50 worst sci-fi movies of all time

Warner Bros. The science fiction movie genre has been around since 1902 when George Méliès blew minds with “Le Voyage dans la Lune,” or as American audiences know it, “A Trip to the Moon.” In the more than 100 years that have followed, production quality and human advancements have soared to unimaginable levels, giving filmmakers plenty of content ideas and tools to execute them. Thousands of sci-fi movies have been released since Méliès’ fantastic voyage, and quite a few have been remarkable. But there are always two sides to a coin: For every masterpiece like “Star Wars,” there’s a sci-fi franchise the world could have done without. Stacker compiled IMDb and Metacritic data from September 2022 on all sci-fi movies with more than 2,500 votes on IMDb. It ranked them by Stacker score, an equally weighted index between Metascore and IMDb user rating, #1 being the worst. Ties were broken by IMDb votes, meaning a movie with more votes would be closer to #1 worst. If a film did not have a Metascore, it was not considered. This list includes movies that didn’t splurge for a special effects budget, told a story that’s been told too many times before, or didn’t make sense. Some of these films are so bad their directors denounced them, while others have garnered cult followings. Let’s look at the 50 worst sci-fi movies of all time. You may also like: 25 iconic closing shots from film history #50. ‘Zoom’ (2006) Revolution Studios – Director: Peter Hewitt – Stacker score: 38.1 – IMDb user rating: 4.3 – Metascore: 26 – Runtime: 83 minutes It’s a superhero movie, but there’s nothing super about “Zoom.” Even with big names like Tim Allen, Courteney Cox, and Chevy Chase attached, the action/comedy was a major flop–collecting only $12.5 million at the box office despite a $35 million production budget. #49. ‘Virus’ (1999) Mutual Film Company – Director: John Bruno – Stacker score: 38.1 – IMDb user rating: 5 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 99 minutes Based on the Chuck Pfarrer comic of the same name, the creators of “Virus” were so confident in its success that they promoted it with a line of action figures and a video game. The Jamie Lee Curtis-starring horror film was a critical and commercial flop upon its release; however, it’s since gained a cult following. #48. ‘Jason X’ (2001) New Line Cinema – Director: James Isaac – Stacker score: 38.1 – IMDb user rating: 4.4 – Metascore: 25 – Runtime: 92 minutes The 10th installment in the “Friday the 13th” franchise–“Jason X”–is widely considered the worst. Jason Voorhees is one of the most infamous horror characters in history, and sending him to space–after being cryogenically frozen for hundreds of years–and then transforming him into a cyborg just doesn’t work. #47. ‘Max Steel’ (2016) Dolphin Entertainment – Director: Stewart Hendler – Stacker score: 37.6 – IMDb user rating: 4.6 – Metascore: 22 – Runtime: 92 minutes “Max Steel” is based on a television series based on a line of Mattel action figures of the same name. Despite the toys launching in 1999, nostalgia wasn’t enough for audiences to like the film. #46. ‘Supernova’ (2000) Hammerhead Productions – Directors: Walter Hill, Francis Ford Coppola, Jack Sholder – Stacker score: 37 – IMDb user rating: 4.8 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 90 minutes James Spader, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, and other well-known actors couldn’t save “Supernova,” nor could a cast of directors. Even after multiple edits and test screenings, the deep space thriller was a major flop. #45. ‘Highlander: Endgame’ (2000) Davis-Panzer Productions – Director: Douglas Aarniokoski – Stacker score: 37 – IMDb user rating: 4.6 – Metascore: 21 – Runtime: 87 minutes “Highlander: Endgame” is the fourth installment of the “Highlander” film franchise and also acts as a continuation of the “Highlander” television series. Despite failing critically and commercially, a sequel titled “Highlander: The Source” was released in 2007, wrapping up the story. #44. ‘The Darkest Hour’ (2011) Summit Entertainment – Director: Chris Gorak – Stacker score: 37 – IMDb user rating: 4.9 – Metascore: 18 – Runtime: 89 minutes “The Darkest Hour” is a classic alien invasion story lacking imagination. Critics panned it for being “a dimwitted 3D sci-fi travesty.” Still, interestingly enough, it was a commercial success–making more than $65.6 million worldwide, which was more than double the budget. #43. ‘Branded’ (2012) Mirumir – Directors: Jamie Bradshaw, Aleksandr Dulerayn – Stacker score: 36.5 – IMDb user rating: 4.6 – Metascore: 20 – Runtime: 106 minutes “Branded” was marketed as a fun monster