# What are the five worst science fiction movies you've ever seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 22, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832 "2009-07-22T06:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/61 "2009-07-23T14:16:46Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > In my opinion, **Robot Holocaust** is worth seeing for the character Valeria, played by a model or something who may just be the single worst actress ever put on film. She must be seen to be believed. “Yuu and yoh dwatah ah dwoomed!” 😃 I couldn’t tell if the actress (Angelika Jager) just had a foreign accent, or if she was _deaf_. Maybe it was both—I’ve never heard a deaf person, including Helen Keller, with an accent that thick. Or who had that awful an acting presence. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/62 "2009-07-23T14:40:34Z")
Yay! I get to be the first to mention _Liquid Sky_, a low-budget semi-art film about an alien preying on big-haired Eighties NYC clubhoppers. Saw it in college and hated, hated, _hated_ it. _Star Trek V_. A false and entirely unconvincing “god.” Kirk in full preen. Spock’s never-mentioned, long-lost, touchy-feely half-brother. Scotty reduced to the worst possible comic relief. Uhura dancing far past her prime. Bad sfx. :: Shudder :: _The Matrix 3_. Ugh. I liked the first movie a lot, despite its goofy, nonsensical premise, but the sequels just got worse and worse. _Mission to Mars_. Could have been much, much better. A sf movie made by people who knew nothing about science, and couldn’t create good fiction. A fine cast and top-quality sfx, squandered. _Waterworld_. Loooooong and stoopid, although the first minute or two is worth a look, as you see the oceans rise. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/63 "2009-07-23T14:59:40Z")
Here goes… Adding to the many mentions of **Starcrash** (the Italian **Star Wars** knock-off), I submit for your disapproval: **Message From Space** , the Japanese **Star Wars** knock-off (released the same year). Vic Morrow looks like he wandered into the wrong movie set and couldn’t get out. After this film, his beheading while filming **Twilight Zone** …superfluous. The remake of **Rollerball.** The original is brilliant commentary on our culture and values. The remake is a piece of tripe trying to capitalize on the fad of Extreme Sports (which is part of the point of the original. I’m not sure if the guys who did the remake ever _saw_ the original.) I rented this steaming pile and turned it off a third of the way through. **Solarbabies.** Jamie Gertz in her 80s big-hair heyday. Nuff Said. **Battle Beyond The Stars**. John-Boy Walton in yet another **Magnificent Seven** pastiche…though, to be fair, **Star Wars** fits that category, too. **Spacehunter 3D: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone.** Even Molly Ringwold fans should stay away from this turd. Saw it in 3D in the theatres – gave me a headache on _several_ levels. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/64 "2009-07-23T15:34:59Z")
I just looked up _Star Crash_, given all of its votes here. Sweet Og - Christopher Plummer _and_ David Hasselhoff in an Italian _Star Wars_ knockoff? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/65 "2009-07-23T16:02:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The dialogue was horrible, the direction was overwrought, and that cross-eyed Frenchman Lambert was barely convincing as a member of the animal kingdom. Connery and Clancy Brown were good and the concept had some serious potential, but objectively speaking, the movie is a piece of crap. And I’m saying that as a former 12-year-old who thought it was the most awesome move ever. > > And frankly, the soundtrack was nothing special. By 1986 most of Queen’s best work was far behind them. But Highlander doesn’t belong on a list of the worst five. It had some cool stuff and ideas that were fresh at the time. I always thought it was pretty incredible that it could be turned into a franchise–it wasn’t anywhere near THAT good. As far as Queen’s music, the parts that appeared on A Kind of Magic were not as good as the band’s best work but were waay better than anything that came after, and also better than the band’s previous two albums (three if you count the Flash Gordon soundtrack, which I mercifully don’t.) ---
**Author:** ![ProfessorX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@ProfessorX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProfessorX)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/66 "2009-07-23T16:13:25Z")
I think one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen has to “Future War.” It’s on youtube from MST3K in like 9 parts, if you have time I definitely recommend watching it, it’s hilarious since it’s just so terribly bad. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/67 "2009-07-23T16:16:37Z")
Since no one else has mentioned the third Alien movie – the one where Sigourney is bald – I will. Other than that and Highlander 2, my five worst would be movies whose names and plots I have forgotten. The Star Wars prequels would be among the biggest disappointments, not quite the same thing. Dishonorable mention to Starman too - that’s where Jeff Bridges plays an alien who finds Earth after encountering Voyager 1 in space. In 1984. When Voyager was still in the solar system. So alien Jeff latches onto a 1,500-lb. spacecraft before noticing the nearby planet emitting a half century of radio and TV waves. Lost me in the first scene and never got me back. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/68 "2009-07-23T16:21:21Z")
_Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome_ _Flash Gordon_ _Battlefield Earth_ _Phantom Menace_ (except for the pod-racing scene, which I thought was awesome) _Highlander 2_ I don’t get the hate for Stargate. It had James Spader, for christ’s sake! And pyramids! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/69 "2009-07-23T16:38:24Z")
