Already known for their imaginative, often futuristic worlds, manysci-fi films from the 1980sare positively even more weird.Certain filmmakers, including John Carpenter and Terry Gilliam, took full advantage of the creative possibilitiesthe genre has to offer and wound up creating memorable and odd films that have both alienated and welcomed audiences into the already complex stories associated with science fiction.
Additionally, most sci-fi films involve commentary on political or social issues. Films likeThe StuffandThey Liveare just two examples of films with deeper meanings told through unexpected lenses, like a murderous, addictive dessert or sunglasses that show an alternate reality when one looks through them. The weirdest sci-fi films of the decade evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to discomfort, and ask that audiences let go and trust the rules established in their unconventional sci-fi worlds.
10The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension (1984)
A Man Of Many Talents Helps Stop An Alien Invasion
A few years before he became the titular character inRoboCop, Peter Weller led the sci-fi comedyThe Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.Buckaroo Banzaiis centered around the titular surgeon and rock star tasked with protecting the world from an alien invasion. The plot seems simple enough, butthe characters and events in the film are widely unpredictable, making for a divisive viewing experience.
15 Best Cheesy ’80s Sci-Fi Movies, Ranked
Science fiction doesn’t have to be serious. From Spaceballs to Back to the Future, some of the very best cheesy sci-fi movies are 1980s releases.
Some viewers and critics have feltBuckaroo Banzaifails in its ambitions to be weird and fuse as many genres as it does. However,Buckaroo Banzaihas still earned a cult following over the years. The wackiness of the sci-fi adventure allows for an easy viewing experience, which isn’t always guaranteed by the genre.
Rather than be bogged down by detailed lore that audiences must accept to understand the rest of the film,Buckaroo Banzai’s eccentric world simply asks audiences to let go and join in on the fun.
The Blob
Cast
The Blob is a 1988 science fiction horror film directed by Chuck Russell. The plot revolves around a malevolent, gelatinous entity that emerges from a meteorite and begins consuming everything in its path in a small American town. As the creature grows larger with each victim, a group of citizens races against time to find a way to stop the unstoppable menace. The film stars Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith.
In the same vein as a few other sci-fi horror films,The Blobattempts to create social commentary with its weird and unexpected antagonist.The Blobgets its name from an acidic organism that attacks unsuspecting individuals by slowly dissolving their bodies.As a remake of a 1958 film of the same name, the ’80s version explainsthe Blob is a biological weaponcreated by a secret agency.
In the original film, the villain is seen as an alien-like creature from outer space. Deciding which background makes for a scarier killer is up to the individual. For as terrifying as the Blob is as the film’s killer, it’s also inevitably weird. Throughout the film,various individuals are attacked by the gelatinous creature in equally comical and horrific ways, including one person who is slowly disintegrated as he’s being pulled down a sink drain by the Blob.
The Stuff
The Stuff is a satirical horror film directed by Larry Cohen. Released in 1985, the movie revolves around a mysterious, addictive dessert that becomes a nationwide craze. As corporate greed drives its promotion, an industrial spy, played by Michael Moriarty, discovers the deadly consequences of its consumption. The film explores themes of consumerism and corporate control, presenting a darkly humorous critique of the food industry.
Both acheesy horror filmand a weird sci-fi story,The Stuffis a satirical tale about consumerism in America.The Stufffollows the deadly impact a popular dessert has on those who eat it. The addictive ice cream-like treat itself is the main source of chaos in the film, which is quite odd. Audiences can’t help but laugh at the thought of a gooey dessert being alive and inciting fear in people.
Director Larry Cohen said the inspiration for the film comes from the fact that people are constantly being sold harmful junk food that is made to be addicting.
Director Larry Cohen said the inspiration for the film comes from the fact that people are constantly being sold harmful junk food
Unfortunately,The Stuff’s goofy premise is distracting and its intended commentary gets lost for most of the film.The horror elements meant to represent the dangers of corporate greed don’t entirely work, but what’s left is a wonderfully weird sci-fi film with a unique villain.
