Science fiction has given us some of cinema’s greatest triumphs, from the mind-bending brilliance of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ to the swashbuckling adventures of ‘Star Wars’. But for every stellar success, there’s a cosmic clanger that leaves audiences scratching their heads. These films prove that even with the entire universe as your playground, it’s still possible to get it spectacularly wrong. Whether it’s dodgy science, laughable special effects, or plots that make less sense than a chocolate teapot, these movies boldly went where no one should have gone before. Grab your popcorn and prepare to cringe as we explore 15 sci-fi flicks that aimed for the stars but barely made it off the launchpad.
1. Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
Often dubbed the worst film ever made, Ed Wood’s alien invasion flick is a masterclass in how not to make a movie. From the wobbly flying saucers on strings to the infamous footage of Bela Lugosi (who died during filming) being replaced by a much taller stand-in hiding his face with a cape, it’s a disaster from start to finish. The plot, involving aliens resurrecting the dead to stop humans from creating a doomsday weapon, is as nonsensical as the dialogue is stilted. Despite its awfulness, the film has achieved cult status, with fans appreciating its earnest ineptitude and unintentional comedy.
2. Battlefield Earth (2000)
Based on L. Ron Hubbard’s novel, this John Travolta vanity project is a textbook example of ambition outstripping ability. Set in the year 3000, it follows humans rebelling against alien overlords called Psychlos. The film’s garish cinematography, with every shot tilted at a Dutch angle, is as disorienting as its nonsensical plot. Travolta’s hammy performance as the alien Terl is the rotten cherry on top of this sci-fi sundae. The film’s critical and commercial failure was so severe that it effectively ended Travolta’s ambitions to make a franchise out of Hubbard’s work.
3. Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
This sequel to the cult classic Highlander manages to ruin everything that made the original great. It bizarrely retcons the immortals as aliens from the planet Zeist, completely undermining the mythology of the first film. The plot is a confusing mess involving an energy shield around Earth and time travel. Sean Connery’s character is resurrected with no explanation, and the film’s special effects look cheap even for the time. The film was so poorly received that later entries in the franchise simply pretended it never happened.
4. The Room (2003)
Okay, it’s not strictly sci-fi, but Tommy Wiseau’s disasterpiece has such a tenuous grip on reality that it might as well be set on another planet. The film’s baffling dialogue, inexplicable plot twists, and Wiseau’s alien-like performance make it feel like a transmission from a parallel universe where the rules of filmmaking don’t apply. It’s so spectacularly bad that it’s spawned a cult following and even a Hollywood film about its making. The film’s popularity has led to interactive midnight screenings where fans dress up and throw plastic spoons at the screen, mimicking a peculiar set decoration choice in the film.
5. Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
This eco-disaster movie about killer birds attacking a small town makes Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ look like a nature documentary. The CGI birds look like clipart pasted onto the screen, often not even flapping their wings as they ‘fly’. The wooden acting and nonsensical plot – including a romantic subplot that goes nowhere – make this a true fowl-up of a film. The movie’s director, James Nguyen, embraced its ‘so bad it’s good’ status, even releasing a sequel that was somehow even worse.
6. Mac and Me (1988)
This blatant ‘E.T.’ rip-off is more interested in product placement than plot coherence. The alien, MAC (Mysterious Alien Creature), looks like E.T.’s ugly cousin and has an inexplicable fondness for Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. The film’s infamous wheelchair cliff scene has to be seen to be believed. It’s a cynical cash grab masquerading as family entertainment. Paul Rudd has made it a running gag to show the wheelchair cliff clip on Conan O’Brien’s show instead of actual clips from his new films.
7. Sharknado (2013)
While it’s achieved some notoriety as a ‘so bad it’s good’ film, Sharknado’s premise of shark-filled tornadoes attacking Los Angeles is pure nonsense. The CGI sharks look like they’ve escaped from a PlayStation 2 game, and the physics-defying action sequences are more likely to provoke laughter than terror. It’s a perfect storm of bad acting, worse effects, and a plot that makes absolutely no sense. Despite (or perhaps because of) its awfulness, the film spawned five sequels, each more ridiculous than the last.