movie, but according to critics, that was false advertising. Instead, the fantasy sci-fi was slammed for being bloated with “ideological pretension” that not only took away from the story, but made it hard to follow or understand. #42. ‘A Sound of Thunder’ (2005) Franchise Pictures – Director: Peter Hyams – Stacker score: 36.5 – IMDb user rating: 4.2 – Metascore: 24 – Runtime: 110 minutes Ray Bradbury may be sci-fi royalty, but the 2005 film adaption of his 1952 short story “A Sound of Thunder” was not well received. In addition to being a critical flop, the movie only managed to rake in $11.6 million at the box office despite an $80 million budget. #41. ‘Left Behind: The Movie’ (2000) Cloud Ten Pictures – Director: Vic Sarin – Stacker score: 35.9 – IMDb user rating: 4.3 – Metascore: 22 – Runtime: 96 minutes “Left Behind: The Movie” is a religious thriller its creators boasted as the “biggest and most ambitious Christian film ever made.” Instead, it was just a big flop; however, that didn’t stop the franchise from continuing with two more films: “Left Behind II: Tribulation Force” and “Left Behind: World at War.” #40. ‘Batman & Robin’ (1997) Warner Bros. – Director: Kenneth Johnson – Stacker score: 31.5 – IMDb user rating: 2.9 – Metascore: 28 – Runtime: 97 minutes A superhero movie starring Shaquille O’Neal never had a chance to be taken seriously. Unfortunately for “Steel,” it wasn’t just panned by critics but also a total box office bomb, making only $1.7 million despite a $16 million budget. #24. ‘Jiu Jitsu’ (2020) Acme Rocket Fuel – Director: Dimitri Logothetis – Stacker score: 30.9 – IMDb user rating: 2.9 – Metascore: 27 – Runtime: 102 minutes “Jiu Jitsu” is a movie about jiujitsu fighters battling aliens every six years to protect Earth. The premise is an interesting, albeit slightly silly one, but boy, did it flop at the box office. The film made less than $100,000 even though it cost $25 million. #23. ‘Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!’ (1978) Four Square Productions – Director: John De Bello – Stacker score: 30.4 – IMDb user rating: 4.6 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 83 minutes “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!” may have been panned by critics, but the 1978 horror spoof did so well at the box office that it spawned three sequels, a television series, and some video games. Fans praise it as being unabashedly cheesy. #22. ‘Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever’ (2002) Franchise Pictures – Director: Wych Kaosayananda – Stacker score: 30.4 – IMDb user rating: 3.6 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 91 minutes Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu playing secret agents who set aside their differences and team up to fight a common enemy may sound like an intriguing plot line, but “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” is anything but fascinating. The movie got criticized for its overblown action and lack of coherence, and Roger Ebert famously gave it half a star and included it in his list of most hated films. #21. ‘Megaforce’ (1982) Golden Harvest Company – Director: Hal Needham – Stacker score: 29.8 – IMDb user rating: 3.6 – Metascore: 18 – Runtime: 99 minutes In theory, an action film directed by a former stuntman should be excellent. In practice, it’s not. Critics panned “Megaforce,” which flopped big time at the box office; however, it’s widely considered a cult classic, and a 1998 episode of “South Park” even referenced the movie. You may also like: Classic movie quotes that have broken into our daily vocabulary #20. ‘Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace’ (1996) New Line Cinema – Director: Farhad Mann – Stacker score: 29.8 – IMDb user rating: 2.5 – Metascore: 29 – Runtime: 93 minutes The sci-fi action film, “Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace,” was a sequel to “The Lawnmower Man.” Stephen King took the original movie to court for taking too many liberties to be named after his short story. #19. ‘Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?’ (2014) Atlas 3 Productions – Director: James Manera – Stacker score: 28.7 – IMDb user rating: 4.3 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 99 minutes “Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?” is the third installment of the “Atlas Shrugged” franchise. The films were based on the philosopher Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel of the same name, and one critic suggested if she were alive today, she’d “be looking for lighter fluid for this one.” #18. ‘Piranha II: The Spawning’ (1981) Brouwersgracht Investments – Directors: James Cameron, Ovidio G. Assonitis, Miller Drake – Stacker score: 28.7 – IMDb user rating: 3.7 – Metascore: 15 – Runtime: 94 minutes Unfortunately, the “Piranha 3D” movies weren’t the first in the series–they started way back in 1978. “Piranha II: The Spawning” was the first sequel and, oddly enough, James Cameron’s directorial debut. The famed director tried to disown the movie, going as far as attempting to get his name taken out of the credits, but has since reclaimed his part in it. #17. ‘The Last Days of American Crime’ (2020) Radical Studios – Director: Olivier Megaton – Stacker score: 28.7 – IMDb user rating: 3.7 – Metascore: 15 – Runtime: 148 minutes Sometimes movies get criticized for their content; other times, it’s just bad timing. For “The Last Days of American Crime,” it was both. The movie’s creators made the poor choice of releasing the action thriller, which depicts violent police brutality, during the George Floyd protests. #16. ‘Cabin Fever’ (2016) Contend – Director: Travis Zariwny – Stacker score: 28.2 – IMDb user rating: 3.7 – Metascore: 14 – Runtime: 99 minutes Remakes generally only work when enough time has passed, and 14 years isn’t enough. This version of “Cabin Fever” is a reboot of Eli Roth’s 2002 sci-fi horror flick of the same name. Though Roth acted as co-writer and executive producer this time around, it wasn’t enough to make critics and fans alike care. The movie was a failure all around. You may also like: 50 best movies about the Vietnam War #15. ‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ (2002) Castle Rock Entertainment – Director: Ron Underwood – Stacker score: 27.6 – IMDb user rating: 3.8 – Metascore: 12 – Runtime: 95 minutes “The Adventures of Pluto Nash” emerged in the era of Eddie Murphy playing dual roles. In this sci-fi action comedy, he’s joined by Randy Quaid, Rosario Dawson, Joe Pantoliano, Jay Mohr, Luis Guzmán, James Rebhorn, Peter Boyle, Pam Grier, and John Cleese, but the impressive cast wasn’t enough to make the movie good. #14. ‘The Avengers’ (1998) Warner Bros. – Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik – Stacker score: 27.6 – IMDb user rating: 3.8 – Metascore: 12 – Runtime: 89 minutes Not to be confused with the Marvel superhero franchise, “The Avengers” is a satirical spy action comedy starring Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes. It even featured Sean Connery, but still failed miserably with critics and at the box office. #13. ‘The Omega Code’ (1999) Code Productions – Director: Robert Marcarelli – Stacker score: 27.1 – IMDb user rating: 3.5 – Metascore: 14 – Runtime: 100 minutes “The Omega Code” is an apocalyptic, religious thriller with a plot that centers around the Antichrist trying to take over the world by using the information found by deciphering messages in the bible using the titular code. Though the movie didn’t receive favorable reviews, it made a decent amount at the box office, which was enough to spawn a sequel. #12. ‘Mortal Kombat: Annihilation’ (1997) New Line Cinema – Director: John R. Leonetti – Stacker score: 26 – IMDb user rating: 3.6 – Metascore: 11 – Runtime: 95 minutes “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” is the second installment of the film series based on the iconic video game franchise. It was based on the video game “Mortal Kombat 3” and was such a failure that a third film got canned. But time heals all wounds, and in 2021 the series was rebooted. #11. ‘Rollerball’ (2002) Atlas Entertainment – Director: John McTiernan – Stacker score: 24.9 – IMDb user rating: 3.1 – Metascore: 14 – Runtime: 98 minutes “Rollerball” is a remake of the 1975 film of the same name. Unfortunately, this version focused a little too heavily on action and glossed over the social and political messages of the original. For this, the movie got panned by critics. It was also a box office bomb. You may also like: Why these famous films were banned around the globe #10. ‘The Emoji Movie’ (2017) Columbia Pictures – Director: Tony Leondis – Stacker score: 24.9 – IMDb user rating: 3.3 – Metascore: 12 – Runtime: 86 minutes In hindsight, a movie about emojis was probably never a great idea, but “The Emoji Movie” managed to get an A-list voice cast, including T.J. Miller, James Corden, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph, Steven Wright, Jennifer Coolidge, Jake T. Austin, Christina Aguilera, Sofía Vergara, Sean Hayes, and Sir Patrick Stewart. Unfortunately for its creators, the cast wasn’t enough to make it enjoyable. However, the film was a monstrous box office success. #9. ‘Andron’ (2015) Ambi Pictures – Director: Francesco Cinquemani – Stacker score: 23.8 – IMDb user rating: 2.7 – Metascore: 16 – Runtime: 