Repo Man
Repo Man is a 1984 science fiction crime comedy film directed by Alex Cox. The story follows a young punk rocker named Otto, played by Emilio Estevez, who becomes involved in the seedy world of automobile repossession, uncovering a surreal conspiracy involving a mysterious 1964 Chevrolet Malibu. The film also stars Harry Dean Stanton as Bud, a seasoned repo man who mentors Otto.
Directed by Alex Cox,Repo Manis an unapologetically unconventional film about a young punk rock character who gets hired by a car repossession company and is on the search for a car the police are offering a large reward for. The elements of sci-fi become clear as soon as it’s revealed the missing car might be holding dangerous extraterrestrials in its trunk.There is a bit of commentary on consumerism, but like many sci-fi films during the decade, it’s through a satirical lens.
Repo Manquickly became one of the most successful films the year it was releasedand the love for its humor and odd characters has continued throughout the years. In addition to its strange story,Repo Manis also remembered best for its soundtrack. Featuring artists like Iggy Pop and The Plugz,Repo Man’s punk rock soundtrack is extremely fitting for the decade.
Lifeforce
Lifeforce is a science fiction horror film directed by Tobe Hooper. The story follows a crew of astronauts who discover a derelict spaceship containing humanoid creatures in suspended animation. Upon returning to Earth, they unwittingly unleash a malevolent alien force that threatens to drain the lifeforce of humanity. Starring Steve Railsback, Mathilda May, and Peter Firth, the film combines elements of space exploration with supernatural terror.
Now considered one ofTobe Hooper’s best horror movies,Lifeforceearned largely negative reviews when it was released.The film is based onThe Space Vampires, a sci-fi novel by Colin Wilson.Both the film and novel have a weird premise that revolves around alien vampires making their way onto Earth and wreaking havoc.
Despite its description sounding like that of any other ambitious sci-fi film, there is a lot to enjoy inLifeforce. Hooper melds the sci-fi and horror genres together extremely well and the special effects portraying the drained, shriveled human victims of the aliens hold up by today’s standards.
Tobe Hooper passed away on July 28, 2025
Though it can now be considered a cult film,the strange elements throughoutLifeforcehave divided moviegoers and critics alike. Some call Hooper’s film fascinating and a stand-out among otherfilms about vampires, but most seem to thinkLifeforcedoesn’t quite pull off its strange ideas.
Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam’s visually immersive filmBrazilmakes commentary on various topics, including hyper-surveillance, which sparks inevitable comparisons to George Orwell’sNineteen Eighty-Four.Brazilfollows a bureaucrat in his pursuit to find a woman from his dreams.Brazilearned high levels of praise after its release in Europe, and though it struggled to perform as well in other parts of the world,it has earned a dedicated following and managed to get two Academy Award nominations.
The plot isn’t the easiest to follow along with, but the overall bizarre nature and comedic tone inBrazilare what’s remembered most about it. The visual style ofBrazilhas inspired countless filmmakers in recent decades, includingThe Hudsucker Proxyby the Coen brothers and Tim Burton’sBatman. The premise ofBrazilmight not be for everyone, but it’s guaranteed to stick with those who are willing to give it a chance.
Weird Science
John Hughes' 1985 comedy Weird Science tells the story of two high school students who create a virtual woman using their computer, only to have her come to life. Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith star as teenagers Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly, with Kelly LeBrock playing the artificially created Lisa and Bill Paxton and Robert Downey Jr. in supporting roles,
A few months afterThe Breakfast Club,Weird Science, directed by John Hughes, was released the same year. As the title of Hughes' rare exploration of the sci-fi genre suggests, the film can get weird.Weird Sciencestars Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Kelly LeBrock, and frequent collaborator of Hughes, Anthony Michael Hall.The film is about two inexperienced teenage boys who use a computer to create their dream womanto help them reach a similar path in life as their more popular peers.
