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Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites?

I must be getting a little jaded from all of the big budget science-fiction movies. Yeah, Star Trek was fun, but for every Star Trek, there’s a Dune, a Battlefield Earth, a Waterworld, a Stealth, and episodes 1, 2, and 3 of Star Wars, where most of the money went to the special effects department — Lord knows that it didn’t go into the scripts. Maybe that’s why I’m anticipating seeing Moon, which was shot for a budget of around $5 million (US). Unfortunately, since Moon isn’t playing near where I live, I’ll just have to wait for the DVD and get my low-budget science fiction fix elsewhere.

In fact, some of the classic science-fiction films were made on a modest budget (well, Hollywood has different standards about budget than most people). Take, for example, 1958’s The Fly, in which a scientist uses a device that is obviously the predecessor of Star Trek’s transporter before it’s been fully debugged. Seriously, this movie, which had a budget of $500,000 (US), has become part of western culture — just say the words “Help me!” in a high squeaky voice to prove it.

Not nearly as well known as The Fly is the 1974 film Dark Star, which was made for $60,000 (US). If you’re watching a John Carpenter movie marathon, Dark Star is a good place to start. Although it’s a comedy, it has a subplot that eerily foreshadows the 1979 movie Alien — well, that is if the alien was a beach ball with Creature from the Black Lagoon feet and wasn’t lethal, just annoying. The reason for this foreshadowing is that both Dark Star and Alien were coauthored by Dan O’Bannon.

As much as I like the previous films, my absolute favorite low-budget science-fiction film (or, for that matter, any science-fiction film) has to be 2007’s The Man From Earth, which was shot for under $250,000 (US). Completed on his death bed, it was the final work of the late Jerome Bixby. The Man From Earth tells the tale of college professor John Oldman, who weaves a convincing tale of being a 14,000 year old Cro-Magnon. The reactions of John’s friends and coworkers run the gamut of emotions from disbelief to anger to belief. The film keeps the truth hidden until the very end.

What are your favorite low-budget science-fiction films? List your picks in the discussion.

Edmond Woychowsky is a Network Administrator in the Healthcare industry. He is also interested in many geeky things, including science fiction, gaming, and technology. Read his full bio and profile.

