Somescience fiction moviesfeature deep, complex characters and multilayered stories that manage to provide a gripping commentary on society while also exploring the concealed realities of human nature. Others don’t; nor do they attempt to. While there were plenty ofgreat sci-fi films in 2024, those of the 1980s were an absolute blast for the audience, regardless of the seriousness (or lack thereof) of their plots. While some1980s sci-fi movies didn’t age well, others did. What these films lack in nuance, they make up for in awesome fight scenes, lovable characters, and out-of-this-world settings.
Nowadays,much of the science fiction cinema world is dominated by big-budget franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and theDuneseries.While these franchises are certainly beloved by many, they do draw attention away frommore unique sci-fi films. Eras like the 1980s, however, feature tons of outlandishsci-fi movies made without any thoughts of future sequelsin mind. This allowed filmmakers to go all-in on their bizarre concepts, giving audiences plenty of futuristic craziness. Even though (or perhaps because) their concepts are a bit bizarre, these ’80s sci-films promise nonstop fun for their viewers.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Cast
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension is a 1984 science fiction film that follows the adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, a physicist/rock musician/superhero played by Peter Weller. The film follows Buckaroo as he saves the world from the evil alien Lord John Whorfin, who is threatening to destroy the Earth.
Sometimes, every sentence said about a given movie just makes it sound crazier and crazier.This is undoubtedly the case for W.D. Richter’s off-the-wall sci-fi comedy,The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
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The film stars Peter Weller as the legendary brain surgeon/adventurer/rock star, Buckaroo Banzai, who must use his wide-ranging skills to stop an alien invasion after an otherworldly creature latches onto his Jet Car during an interdimensional test drive.What makesBuckaroo Banzaiso entertaining is the way it wholeheartedly embraces the absurdity of its plot.
The film never takes itself too seriously, even with its cast of acclaimed actors (including John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Lloyd).Buckaroo Banzaimay not have all the qualities of an Oscar-winning feature, but it does have plenty of wacky characters, awesome vehicles, mesmerizing costumes, and even a rock concert. For fans of unique takes on the science fiction genre, it is almost impossible to not have a good time withBuckaroo Banzai.
The Ice Pirates
The Ice Pirates is a 1984 science fiction film set in a future where water is scarce. It follows space pirates on a mission to challenge an oppressive regime controlling the galaxy’s water supply, which was hidden in the wake of the galactic trade wars.
What would happen if a movie about futuristic space travel was combined with a movie about pirates?For the answer to this question, look no further than Stewart Raffill’s 1984 sci-fi film,The Ice Pirates. In the futuristic galaxy in which the film is set, water has become an incredibly rare and valuable resource. This leaves those with access to water to try hoarding it all to themselves, and those without it to try stealing it at any cost. Craziness ensues when an “ice pirate” named Jason impulsively kidnaps a princess while raiding a spaceship for its ice.
Filled with everything from pirate shenanigans to robot butlers,The Ice Piratesis a ton of fun for anyone looking to relax and have a bunch of good laughs.The film is boosted by its charming supporting performances by Golden Globe winners Angelica Huston and Ron Perlman. If nothing else,The Ice Piratesprovides a creative answer to the question of what would happen ifStar WarsandPirates of the Caribbeanwere combined into one delightfully bonkers film.
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (1980) is a science fiction film directed by Mike Hodges, featuring Sam J. Jones as the titular hero. Flash, a football player, battles the evil Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) who threatens Earth. Accompanied by Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) and Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol), Flash navigates an intergalactic struggle. The film is noted for its vibrant visuals and a memorable score by Queen.
Based on the comics of the same name,Flash Gordonfollows the titular football player as he gets wrapped up in an intergalactic battle to prevent the destruction of the planet Earth by the evil Emperor Ming.Early in the film, Flash takes control of an airplane after it is struck by a meteor, and crash-lands it at the residence of Dr. Hans Zarkov, a former NASA scientist who has been building his own spaceship to confront the aliens he believes to be attacking Earth. Needless to say, the plot is not very down-to-Earth in any sense.
