10 Must-See Sci-Fi Movies That Don't Rely On Impressive Special Effects

When an audience hears that a film falls within the genre of science fiction, they likely picture something along the lines of Star Wars; that is, a film packed from beginning to end with futuristic technology, intergalactic adventures, and otherworldly characters. In reality, none of these are requirements of the genre. While theorists have argued about specific definitions for decades, science fiction can really include anything that explores how life as we know it can be changed, typically for reasons related to new technological/scientific innovations.

Because of this, there are actually many sci-fi movies that don’t rely on visual effects to convey the changes that have been made within society. Oftentimes, an insightful script is all one needs in order to convey a thought-provoking science fiction story. Of course, this is not meant to detract from the greatness of sci-fi marvels like Alien or Arrival. Over the years, filmmakers have simply discovered effective ways of presenting science fiction without these big-budget visuals. Although audiences tend to love extraordinary special effects, these films prove that you can present a compelling sci-fi story without them.

10 Moon (2009)

Directed By Duncan Jones

Although set entirely on the Moon, the 2009 sci-fi feature, Moon, does not rely on an overabundance of ground-breaking special effects to convey its story. The film stars Sam Rockwell as Sam, the sole individual living on the Moon in order to oversee the production of an alternative fuel mine, while also in charge of sending the gathered materials back to Earth.

Matters quickly begin to spiral as Sam discovers a clone of himself, prompting him to seek out the dark realities of his situation. While the otherworldly setting of Moon sounds like it would pave the way for some impressive special effects, the film makes the decision to avoid leaning into them too much.

Though this may have been prompted by Moon‘s budget of a mere five million dollars, the film proves that overwhelming visual effects would have been completely unnecessary. Instead, the film relies on its unique, carefully-planned script, as well as the impressive performance by Rockwell (as multiple versions of the same character).

9 Upgrade (2018)

Directed By Leigh Whannell

Set in a near-future version of Earth, Upgrade is a 2018 film from Blumhouse Productions that effectively blends the genres of sci-fi and action. Upgrade follows Grey Trace, an auto mechanic whose life is drastically changed by new technology after a terrible incident. Following a violent attack that leaves Grey paralyzed and depressed, he is convinced to accept a new piece of tech known as a STEM implant, which not only restores full use of his body, but implements a new voice in his mind to guide his vengeful actions.

Being made on a budget of only three million dollars, Upgrade certainly does not rely on revolutionary visual effects (although it doesn’t shy away from intense action sequences). Because the main futuristic technology in the film is an implant within the characters’ minds, Upgrade instead relies on the noteworthy performances of its cast (led by Logan Marshall-Green) to convey the complex internal conflicts at its core. Upgrade explores the dark side of a new technology that seems less futuristic every day.

8 Under the Skin (2013)

Directed By Jonathan Glazer

Years before he received multiple Academy Award nominations for his writing/direction of The Zone of Interest, Jonathan Glazer ventured into the sci-fi genre with Under the Skin. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as an unnamed alien woman who travels through Scotland, observing various people to learn about humankind, before ultimately capturing them.

Although the film failed to recuperate its entire budget, it was a huge success among critics, and was nominated for various British film awards. Unlike many sci-fi films, Under the Skin employs a rather minimalist approach to filmmaking. Aside from Johansson, the cast largely consists of non-actors, adding to the genuine feel of the main character’s observations of humans.

The film also features multiple scenes that were entirely unscripted, and filmed using hidden cameras to capture the real reactions of the non-actors. These unusual techniques allowed Glazer and his team to believably explore the idea of how an alien would react to the daily lives of human beings.

7 Gattaca (1997)

Directed By Andrew Niccol

In 1997, Andrew Niccol made his directorial debut with Gattaca, a sci-fi drama which takes place on a near-future version of Earth. In the world of the film, the process of carefully selecting which genes are passed down to the next generation has become commonplace. This creates a drastic social divide between those who were born with meticulously pre-selected genes, and those who were not.

The Oscar-nominated film stars Ethan Hawke as Vincent Freeman, a man who dreams of going into space, but knows his unoptimized genetics would prevent him from doing so legally. Though set in the future, Gattaca‘s version of Earth is quite similar to the version that exists today, except for the key difference regarding genetics.

The film is a prime example of the sci-fi genre being used to assess flaws in modern society by demonstrating how they could worsen in the future. At its core, Gattaca is a commentary on workplace discrimination. It simply uses a futuristic setting and concept to illustrate its message in a way that is complex and enticing for the audience. Gattaca proves that science fiction is dictated by its message, not by its special effects.

6 The Man from Earth (2007)

Directed By Richard Schenkman

What would it take for you to believe that your beloved coworker is actually 14,000 years old? This question sits at the heart of The Man from Earth, a science fiction film directed by Richard Schenkman and written by acclaimed sci-fi author, Jerome Bixby. The events of the film unfold entirely within one house, where a small going-away party is being held for John Oldman, a local college professor.