Weird Science’s story is based on Al Feldstein’s 1951 comic “Made of the Future” and is translated onto the screen incredibly well. The oddity and charm inWeird Sciencecould have easily leaned into creepy territory had the film’s leads been presented as stock characters. Instead, the heart and depth of the boys, Gary and Wyatt, and their manufactured dream girl, Lisa, helpedWeird Sciencebecome one of Hughes' best films.
From Beyond
From Beyond, directed by Stuart Gordon, is a 1986 horror film based on the story by H.P. Lovecraft. The plot centers on Dr. Crawford Tillinghast and his invention, the Resonator, which allows humans to perceive alternate dimensions. As the machine operates, it unlocks monstrous entities from a parallel universe, leading to terrifying consequences. Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton star in this atmospheric exploration of scientific ambition and the unknown.
Ranking high amongStuart Gordon’s best films,From Beyondis an offbeat sci-fi body horror film. Like many of his films,From Beyondis partially based on a H. P. Lovecraft short story and is centered on a scientist who discovers a parallel universe through experimentation on the brain’s pineal gland. While it doesn’t have the same humor as Gordon’s film from the year before,Re-Animator,From Beyondstands out as one of the more well-crafted body horror films in the subgenre.
The horror and weirdness inFrom Beyondstems fromits detailed special effects that result in grotesque imagery.The characters are equally scary as they are disgusting. Additionally, just as he so wonderfully did inRe-Animator, Jeffrey Combs delivers another energetic performance asFrom Beyond’s mad scientist, Dr. Crawford Tillinghast.
Altered States
Altered States is a 1980 science fiction-horror film directed by Ken Russell. The movie stars William Hurt as Edward Jessup, a psychologist who uses sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic substances to explore altered states of human consciousness. Blair Brown co-stars as his wife, Emily. As Jessup delves deeper into these experiences, he uncovers troubling, primal transformations that blur the line between reality and delusion.
The plot ofAltered States, partially inspired by John C. Lilly’s research conducted in isolation tanks,follows a scientist who steers too far into his experiments hoping to unlock a new state of consciousnesswith the help of drugs. There are countless themes addressed inAltered Statesthat are strange on the surface, but rewarding to those who choose to give in to director Ken Russell’s signature eccentric style.
The sci-fi genre, for all its ambitious storytelling elements, can be difficult to execute well in films, especially the further back the film is dated. However,Altered Statesis one of the examples of an ’80s film with imperfect, but compelling special effects that positively add to its overall peculiar vibe.
The sci-fi genre, for all its ambitious storytelling elements, can be difficult to execute well in films
However, the bold filmmaking didn’t exactly align with screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky’s intended message, and it’s the reason the writer removed his name from the film’s credits.
They Live
John Carpenter directs They Live, a sci-fi movie about a drifter known as Nada (Roddy Piper), who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see the evil forces that secretly pull the strings of the world and manipulate people through subliminal messages. The film provides a critical commentary on consumerism and conformism from a science fiction perspective.
What once initially opened as only a minor success became one ofJohn Carpenter’s best sci-fi films.They Livefollows Roddy Piper’s Nada, a drifter who comes across a pair of sunglasses that reveal a shocking truth about the upper class. The glasses reveal elite individuals to be alien-like creatures who strive for power and domination over all. LikeThe Stuff,They Liveseeks to share its deeper message through a horror lens. However,They Live’s weird and unlikely tool in which this message is shared works in the film’s favor.
Differing from the comically overpowering creamy villain inThe Stuff,They Live’s sunglasses don’t take away from the horrifying reality Nada uncovers. Carpenter’sThe ThingandEscape from New Yorkare his best-known sci-fi films, but the boldness ofThey Liveis what has allowed it to earn a cult following in the years after its release. In addition to its commentary on the media,They Livealso has a balanced amount of comedy and action, ensuring audiences have a good time.
