Top 10 sci-fi "B" movies you must see.

I've decided to make a top 10 list of my own. This list contains the top 10 sci-fi "b" movies that in my opinion should be seen if you haven't already. None of them are mainstream.

All of them will be worth watching if you can find them.

10-Slither (2006).


Starring Nathan Fillion this movie has been on my "a" list for "b" movies since it came out. I missed it at the theatre but I own a DVD copy and have it installed permanently on my Archos portable tablet. It's a must see "b" movie that has some minor horror undertones. Still I qualify it, it IS my list.

9- Split Second (1992).

This movie stars the actor who is the uncontested all-time best "b" movie actor: Rutg er Hauer. It also features as a bonus a young and hot (very) Kim Cattral. The story is interesting and the effects are somewhat laughable at times. Most of the interesting action is in the dark which for a "b" movie really means "Perfectly visible but slightly blue".

Nevertheless it was a blast to watch. Also this movie has become quite rare so when you find that 5$ copy at a flea market, take it. Amazon sells it for 80$!

8- Omega Doom (1996).



You know you have a decent "b" movie when the box says "Robots rule the earth. Only one man can stop them.".

Also that one man is Rutger Hauer. I think there is nothing to add except that the only reason this isn't higher on the list is that it's virtually unfindable. Also because there is a limit to how cheesy the costumes can get. However, as far as I can tell, this 15 year old movie, is the first one to show the future of douchebags: "Bluetooth earpieces".

7- The Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).


The first time I saw this movie I was 13, in high school English class (in Quebec our schools are mostly French so we learn English as a second language), and it terrified me. After I saw it again I realised that this is not really a horror movie, it's not even a movie, it's three movies.

Also it has John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd in there for good measure.

The best scene is on the plane. By far and large.

6- Mars Attacks (1996).


Where do I start? Great special effects for a "b" movie, also considering it's 1996. The cast is incredible, Nickolson, DeVito, Close, Bening, Short, did I mention Nickolson plays three freaking roles?

The plot is simple: Mars Attacks. From Mars. The planet. Any more questions? Good now go watch this movie.

5-Red Planet (2000)



While we're on the subject of Mars...This movie has everything, romance, humour, robots and a crazy plot where the hero blasts off into Mars orbit, using what is basically a modified lawn-chair with a Soviet Russian rocket in his behind. That is done in the true spirit of "b" movie plots.

Also Carrie-Ann Moss is in there.

4-Star Wars (1977).


Face it, in 1977 when it was released, before all the "Star Wars Fever" ensued, before it was made into a hexalogy, before it was remastered with CGI and had all its puppets removed.

Before the soundtrack and audio was remastered in stereo, then in Dolby Digital, then in Dolby Digital HD, then in Supreme Dolby Digital Hi-Bitrate for mental patients...

Before they retouched the posters, re-released it in fourteen different boxsets, before the Bubba Fet helmet boxset, before George Lucas became a complete douchebag...

Star Wars, the original untouched version is a "b" movie. Learn to deal with it.

3-Stargate (1994).


The thing about Stargate is that in 1994 there weren't any of the 12 spinoff TV series that it bestowed on us. The movie was a pretty good "b" movie with some decent "b" movie actors like Kurt Russell and James Spader. Spader was later mothballed and taken back out for Boston Legal, thus making this his definitive last "hit" movie. Russell went on to make the following "b" movie on this list.

2- Soldier (1997).

This movie was one (among many) to have the classic plot of a man turning against his team, a plot later followed by Avatar that went on to gross more money than what has been printed in history. Also Dances with Wolves comes to mind.

Nevertheless this is an excellent movie that I recommend for those that, like me, are stuck on an uncomfortable train/metro/bus seat for 2-3 hours/day in their daily commute to and from work. It plays great on an Archos/iPod/untraportable laptop.

1-Serenity (2005).



It would be difficult not to put Serenity as the best "b" movie of all time, it has everything, sex, humour, action, space battles, pirates, zombies, zombie dogs, skeletons, swords, a hooker, gambling and explosions. All of that and we haven't even talked about the plot, the actors, their chemistry, the hot costumes, the accents they use...

Also it's Nathan Fillion's second entry on this list, is he this generation's Rutger Hauer? Time will tell. What are you up to Nathan?

If you've not seen it, go rent it now. Watch it tonight. You can't afford the chance that the Mayans were wrong and by 2012, they really meant tomorrow.