The Man from Earth
proves that you need nothing beyond a good script and a team of willing actors in order to present a thrilling sci-fi story.

The party gradually devolves into a deep discussion when John claims to be thousands of years old, having been born with a condition that has prevented him from aging. The Man from Earth proves that you need nothing beyond a good script and a team of willing actors in order to present a thrilling sci-fi story.

Shot on a tiny budget of only $200,000, The Man from Earth does not include special effects of any kind. In fact, it only includes a single set, and hardly any props whatsoever. Instead, the film relies entirely on its fascinating dialogue, which dives deep into the possibility of whether the same man could actually have been walking the Earth for thousands of years.

5 Asteroid City (2023)

Directed By Wes Anderson

The latest feature from Wes Anderson, Asteroid City, allowed the auteur director to dive into the world of science fiction while sticking to his iconic style of storytelling. Presented as a sort of film-within-a-film, Asteroid City highlights how a small, desert town is affected by the brief arrival of a UFO. Like most of Anderson’s productions, the film features a star-studded ensemble cast, led by Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Hanks.

Asteroid City is unlike most works of science fiction in several key ways. For one, the film is largely character-driven, with a greater attention given to the individual lives of the town’s residents, as opposed to following a singular narrative. Additionally, the film is mostly lighthearted and comedic, with its bright, eye-catching visuals strongly contributing to the overall tone. Lastly, the film only uses special effects very simplistically; even the alien itself (which is only onscreen for about a minute) is made using simple stop-motion animation.

4 The Truman Show (1998)

Directed By Peter Weir

In 1998, Peter Weir combined science fiction with comedy, drama, and romance in order to create The Truman Show. The Oscar-nominated film stars Jim Carrey as Truman, an everyday man who lives his life fully unaware that his entire existence is being broadcast to the world nonstop as a television show, and that all the people around him are not his actual family and friends, but actors on a massive set.

As the film progresses, Truman begins to notice the cracks in the world around him, prompting him to seek out the truth about his existence. The Truman Show falls under the umbrella of science fiction much more because of its psychological elements and commentary than its minimal special effects.

Though it is not explicitly stated, the film appears to occur in a near-future version of Earth, one where society’s obsession with media has driven it to create the titular television program. Even without using much in the realm of visual effects (or futuristic technology, for that matter), The Truman Show manages to both entertain and unsettle its audience with its depiction of 24/7 surveillance.

3 Her (2013)

Directed By Spike Jonze

Spike Jonze’s 2013 feature, Her, explores the dramatic intersection between science fiction and romance. In the film, lonely writer Theodore Twombly finds himself engaging in a romantic relationship with Samantha, a highly complex artificial intelligence, capable of learning, growing, and loving alongside him.

Her was incredibly well-received with critics, earning five Academy Award nominations (including a win for Best Original Screenplay), with additional praise given to Joaquin Phoenix’s lead performance. Her does not invent entirely new technologies, but rather expands on the abilities of technologies that have become fairly widespread today.

Her
has a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 95%.

Artificial intelligence has become a definite area of focus in recent years, and Jonze manages to tackle the subject in a way that is both creative and ahead of its time. Her does not rely on special effects in any capacity, instead opting to redefine the abilities of products that already exist. Even without the use of various elements typically viewed as trademarks of the genre, Her has become recognized as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made.

2 Coherence (2013)

Directed By James Ward Byrkit

When a comet passes above Earth, a group of friends at a dinner party begin to notice unusual events going on in the world around them. This eerie concept sets the scene for Coherence, a 2013 film by James Ward Byrkit. Coherence combines complex characters, mysterious power outages, and bizarre doppelgängers to form a thrilling sci-fi adventure.

With a budget of only $50,000, it is no surprise that the film does not depend on over-the-top special effects. While many high-stakes sci-fi thrillers use high-tech devices like laser blasters and other futuristic weapons, Coherence manages to turn everyday objects like glow sticks and ping-pong paddles into important props.

This is just one of the ways in which the film proves that good science fiction can be made without having to break the bank. Another clever trick used by the filmmakers involved hiring the twin brother of one of the lead actors, so they could actually show the man’s doppelgänger onscreen without having to turn to special effects.

1 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Directed By Michel Gondry

Backed by one of the most highly praised sci-fi scripts of all time, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 sci-fi romance film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. Jim Carrey stars as Joel, a man who decides to undergo a procedure that will erase all memories of his former girlfriend, Clementine, from his mind, upon discovering that she has just gone through the same procedure.

The critically acclaimed film is one of the most emotional pieces of science fiction, proving that the genre can blend seamlessly with romance.

The critically acclaimed film is one of the most emotional pieces of science fiction, proving that the genre can blend seamlessly with romance. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind demonstrates the value of having a grounded, human story, even when it is set in a futuristic world.

Since the birth of the genre, science fiction has not been solely about futuristic worlds and new technologies; it has been about the people living in these worlds and using these technologies, and how the current world can learn from them. At its heart, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a heart-wrenching, emotional film about love. Its existence as a sci-fi film simply adds to its charm.