Same goes for movies, I would consider Ex Machina underrated, because nobody I've mentioned it to have ever heard about it. Maybe I just misplaced myself in society, but this would be a reasonable explanation to me.

They ARE underrated. They are two of the most thought-provoking science fiction films ever made, and they really aren't talked about as much as they should be. The pan-out sequence in "Contact" is one of the most beautiful cinema moments ever in my view, on the same par as the "Dawn of Man" sequence from "2001: A Space Odyssey." It is visually spectacular, but I think most people didn't even pay attention to the significance of the audio during that sequence. Since there was now "pew-pew," scantily clad whatever, or fast chase scenes, most people don't appreciate them.

@@michaelmann8800 contact is something i see as a guilty pleasure of mine. There are some really awkward moments between the protagonist and her philosophy guy. How is the movie profound though? Its alright but isnt it just popcorn entertainment though

@@MoonIsFlat69 I guess you would need to define what you mean by "profound." How is Contact LESS profound than other movies on this list? It concerns itself with the subject of "are we alone," supposes how we might get contact from an alien civilization, what they might communicate with us, how we react as scientists, members of the military, and "people of faith," and is primarily grounded in reality, so it should be easy for people to relate to and allow them to actually contemplate the question "how would I behave in this situation?" It also dealt with the issue of private money in space exploration, which is starting to fund a lot of that activity now with people like Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and Elon Musk. It really isn't some "popcorn" movie, but I guess someone could view it that way if they weren't really thinking about what is going on. I'm not sure what you are referring to when you talk about awkward moments between Jodie Foster's character and "her philosophy guy"...who is "her philosophy guy?" Her father? Her thesis adviser? What were these "awkward" moments?

Man, Arrival had such an effect on me, fav movie of all time.

That's kind of lame honestly and not very scientific at all.

I don't remember that being part of the book. It's a while since I read it though.

The book was more hard hitting and scathing of religion, but the movie is still good.

From my perspective the religion stuff was very well placed. Also mixing it with the science inbetween. - First everybody says it's important that she believes in God and then the same people demand a proof of her journey instead of believing it.

@@Inception1338 I can't agree. The film producers conflated science and religion to try and put belief in both on the same level. It isn't. Although they demanded "proof" of what Ellie was saying, they knew there were 18 hours of missing sound and vision on the recording. Also, when Palmer Joss wants Ellie to "prove" she loved her father after she asks him to prove the existence of god, and she can't answer, there is plenty of evidence Ellie could have presented, and in any case these were only her feelings. Ellie was talking about proof of the existence of god which is central to christianity, and Palmer Joss couldn't answer. What they were trying to show was that because your love for another human being can't be proven (it can), there is no need for proof of god. I don't think Carl Sagan would ever have approved...

Same as Event Horizon (1997)

One of my favorite films. The vibe from it is beautiful and intense.

Colossus is on many classics lists and is also sometimes on TV, even nowadays, while Phase IV seems to have been forgotten completely. Rather sad, because the movie is a classic by any measure. They put great effort in the closeups of the ants. Fascinating, really. Also, "Capricorn One", "Operation Ganymed", "Altered States", "Quiet Earth", "Brainstorm", "THX 1138", "Welt am Draht", "Doppelgänger/Journey to the Far Side of the Sun".

I haven't seen Phase IV in years.

@@mondkalb9813 "Colossus is on many classics lists and is also sometimes on TV, even nowadays, while Phase IV seems to have been forgotten completely. Rather sad, because the movie is a classic by any measure. They put great effort in the closeups of the ants. Fascinating, really. Also, "Capricorn One", "Operation Ganymed", "Altered States", "Quiet Earth", "Brainstorm", "THX 1138", "Welt am Draht", "Doppelgänger/Journey to the Far Side of the Sun"." THIS is a quality list!

And "The Arrival" with Charlie Sheen (1996).

I'll have to find and see Phase IV. Colossus was ahead of its' time and prophetic today. AI developers and politicians should watch it to avoid mixing AI with...

The lack of melodrama that's typical of overproduced Hollywood flicks gives a much greater sense of gritty realism, that these are supposed to be highly trained astronauts and scientists who are willing to go above and beyond till the very end.

Europa Report is also one of tge few movies that depict scientists very accurately.

