Sci-fi movies often contain their fair share of action, so it’s no surprise that plenty of action movie heroes have appeared in some fantastically strange science-fiction films. The nature of sci-fi stories means they embrace unbelievable concepts and tap into innate human fears around technology and progress. While this can lead to some undeniable movie classics, it also means that major box office stars sometimes end up participating in movies that were just downright strange and destined to become beloved cult classics or, in other instances, reviled box office bombs.
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Many of the best sci-fi movies of all time have leaned into the bizarre and unusual sides of the genre, as technological tales of transcendent terror have captivated audiences and pushed narrative boundaries. While some strange sci-fi movies with acclaimed action stars have struck a chord with viewers, others were doomed to fester in obscurity. While they may not all represent the very best cinema has to offer, all these sci-fi films were unique and interesting in their own way.
10 Silent Rage (1982)
Chuck Norris as Sheriff Dan Stevens
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The martial arts movie icon Chuck Norris has become so associated with strength and fortitude that there was a period when Chuck Norris memes had practically taken over the internet. As a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and judo, Norris’ history in the United States Air Force and experience fighting opposite his friend and co-star Bruce Lee made him one of the quintessential action stars of the 20th century. While Norris usually showed off his skills in pure martial arts action movies like A Force of One, in 1982, he gifted the world with a strange sci-fi horror called Silent Rage.
Silent Rage starred Norris as a sheriff attempting to stop an indestructible man who has gained super resilience due to a medical experiment. As a chance to show off Norris’ incredible martial arts talents while also delivering an unusually genre-melding story, Silent Rage was an enjoyable tongue-in-cheek satire on movie tropes that featured plenty of fun moments. As one of the most unique entries in Norris’ action movie filmography, Silent Rage’s mix of kung fu, horror, and sci-fi made it stand out as an underappreciated 1980s classic.
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8/10 Silent Rage RActionCrimeHorror
Silent Rage, directed by Michael Miller, follows a small-town Texas sheriff as he confronts a mentally ill killer who gains superhuman strength following an experimental medical procedure intended to revive him after being fatally wounded by police.
Director Michael Miller Release Date April 2, 1982 Writers Joseph Fraley , Edward Di Lorenzo Cast Chuck Norris , Ron Silver , Steven Keats , Toni Kalem , William Finley , Brian Libby , stephen furst , Stephanie Dunnam Runtime 103 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
9 Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
Keanu Reeves as Johnny
Future John Wick star Keanu Reeves has been consistently associated with science fiction, as he famously portrayed Neo in The Matrix franchise. However, not everyone will be aware that prior to gaining his role in that series by the Wachowskis, Reeves also starred in another, much less acclaimed cyberpunk movie. This was Johnny Mnemonic, a fascinating action sci-fi based on a story by William Gibson set in a high-tech, dystopian futuristic society.
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With Reeves as Johnny, a data courier with an overloaded brain implant, Johnny Mnemonic was a fascinating technological exploration that was badly received upon release. However, it has since earned a reputation as a true cult classic and was even re-released in 2022 as Johnny Mnemonic: In Black and White, a version that Gibson stated (via Screen Slate) better represented his original vision. Although Johnny Mnemonic may not be as well known as Reeves’ other sci-fi roles, this was a fascinating cyberpunk precursor to The Matrix with plenty to say about the nature of technology and society’s relationship with it.
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Johnny Mnemonic RAction Sci-Fi
Johnny Mnemonic is an action sci-fi film directed by Robert Longo and based on William Gibson’s novel. The film follows data courier Johnny, who carries a large implant in his brain that holds significant information that could change everything – but a yakuza member takes on a hit request and sends a dangerous assassin to stop incriminating information from getting out.
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*Availability in US Director Robert Longo Release Date May 26, 1995 Studio(s) Johnny Mnemonic Productions Distributor(s) Tri-Star Pictures Writers William Gibson Cast Keanu Reeves , Dolph Lundgren , Takeshi Kitano , Ice-T , Dina Meyer Runtime 96 Minutes Budget $26 Million Expand
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8 Battlefield Earth (2000)
John Travolta as Terl
The astounding career of John Travolta saw the actor become a major star during the 1970s, with roles in Grease and Saturday Night Fever before he reinvented himself during the 1990s as an action star with acclaimed parts in Pulp Fiction and Face/Off. This interest trajectory opened the doors for Travolta’s passion project of adapting L. Ron Hubbard’s 1982 movie Battlefield Earth. As a notable Scientologist, Travolta has long been associated with the controversial figure of Hubbard, who shifted from a sci-fi writer to a leader of his own religion in the latter half of the 20th century.
