Sci-fi is easily one of the most enthralling genres in cinema. The mind-boggling scientific phenomena featured in these films haven’t failed to dazzle audiences since the early days of Hollywood. Unsurprisingly, many upcoming sci-fi movies are among the most anticipated тιтles of the year. While they can imagine any number of futures, it’s clear that stories featured in sci-fi works tend to lean towards a more pessimistic perspective. With despairing plots, the presence of a foreboding antagonist is guaranteed.

As a result, the genre has introduced many of the best movie villains to ever appear on the silver screen. Given the depressing nature of sci-fi, the antagonists in these films typically have a degree of plot armor. Despite the best efforts of the characters, the evil forces frequently come out on top. Whether it be an alien, a robot, or an overpowered monster, dystopian futures don’t care if humans survive.

10

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

Directed By Michael Sarnoski

It’s undeniably impressive that John Krasinkski’s directorial debut was met with a sequel and standalone origin story in such a short timeframe. The bloodthirsty deaf aliens were first introduced in 2018 and haven’t lost steam since. Given the immense popularity of the first two installments, Paramount Pictures decided to create a separate prequel with A Quiet Place: Day One.

Unlike the original story, this movie takes place in downtown New York City, just moments before the arrival of the vicious monsters. The plot follows Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) and Eric (Joseph Quinn), who try their best to evade certain death in a city of chaos. When the two finally have the chance to leave the island, it’s clear that only one can make it. Knowing that she’s terminally ill, Samira decides to sacrifice herself as the remaining survivors are forced to escape to sea. It’s a completely hopeless ending. Eric managed to survive, but the world was still doomed.

9

Dark Skies (2013)

Directed By Scott Stewart

Extraterrestrial invasions have been approached from hundreds of different angles, but Dark Skies’ take on the concept remains unique. Oddly enough, the film hasn’t gotten much attention since its 2013 release. Even with the poor reception, it’s one of the few alien movies that are actually terrifying. Like many related works in the genre, the presence of otherworldly invaders doesn’t bode well for humans.

Dark Skies follows the suburban Barrett family, who quickly become the victims of malevolent aliens known as “The Grays.” Their sinister influence is initially small, but the character’s lives quickly become a living hell. In the final moments of the movie, the Barretts make a last-ditch effort to put a stop to the madness. Despite trying their best to defeat the villains, the Grays ultimately prevail, abducting their son Jesse (Dakota Goyo). In the end, the family was completely powerless against their attackers from the instant they arrived.

8

I Am Legend (2007)

Directed By Francis Lawrence

Even after 20 years since its release, I Am Legend still has an extremely polarized fan base. People seem to either hold it in very high regard or dismiss it entirely. Nevertheless, the film remains an icon of the early 2000s sci-fi horror era. Based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name, I Am Legend imagines a future plagued by an unforgiving virus. The infected individuals transform into hyperaggressive zombies called “Darkseekers” that only move in the shadows.

Robert Neville (Will Smith) is supposedly the last man on earth, living among the creatures in search of a cure. In the final moments of the story, he faces off against a swarm of Darkseekers who infiltrate his compound. This film presents a distinctive example of a villain winning because it only occurs in the theatrical ending. With nowhere to turn from the infected, Neville sacrifices himself by cooking a grenade in his hand. In I Am Legend’s alternate ending, he survives, realizing the creatures have emotional intelligence and only want to recover the Darkseeker Neville was holding captive.

7

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

Directed By Philip Kaufman

The 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers has stood the test of time as one of the most terrifying sci-fi movies to ever exist. It’s a rare occurrence for a remake to be held in high regard, especially if its source material is critically acclaimed. Yet, Philip Kaufman seemingly defied the odds, creating a bone-chilling masterpiece. Invasion of the Body Snatchers imagines a world that slowly gets conquered by invisible invaders. The aliens land on Earth and quickly begin to replace humans with perfect replicas that are devoid of any emotions.

Following the perspective of Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) and a group of friends, the plot unfolds as the characters attempt to escape abduction. The final moments of the film show Matthew standing outside the health department. Nancy Bellicec (Veronica Cartwright) spots him from her hiding place and tries to signal his attention. In one of the most horrifying closing sequences in cinematic history, Matthew lets out a deafening screech, revealing that he’s a duplicate trying to signal his species. The one shred of hope is immediately destroyed, and the villain’s victory becomes solidified.

6

Brazil (1985)

Directed by Terry Gilliam

What happens when a gloomy Orwellian society is combined with whimsical elements of fantasy? Terry Gilliam’s 1985 dark comedy Brazil is a direct representation of this scenario. It’s an incredibly bleak sci-fi movie, and easily one of the best in the genre. The premise ​​​​​is often indescribable at times, featuring a narrative that feels like a hallucinogenic experience. At the center of the story lies Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce), a bureaucrat who works under the rule of a harsh totalitarian society.

