Occasionally, an incredible sci-fi film comes along, and it is always surprising when a movie of such caliber never receives a sequel. Sometimes, it feels as though there are still stories left to tell. In instances like these, a concept introduced by the science fiction world presented in the film is so fun or groundbreaking that a sequel seems like an obvious next step. Yet some of the best science fiction films of all time never received sequels.
Other sci-fi movies have gone on to become big-budget franchises, spawning film after film in order to satisfy fans or disappoint them when they fizzle out at the end. However, while some movie franchises got too big for their own good, other singular sci-fi films deserve to have sequels made, if only to further explore the interesting concepts they originally brought to life.
10 Underwater (2020)
This Deep-Sea Horror Is A Chilling Monster Movie
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Underwater PG-13ThrillerHorror Sci-Fi
After a massive earthquake damages an oceanic research company’s station, the crew must travel across the ocean floor to the safety of another base. The only catch is that the unknown waters are home to dangerous aquatic monsters. Underwater stars Kristen Stewart in the lead role alongside Vincent Cassel, Mamoudou Athie, and TJ Miller.
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*Availability in US Director William Eubank Release Date January 10, 2020 Writers Brian Duffield , Adam Cozad Cast Mamoudou Athie , Kristen Stewart , Jessica Henwick , T.J. Miller , John Gallagher Jr. , Vincent Cassel Runtime 95 minutes Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Budget $80 million Expand
Dipping into both science fiction and horror in equal measure, Underwater stars the iconic Kristen Stewart as mechanical engineer Norah Price. Taking place at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, a dangerous earthquake not only destroys their station but also reveals monsters living at the bottom of the ocean. Frightening in the way it uses both the deep ocean and its monsters to scare the viewer, Underwater is a masterclass in building tension.
Although Underwater as a film feels like it could be a self-contained story, there are still many places the plot could go after the credits roll. Similar to how Alien could have been a singular story but then blossomed into a franchise, Underwater could follow the same path. This would allow the story to explore its deep ocean mysteries, potentially finding even more horrifying ways to scare the audience.
9 Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
Tom Cruise’s Science Fiction Thriller That Bends Time
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11 9/10 Edge of Tomorrow PG-13 Sci-FiActionThrillerAdventure
Edge of Tomorrow is a science fiction action film where Major William Cage, forced into combat against an alien invasion, discovers he is reliving the same day after dying. Partnering with Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski, he utilizes this time loop to improve his battle skills and devise a strategy to defeat the extraterrestrial threat. The movie explores themes of resilience, adaption, and transformation in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
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*Availability in US Director Doug Liman Release Date June 6, 2014 Writers John-Henry Butterworth , Christopher McQuarrie , Jez Butterworth Cast Tom Cruise , Emily Blunt , Bill Paxton , Brendan Gleeson , Noah Taylor , Kick Gurry , Dragomir Mrsic , Charlotte Riley , Jonas Armstrong , Franz Drameh , Masayoshi Haneda , Tony Way Runtime 1h 53m Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Character(s) Maj. William Cage , Sgt. Rita Vrataski , Master Sergeant Farell , General Brigham , Dr. Carter , Griff , Kuntz , Nance , Skinner , Ford , Takeda , Kimmel Sequel(s) Edge of Tomorrow 2 Budget 178 million Expand
Originally released 10 years ago, Edge of Tomorrow is a science fiction film that satisfyingly plays with the concept of time. Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt as Major William Cage and Sergeant Rita Vrataski, Cage finds himself reliving the same day over and over again, all in an attempt to fight back against an alien race called the Mimics. Every time he dies, Cage wakes up as if it were just a dream, only to try again with a new plan.
This movie not only had an incredible concept – taking the Groundhog Day style of utilizing a time loop – but also incredible execution. Edge of Tomorrow is an incredibly well-made movie that holds up today, with Cruise and Blunt being just as famous and talented. 10 years later. There have been talks of creating a potential Edge of Tomorrow sequel, but as of now, nothing has been confirmed.