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Battlefield Earth followed a rebellion against the alien Psychlos, who have ruled Earth for 1,000 years and starred Travolta as Terl, an Earth-born security chief. While Travolta may have had a personal interest in Battlefield Earth being made, this did not result in an acclaimed movie as it was slated by critics and boasts an abysmal 3% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While viewers may find enjoyment in campy, ugly, and poorly acted sci-fi in a so-bad-its-good kind of way, Battlefield Earth was a box office bomb of very little merit.
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Battlefield Earth PG-13Sci-FiActionAdventure
In the year 3000, Earth is dominated by the Psychlos, a powerful alien race led by Terl, who use humans as slaves to strip the planet of resources. Reduced to a primitive state, humanity’s survival rests on Tyler, a captive who takes on the mission to save his people from alien tyranny.
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*Availability in US Director Roger Christian Release Date May 12, 2000 Cast John Travolta , Forest Whitaker , Barry Pepper , Kim Coates Main Genre Sci-Fi
7 The 6th Day (2000)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Adam Gibson
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Action movie icon Arnold Schwarzenegger gained his big break in the sci-fi classic The Terminator and since then has occasionally returned to the genre. While this led to some career highs such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Total Recall, one strange attempt to recapture that magic was The 6th Day. Set in the then far-flung future of the year 2015, Schwarzenegger starred as both Adam Gibson and his clone in this story of a conspiracy to kill a billionaire gone wrong that failed to live up to the heights of its star’s very best sci-fi movies.
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While The 6th Day has an intriguing premise and features some great action sequences, the critical reception was poor. The 6th Day ended up earning three Razzie Award nominations for Schwarzenegger, one for Worst Actor as Adam, one for Worst Supporting Actor as Adam’s clone, and one for Worst Onscreen Couple for Adam and his clone, but lost all three to Battlefield Earth. Although The 6th Day may not have been Schwarzenegger’s crowning achievement, it was still an enjoyable depiction of cloning made in an era when the endless possibilities of this developing science intrigued the general population.
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The 6th Day PG-13ActionMysterySci-FiThriller
In The 6th Day, Adam Gibson discovers he’s been illegally cloned. As he uncovers a conspiracy in a world where cloning is advanced but controversial, the film explores the ethical dilemmas and dangers of human cloning.
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*Availability in US Director Roger Spottiswoode Release Date November 17, 2000 Writers Cormac Wibberley , Marianne Wibberley Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , Michael Rapaport , Tony Goldwyn , Michael Rooker , Sarah Wynter , Wendy Crewson Runtime 123 minutes Main Genre Action Expand
6 Timecop (1994)
Jean-Claude Van Damme as Agent Max Walker
Martial arts star Jean-Claude Van Damme has consistently shown off his karate and kickboxing skills in movies like Bloodsport and Kickboxer. These iconic roles saw Van Damme playing villains and heroes in many more action movies and sci-fi films like Universal Soldier and Cyborg. However, Van Damme’s most successful cinematic success was in Timecop, a box office hit that earned over $100 million (via The Numbers) at the global box office.
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In Timecop, Van Damme played Agent Max Walker, a cop from 1994 in a world where time travel has been made possible, and criminals exploited it for money and power. Timecop saw Van Damme traveling through time, solving crimes, and undercovering a vast political conspiracy. With plenty of unique appeal and some incredible action sequences, Timecop will certainly please lovers of Van Damme’s unique brand of action sci-fi popcorn fun.
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Timecop RSci-Fi
Timecop is a science fiction action film featuring an officer from a time travel regulatory security agency. He faces a treacherous pursuit by a corrupt politician with connections to his past, amidst a backdrop of temporal manipulation and intrigue.
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*Availability in US Director Peter Hyams Release Date September 16, 1994 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Mark Verheiden Cast Jean-Claude Van Damme , Mia Sara , Ron Silver , Bruce McGill , Gloria Reuben , Scott Bellis , Jason Schombing , Scott Lawrence , Kenneth Welsh , Brent Woolsey , Brad Loree , Shane Kelly , Richard Faraci , Steven Lambert , Kevin McNulty , J.J. Makaro , Yves Cameron , David Jacox , Jacob Rupp , Sean O’Byrne , Gabrielle Rose , Malcolm Stewart Character(s) Max Walker , Melissa Walker , Senator Aaron McComb , Commander Eugene Matuzak , Fielding , Ricky , Atwood , Spota , Utley , Shotgun , Reyes , Rollerblades , Cole , Lansing , Parker , McComb Guard #1 / McComb Guard #2 , McComb Man #1 , Palmer , Aide Lawrence , Judge Marshall , Nelson Runtime 99 minutes Budget $27 million Expand
5 Ghosts of Mars (2001)
Jason Statham as Sergeant Jericho Butler
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Before becoming known as one of Britain’s greatest action stars, Jason Statham had a role in John Carpenter’s divisive sci-fi space horror Ghosts of Mars. This was the first glimpse of Statham’s bright future in action movies as he portrayed the smarmy anti-hero Sergeant Jericho Butler, who accompanied Ice Cube in a complex story of possessed ghosts and convicted criminals on a colonized 22nd century Mars. While Ghosts of Mars flopped at the box office and was badly received, its action movie stylings helped lay the foundations for Statham’s career moving forward.