Does no one remember the dreadful, cheap, boring space movies from the Cold War era that the TV stations used to play on Saturday afternoons? Things like ‘Flight To Mars’, ‘Rocketship X-M’, ‘Lost Missile’?..Usually starring a no-name cast (occasionally a well known actor like Lloyd Bridges showed up). Black and white, bottom of the barrel, homely middle-aged space explorers pushing buttons and steering rocketships, lots of flashing lights, and boringboringboring dialogue. Oh, and they all smoked while doing so. Any women featured were usually the daughters of Professor So-and-So, or scientists in their own right with glasses and lab coats, ogled and harrassed by the men. There weren’t even any good space monsters! Everything mentioned above at least is in color, has some camp value and special effects - Starship Troopers is as Citizen Kane compared to the early space race time-fillers! ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/70 "2009-07-23T17:21:48Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > _Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome_ What is wrong with you? I agree with just about everything already mentioned so I’ll try to add a few new ones no one thought of. _The Arrival_ _Time Bandits_ (I liked it when I was younger, but now I know I was mistaken) _Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman_ (was ALMOST so bad it was good) _The Incredible Hulk_ (when Norton was attacked by the mutant poodles I almost pissed my pants) _Zardoz_ _Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull_ (aliens=sci fi and with extensive therapy I an now able to admit this movie was indeed created.) _The Mothman Prophecies_ For some reason I kinda liked _Prayer of the Rollerboys_, but I’m sure it was the novelty of rollerblades or because I thought trench coats were cool at the time. It certainly wasn’t the the poor acting, plot and dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/71 "2009-07-23T17:27:11Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > What is wrong with you? > > _Time Bandits_ > _The Incredible Hulk_ > _Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull_ (aliens=sci fi and with extensive therapy I an now able to admit this movie was indeed created.) What’s wrong with _you_? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/72 "2009-07-23T17:41:26Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > …(I liked it when I was younger, but now I know I was mistaken)… I had the same reaction to _Robinson Crusoe on Mars_, which I recently saw again. It really was awful, even making allowances for its limited budget. I was a little embarrassed to be showing it to my nine-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/73 "2009-07-23T17:57:13Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > _Time Bandits_ (I liked it when I was younger, but now I know I was mistaken) Proof that taste does not always improve with age. 😉 > [@](#): > > _The Incredible Hulk_ (when Norton was attacked by the mutant poodles I almost pissed my pants) Wrong Hulk. That was Eric Bana with the poodles. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/74 "2009-07-23T17:59:59Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > But Highlander doesn’t belong on a list of the worst five. I never actually said it did. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/75 "2009-07-23T18:12:28Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > That Nikto movie–can’t remember the title, but that alien robot was too funny, as were the reactions of the earthlings. If you are referring to the original [The Day the Earth Stood Still](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043456/) your services will no longer be required, you may go. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/76 "2009-07-23T18:20:59Z")
Not being a masochist, I tend not to watch very much bad SF. But _Alien: Resurrection_ is definitely one of the worst I’ve ever sat through. I just kept hoping for something to make it good. I started out hoping for Winona boobs. By the end I’d have settled for Brad Dourif boobs. Alas, I had to settle for half-Ripley/half-xenomorph boobs. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/77 "2009-07-23T18:23:54Z")
Most of the ones already mentioned, plus these: Robot Jox Judge Dredd Timecop Virus Stealth ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/78 "2009-07-23T19:26:29Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > The remake of **Rollerball.** The original is brilliant commentary on our culture and values. The remake is a piece of tripe trying to capitalize on the fad of Extreme Sports (which is part of the point of the original. I’m not sure if the guys who did the remake ever _saw_ the original.) I rented this steaming pile and turned it off a third of the way through. The last 2/3 of the movie consisted of POV shots as though you’re in a First Person Shooter wearing night vision goggles. Seriously. I can’t believe I forgot to mention that tub of shit. > [@Sitnam](#): > > _Zardoz_ Zardoz was in fact already mentioned in this thread. I know b/c I was going to mention it specifically. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/79 "2009-07-23T19:27:53Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Does no one remember the dreadful, cheap, boring space movies from the Cold War era that the TV stations used to play on Saturday afternoons? Things like ‘Flight To Mars’, ‘Rocketship X-M’… Starship Troopers is as Citizen Kane compared to the early space race time-fillers! I have to defend Rocketship X-M. Sure it was made on a budget; sure a lot of the science isn’t correct; and OH MY GOD it’s in B&W. But it does have some good ideas (atomic-ravaged Martian civilization), a proto-feminist lady scientist (more competent than the chief scientist), and a perfectly marvelous ending. Compare that to Starship Troopers, which doesn’t have a single idea in its vacuous little head. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832/80 "2009-07-23T19:27:57Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Not being a masochist, I tend not to watch very much bad SF. But _Alien: Resurrection_ is definitely one of the worst I’ve ever sat through. I just kept hoping for something to make it good. I It had Ron Perlman in it. That’s always good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-science-fiction-movies-youve-ever-seen/503832.md?page=5)