8 Galaxy Quest (1999)
Science Fiction And Comedy Collide In Galaxy Quest
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10/10 Galaxy Quest PGComedyAdventure Sci-Fi
An homage to classic science fiction and its fandom, Galaxy Quest follows a group of actors from a fictional cult classic sci-fi series who are unwittingly embroiled in a real space conflict when aliens who believe the series is real abduct them and ask for their help defeating a tyrant threatening their people. Starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Daryl Mitchell, and Sam Rockwell, the film features many references and parodies of classic sci-fi films and shows, mainly Star Trek.
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*Availability in US Director Dean Parisot Release Date December 25, 1999 Writers Robert Gordon , David Howard Cast Daryl Mitchell , Sam Rockwell , Sigourney Weaver , Tim Allen , Tony Shalhoub , Alan Rickman Runtime 102 minutes Studio(s) DreamWorks Distribution Distributor(s) DreamWorks Distribution Budget $45 million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
Science fiction is a genre known for sometimes taking itself a little too seriously. However, this is not the case with the legendary Galaxy Quest. A satire of Star Trek and the fandom that surrounds it, Galaxy Quest succeeds as a comedy even for those who might not know much about the material it parodies. So much satire today leans into dark comedy, while Tim Allen’s earnestness, Sigourney Weaver’s sarcasm, and the late Alan Rickman’s deadpan delivery are all lighthearted fun.
Any film that so successfully works not only as an adventure but as a comedy deserves a sequel. So many years after its original release, there is still so much more Galaxy Quest 2 could poke fun at. When Star Trek has seen big-budget films and TV shows and science fiction has grown even more popular, a Galaxy Quest sequel feels as though it could be even more relevant than ever.
7 District 9 (2009)
District 9 Is A Science Fiction Film With Significant Themes
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10/10 District 9 RActionSci-FiThriller
Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 combines sci-fi with social commentary in an alternate history in which humans and aliens eke out a tentative coexistence. When a large alien ship appears outside of Johannesburg, humans find it full of sickly and malnourished extraterrestrials they name “Prawns”. After housing the aliens in a slum named District 9, one human finds himself far closer to the Prawn community than he bargained for.
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*Availability in US Director Neill Blomkamp Release Date August 5, 2009 Writers Terri Tatchell , Neill Blomkamp Cast Sharlto Copley , Jason Cope , Nathalie Boltt , Sylvaine Strike , Elizabeth Mkandawie , John Sumner Runtime 112 minutes Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony Franchise(s) District 9 Budget $30 million Expand
District 9 is unique among science fiction films, as it is one of the very few presented in a found footage-style format. It tells the story of a group of sick insect-like aliens that, once landing on Earth, are confined to an internment camp known as District 9. The home designated for the aliens that arrive is dilapidated and falling apart, hitting home with the film’s themes of xenophobia.
District 9 can be painful to watch, but it makes an intriguing point through inspiration from real-life events. A sequel to District 9 could expand upon this main theme, using even more modern events to take a stance on today’s society. If there was ever a film that deserved a sequel — and a particularly relevant one at that — it is District 9. Additionally, District 9‘s ending is ambiguous for at least one character, setting up a potential sequel.
6 Jumper (2008)
Hayden Christensen Succeeds In Another Sci-Fi Film With Jumper
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Jumper PG-13ActionAdventureScience Fiction
Jumper is a science fiction action film directed by Doug Liman, featuring Hayden Christensen as David Rice, a young man with the ability to teleport anywhere instantly. As David uses his powers to escape a troubled home life and explore the world, he becomes entangled in a centuries-old war between those like him, known as Jumpers, and a covert group sworn to destroy them.
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*Availability in US Director Doug Liman Release Date February 13, 2008 Writers David S. Goyer , Jim Uhls , Simon Kinberg Cast Hayden Christensen , Jamie Bell , Samuel L. Jackson , Rachel Bilson , Michael Rooker Runtime 88 Minutes Studio(s) Dune Entertainment , Hypnotic , New Regency Pictures Budget 85000000.0 Main Genre Action Expand
Starring post-Star Wars prequels Hayden Christensen, Jumper is a classic science fiction film based on a novel. The movie is about a man who can jump through time, often using this ability for his own gain. Jumper is exciting, featuring bank heists and all sorts of adventures, with Christensen again getting the chance to overcome the unfair criticism aimed at him because of Star Wars with a better performance.
