The 15 Most Underrated Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 20 Years

Plenty of great films go unappreciated in their own time, and that seems to be true for the sci-fi genre as much as any other. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of George Clooney's "Solaris," here are some sci-fi films that deserved a lot more love than they got when they first hit theaters.

'Contact' (1997)

"Contact" is very much the thinking person's answer to alien invasion popcorn movies like "Independence Day," which is probably why it didn't get more love when it landed in summer 1997. Hardcore sci-fi fans ate it up, and some critics drew comparisons to lofty classics like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." Still, it's a shame this one didn't find a wider audience. 

'Gattaca' (1997)

Apparently 1997 was just a bad year for intelligent, thoughtful sci-fi films at the box office. "Gattaca" generally received positive reviews, but audiences all but ignored this "biopunk" movie about a dystopian future where reproduction is strictly regulated. The good news? "Gattaca" has developed a well-deserved cult following over time.

'Dark City' (1998)

It was pretty much inevitable that a film as weird and surreal as "Dark City" was going to fight an uphill battle at the box office. As much a detective noir as it is a sci-fi movie, "Dark City" really benefits from the unique visual sensibilities of director Alex Proyas. With the help of Roger Ebert analyzing the hell out of it, the movie developed a cult following and gathered recognition over the years, partly because of the release of a much superior Director's Cut. 

'A.I.: Artificial Intelligence' (2001)

Let's be honest -- there was no way this film was ever going to meet fans' lofty expectations. The final, unrealized project from visionary director Stanley Kubrick, brought to life by Steven Spielberg? That's too much hype for any one film to bear. Audiences were weirded out by the film and its Pinocchio-inspired storyline, but it's one that rewards viewers on a second or third viewing. 

'Equilibrium' (2002)

Even with his star-making turn in 2000's "American Psycho," Christian Bale was still a fairly unknown quantity to moviegoers when this stylish sci-fi action film arrived in theaters. Had it arrived after "Batman Begins" established Bale as one of the great action heroes of the early 2000's, we like to think this one would have attracted a lot more notice. Heck, it's a much better sequel to "The Matrix" than the actual "Matrix" sequels.

'Solaris' (2002)

"Solaris" may well have been a lost cause from the start. Fans of the 1972 original were already dubious on the prospect of an American remake, while the marketing led casual audiences to expect a far different movie than director Steven Soderbergh was trying to deliver. But if you like your sci-fi films moody and beautiful, you can't go wrong with this one.

'Primer' (2004)

Despite its low-budget trappings (or maybe even because of them), "Primer" is easily one of the most effective time travel movies to come along in decades. But like all Shane Carruth films, "Primer" is extremely intellectual and complex, making it a tough sell for anyone who just wants to sit back and be entertained for a couple hours.

'The Fountain' (2006)

By all rights, "The Fountain" should have been a smash hit. It's a hauntingly gorgeous film, split across three timelines, and full of mind-bending imagery and an excellent score from Clint Mansell. It also tells a very gripping story of two lovers united across time and space. It's a shame this one didn't get more love, because it deserves to be held up with the best of Darren Aronofsky's filmography.

'A Scanner Darkly' (2006)

Richard Linklater isn't the type to tackle an adaptation of someone else's work just for the hell of it. The director crafted what is easily the most faithful adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story here, employing the rotoscope animation process he used on "Waking Life" to great effect. "A Scanner Darkly" may not have made the impact of "Blade Runner" or "Minority Report," but it's a must-watch for sci-fi and animation lovers.

'The Man From Earth' (2007)

Science fiction doesn't get any more stripped-down and focused than this. "The Man From Earth" is more stage play than film, taking place in a single location and focusing on a group of college professors listening to their colleague's story. It just so happens that this story involves the claim that he's actually an immortal, 14,000-year-old relic of the Stone Age. 

'Sunshine' (2007)

"Sunshine" is one of the most visually bedazzling science fiction films ever released, which alone should have been enough to attract a wider audience. The fact that it has a brain (at least for the first two-thirds) to back up those good looks makes it even better. Equal parts meditative space drama and survival horror story, "Sunshine" proves that good things come when director Danny Boyle and actor Cillian Murphy join forces. 

'Cargo' (2009)

We don't normally think of Switzerland as a hub of great sci-fi films, but maybe we should start paying more attention. Director Ivan Engler made a strong impression in his 2009 debut, which unfolds on a deep space cargo ship where each crew member is tasked with keeping a lonely watch for months on end. Naturally, you start to see and hear some strange things on a mission like that. 

'Another Earth' (2011)

What would you do if an identical copy of Earth suddenly appeared in orbit one day? Would it be cause for fear and panic, or would it offer the opportunity to start over fresh? That's the question posed by this low-key but very effective drama about a girl who yearns to leave her old world behind.

'Paul' (2011)

You'd think a movie that re-teams Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and pairs them with a CGI alien voiced by Seth Rogen would be a box office hit. We're not entirely sure why this sci-fi comedy passed under the radar. It's worth a watch, not just because of the comedy but also because of the liberal references and homages to other classic sci-fi films.

'Coherence' (2014)

"Coherence" is another example of a sci-fi film doing a lot with very little. The film focuses on a small dinner party group who find that a passing comet has opened doorways to alternate realities. As the friends begin intermingling with their alternate selves, the film quickly develops into a mind-bending examination of reality and existence.