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The American Astronaut digijohn | 07/30/09
I'd have to add maecuff | 07/30/09
Agree on Tremors neilb@... | 07/30/09
Absolutely maecuff | 07/30/09
Battle Beyond the stars! larry@... | 07/30/09
The Last Starfighter JamesRL | 07/30/09
Two classic lines from that one NickNielsen | 07/30/09
When they died larry@... | 07/31/09
another great line Paymeister | 08/03/09
I forgot about that one ! been-there-done-that | 08/06/09
I love that movie! JackOfAllTech | 07/30/09
The Lost Skelleton of Cadabra LouCed | 07/31/09
AGREED! Firedrake | 07/31/09
Yeepers LouCed | 08/03/09
Always Agree sboverie@... | 11/06/09
Predator rick@... | 07/31/09
"I ain't got time to bleed" NotSoChiGuy | 07/31/09
And then Billy says BFilmFan | 08/01/09
Oh Yea WhatMeWorry? | 11/06/09
Galaxina dewey.knox@... | 07/31/09
Haven't seen boxfiddler | 07/31/09
Lathe of Heaven cubeslave | 08/01/09
Lathe LouCed | 08/03/09
Robinson Crusoe On Mars GregEB | 07/31/09
Robinson Crusoe On Mars jeremy@... | 08/03/09
Laserblast or Metalstorm anyone? tranzophobia | 11/06/09
Bad Taste michael.dickon@... | 11/08/09
They Live boxfiddler | 07/30/09
Awesome Flick... NotSoChiGuy | 07/30/09
I might boxfiddler | 07/30/09
Relevant indeed... SAStarling | 08/04/09
Loved this one! InAwe | 07/30/09
Almost got it ... C_Zakalwe | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? larry@... | 07/30/09
Ooh. boxfiddler | 07/30/09
We just watched this InAwe | 07/30/09
Labyrinth? Palmetto | 07/30/09
Well larry@... | 07/30/09
Difficult to describe it .. SObaldrick | 07/31/09
Young Frankenstein and Frankenstein Meets The Spacemonster gardoglee | 01/15/10
NACA NickNielsen | 01/15/10
The Blob Ed Woychowsky | 07/30/09
Road Warrior question Palmetto | 07/30/09
It was more of control larry@... | 07/30/09
I asked my self that very question. JackOfAllTech | 07/30/09
Does $5 million count as low budget?? NotSoChiGuy | 07/30/09
Great great movie! larry@... | 07/30/09
Siskel and Ebert Thumbs up for Time Bandit ! CG IT | 07/30/09
Oh Ry In Eye Ay! seanferd | 07/30/09
When in doubt, factor for inflation cubeslave | 08/02/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? jck | 07/30/09
Forgot about Bruce larry@... | 07/30/09
Oh yeah. boxfiddler | 07/30/09
Bruce Campbell is a god. Palmetto | 07/30/09
Briscoe County. boxfiddler | 07/30/09
You've seen maecuff | 07/30/09
You've seen JamesRL | 07/30/09
No, It's James BFilmFan | 08/01/09
Ok then JamesRL | 08/04/09
SF vs Fantasy Ed Woychowsky | 07/30/09
If Bruce Cambell was.... larry@... | 07/30/09
Where is it? JackOfAllTech | 07/30/09
DNF is officially done larry@... | 07/31/09
Bruce is God! psingleton@... | 07/31/09
Sci-Fi and horror: Eraserhead robo_dev | 07/30/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? melias@... | 07/30/09
If we're dragging telly into this, Palmetto | 07/30/09
on the TV: ThunderBirds robo_dev | 07/31/09
There are at least 2 .. SObaldrick | 07/31/09
2 movies SObaldrick | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: Quatermass and the Pit. jchristian@... | 07/30/09
Quatermass and the Pit Ed Woychowsky | 07/30/09
Oh my gosh! I loved that movie too JackOfAllTech | 07/30/09
You too? seanferd | 08/03/09
Five Million Years To Earth over here - a classic. dave@... | 07/31/09
Carrie is another I'd list NotSoChiGuy | 07/30/09
Sacnners..... JamesRL | 07/30/09
Have it on DVD! NotSoChiGuy | 07/30/09
Really interesting movie JackOfAllTech | 07/30/09
Steel Dawn larry@... | 07/30/09
What about Flash??? larry@... | 07/30/09
Flash---AH--saviour of the universe NotSoChiGuy | 07/30/09
I've got some of the really old Flash Gordon stuff on DVD CG IT | 07/30/09
The 'special effects' are special robo_dev | 07/31/09
Here, go ahead and refresh your memories! larry@... | 07/30/09
1982 NotSoChiGuy | 07/30/09
1902 SirWizard | 07/31/09
Two classics of course reisen55@... | 07/30/09
Laugh while-a you can, monkee boy! NickNielsen | 07/30/09
One more word out of you, Bigbooty... seanferd | 07/30/09
That's Big-Boo-Tay! C_Zakalwe | 07/31/09
I gotta wonder boxfiddler | 07/30/09
Talk with Michael santeewelding | 07/30/09
I do hope boxfiddler | 07/30/09
Ooh santeewelding | 07/30/09
She's boxfiddler | 07/30/09
Insouciant santeewelding | 07/30/09
Dare me to? boxfiddler | 07/31/09
Galaxina dewey.knox@... | 07/31/09
Are you kidding:??? larry@... | 07/31/09
No matter where you go.... Mac_444 | 07/31/09
Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai GSG | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? indeeproducer | 07/30/09
Well, now santeewelding | 07/30/09
You're welcome Ed Woychowsky | 07/31/09
No, Thank you sir! BFilmFan | 08/01/09
I don't remember the title JackOfAllTech | 07/30/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? jeremy@... | 07/31/09
Silent Running mdhealy@... | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? jazzman@... | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? dhubbard1500@... | 07/31/09
saw it in '69 elk@... | 07/31/09
and "Reanimator" elk@... | 08/09/09
Frankenhooker pablo.emanuel@... | 07/31/09
12:01, Space Trucker, and ... thall@... | 07/31/09
Square Pigs!!! larry@... | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? NativeTexan | 07/31/09
Wow larry@... | 07/31/09
Talking about Sean Connery... boxfiddler | 07/31/09
Laughing About Outland BFilmFan | 08/01/09
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians dnewland@... | 07/31/09
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians TheAlcatrazKid | 07/31/09
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Ed Woychowsky | 07/31/09
I love most of these here but add these too .... been-there-done-that | 07/31/09
Wing Commander larry@... | 07/31/09
A Boy and His Dog JGH59 | 07/31/09
Boy and His Dog best ever Buffalo Troy | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? melias@... | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? TheAlcatrazKid | 07/31/09
Wrong about the category SirWizard | 07/31/09
Blair Witch Project TUFOP | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? PackerBacker | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: Ice Pirates darrell.jones@... | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? madocs | 07/31/09
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! Mac_444 | 07/31/09
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, must "rank" as the No. 1 on the List. bwallace@... | 07/31/09
Killer Tomatoes - $100K well spent darrell.jones@... | 07/31/09
Considering they filmed a helecopter crash Buffalo Troy | 07/31/09
What about the sequel Buffalo Troy | 07/31/09
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) darrell.jones@... | 07/31/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? CAnnie5055@... | 07/31/09
Best of the Best BFilmFan | 07/31/09
Starcrash KevinSGreen | 08/01/09
Real low-budget gjd | 08/03/09
Dark Star stuartmacdonald@... | 08/03/09
Dark Star- Yes ..reasoning with the bomb is hilarious ! been-there-done-that | 08/04/09
Yeah... LouCed | 08/04/09
Soylent Green SAStarling | 08/04/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? d_baron@... | 08/04/09
George!!!!! ...... Mac_444 | 08/06/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? stuart@... | 08/04/09
Freejack rscarlat@... | 08/04/09
A 'Low' Budget is relative Ed.Carden@... | 08/04/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? jbyrne@... | 08/04/09
Disagree somewhat LouCed | 08/05/09
Doppler Effect SObaldrick | 08/06/09
Doppler effect! NickNielsen | 08/06/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? alexythree@... | 08/06/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? eric_harris_76@... | 08/08/09
Once Long Ago BFilmFan | 08/09/09
RE: Low-budget science-fiction films: What are your favorites? Ric_Shanahan@... | 11/06/09
"Primer" Ric_Shanahan@... | 11/06/09
The Final Programme SObaldrick | 11/07/09

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