When done right, sci-fi movies can be inspirational, thought-provoking, and mind-blowing. Filmmaking auteurs like Ridley Scott and Christopher Nolan spring to mind when considering directors who have completely rebuilt the genre from the ground up in inspiring ways. But at the same time, it's hard to resist a dumb, goofy sci-fi movie.
People don't always want to watch a movie that's so dense and requires a ton of thought; sometimes, they just want to shut off their brains and switch on the most ridiculous and over-the-top movie possible. Whether it's about toys who come to life and attack their owners, two time traveling slackers, or is a western with giant mechanical spiders, few movies are goofier than these.
Free Guy (2021)
Free Guy became a surprise hit of 2021, and it was one of the first movies to be released during the global pandemic to actually be successful. It's almost like a PG version of Deadpool, as it features Ryan Reynolds' typical witty humor, is full of pop culture references, and breaks the fourth wall.
The movie is about a non-player character of a video game who becomes sentient and learns to think for himself. What follows is him trying to break free of the video game while still partaking in the Grand Theft Auto-like sandbox gameplay of the fictional game. And due to the movie's huge success, there are already talks of a Free Guy 2.
Idiocracy (2006)
While the movie could be considered a gruelingly accurate prediction of a dystopian future, Idiocracy is actually a satirical and hilarious sci-fi flick. The film is about a man with a below-average IQ who is frozen in a government experiment, but he's then thawed out in the future and is treated like a genius.
It's a silly concept, but Idiocracy also attempts to tackle so many subjects, such as people's obsession with celebrities, entertainment and media consumption, and politics. Based in a world where the President of the United States wears an American flag as a cape and carries a machine gun at all times, the 2006 movie is so over the top.
Short Circuit (1986)
Short Circuit is about Johnny 5, a robot created by the U.S. Military who gains a conscience. When people think "military-created robot," they probably imagine a huge experiment with all sorts of artillery attached to it. But, in reality, Johnny 5 is clumsy and cowardly. The robot also looks so dated, and even for its time, there were much better-looking robots.
It's a surprise that the movie hasn't been remade yet, as the original has become a cult classic. There are so many different avenues a new movie could follow too, especially considering how far technology has advanced in the 35 years since the movie's release.
Small Soldiers (1998)
Small Soldiers has a tried and true premise, as it follows a group of sentient toys, which is a formula that has been done countless times before, most successfully with Toy Story. However, the 1998 movie takes a unique approach, as the toys are built with an advanced microprocessor.
The microprocessor makes U.S. Military soldier toys and Gorganite toys, which are a group of outcast monsters, believe that they're at war. The movie starts off goofy and gets even more outrageous, such as when the head of the military, Chip Hazard, builds an army of Barbie dolls, making Small Soldiers a forgotten '90s gem.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure unfortunately wasn't one of the time travel movies mentioned by Scott in Avengers: Endgame when planning the time heist. And that's probably because the movie is absolutely ridiculous, even compared to Hot Tub Time Machine, which was mentioned in the Marvel movie. Excellent Adventure follows the two eponymous slackers who use a phone booth to travel through time and collect historical figures to use for their high school project.
There's a sequel that's just as goofy too, as Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey follows the two underachievers as they literally go to hell and back, fight robot versions of themselves, and befriend a strange alien lifeform called Station. While Keanu Reeves is worshipped by many and is currently known as "the internet's boyfriend," Ted is one of Reeves' wackiest roles.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
No movie sequel is more unlike its predecessor than Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Gremlins is a warm Christmas movie full of heart, and though there are some laugh-out-loud moments, it takes the subject matter very seriously. However, the 1990 sequel is an over-the-top parody of itself in the best way possible.
The series began in the horror genre, but the sequel ecstatically embraced science fiction with open arms. In the cult classic sequel, gremlins transform into all kinds of different creatures, such as a giant spider and even a wannabe talk show host who can speak English.
Sonic The Hedgehog (2021)
Audiences might not immediately identify Sonic the Hedgehog as a sci-fi movie, as it's a video game comedy movie first and foremost, but it contains more science fiction elements than many films of the past few years. The adaptation features an evil scientist who builds drones and various other machines, there are portals that lead to other universes, and the goofiest of all, it's all about a superfast blue alien.
Though the entire scene is lifted from X-Men: Days of Future Past when Quicksilver rescues Magneto from the Pentagon, the bar scene where time slows down and Sonic messes with the rednecks is so entertaining. And with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 just around the corner, it's looking like the sequel is doubling down on all of these elements too.
Men In Black (1997)
The Men In Black series is a perfect example of diminishing returns in Hollywood, as each movie in the series got lazier and there was less of a demand for each release. The third movie specifically missed an opportunity to tell a better story. However, the original captured lightning in a bottle, as it uniquely uses the urban legend of men dressed in black suits being spotted at UFO sighting locations.
The 1997 classic brilliantly builds a whole world around this one simple premise and it's unashamedly goofy. On top of that, putting Will Smith, who is loud and energetic, and Tommy Lee Jones, who is quiet and stoic, in the movie together makes for one the best on-screen duos that nobody knew they wanted.
Spy Kids 3D: Game Over (2003)
Spy Kids 3D is so goofy that it unapologetically leans into every novelty as hard as it possibly can, almost to the point of it being a parody of movies in general. The entire film is shot in front of a green screen and the CGI is intentionally fake-looking. The hero that has been built up for the entire movie, The Guy, is killed as soon as he appears. And the 3D glasses were the traditional goofy blue and red glasses.
Spy Kids 3 is so bad it's good for these reasons, and the whole series is just as ridiculous. Those who went to see Spy Kids 4 in theatres 10 years ago will even remember that they were given an "Aroma-Scope," which is essentially a scratch-and-sniff, to "enhance the viewing experience."
Wild Wild West (1999)
Director Barry Sonnenfeld's movies are generally hit or miss, but even when they miss they're still hugely entertaining. Men In Black is an example of a Barry Sonnenfeld high concept sci-fi movie done right, and Wild Wild West is the exact opposite.
Wild Wild West is one of the most spectacular failures in cinema history, as the 1999 movie is fascinating in every way despite being critically scathed. In the final act of the movie, a giant mechanical spider shows up out of nowhere without any foreshadowing and hardly any context. It's just as amazing as it is mindless, and it'll leave viewers speechless.