100 minutes If they weren’t phoning it in, Alec Baldwin and Danny Glover would be the only saving grace of “Andron.” The dystopian sci-fi action film relies on the now overplayed concept of pitting young people against each other where only one survives–hello, “Hunger Games.” This time, the deadly arena is a giant, dark labyrinth, but that slight difference isn’t enough for the movie to be anything more than “derivative.” #8. ‘Left Behind’ (2014) Stoney Lake Entertainment – Director: Vic Armstrong – Stacker score: 23.8 – IMDb user rating: 3.1 – Metascore: 12 – Runtime: 110 minutes Remember the flop that was “Left Behind: The Movie”? The creators of “Left Behind” thought a 14-year buffer might be enough time to give the novel of the same name another film adaptation. They cast Nicolas Cage in the starring role this time, but that didn’t make critics like it anymore. However, the movie did well enough at the box office that a sequel is in the works. #7. ‘Future World’ (2018) AMBI Group – Directors: James Franco, Bruce Thierry Cheung – Stacker score: 23.2 – IMDb user rating: 3.2 – Metascore: 10 – Runtime: 88 minutes James Franco directed and starred in “Future World,” but his name didn’t get him very far, nor did a pretty impressive supporting cast featuring Suki Waterhouse, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Lucy Liu, and Milla Jovovich. The post-apocalyptic sci-fi film got criticized for its lack of originality. #6. ‘Cosmic Sin’ (2021) 308 Ent – Director: Edward Drake – Stacker score: 18.8 – IMDb user rating: 2.5 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 88 minutes “Cosmic Sin” got a lot of press when it came out–not because it was a good movie, but because it was so bad that people started questioning Bruce Willis as an actor. Sadly, after the film’s release, Willis revealed that he had been diagnosed with a neurological condition called aphasia and was retiring from acting. You may also like: Famous movie quotes from the year you were born #5. ‘Battlefield Earth’ (2000) Warner Bros. – Director: Roger Christian – Stacker score: 18.8 – IMDb user rating: 2.5 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 118 minutes “Battlefield Earth” was a mess all around. The movie is based on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s novel of the same name and stars John Travolta, a Scientologist. It not only was a commercial and critical failure but was also shunned after investors sued Franchise Pictures for fraudulently reporting the budget as $75 million when it was $41 million. The production company filed for bankruptcy, and Travolta scrapped plans for a sequel. #4. ‘Disaster Movie’ (2008) Lionsgate – Directors: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer – Stacker score: 18.8 – IMDb user rating: 1.9 – Metascore: 15 – Runtime: 87 minutes “Disaster Movie” is a parody of just that. Unfortunately, the film lives up to its name in more than one way–it got absolutely roasted by critics. This movie also happens to be Kim Kardashian’s feature film debut. #3. ‘Alone in the Dark’ (2005) AITD Productions – Director: Uwe Boll – Stacker score: 18.2 – IMDb user rating: 2.4 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 96 minutes Film adaptations of video games don’t usually go over very well, and “Alone in the Dark” is another example. The action horror film got panned for everything from its special effects to Tara Reid’s performance and failed at the box office, but that didn’t stop a sequel from being made in 2008. #2. ‘Baby Geniuses’ (1999) Crystal Sky Worldwide – Director: Bob Clark – Stacker score: 17.1 – IMDb user rating: 2.5 – Metascore: 6 – Runtime: 97 minutes The creators of “Baby Geniuses” thought they were just that when they found a way to make babies’ mouths move digitally and make it look like they’re talking, but it turns out people don’t want to see babies talk. Roger Ebert gave the film 1.5 stars, stating: “Babies are cute only when they’re being babies. When they’re presented as miniature adults–on greeting cards, in TV commercials or especially in this movie–there is something so fundamentally wrong that our human instincts cry out in protest.” #1. ‘Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2’ (2004) ApolloMedia Distribution – Director: Bob Clark – Stacker score: 13.3 – IMDb user rating: 1.5 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 88 minutes The only movie worse than “Baby Geniuses” was its sequel. Though the first movie got panned by critics, it did well at the box office. “Baby Geniuses 2,” on the other hand, was not only a critical failure, but also bombed at the box office. You may also like: 100 best fantasy movies of all time