I came here to say just that. It was certainly appreciated when it came out, and Sci-Fi fans still value it high on their lists of all-time favorites, because of the philosophical character and relevant questions it poses.

It most certainly IS underrated. Ask around...I will bet that a fair number of people you know have never even HEARD of it, much less watched it. It might appear on some lists of movie critics, but I guarantee the average Jane and Joe are completely clueless about it.

You can say that about any movie, not just hard science. Action movies, horror movies, and movies for children probably make the most money at the box office. People go (used to go before COVID) to movie theaters to just hang out. You eat popcorn and drink soda. You are in the company of friends. You are feeling good. And you watch something fast or funny or scary. Children? You have to take them to see Harry Potter or Disney flicks. There is nothing wrong with that. To go out and pay money to see something that makes you "think" or "feel"? That is not for everyone.

Much of what we call science fiction is actually mythology. The Star Wars series is a great example. Milennia ago people didn't know what was on the other side of the ocean, so stories of gods and monsters could seem plausible. Today, some of the appeal of the more mythological genre of science fiction is the fantasy of thinking that some of it might be possible in some distant galaxy.

Star Wars really puts the fiction in science fiction, but still dabbles a bit in sound scientific theory like ion propulsion. It certainly isn't hard science fiction, but it's easier to sell to the greater public. Call it soft science fiction.

@@KageNoTora74 it's not sci fi its fantasy sci fi. Big difference fantasy sci fi is easier for idiots to understand. Where more times then not true sci fi bores the hell out of them

Just because it's not hard science fiction that adheres unyieldingly to known scientific principles doesn't mean it is not science fiction. It's not *hard* science fiction.

What I was thinking

It's not "Soviet" for gods' sake, it's the director's style, and it is unique for any time or place.

yeah, but isn't Solaris absolutely not "hard sci fi"?

I haven't seen the whole movie, but I read the short story years ago and it was quite extraordinary.

Yes! Moon, with Sam Rockwell, is so far ahead of its time, cleverly performed by Sam and shot so cleverly shot by the director.

@@wzardglick It's defo worth a look see, Sam Rockwell is brilliant in 'Moon'.

Moon was awesome. Even though the computer voice was of known pee dough Kevin Spacey. I've watched that movie at least three times. Fantastic. Difficult to figure out where it's going, even halfway through.

@@whats_the_truth Yes, I was very surprised by it. And yea, Kevin Spacey is a douche, but still a great actor ( his personal life does not take away from his acting ability).

Oh hell yea. Star trek is one of the best series ever and one of the best sleep aides to ever exist.

@Fremen I wouldnt say it's boring

As someone who suffers from claustrophobia, the scene where he was stuck in the narrow passage and felt an attack coming on was the most close to how it feels for me. I will always remember that scene.

Mike Judge, the writer, is like a Nostradamus reincarnation

Welcome to Costco, I love you ..

Idiocracy isn't sci fi or even hard sci fi. And it's exhausting seeing pseudo intellectuals repeat this stupid take ad nauseum. Give it a rest already.

@@sunburst8810 eeeeeeew, who made you headmistress?

@@sunburst8810 Not sure how you work that out. Idiocracy may or may not be a very good film, but it is all about sci fi. And just because your a fake intellectual we should take you seriously? I wish you would give it a rest.

Except the plot is stupid a.f. Its cheaper to make a gigantic moonbase and carry there lots of clones than send some crew , but fcuking space marines arrive in 3 days to solve the problem......

@@theMPrints I think it all came down to *liability* and the lengths a company will go to keep things as inhumanly efficient as possible. It makes complete sense in that everything is disposable and (more importantly) can’t sue you if they get hurt or die.

It actually technically has a sequel. The Netflix movie Mute is in the same universe and in some scenes, if you watch the TVs in the room you will see an ongoing court battle of a bunch of Sam Rockwell clones. It's an OK movie. Not as good as Moon but if your interested in knowing what the world is like in Moon's universe, I'd give it a go.

Yep, extremely under-rated.

I like The Arrival starring Charlie Sheen.

Ad Astra, yes is hard sci-fi.

Both really, I think the Annihilation novels and movie tried to represent something truely alien to the best of their abilities.

I'm shocked at how many of my self-proclaimed sci-fi fan friends have not seen (or sometimes even heard of) The Expanse. Criminal neglect!

