10 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies of the '90s That Nobody Remembers

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Kurt Russell with a line of soldiers standing behind him in Soldier

Published Feb 7, 2026, 3:36 PM EST

Ryan Heffernan is a Senior Writer at Collider. Storytelling has been one of his interests since an early age, with his appreciation for film and television becoming a particular interest of his during his teenage years.

This passion saw Ryan graduate from the University of Canberra in 2020 with an Honours Degree in Film Production. In the years since, he has found freelance work as a videographer and editor in the Canberra region while also becoming entrenched in the city's film-making community.

In addition to cinema and writing, Ryan's other major interest is sport, with him having a particular love for Australian Rules football, Formula 1, and cricket. He also has casual interests in reading, gaming, and history.

Science fiction has a rich history in cinema, defined by its thematic gravitas, bold storytelling, and mesmerizing visuals. Its greatest achievements span from modern blockbusters like the Dune movies to classics of the silent era like Metropolis. The 1990s mark a fascinating era for the genre, with the decade’s wave of experimental filmmaking conjuring such enduring gems as The Matrix, The Fifth Element, and Dark City.

However, the '90s also house some of the most underrated and sorely forgotten sci-fi films. Covering everything from macabre and menacing marriages of sci-fi and horror to piercing explorations of the dangers of A.I. and virtual reality that have been proven to be prophetic, these movies all stand as great examples of sci-fi cinema that epitomize the dazzling dare of the genre, and it is a shame that they have been so heavily dismissed by the masses.

10 'Existenz' (1999)

Ted Pikul aiming a gun made of flesh somewhere off-camera in eXistenZ

Released some years ahead of its time, Existenz (stylized as eXistenZ) has become increasingly relevant in recent years. Its mixture of sci-fi and true David Cronenberg body horror presents a contemplative, richly thematic, and eerily prescient exploration of virtual reality programs and gaming culture. Set in a near future where gaming consoles are surgically attached to players’ spines, it follows renowned game designer Allegra (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who fears the only copy of her new project may have been damaged following a violent attack. Working with Ted Pikul (Jude Law), a young marketing expert-turned-protector, the duo test the game to ensure its integrity and quickly find the line between reality and fantasy blurring.

Met with mixed reviews and poor box office figures upon release, Existenz came and went unnoticed by the masses. Its air of visceral and squeamish visual terror dwindled in the shadow of the blockbuster allure of The Matrix. It is a film for modern times, though, a point exemplified by its thematic dissection of gaming technology, consumerist exploitation, and the clash of real life and virtual reality. The effective use of graphic horror and impactful practical effects empowers its sci-fi story. While these qualities have seen Existenz gain a niche following, it remains largely undiscovered.

9 'The Arrival' (1996)

Charlie Sheen on the phone in The Arrival

An alien invasion thriller that combines tropes from the genre’s blockbuster highlights and its more cerebral, psychological dramas, The Arrival is an interesting blend of spectacle and suspense. It presents a story of invisible infiltration and government distrust, following a radio astronomer who detects an extra-terrestrial signal from a planet 14 light-years away. Fired from his job soon after discovering the signal, he begins investigating it, setting him on a journey of paranoia and curiosity as he searches for the truth.

Balancing its slow-burn story with outbursts of frenzied chaos, The Arrival is an entertaining sci-fi and a gem of low-budget, high-concept cinema through its smart and twisty narrative and eerie atmosphere of conspiracy. Buoyed by Charlie Sheen’s grounded lead performance and its thematic interest in government secrecy, global warming, and the fear of the cosmic unknown, The Arrival never got the attention it deserved after slumping as a box office flop.

8 'The Thirteenth Floor' (1999)

A man lying down in The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

A mind-boggling treat of virtual reality suspense that runs as a cyberpunk noir mystery with an eye for stunning visuals, The Thirteenth Floor was deserving of higher praise than the critical derision it was met with. It unfolds in the aftermath of the murder of a successful computer genius who was on the cusp of launching a new virtual reality platform. As Douglas Hall (Craig Bierko)—the heir to the deceased’s company—becomes the prime suspect in the case, he embarks on an existential, reality-bending journey to find the truth.