After recognizing the woman he sees in his dreams, Sam is taken on a journey through his strange world. He is detained for breaking the state rules and gets tortured in return. In the final moments of the film, Sam sits strapped to a chair, revealing that his perception has been a complete lie. There are a lot of possible interpretations of Brazil’s ending, but by most accounts, it demonstrates that Sam is ultimately powerless against the system and must exist in this reality permanently.

5

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Directed By Ridley Scott

Die-hard fans of the Alien movies tend to have a love-hate relationship with the modern franchise installments. Despite having fabled director Ridley Scott at the helm of the ship, the new–era Xenomorph films haven’t seemed to strike gold. While Alien: Covenant failed to provide a quality follow-up to Prometheus, the negativity directed towards the movie is a bit excessive. In this sci-fi horror, members of the Covenant ship quickly discover that their potential planetary paradise is home to bloodthirsty aliens.

Among the crew is Walter (Michael Fᴀssbender), an AI tasked with maintaining the voyage. Once on the planet, they meet an older, indistinguishable version of Walter named David. It turns out that David has malicious intents and believes Xenomorphs to be superior to humans. When the characters finally reach the safety of the ship, it’s revealed that David killed Walter and took his place. With full access to the ship, he proceeds to insert the alien embryos into the human reserves, dooming the entire colony.

4

Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003)

Directed By Jonathan Mostow

Given the current state of The Terminator movies, it’s crazy to consider that the first film only had a budget of $6.4 million. James Cameron single-handedly took the original premise and transformed it into an entire cinematic universe. Although the third installment is widely regarded as the first big drop-off in quality, these movies are iconic for a reason. Under the supervision of a new director, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines takes place in a world where Judgment Day never occurred.

John Connor (Nick Stahl) is now 25 and threatened by the presence of the T-X: the most dangerous cyborg yet. Despite its mediocre reception, the film has one of the best conclusions of the whole franchise. Just when it seems like the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly artificial intelligence forms are being stopped, it’s revealed that their rise is inevitable. As the nukes launch into the sky, John and Kate (Claire Danes) sit in the bunker while all the remaining hope for the planet is eviscerated. In the end, Skynet succeeds, Judgment Day begins, and the villain prevails.

3

Upgrade (2018)

Directed By Leigh Whannell

Leigh Whannell’s 2018 thriller Upgrade is easily one of the best sci-fi films to hit screens in modern times. It’s got a relatively unᴀssuming exterior, but the story is packed with more than meets the eye. Everything from the soundtrack to the fight sequences is incredibly well-thought-out. Considering the measly budget of three million dollars, the creators delivered a surprisingly excellent futuristic action flick.

The premise is exactly as the тιтle suggests. When mechanic Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) is left paralyzed after a mugging, he’s offered a revenge-driven cure through an implant called STEM. It effectively upgrades his body, granting Grey’s legs back in addition to a myriad of superhuman enhancements. He sets out to find his ᴀssailants, but soon discovers that there is more at stake. Upgrade’s ending features a disheartening triumph of the antagonists. Ultimately, STEM manages to completely and permanently take over Grey’s body, casting his psyche into a fake reality.

2

Life (2017)

Directed By Daniel Espinosa

After the mᴀssive global success of Ridley Scott’s Alien franchise, the sci-fi spaceship horror schematic began to frequently surface within the genre. The concept has been attempted several times, but the layout is generally the same. There is a crew on a mission in outer space who accidentally discovers a new life form, and it ends up trying to kill them. Unsurprisingly, Daniel Espinosa’s Life was essentially a copy-and-paste of this framework.

The plot follows a group of astronauts on the International Space Station who find “Calvin,” an organism responsible for the extinction of Mars. After it easily kills the other crew members, the final sequence shows the remaining astronaut’s attempts to defeat the alien. David (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Miranda (Rebecca Ferguson) try to send Calvin into oblivion using a pod. In a shocking ending, the pod containing David and the alien is sent to Earth while Miranda drifts into the stars. The escape ship crashes down into the ocean, sealing humanity’s fate.

1

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Directed By Irvin Kershner

When it comes to sci-fi villains, few movies come close to the legendary Star Wars universe. Although many people consider the films to fall under the category of space fantasy, their influence has been undeniable. Nearly 50 years after the original movie’s release, there are still new Star Wars movies hitting theaters all the time. In contemplation of sci-fi movies where the villain comes out on top, The Empire Strikes Back is undoubtedly the best example. The second installment was strikingly dissimilar from its source material, in both tone and conclusion.

Unlike the previous film, this sequel was much darker. The characters are constantly encountering challenges, and nothing seems to go right for them. In one of the most famous endings in the history of Hollywood, evil forces outshine the good. Right after getting his hand cut off, Luke (Mark Hamill) discovers that the crazed terrorist that’s plaguing the galaxy is his father. To make matters worse, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is simultaneously getting frozen in carbonite. It’s an all-around win for the empire and a big setback for the heroes.