Ever since the genre's start in the early days of film, the science fiction genre has continually turned the existential into entertainment. Where indie films and the science fiction genre meet, the contents of these films and the independent production houses within their lineage make each viewing experience even more individualized.
Some examples were devoured by general audiences in theaters, and others remain appreciated by smaller devoted fan groups. Each one explores concepts from human geography in space to artificial intelligence to the brain's inner workings. These are the 11 greatest indie sci-fi movies of all time.
11 Another Earth (2011)
The plot of Another Earth suggests that "Earth 2" exists. A young woman named Rhoda Williams gets into an accident, beginning the tragic connection between her and John Burroughs. The film's emphasis is largely on perspective, especially from a metaphorical and literal universal standpoint. It also zeroes in on mental health topics and the impact of painfully complicated feelings.
10 Never Let Me Go (2010)
Never Let Me Go adapts Kazuo Ishiguro's novel into a major motion picture that stars Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield. At a boarding school called Hailsham, these young attendees learn their true purpose as unwilling organ donors after medical advances make lifespans longer. At face value, the film might look like a simplistic and formulaic coming-of-age movie, but its inner roots in dark dystopia make it a powerful entry into science fiction.
9 Ex Machina (2014)
Among A24's sci-fi films, Ex Machina is one of the film company's greatest, and it's also one of director Alex Garland's best works. The increasing sentience of Ava, combining a feminine perspective with electronic excellence, culminates in her pursuit of freedom. The movie captures the limits of technology and its attempted fusions with humanity, and according to RogerEbert.com, its ending "seems less predictable than inevitable and right, as in myths, legends and Bible stories."
8 Enter the Void (2009)
Gaspar Noé's Enter the Void is often accurately described as trippy, transporting viewers into another world entirely. A drug dealer named Oscar and his sister, Linda, have a strong bond, put to the ultimate test when Oscar is shot and moves towards the afterlife. The film that tells this story proceeds to expand on collective human confusion, imagination, and the circular pattern surrounding life and death.
7 Primer (2004)
In Primer, two engineers have a once-in-a-life-time scientific breakthrough that isn't even intentional. A device intended to check errors becomes a time machine that eventually can fit human passengers. Human nature and the interference of machines is always a great sci-fi path to go down, and this movie delivers it excellently with a great visual aesthetic. The film's nature is famously confusing, but it's also noted to have delivered a remarkable success on a small budget.
6 Donnie Darko (2001)
The mysteries of Donnie Darko have discombobulated audiences since the film's 2001 release, and its cult following still keeps the questions coming. Donnie Darko tells the story of a teen who grows convinced that he is a factor in the end of the world after an apparent hallucination of a scary giant rabbit. The movie blends together time travel, mental illness, and "the pain of puberty" that Drew Barrymore's character quotes from The Destructors by Graham Greene.
5 Being John Malkovich (1999)
Being John Malkovich is such a nuanced film – especially notable in sci-fi circles and conversations about movies that will blow your mind – and a must-see for film lovers. Craig Schwartz, a puppeteer, comes across a Coraline-style portal at a new place of work that opens up into the headspace of John Malkovich. Metaphorical and unforgettable, the film encourages inner awareness and transcending surface level expectations.
4 I Origins (2014)
I Origins follows a scientific revelation hidden within the eye of a human being, driving home the point that some of the most intriguing mysteries end and begin with humans themselves. As this new truth rattles scientific and civilian communities across the world, the film also emphasizes synchronicities and divine timing, expanding its inclusions of spirituality.
3 Her (2013)
If you thought Joker included Joaquin Phoenix's all-time best acting performance, consider his earlier career-defining role in Her. His character Theodore is a writer in a futuristic society, the innovation of which offers him the chance to interact with artificial intelligence even closer than humans recently have. By essentially telling the story of a human being falling in love with a computer, Her is naturally heartbreaking with an already accurate technological perspective.
2 Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Everything Everywhere All At Once is obviously one of the most stunning and world-changing sci-fi films to be released in the 2020s. The story emphasized messages of growth and identity within a fast-moving central storyline. A24's initial status as a smaller, truly indie film production company has transformed within the past couple of years – the Guardian wrote that "[at] this year’s Oscar race... A24 is no longer David but Goliath." Everything Everywhere is largely responsible, as their first film to exceed $100 million in box office earnings.
1 A Trip to the Moon (1902)
A Trip to the Moon is, without a doubt, the most important science fiction film of all time, especially because it was the first of its kind. Director and writer Georges Méliès utilized the tales of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne to create one of the first-ever story-telling films, plus "the first sci-fi film ever." While short and silent, the film's impact over a century later extends its legacy for film students and casual viewers to appreciate, through the continued existence of sci-fi films.