This gem was another sci-fi that was perhaps too far ahead of its time to have its thematic interests properly dissected by contemporary viewers—and too close in release date to The Matrix to develop an audience. Yet, The Thirteenth Floor excels as an engrossing examination of VR being a dangerous facsimile of life, the unruly nature of human consciousness, and even as a deconstruction of the ethics of creating life. Bolstered by its impressive visual display, which holds up noticeably well after 27 years, the 1999 sci-fi is an intelligent, albeit dense, immersion in the complexity of virtual worlds containing ideas that are incredibly resonant in today’s world.

7 'Tetsuo II: Body Hammer' (1992)

A man looking up with a vacant expression in Tetsuo II_ Body Hammer

While 1989’s Tetsuo: The Iron Man stands as a renowned cult classic of body horror sci-fi, its impressive and ambitious sequel has largely been lost to time. It's a shame, considering its bold mastery of the graphic sub-genre and thematic emphasis on technology and mechanical industry becoming an increasingly prevalent aspect of modern life. A violent terror of revenge and power, it revolves around Taniguchi Tomoo (Tomorowo Taguchi) as he and his family are targeted by a gang of psychotic skinheads carrying out kidnappings and cruel experiments. When pushed to the brink, Taniguchi becomes a ruthless force of human will and metallic brutality.

More delicately plotted than its predecessor, Tetsuo II: Body Hammer loses some of the original’s sheer atmospheric heft, but it does gain a more measured and methodical story that is always compelling with how it uses grotesque imagery to enforce its thematic focuses. A cyber-industrial nightmare, Tetsuo II: Body Hammer is an imaginative triumph of sci-fi cinema at its most twisted, while also being one of the most underrated and visually rattling horror movies in world cinema.

6 'Cube' (1997)

A man climbing a wall while another man and a woman look at him in Cube.

A spiritual precursor to contained psychological survival and escape room horror movies like Saw, Canada’s Cube thrives as an immersive and propulsive high-concept story that anchors its air of tension in a stunning sci-fi display of surreal, Kafkaesque divinity. It follows a group of strangers who awaken in a deadly labyrinth of cube-shaped rooms. While each one possesses a skill necessary to navigate the maze and survive, festering distrust threatens to jeopardize their chances of escape and leave them to die one by one.

While the dialogue has often been criticized for its trite nature, Cube effortlessly gains momentum with its high-tempo pacing and Vincenzo Natali’s impressive direction. This 90-minute nightmare wields a certain gravitas that is difficult to look away from. Its influence on horror cinema in the 21st century is clear, but Cube has sadly been forgotten by the masses. Ironically, the movies it inspired have become enduring hits, a point made all the more confounding given it was a huge financial success—even spawning multiple sequels—and was well received by critics upon release.

5 'Soldier' (1998)

Kurt Russell standing at attention in Soldier

While it is far from a genre-defining masterpiece, Soldier warranted far better than the complete critical panning and box office failure it received. The tight B-movie action story, stunning set design, and Kurt Russell’s typically magnetic lead performance conjure an effortlessly enjoyable sci-fi action romp. Russell stars as Todd 3465, a soldier trained since infancy to be the ultimate warrior, an unfeeling enforcer of strength, speed, and strategy. When a new breed of genetically-engineered super soldiers is introduced and given orders to eliminate veterans like Todd 3465, a fight for survival breaks out on the trash disposal planet, Arcadia 234.

It may not be a picture of overbearing thematic gravitas, but Soldier’s ability to entwine its action spectacle with the idea of technology making human work obsolete makes it a movie that is due for critical reappraisal. Sadly, it can hardly even be considered a cult gem of '90s sci-fi, as it has been all but forgotten in time. Soldier is worth a watch, if only for Russell’s sublime portrayal of stoicism and regained humanity, which he masterfully embodies, considering his character says just 104 words throughout. As if that wasn't enough, it can even be viewed as a loose, non-canon expansion of Blade Runner.

4 'Body Snatchers' (1993)

A woman covered in worms in Body Snatchers

Unlike many other films in this list, there is a very tangible reason why Body Snatchers has been lost to time beyond mere critical disapproval and a failure to make an immediate impact at the box office. That is, of course, that the 1993 movie, adapted from Jack Finney’s 1955 novel The Body Snatchers, was always going to be compared to 1956’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the equally brilliant 1978 movie of the same name. As far as adaptations of Finney’s book go, the two earlier movies are undoubtedly better, but the 1993 version is still a gem of sci-fi horror that more people should appreciate.

