Despite critical acclaim, these high-quality science-fiction films bombed at the worldwide box office. And even if audiences have come around in more recent years, there’s no excuse for letting these movies go unnoticed upon release. Some of these movies are part of well-known franchises. But still, they came up short at the worldwide box office, often resulting in the cancelation of sequels or future projects.

In hindsight, seeing these star-studded casts go under the radar is shocking. On top of talented actors, these movies also feature talented directors at the helm. Most films featured herein deserve to be known as some of the finest movies the genre’s ever seen, with each title holding up even decades down the line. All that said, these are ten great science-fiction movies that flopped at the worldwide box office.

10 Titan A.E. (2000)
Box Office Total: $36.8 Million – Budget: $75-$90 Million

Among the most underrated animated movies ever is Titan A.E. (2000), directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. It follows a young man named Cale Tucker (voiced by Matt Damon), who teams up with an intergalactic ship’s crew to protect Earth’s population from a hostile alien species. The film features an engaging plot that, unfortunately, few fans experienced in theaters.

Impressive Animating Tactics
By combining computer-generated imagery with traditional, hand-drawn animation, Titan A.E. achieves an alluring visual style that resonates with pundits more than its story or characters. It holds a meager 50% approval rating on the critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes, and at the worldwide box office, it made just $37 million against a $75-90 million budget. Those numbers are nowhere near indicative of Titan A.E.’s quality. Stream on Starz and The Roku Channel.

9 Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Box Office Total: $261.1 million – Budget: Roughly $185-$196 Million

After a few mediocre titles, an all-time great science-fiction franchise rebounded in valiant fashion with Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). It ignores the events of the prior three movies, acting as a direct sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), which was directed by James Cameron. Now directed by Tim Miller, this installment rejuvenated the franchise for hardcore fans, and with good reason.

He Could Have Been Back
Had Dark Fate made more significant waves in theaters, the Terminator franchise would still be active today. Alas, it’s on a hiatus, as Terminator: Dark Fate flopped with $261 million at the box office against a budget of roughly $190 million. It’s considered one of the worst box office bombs of all time. Although Linda Hamilton returns as Sarah Connor, and Arnold Schwarzenegger again appears as T-800, it was too late — franchise fatigue had set in. Stream on Sling, Rent on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.

8 Annihilation (2018)
Box Office Total: $43.1 Million – Budget: $50 Million
Annihilation Release Date February 22, 2018 Runtime 115 Main Genre Sci-Fi

Inspired by Jeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel of the same name, Annihilation (2018) was written and directed by Alex Garland. It chronicles a group of explorers who traverse a mysterious region known as “The Shimmer,” rife with creatures and landscapes infected with fungi that plague the psyches of the characters just as they threaten their lives.

The Perfect Blend of Genres
The film blends elements of horror with a science fiction backdrop, and Garland recruited a star-studded cast to bring the project to life. Natalie Portman plays the lead, a biologist named Lena who lost her husband to the aforementioned phenomenon. Other names include Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, and Oscar Isaac. But in the end, not even star power among the cast could convince audiences to buy tickets as it failed to make its $50 million budget back. Rent on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.

7 Treasure Planet (2002)
Box Office Total: $109.6 Million – Budget: $140 Million

Today, Treasure Planet (2002) boasts a committed cult following as one of the best outer space movies of the 2000s. But it only gained that status because it bombed at the box office, making just $110 million in theaters. Sure, that may sound like an admirable number. But considering its $140 million budget — which makes it the most expensive film ever animated traditionally — its performance in movie theaters paled significantly in comparison to its animated contemporaries.

Adapting Robert Louis Stevenson’s Adventure Novel
Based on Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, this marks the third adaptation of the novel to be placed in a sci-fi setting, as the film features spaceships powered by solar sails that render its characters intergalactic pirates. It’s a unique adaptation, even if its success in theaters may indicate otherwise. Stream on Disney+, Rent on Vudu, YouTube, Apple TV, and Google Play.

6 A Boy and His Dog (1975)
Box Office Total: Roughly $6 Million After Several Re-Releases – Budget: $400,000

Based on Harlan Ellison’s 1969 novella of the same name, A Boy and His Dog (1975) was written and directed by L.Q. Jones. It follows the eponymous pair as they traverse an apocalyptic landscape, scouring a wasteland of the Southwestern U.S. in search of two things: women for the boy (named Vic) to hook up with and food for the dog (Blood) to eat.

A Controversial Release
Though it’s held in high regard today by a certain corner of fans, A Boy and His Dog came up short at the worldwide box office. This could be in part due to the film’s violent nature, with controversial dialogue in the final scene also having misogynistic interpretations. It’s easy to see why it failed upon release, though it eventually saw a healthy box office after several re-releases in theaters. With an intriguing premise and witty dialogue, A Boy and His Dog should hit home for fans of science fiction. Stream on Pluto TV and Tubi.

