Rotten Tomatoes is a useful indication of which movies and shows are worth watching, but it isn't perfect. Some movies can earn glowing reviews but quickly fade from memory, while others receive lukewarm critical reception only to develop a passionate fan following years later. Sci-fi movies are particularly vulnerable to this, as ambitious concepts, unusual worldbuilding, and unconventional storytelling don't always resonate with critics upon release.
Fortunately, plenty of sci-fi films have aged far better than their Rotten Tomatoes scores suggest. Whether they were misunderstood or simply ahead of their time, these overlooked sci-fi projects actually deserve a lot more respect. For any sci-fi fan who's been relying on Rotten Tomatoes ratings to inform their next watch, some underrated gems deserve a second look.
4 Oblivion is Far Better Than Most Reviews Suggest
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 54%
Starring Tom Cruise, Oblivion takes place on a devastated Earth decades after humanity has supposedly won a war against alien invasion. Cruise plays Jack Harper, a technician who's nearing the end of his mission and is soon moving to a distant human colony. However, strange encounters begin to unravel everything he knows about the world around him. Despite its breathtaking visuals and intriguing premise, Oblivion only earned a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics arguing that it borrowed too heavily from sci-fi classics.
Sure, Oblivion wears its influences on its sleeve, but its execution is far stronger than critics initially gave it credit for. The film boasts some of the most visually stunning designs of the 2010s, a haunting score from M83, and a very satisfying mystery. Cruise also delivers an underrated performance, captivating audiences from beginning to end. Oblivion is a thoughtful, big-budget sci-fi movie, and it may not be perfect, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
3 Tron: Legacy Deserved Better
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 51%
Tron: Legacy follows Sam Flynn as he enters a digital grid in search of his missing father, Kevin. Once inside, Sam finds a technologically-advanced world run by dangerous programs and a powerful AI. Despite its masterful visual effects and earning a devoted fanbase, Tron: Legacy only received a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many critics praised the groundbreaking visuals but felt the story and characters weren't as compelling as the film's spectacle. But reducing Tron: Legacy to style over substance does the movie a disservice.
The father-son story provides a necessary emotional core that grounds the futuristic setting, while Tron: Legacy's themes of creation, perfection, and technological evolution have only become more relevant since the movie's release in 2010. The visuals are still gorgeous 16 years later, and Daft Punk's soundtrack is widely considered one of the greatest film scores in recent years. What critics once saw as a visually impressive but flat film is now a beloved cult classic that continues to influence sci-fi aesthetics today.
2 Vin Diesel's The Chronicles of Riddick is a Cult Favorite
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 28%
Following the success of Pitch Black, Vin Diesel returned to the role of antihero Richard B. Riddick, but this time, he was in a far more ambitious movie. The Chronicles of Riddick expands into a sprawling space opera involving galactic empires, religious fanatics, and prophecies involving the fate of the universe. The Chronicles of Riddick earned a measly 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers citing an overly-complicated and overly-serious story as the movie's biggest downfall.
But these same qualities are exactly what audiences love about The Chronicles of Riddick. The 2004 movie did everything but play it safe, and gave audiences an expansive universe packed with imaginative ideas and memorable worldbuilding. Diesel's Riddick is still a charismatic lead, and the overall film embraces its grand, campy sci-fi adventure, which is rarely seen in modern blockbusters. Not every creative choice works perfectly, but its ambition alone makes it more interesting than many of its better-reviewed peers. In the years since, audiences have recognized The Chronicles of Reddick as a fun cult favorite.
1 Equilibrium Was Unfairly Described As a Mash-Up of Better Films
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 40%
Set in a dystopian future where emotions have been outlawed to prevent war, Equilibrium centers on law enforcement officer John Preston, played by Christian Bale. Citizens are forced to take a drug that numbs all feelings, but when Preston misses a dose, he begins experiencing emotions for the first time and questions the society he serves. The film received mixed reviews and currently holds a rating of 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics arguing the movie borrowed too heavily from classics like The Matrix and Fahrenheit 451.
Equilibrium's influences are obvious, but the movie succeeds by blending these influences to craft a thrilling and emotionally engaging story. Bale delivers a fantastic performance as a man rediscovering his humanity, and the movie's action sequences are genuinely innovative. Equilibrium's signature "Gun Kata" combat style helps it stand out from many other action flicks of the '00s, while its themes surrounding censorship and conformity are still surprisingly relevant. It's a shame Equilibrium has been dismissed as a derivative entry in the sci-fi genre, because it's actually a unique, fun dystopian movie.