In an ingenious spin on the story’s central themes, the ’93 movie makes a military base the main setting, recalibrating the alien invasion parable of the Red Scare as an analysis of forced conformity, the loss of identity, and the fear of authority. Enriched by the air of atmospheric dread director Abel Ferrara created, as well as the impressive practical effects that illustrate the innate horror of the story, Body Snatchers is a true hidden gem of sci-fi horror, an overshadowed treat that all lovers of the genre should aspire to watch.

3 'Retroactive' (1997)

A man aiming a rifle at a woman in Retroactive (1997)

A time-loop crime thriller that makes an impression with its contained story, inflections of black comedy, and its explosive action, Retroactive excels as an intricate and pulsating sci-fi throughout the entirety of its 90-minute runtime. After Karen (Kylie Travers) breaks down on a lonely Texan road, she hitches a ride with Frank (Jim Belushi) and his wife, Rayanne (Shannon Whirry). When Frank learns that Rayanne has been unfaithful, he shoots her and tries to kill Karen, who runs into the desert and discovers a scientist experimenting with time travel. The machine goes off accidentally, and Karen is sent back 20 minutes in time and launches into a series of time-jumps as she tries to prevent the murder from occurring.

The movie has some B-grade trappings and some focal points that haven’t aged too well, but critics were wrong to focus solely on its flaws, given its narrative tautness, arresting sense of suspense and intrigue, and what it accomplishes as a small-budget indie release. It makes for a relentless high-stakes thriller that uses sci-fi tropes brilliantly to conjure an air of tension, resulting in a fun and fast flick of propulsive momentum and high energy.

2 'Six-String Samurai' (1998)

A man holding a guitar riding a bike in Six-String Samurai (1998)

It is difficult to determine the exact genre combination to best describe Six-String Samurai as the delightfully eccentric movie making use of everything from goofy sci-fi action to post-apocalyptic thrills, absurdist comedy, and even musical expressionism. In essence, it is an inspired piece of cinematic boldness, one that, given its good qualities far outweigh its bad, is actually difficult to discern how exactly it became so forgotten. Brilliantly bizarre, it transpires in a U.S. decimated by the nuclear fallout of WWIII, following Buddy (Jeffrey Falcon)—a musician who may or may not be Buddy Holly—as he heads for the last standing American city of “Lost Vegas” after the announcement of the death of King Elvis.

Six-String Samurai is the type of movie one puts on expecting a mess of parody and pointlessness, only to be surprised by a work of visionary genius. It is rockabilly music meets Mad Max, a chaotic yet unbelievably enjoyable medley of unrestrained mania that blends the aesthetic of the 1950s rock culture with the indie grunge of '90s cinema. A gem of inspired lunacy, Six-String Samurai is a delirious treat of low-budget sci-fi that epitomizes the chaotic and creative experimenting of '90s cinema at its most gleeful, maddening, and cool.

1 'Strange Days' (1995)

Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett in a crowd with confetti in Strange Days.

Not only the most underrated science-fiction movies of the 1990s, but one of the best films of the genre for the decade as well. Strange Days thrives as a rich marriage of sci-fi dystopia and neo-noir grime that excels with Kathryn Bigelow’s direction and an incredible ensemble cast. Ralph Fiennes stars as Lenny, a former cop making money as a black marketeer dealing people’s recorded memories, which can be replayed in a virtual reality-type setting. He investigates a SQUID disc depicting the rape and murder of a prostitute tied to a recently killed anti-police political activist.

An elaborate crime thriller wrapped in a captivating grunge futuristic aesthetic, Strange Days soars as an immersive foray into dystopian sci-fi, a compelling crime mystery, and even as a piercing thematic dissection of technology and corruption. It sometimes missteps with its audacious tonal spectrum, which covers everything from wry satire to blockbuster heroics and confronting, unnerving drama. Still, its ambition commands admiration rather than admonishment. Perhaps even more relevant today than it was in 1995, Strange Days is a forgotten film that should have been a genre classic.

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