Related A Boy and His Dog: The Movie That Inspired Fallout With the announcement of a Fallout television series, there’s no better time for fans of the franchise to indulge in the film that inspired it.

5 The Thing (1982)
Box Office Total: $20 Million – Budget: $15 Million

Among the most fan-favorite films of the eighties is The Thing (1982), directed by John Carpenter from Bill Lancaster’s script. It’s a remake of The Thing From Another World (1951), which was in turn based on John W. Cambell’s novella Who Goes There? And since John Carpenter’s cult classic, a prequel has been released, as well.

Coming Up Short at the Box Office
Unlike the original adaptation, the remake at hand (and the twenty-first-century prequel) bombed at the box office with a total of $20 million against a $15 million budget. But nowadays, Carpenter’s iteration of the story is revered by fans around the world. This was his third of five collaborations with Kurt Russell, and by far, The Thing is one of the greatest films of their respective careers. Too bad it failed in theaters. Stream on AMC and The Roku Channel.

4 Dark City (1998)
Box Office Total: $27.2 Million – Budget: $27 Million
Dark City Release Date February 27, 1998 Runtime 100

Since its release, Dark City (1998) has become a certified cult classic. But it earned that status because, despite positive reception from critics, it bombed at the worldwide box office. Made on a $27 million budget, Dark City only reached $27.5 million in ticket sales. But really, critics had it right with this one.

An Imaginative Premise
Waking up in a bathtub, an amnesiac named John Murdoch receives a phone call and soon discovers he’s a suspect in a series of murders. He flees and then seeks to clear his name while discovering his identity as a whole. Directed by Alex Proyas from a script he co-wrote with Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer, this thrilling premise was executed to critical acclaim, with pundits like Roger Ebert also praising its impressive visuals. From various perspectives, Dark City holds up wonderfully today. Rent on Vudu, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.

3 A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Box Office Total: $7.7 Million – Budget: $8.7 Million

Adapted from Phillip K. Dick’s novel of the same name, A Scanner Darkly (2006) was written for the screen and directed by Richard Linklater. He shot the film digitally and converted it to animation via interpolated rotoscope technology. It’s an involved process, but long story short, Linklater brought a unique novel to life by implementing a distinctive animation style.

Impressive Name Value Among the Cast
Alongside its unique visual style, A Scanner Darkly features an off-the-wall plot. Undercover agent Bob Acker investigates a drug called Substance D — roughly 20% of the population partakes, and upon infiltrating a group of users, Acker develops an addiction to Substance D himself. He’s played by Keanu Reeves, while Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, and Robert Downey Jr. play the people with an addiction. Despite that name value, A Scanner Darkly made just $7.7 million against an $8.7 million budget. It deserves more love today. Stream on Roku, Rent on Vudu, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.

Related The 20 Most Underrated Animated Movies Ever Made Amid blockbusters from studios such as Disney and Pixar, many animated films have fallen below the radar either critically or commercially.

2 Blade Runner (1982)
Box Office Total: $41.6 Million – Budget: $30 Million

One of the best science-fiction movies of all time, Blade Runner (1982) combines neo-noir elements to create a truly memorable spectacle. With its mesmerizing visuals, captivating plot, and charismatic efforts from actors like Harrison Ford — across the board of storytelling and filmmaking, Blade Runner stands tall as a masterpiece.

The Perfect Adaptation
Based on Phillip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, this is among the most faithful adaptations ever. Director Ridley Scott crafted a visual spectacle with revolutionary special effects, while Jordan Cronenworth used creative angles to tell a story with his shots alone. And although Blade Runner is held in the highest regard today by fans and pundits alike, hardly anyone was interested upon release. Rent on Vudu, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.

1 Blade Runner: 2049 (2017)
Box Office Total: $267.7 Million – Budget: $150 – $185 Million
Blade Runner 2 Release Date October 4, 2017 Runtime 163 Main Genre Sci-Fi

With Denis Villeneuve as director, Blade Runner: 2049 (2017) was written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. It’s a thoughtful script featuring a new roster of engaging characters. From Ryan Gosling and Ana da Armas to Dave Bautista and Jared Leto, several talented and high-profile actors joined Harrison Ford in the cast. As such, Warner Bros. likely suspected a surefire hit in 2049 but unfortunately fell short with a box office total of $267.7 million against a $185 million budget.

A Visual Masterpiece
Like the original Blade Runner, this acclaimed sequel is among the most visually impressive movies ever made. Although it’s considered among the most horrific flops in the history of the box office, critics doled out endless praise to cinematographer Roger Deakins for his splendid shots and mesmerizing movements, and the plot holds up until the film’s final frame. Despite its lackluster success in theaters, Villeneuve and his team crafted a masterpiece in Blade Runner 2049. Rent on Vudu, YouTube, Apple TV, and Google Play.