Flash Gordoncontains just about everything that audiences want to see in movies; action, romance, a daring hero, an imposing villain, the list goes on.The fact that the movie includes things like high-speed spaceships and sword fights is purely an added bonus. Quirks and all,Flash Gordondid actually receive at least some praise from critics, who admired its world-building and lovable, campy nature. Whether you take its story seriously or not,Flash Gordonis bound to be a ton of fun for anyone watching.
Lifeforce
Lifeforce is a science fiction horror film directed by Tobe Hooper. The story follows a crew of astronauts who discover a derelict spaceship containing humanoid creatures in suspended animation. Upon returning to Earth, they unwittingly unleash a malevolent alien force that threatens to drain the lifeforce of humanity. Starring Steve Railsback, Mathilda May, and Peter Firth, the film combines elements of space exploration with supernatural terror.
In 1985, Tobe Hooper, director of horror classics likeThe Texas Chain Saw MassacreandPoltergeist, decided to try fusing some science fiction elements into his typical work with horror.He did this withLifeforce, a movie which presents a unique cross between space travel and vampire attacks.The film follows the chaos that ensues after three vampire-like creatures are recovered from a destroyed spaceship and brought back to Earth by scientists unaware of the massive threat they pose.
While reviews of the film covered a wide range of opinions, all critics seemed to agree about at least one thing:Lifeforceis absolutely bonkers.The key difference is that some make this claim in a negative way, while others use it as an indicator of the film being nonstop fun from beginning to end. With space travel, vampire battles, and even a pre-Star Trekperformance from Patrick Stewart,Lifeforcepromises to be unlike any movie you’ve seen before, making it an exciting option for viewers looking for something they can enjoy with a big bowl of popcorn.
Night of the Comet
Night of the Comet, released in 1984, follows two teenage sisters in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles after a comet wipes out most of humanity. They navigate a landscape of red dust and zombie-like mutants, eventually joining forces with a truck driver to combat a malevolent scientific group.
When the planet Earth travels through the tail of a passing comet overnight, all humans who weren’t in reinforced steel containers are mysteriously transformed into zombie-like creatures.This eerie event sets the scene forNight of the Comet, a 1984 sci-fi horror-comedy by Thom Eberhardt.
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The film follows Reggie and Sam (played by Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney, respectively), a pair of sisters who must learn to survive in the new red-skied version of the world they live in.The lack of depth in the concept ofNight of the Cometis actually part of what makes the film so enjoyable.
It doesn’t dwell unnecessarily long on trying to rationalize its story.It merely takes a moment or two to clearly establish what’s happening - a comet has turned almost everyone into zombies - and then gets to spend the rest of its runtime making the most of this concept. With a satisfying blend of horror and comedy thrown in as well,Night of the Cometis a science fiction film that is lastingly fun regardless of its minimally explained concept.
Hell Comes To Frogtown
Hell Comes to Frogtown is a 1988 post-apocalyptic film directed by Donald G. Jackson and R. J. Kizer. Starring Roddy Piper as Sam Hell, the film follows his journey through a dystopian world where mutant frogs have captured fertile women. Tasked with rescuing the captives to repopulate the human race, Hell navigates a treacherous landscape filled with unique challenges and adversaries.
With a name likeHell Comes to Frogtown, it is no major surprise that Donald G. Jackson and R.J. Kizer’s 1988 feature has a bit of a bonkers premise.In the world of the film, most of humanity has become infertile following the events of a massive nuclear war. Because of this, the few remaining fertile humans have become massively important. This includes Sam Hell, a scavenger who becomes tasked with a crucial mission: to rescue a group of women from a city run by a society of anthropomorphic frog-like beings.
In order to make such a crazy plot as enjoyable as it is,Hell Comes to Frogtownneeded a charismatic leading man to help captivate the audience throughout the zany story.Fortunately, the filmmakers managed to find one in the form of none other than wrestling legend, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. The popular wrestling champion’s natural charm translated directly from the ring to the screen, with his performance bringing nonstop entertainment throughout the off-the-wall adventure. For a film dominated by Roddy Piper and a battalion of mutant frogs,Hell Comes to Frogtowndoes not disappoint in terms of fun.
