The busier a person is, the less likely they are to watch long films. Instead, they will most likely stream a TV show - after all, one episode tends to be much shorter than a feature film. However, fans of sci-fi films don't need to despair. Luckily, there are plenty of brilliant sci-fi films that are fairly short and won't take more than 90 minutes of time.
Unsurprisingly, most of these shorter sci-fi films are quite old. In the past, filmmakers were much more likely to film brief films. That doesn't change the fact that these films work even today, and some of them have barely aged.
A Trip To The Moon (1902): 13 minutes
If one wants to discover the beginnings of sci-fi films, they don't need to look any further. The French director Georges Méliès made the first official sci-fi film over a century ago. The film tells the story of a group of astronauts who travel to the Moon. They encounter alien species on the Moon and then return back to Earth. The film is available on YouTube and its original title is Le Voyage Dans le Lune.
Frankenstein (1931): 70 minutes
The 1930s saw the rise of multiple horror film creatures - such as Dracula, the Invisible Man, or Frankenstein. The story, based on a popular novel by Mary Shelley, is well-known as it's appeared in a multitude of movies. The brilliant scientist Victor Frankenstein uses the body parts of dead people to build a living creature. Society shuns the creature because it doesn't look and act like them. Boris Karloff became famous thanks to playing Frankenstein's monster and he reprised the role in the future as well.
The Invisible Man (1933): 71 minutes
Fans of horror sci-fi films could have enjoyed the recent new version of The Invisible Man (2020). However, if one wants to get back to the roots of the genre, they have the chance to do it thanks to this film. Based on the popular novel by H.G. Wells, the film follows a man who discovered how to become invisible. Unfortunately, invisibility has severe consequences. Claude Rains played his first major film role in the film but he did an excellent job - even though the audience doesn't see his face.
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956): 80 minutes
Some classic sci-fi films became so popular that they spawned a multitude of remakes. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of them. It had a remake in 1978 (with Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy) or in 2007 with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.
However, many fans consider the original version the best. Instead of blowing things up, aliens choose a different approach to invade Earth - a much scarier one. They replace people with their carbon copies, except these new versions have no emotions.
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957): 81 minutes
The 1950s originated plenty of amazing sci-fi films. However, The Incredible Shrinking Man is one of the best. Scott Carey begins to shrink and nobody can help him, not his wife, not the doctor, not science. In the end, Scott has to grow accustomed to his new life and fight the challenges it throws in his way. The film offers a lot of tension-filled moments, amazing special effects, and its ending will make the audience think about what they just saw.
Who Wants To Kill Jessie? (1966): 80 minutes
Some foreign films have a lot to offer but rarely anybody knows them. That's also the case of the Czechoslovakian sci-fi comedy Who Wants to Kill Jessie? The film asks the question of what would happen if people's dreams became real? The answer is clear - chaos would ensue. The film is inspired by comic book esthetics, and for a while, American studios planned to make a remake of it. However, that didn't happen in the end.
Hibernatus (1969): 82 minutes
Those lucky enough to find a copy with English subtitles can enjoy this hilarious French sci-fi comedy. A man gets frozen in 1905 and wakes up in the 1960s. His descendants pretend it's still 1905 to spare him the shock that might kill him.
Except for Hubert de Tartas (Louis de Funès) who doesn't like how his wife's granddad completely changed their lives. Funès gives another excellent performance. The film is full of funny moments and clever cultural shocks.
Westworld (1973): 88 minutes
Thanks to the mega-successful HBO TV series, this film is mostly forgotten. However, if someone wants to see where the idea originated, Westworld is the perfect chance to do so. Writer Michael Crichton penned the script and even directed the film. It has a fairly simple storyline - people are running from a dangerous robot in a western-themed futuristic amusement park. Despite its straightforward plot, the film still manages to keep the audience intrigued.
The Man From Earth (2007): 87 minutes
The Man From Earth proves that a good sci-fi film doesn't always need a bloated budget or tons of special effects. Sometimes a good script and talented actors are enough. The film focuses on a man who invites over a group of his friends. Once they arrive, he shares a surprising truth with them - he's 10 000 years old. The film keeps its audience guessing whether John speaks the truth or whether he's gone crazy until the very end.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013): 75 minutes
There are plenty of excellent DC superhero animated movies. However, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is one of the best. In the film, Barry Allen travels back in time and saves his mom from dying. Unfortunately, what he doesn't know is that his actions will have severe consequences. Barry creates a brand new, much worse reality, and he has to fix things. The film draws inspiration from a successful comic book storyline and presents an intriguing different version of the Justice League.