Although Ghosts of Mars may have its apologists, the truth was that the film didn’t really work. Despite being the man behind several sci-fi classics like The Thing and Escape from New York, Ghosts of Mars missed the mark and was a convoluted film full of campy and corny dialogue. However, despite these shortcomings, it’s still enjoyable to see Statham in such an early role as he’s carving out a career that would later go from strength to strength.
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4.5/10 Ghosts of Mars (2001) RSci-FiActionHorror
Ghosts of Mars is a science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter. Set in 2176 on a colonized Mars, the story follows police officers led by Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) who are tasked with transporting a dangerous prisoner, Desolation Williams (Ice Cube). They soon discover that the mining operations have unearthed an ancient Martian civilization, leading to a deadly confrontation with spirit-possessed colonists.
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*Availability in US Director John Carpenter Release Date August 24, 2001 Writers Larry Sulkis , John Carpenter Cast Natasha Henstridge , Ice Cube , Pam Grier , Jason Statham , Clea DuVall , Joanna Cassidy , Richard Cetrone , Rosemary Forsyth Character(s) Lieutenant Melanie Ballard , Desolation Williams , Commander Helena Braddock , Whitlock , Big Daddy Mars , Inquisitor Runtime 98 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
4 Predestination (2014)
Ethan Hawke as Agent Doe
While Ethan Hawke got his start in movies such as the coming-of-age classic Dead Poet’s Society and Richard Linklater’s romantic masterpiece Before Sunrise, he’s also embraced action movie roles throughout his career. From his Oscar-nominated performance in Training Day to the genetic themes of the dystopian sci-fi Gattaca, Hawke has truly done it all. Out of his many roles, perhaps the most unusual was as Agent Doe in the time travel thriller Predestination.
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Predestination starred Hawke opposite future Succession star Sarah Snook in a complex and thematically rich tale of confused identity. As the lines between Hawke and Snook’s character’s history started to blur, Predestination slowly built toward an unpredictable twist that puts the entire movie into a new perspective. As a clever and ambitious sci-fi movie, Predestination was one of Hawke’s most underrated roles.
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8/10 Predestination RThrillerSci-Fi
Predestination follows a Temporal Agent on an intricate series of time-travel missions to prevent catastrophic crimes. As he embarks on his final assignment, he faces the elusive criminal he has pursued through time, aiming to avert a devastating attack threatening thousands of lives.
Director Michael Spierig , Peter Spierig Release Date January 9, 2015 Studio(s) Screen Queensland , Screen Australia , Blacklab Entertainment , Wolfhound Pictures Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing Writers Michael Spierig , Peter Spierig Cast Ethan Hawke , Sarah Snook , Noah Taylor , Christopher Kirby , Madeleine West , Jim Knobeloch , Freya Stafford , Elise Jansen , Tyler Coppin , Christopher Stollery , Christopher Sommers , Kuni Hashimoto , Sara El-Yafi , Paul Moder , Grant Piro , Christopher Bunworth , Jamie Gleeson , Christina Tan , Dennis Coard , Milla Simmonds , Ruby Simmonds , Cate Wolfe , Ben Prendergast , Carmen Warrington , Sharon Kershaw Character(s) the Bartender , The Unmarried Mother , Mr. Robertson , Agent Miles , Mrs. Stapleton , Dr. Belfort , Alice , Nurse , Dr. Heinlein , The Interviewer , Miller , Dr. Fujimoto , Lab Technician , Boxing Commentator 1 , Boxing Commentator 2 / News Report Announcer , Jerry , Dirty Hippy , Female Reporter , Mayor Davidson , Baby Jane 1 , Beth , Dr. Clarke , Grace , Abigail Runtime 97 minutes Budget $5 Million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
3 Zardoz (1974)
Sean Connery as Zed
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Sean Connery completely subverted the audience’s expectations of him as the secret agent of James Bond with his outrageous role as Zed in Zardoz. This unusual sci-fi fantasy from director John Boorman was one of the most underrated movies of the 1970s, as its trippy visuals and special effects told the post-apocalyptic story of stone-worshiping barbarians growing food for a hidden elite called the Eternals. With Zed caught between two camps that build toward a brutal battle and shootout, Zardoz was truly one of the most idiosyncratic movies of its era.