Because the ending of the film leaves the door open for more adventures, there is always a possibility of a sequel. Similarly to how other major franchises expanded beyond the original book’s source material, Jumper could do the same. However, Steven Gould provides more source material with Reflex, which picks up 10 years after the original — the perfect opportunity for Christensen to reprise the role of David in a legacy sequel. It would certainly be an interesting time-bending experience, with plenty of grand sights to see, just like in the original.
5 Event Horizon (1997)
Laurence Fishburne Makes History In This Sci-Fi Horror Classic
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9.5/10 Event Horizon RHorror Sci-FiThriller
Paul W. S. Anderson steps further into the world of sci-fi horror with Event Horizon, a movie set in the future following a crew of Astronauts attempting to locate a missing ship known as the Event Horizon. When the crew finds the ship floating near Neptune, the distress signal relayed is haunting, followed by the discovery what awaits the rescue team isn’t the crew of the missing ship but something far more sinister.
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*Availability in US Director Paul W.S. Anderson Release Date August 15, 1997 Writers Philip Eisner Cast Jason Isaacs , Kathleen Quinlan , Sean Pertwee , Laurence Fishburne , Richard T. Jones , Joely Richardson , Sam Neill Runtime 96 minutes Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Budget $60 million Expand
Laurence Fisher was a sci-fi star before The Matrix, and it would be a thrilling experience to see him and Sam Neill reprise their classic roles today. Taking place on the titular starship Event Horizon, the film quickly develops from a hopeful rescue mission into a hellish nightmare. The crew of the ship has somehow been slaughtered, and the ship’s drive has opened up a gateway to an unknown dimension. The main characters quickly begin to turn on each other, with some hallucinating and even dying.
Event Horizon is on the same level as other shocking horror films such as Hellraiser, showing a different side of sci-fi horror than monster movies fans are familiar with. There are so few of these movies, and an Event Horizon sequel could help to change that. Despite its negative reviews, fans would get more of what they love if another film were added to this beloved cult classic and, hopefully, the subgenre could be revived.
4 Alien: Covenant (2017)
Fans Need The Final Installment Of The New Alien Trilogy
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7/10 Alien: Covenant RThrillerAdventureSci-Fi
Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott, follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover an uncharted planet. Initially seeming like a paradise, the planet soon reveals dark secrets. Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, and Billy Crudup lead the cast in this science fiction horror film, which serves as a direct sequel to Prometheus and continues to explore the origins of the Alien species.
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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date May 19, 2017 Writers dante harper , John Logan , Jack Paglen , Michael Green Cast Michael Fassbender , Katherine Waterston , Billy Crudup , Danny McBride , Demián Bichir , Carmen Ejogo , Jussie Smollett , Callie Hernandez , Amy Seimetz , Nathaniel Dean , Alexander England , Benjamin Rigby , Uli Latukefu , Tess Haubrich , Lorelei King , Goran D. Kleut , Andrew Crawford , Tom O’Sullivan , James Franco , Guy Pearce , Noomi Rapace Runtime 123 Minutes Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Character(s) David , Walter , Daniels , Oram , Tennessee , Lope , Karine , Ricks , Upworth , Faris , Hallett , Ankor , Ledward , Cole , Rosenthal , Mother (voice) , Xenomorph , Neomorph , Jacob Branson , Peter Weyland , Elizabeth Shaw Franchise(s) Alien Sequel(s) Alien: Awakening , Alien 3 , Alien Resurrection , Prometheus prequel(s) Aliens Budget $97–111 Million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
When Prometheus and its sequel Alien: Covenant were first conceived, these Alien franchise prequels were a planned trilogy. However, somewhere along the way, development for the third movie in the trilogy fell through. This eventually led to the creation of Alien: Romulus, but instead of being a sequel to Alien: Covenant, the two films are not related. While the most recent Alien installments have struggled to live up to monumental fan expectations, they have all been met with generally good reviews.
This has not stopped fans from wanting to see the final installment of the new trilogy. Despite the years that have passed and the plans that nothing came from, there are still questions to be answered that Alien: Covenant left hanging. A sequel to Alien: Covenant would finish this set of prequels, hopefully bringing closure to this section of the franchise — and even more ambitiously, nodding to Alien: Romulus.