The Last Starfighter
The Last Starfighter follows Alex Rogan, a skilled video game player, who is transported to another planet after mastering an arcade game. Unbeknownst to him, the game served as a recruitment tool for real interstellar pilots tasked with defending a distant alien world from a looming threat.
Although there are clear similarities toStar Wars,The Last Starfighteris not nearly as well-known in the world of science fiction cinema. The film primarily follows the story of a teenager named Alex Rogan, who is suddenly abducted from his trailer park home on Earth after achieving the high score on the arcade game,Starfighter, which secretly exists as a training mechanism for an intergalactic army.The Last Starfighteris the final film ofThe Music Manstar Robert Preston’s career, and the second film directed by Nick Castle, best known for his portrayal of Michael Myers inHalloween.
Perhaps the most prominent difference betweenThe Last Starfighterand films likeStar WarsorDuneis the way the film is rooted in the story of a human character from Earth.Alex’s humble origins (and eventual return to Earth) keep the story somewhat grounded, even when he is off fighting battles in outer space. By consistently remembering the human element of its story, and being willing to acknowledge the humorous side of its circumstances,The Last Starfighteroffers a fun, charming (albeit somewhat bonkers) take on the interstellar warfare idea.
Slipstreamis another ’80s sci-fi flick from Steven Lisberger, the same mind who createdTronearlier that same decade.The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth, one in which the world is essentially controlled by the Slipstream, a massive, powerful wind current worshiped as a god-like entity by many of the remaining humans.Slipstreamexplores the exciting escapades of various individuals trying to capture a mysterious prisoner in order to receive the bounty that has been placed on him.
While the idea of a wind-dominated Earth is definitely quite a bit unusual,Slipstreamis made thoroughly entertaining by its cast.Mark Hamill demonstrates that his abilities as a sci-fi leading man extend well beyond the realm ofStar Wars, with Bill Paxton also making the most of his screen time. The audience is also rewarded with brief appearances by various recognizable actors, including Academy Award winners Ben Kingsley and F. Murray Abraham. With a stellar cast and plenty of high-altitude action,Slipstreamis a blast for all viewers.
Critters
A massive ball of furry creatures from another world eat their way through a small mid-western town followed by intergalactic bounty hunters opposed only by militant townspeople.
With a tagline like,“They eat so fast, you won’t have time to scream,“viewers ofCritterscan rest assured, knowing they are in for some cheesy, sci-fi horror-comedy fun. The film is largely set in a small Kansas town, where the lives of the humble Brown family are turned upside down by the arrival of some mysterious (and rather unfriendly) creatures from outer space called Krites. Matters get even crazier when two shape-shifting bounty hunters arrive, looking to capture the violent creatures and return them to the asteroid prison where they were being held.
Nothing sets the tone for a wacky ’80s sci-fi movie quite like the appearance of some freaky-looking puppet characters, andCritterssurely does not disappoint in that regard.The eerie, sharp-toothed smiles of the Krites are the perfect blend of unsettling and cheesy that people love to see in the films of this era. They may not be quite as menacing as the filmmakers may have originally intended, but that merely adds to the enjoyability of the film.
Flight of the Navigator
Flight of the Navigator is a science fiction film directed by Randal Kleiser. Released in 1986, the story follows 12-year-old David, who is mysteriously transported eight years into the future after a close encounter with an alien spaceship. As David tries to understand what happened, he discovers the advanced spacecraft and forms a unique bond with its artificial intelligence, known as Max.
Flight of the Navigatormay be far from being the most well-known movie made by Disney, but it is nonetheless an enjoyable installment in the science fiction genre, even with its rather unusual concept.The plot is set into motion when twelve-year-old David walks through the woods and returns eight years later, having not aged a day. It is gradually revealed that this is because David was actually abducted by a UFO, and that time passed differently while he was away.
Flight of the Navigatorfuses classic sci-fi tropes with the heartwarming Disney storytelling that audiences have known and loved for many years. Though the film relies on the concept of a random child being abducted by friendly aliens, it does offer a relatively refined take on the idea of time travel, using the concept much more carefully and creatively than many other sci-fi films. With a pleasant story and lovably corny special effects,Flight of the Navigatoris a fun, silly film for fans of science fiction everywhere.