Zardoz was shot in Wicklow, Ireland, and featured Connery in a notoriously skimpy outfit as viewers caught a glimpse of more than they bargained for from the former 007. While Zardoz was badly received when it was first released, it’s since grown to become a beloved cult classic. While it may be true that Zardoz was over-ambitious, totally outrageous, and often pretentious, it was still wildly entertaining and a supreme piece of 1970s weirdness.
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8/10 Zardoz RSci-FiAdventureFantasy
Zardoz, directed by John Boorman, is a 1974 science fiction film set in a dystopian future. Sean Connery stars as Zed, an exterminator who uncovers the truth about the god-like entity Zardoz, who controls his society. The film explores themes of class division and human evolution within a surreal and complex narrative.
Director John Boorman Release Date February 6, 1974 Writers John Boorman Cast Sean Connery , Charlotte Rampling , Sara Kestelman , John Alderton , Sally Anne Newton , Niall Buggy , Bosco Hogan , Jessica Swift Main Genre Sci-Fi
2 Demolition Man (1993)
Sylvester Stallone as John Spartan
Sylvester Stallone has never been afraid to take risks and play roles across many different genres. While he’s best known for the sports movie success of Rocky and his action-hero persona in the Rambo franchise, Stallone has also tackled animation, comedy, and drama movies. One unusual sci-fi offer from Stallone was the excellent 1990s action film Demolition Man, a tale of a cryogenically frozen cop and criminal who once again encounter each other in a peaceful future.
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Demolition Man featured Stallone as determined risk taking police officer John Spartan, while Wesley Snipes played his arch nemesis Simon Phoenix, a deranged crime lord with a passion for chaos. As the two re-emerged in a utopian future, it was thrilling to watch how Demolition Man blended fast-paced thrills with enjoyable societal satire. As one of Stallone’s most underrated movies, Demolition Man was a strange film that remains endlessly enjoyable more than three decades after its release.
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Demolition Man RActionCrimeSci-FiThriller
In the 1993 action movie Demolition Man, Sylvester Stallone stars as time-displaced police officer John Spartan, who struggles to adapt to the year 2032 after being cryogenically frozen for messing up a job. However, his old-school skills come in handy for innocent cop Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) and the futuristic city of San Angeles when the criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is thawed and the complacent authorities don’t know how to react.
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*Availability in US Director Marco Brambilla Release Date October 8, 1993 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Peter M. Lenkov , Robert Reneau , Daniel Waters Cast Sylvester Stallone , Wesley Snipes , Sandra Bullock , Nigel Hawthorne , Benjamin Bratt , Bob Gunton Runtime 115 minutes Budget $57 million Expand
1 The Fifth Element (1997)
Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas
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After starring as John McClane in Die Hard in 1988, Bruce Willis was thrust into action stardom and became one of the most sought-after actors of the 1990s. However, Willis also used this decade to experiment with different kinds of roles, as he famously played Butch Coolidge in Pulp Fiction and Malcolm Crow in The Sixth Sense. However, one of Willis’ strangest movies of the 1990s was the sci-fi cult classic The Fifth Element.
Directed by French filmmaker Luc Besson, The Fifth Element was a richly imagined sci-fi action film about a taxicab driver caught up in a search for a legendary cosmic weapon. With Willis as Korben Dallas, the former Special Forces soldier and taxi driver at the heart of this futuristic sci-fi film, the action star showed his willingness to expand his horizons with new genres. With plenty of campy fun and an engaging story, The Fifth Element has become such a beloved success because it managed to keep things consistently exciting while never taking itself too seriously.
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8/10 The Fifth Element PG-13 Sci-FiActionAdventure
Set in 23rd-century New York City, The Fifth Element stars Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas, an ex-army major turned cab driver who unwittingly becomes part of a fight to protect Earth from an approaching evil after a strange woman named Leeloo accidentally falls into his cab. Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, and Chris Tucker also star.
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*Availability in US Director Luc Besson Release Date May 9, 1997 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures Distributor(s) Columbia Pictures Writers Robert Mark Kamen , Luc Besson Cast Gary Oldman , Bruce Willis , Ian Holm , Milla Jovovich , Chris Tucker Runtime 126 minutes Budget $93 million Expand
Source: Screen Slate, The Numbers
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