3 Cloverfield (2008)
Cloverfield Is A Found Footage Film That Spawned A Franchise
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6.6/10 Cloverfield PG-13MysteryHorrorThrillerAdventureActionSci-Fi
Directed by Matt Reeves, Cloverfield is a found-footage disaster movie that follows a group of people seeking safety during a state of emergency. When New York City is attacked by an unknown monstrous entity, chaos ensues. A group of friends document their attempts to flee the city and find sanctuary from an onslaught of monsters on a handheld camcorder – footage which is designated as an account of the “Cloverfield” incident.
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*Availability in US Director Matt Reeves Release Date January 15, 2008 Writers Drew Goddard Cast Lizzy Caplan , Jessica Lucas , T.J. Miller , Michael Stahl-David , Mike Vogel , Odette Annable Runtime 85 minutes Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Sequel(s) 10 Cloverfield Lane , The Cloverfield Paradox Budget $25 million Expand
One of the most interesting monster movies of the modern era, Cloverfield follows a group of people who live in New York. What seems to be an ordinary day quickly turns sour, as a strange monster attacks the city. The film catalogs their struggle to escape, all caught on video from the point of view of a camcorder. If Cloverfield is a found-footage horror that should be a regular film, a direct sequel has the potential to strengthen the story with a new, juxtaposed format.
Even though Cloverfield is the first film in the franchise, it has yet to have a direct sequel. Every film in the series has covered different people and even different universes, with what happened in the wake of the film’s monster left in the air. A Cloverfield sequel could not only explain more of what happened but also tie it in with the rest of the franchise.
2 The Creator (2023)
The Creator Is A Science Fiction Film With Heart & Emotion
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9/10 The Creator PG-13Action Sci-FiDrama
The Creator is a sci-fi action film from Rogue One director Gareth Edwards. Edwards wrote and directed the movie, which centers on the human race’s war against AI. In the post-apocalyptic world, Joshua (John David Washington) is tasked with finding and killing the architect of the dangerous AI and the mysterious weapon they are developing.
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*Availability in US Director Gareth Edwards Release Date September 29, 2023 Writers Gareth Edwards Cast John David Washington , Gemma Chan , Ken Watanabe , Sturgill Simpson , Allison Janney , Madeleine Yuna Voyles Runtime 123 minutes Studio(s) Entertainment One , McFarland Entertainment , Regency Enterprises Distributor(s) 20th Century Expand
One of the more recent impactful sci-fi films to hit theaters, The Creator details a soldier’s journey of love and acceptance. Sergeant Joshua Taylor initially despises the artificial intelligence that has been created by humanity, but things begin to change when he meets a little girl. Though she is a robot like those he has grown to despise, it is through her that he begins to see that artificial intelligence is a little more human than he initially thought.
Intense and emotional from start to finish, The Creator is an incredible example of how science fiction can be used to tell stories that matter. At its core, it emulates the love and hatred that is so often seen in the world today. A sequel could help expand upon this impressive world-building and the people in it, showing the repercussions of The Creator‘s ending.
1 The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (2005)
The Classic Hitchhiker’s Guide Has Been Rebooted, But No Sequel
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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy PGAdventureComedySci-Fi
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a sci-fi comedy film directed by Garth Jennings. It follows Arthur Dent, played by Martin Freeman, who is unwittingly swept into an intergalactic adventure after Earth is destroyed. Arthur, along with Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Trillian, explores space while consulting the titular guidebook. Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, and Mos Def co-star in this adaptation of Douglas Adams’ beloved novel.
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*Availability in US Director Garth Jennings Release Date April 29, 2005 Writers Douglas Adams , Karey Kirkpatrick Cast Bill Bailey , Martin Freeman , Yasiin Bey , Sam Rockwell , Zooey Deschanel , Bill Nighy Runtime 109 Minutes Main Genre Adventure Expand
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is one of the most famous science fiction films of all time. This film follows the misadventures of Arthur Dent, the last man alive, as he hitchhikes his way through the galaxy. Known for its quick wit and over-the-top moments, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy brings a little love and a little comedy to sci-fi in a way that has never been repeated.
Perhaps the most shocking part about this film’s lack of a sequel is that there is so much material to work with. The book series that the film is based on has plenty of installments to draw from, meaning that there are plenty of reasons to make another sci-fi film. Not only would a sequel be welcome, but it would also bring back the charm that the 2005 iteration is so well known for.