@@marka.200 Never heard of it I do not watch a lot of television though is it a show,movie or mini-series and is it on Netflix?

@@jameshannagan4256 The Expanse was originally on SyFy I think (don't quote me on that) but has been on Amazon Prime Video since season 2 or 3 I think. Anyway that's where it lives now and where I've watched it since I discovered it in season 3. I'm not sure how you'd get it if you don't have Amazon Prime.

i hear you man, seen it over 30 times now

Yes. One the best. And one of the worst sequels

Is there a novel if so I never read it and would like to.

Yep. Thinkin man's Sci Fi.

Same here. It was impossible for me to accept that they all just rejected her story and that was the end. Totally ridiculous. Otherwise a pretty good film.

One of the most basic facts of our lives is that no one can know another's experience. Language can't do it. Empathy, an act of the imagination, can try--but we can't know another's perceptions. I liked that her fantastic experience was unshareable.

And it explores it by metaphorically showing scientists watching a white wall until they understand what they are seeing and hearing like viewers in cinema. Masterpiece! So looking forward to Dune from Villeneuve

I watched it on tv then it was playing in an airliner and they kept re-starting the movie because they thought there was something wrong with the sound. I finally chirped up "they are playing radio waves emanating from the earth" DOH some people are just stupid.

Carl Sagan himself was involved in the rewriting of the ending. It was done as the book's ending wasn't something that could be done cinematically.

The Expanse was great.

While I love the movie a lot, I also believe that it is not really a Sci-fi movie, but a philosophical drama on religion that uses some Sci-fi elements to make it more interesting.

The thinking man must be really boring then.

Read the book

Harry belifonte surprised me good film 📽️

Although nowhere near as good as the supreme SF film ever made 2001, it is indeed a very worthy sequel, My God, It's full of stars....

@Nidge OSullivan perhaps not.....2010 answers some questions about what happened in 2001 and why. And I find that 2010 was a more interesting story line than 2001. Other books in the 2001 series do the same

Yeah, too many spoilers. I enjoyed his info on Contact but I haven't seen some of the others so I stopped the video early. Just copied the list from someone's comment into my "watchlist" ;-)

guyis like 'here let me tell you everything that matters, oh and if you haven't seen it, you should' - wtf? ppl are dummer every day

no kidding. it does what speculative fiction is supposed to do, it makes one think. The sequel is ok, but didn't have 35 years of bixby's life to polish it up.

@@db-zc9xv I never saw the sequel (I was unaware one had been made until quite recently). I find it hard to imagine how one could improve upon the original story.

@@Indrid__Cold It doesn't improve on the original at all. I think it was a freelance try at a pilot episode, but nobody was buying a 'thinking man's The Fugitive' series. Besides; when Jerome Bixby died; a lot of that thinking went away.

I like your list, add Zardoz (1974)

Europa was absolute garbage!!!

Yes cosmos is a great film. Very much worth the time

If its the one im thinking of that one kept me on the edge of my seat so yeah definitely should have used it

Europa report is fantastic.

Nice facelift....Foster did some other interesting Sci-fi.

I'm pretty sure that whoever writes their scripts isn't a native speaker of English.

But that was the point of the movie: Show that even a scientist can have a one-off experience that affected her deeply but is dismissed by others as fake. Earlier in the movie, Dr. Arroway had dismissed Palmer Joss' religious experience as a hallucination. Now she gets the same treatment from others.

Mesmerizing movie. I thought of it for days after I saw it. I wish I'd seen it on the big screen.

Please post a list with timestamps, if you can.

There's a sequel???

@@dom0 yes. It really messed with your head. I think it's extremely underrated.

Try the american version of Solaris (2003) by James Cameron and Steven Soderberg, with George Clooney as the protagonist. It's only 90' long, and worth a watch.

Good book though I wonder how different the novel is in its native language.

XD

THAT would've been a major improvement!

The Abyss is one of my favorites

@@lebowskiunderachiever3591 It's a ripper alright! That being the extended version with the huge wave scene, mad! Interesting to note, I watched The Big Lebowski last night, for the umpteenth time 🤣 "'Nawh fuhnee stuff." "He's a good man, Jeffrey and thorough." Another great flick! 😁👍