8. The Core (2003)
This disaster movie about restarting the Earth’s core with nuclear explosions plays fast and loose with science. The film’s ‘unobtainium’ ship and its casual disregard for basic physics would make any scientist weep. While it boasts a surprisingly good cast, they’re let down by a script that seems to have been written by someone who flunked GCSE Science. The film has become a favourite among science teachers as an example of how not to depict scientific concepts in cinema.
9. Jupiter Ascending (2015)
The Wachowskis’ space opera about a cleaning lady who’s actually alien royalty is a mess of convoluted plotting and over-the-top visuals. Channing Tatum plays a half-wolf, half-human warrior with anti-gravity boots, which is somehow one of the less ridiculous elements. Eddie Redmayne’s whisper-shouting villain performance has to be seen to be believed. It’s a beautiful-looking film, but beauty is only skin deep. The film’s failure was particularly disappointing given the Wachowskis’ previous sci-fi triumphs with ‘The Matrix’.
10. Zardoz (1974)
This post-apocalyptic fever dream stars Sean Connery in a red nappy and bandoliers. The plot, involving a flying stone head that vomits guns, is as incomprehensible as it sounds. While it aims for profound commentary on society and religion, it ends up as a baffling mess of half-baked ideas and questionable fashion choices. It’s a film that proves even talented filmmakers can produce utter gibberish. Director John Boorman made this film right after his acclaimed ‘Deliverance’, showing how quickly fortunes can change in Hollywood.
11. The Happening (2008)
M. Night Shyamalan’s eco-thriller about plants releasing a neurotoxin that causes people to kill themselves is as ridiculous as it sounds. Mark Wahlberg delivers a bewilderingly bad performance as a science teacher who seems to know nothing about science. The film’s attempts at tension often result in unintentional comedy, with scenes of people running away from wind becoming instant memes. Despite its environmental message, the only thing toxic about this film is its script.
12. Skyline (2010)
This alien invasion film promises spectacle but delivers tedium. The characters are so thinly drawn you’d struggle to care if they were abducted. The aliens’ motive – they want our brains – is about as deep as the film’s plot. While some of the effects are decent, they’re in service of a story so dull you might find yourself rooting for the aliens just to end the movie sooner. The film’s poor reception didn’t stop a sequel, ‘Beyond Skyline’, from being made, which surprisingly received better reviews than its predecessor.
13. After Earth (2013)
This vanity project for Will and Jaden Smith, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, is a joyless slog through an unconvincing future Earth. The premise – everything on Earth has evolved to kill humans – makes little sense, and the father-son bonding story falls flat. Will Smith’s decision to adopt a bizarre accent doesn’t help matters. It’s a film that proves star power alone can’t save a weak script. The film’s failure was so complete that it reportedly led Smith to re-evaluate his career choices and focus on more challenging roles.
14. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
While the entire Transformers franchise could qualify for this list, the second instalment is particularly egregious. The plot is incomprehensible, the humour juvenile, and the racial stereotyping of certain robots is downright offensive. It’s a cacophony of metal and explosions that mistakes noise for excitement. Even fans of the first film found this sequel hard to defend. Director Michael Bay later apologised for the film, blaming its poor quality on the 2007-2008 writers’ strike.
15. Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
This low-budget Star Wars knock-off tries to blend sci-fi with the plot of ‘The Magnificent Seven’. The result is a cheesy space opera with questionable special effects and even more questionable acting. The spaceship designs are laughably bad, with one ship infamously resembling female anatomy. Despite having the talented James Cameron working on the special effects, the film’s low budget shows in every frame. However, it has gained a cult following over the years for its campy charm and the early work of several future Hollywood stars.
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I had an awful lot of fun writing this list, and it brought back some great memories of Saturday nights in front of the telly with the family, watching Brucie, Anneka, and many other legendary presenters and willing but often inept contestants.
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Justin Hartman is a tech-savvy storyteller with a passion for gaming, movies, and all things automotive. Whether he's dissecting the latest gadgets, diving into cinematic classics, or geeking out over cars, trucks, and planes, Justin brings curiosity and expertise to every topic. When he's not writing, you’ll find him leveling up in his favorite games or cruising in search of his next automotive adventure.
