The1970swere a great time for thescience fiction genre.Alien, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Invasion of the Body Snatchers,and, of course,Star Wars: A New Hopeenriched and innovated upon the genre, informing popular culture into the modern day. Genre cinema wouldn’t be the same without these smash hits, with many considering it science-fiction’s greatest era.
To this day, filmmakers turn to these genre greats to inform their own storytelling, taking inspiration from their incredible cinematography, practical effects, narrative decisions, and art direction, with remakes and sequels of the most popular continuing to grace our screens.
Of course, with so many massive hits in the 1970s, there were plenty that have fallen to the wayside, forgotten by the pop culture community. Whether it be due to their international release, similarities to other films, or their quality, the following 10 interstellar films have struggled to live on in public memory after their initial release.
Some of these films are notable cinematic masterpieces, films with a dedicated cinephile following, but they have all failed to keep the attention of the general public. Nearly every year of the decade is represented here, and with titles ranging from horror to psychological drama, there should be something here to excite every viewer.
10Horror of the Blood Monsters (1970)
Horror of the Blood Monstersbegins millions of years in the past. The Tubaton, a vampiric species from the depths of space, spreads their infected blood across the galaxy, inciting a vampiric plague. In the modern day, with this plague threatening life on Earth, a team of researchers is sent into space aboard the XB-13 to discover its source.
Flying into the Spectrum solar system, the team are forced to land on an alien planet in order to refuel their ship, but they soon discover a conflict brewing between the native Tagani species and their predatory rivals, the Tubaton.
Horror of the Blood MonstersIs Trashy Space Horror at its Finest
There are many films that manage to be forgotten despite their overall production and narrative quality.Horror of the Blood Monstersis not one of those films. It is bad, from the acting down to the costume design, but there is still a certain level of charm to the film. It is a perfect example of the so-bad-it’s-good paradox, fitting in with many of the other trashy horror films of the era.
It was meant for cheap thrills and over-the-top acting, and while it certainly hasn’t held up in the five decades since its release, there are plenty of viewers who can find something to love (or at least laugh at) with this bizarre production.
9Earth II (1971)
Released on ABC as a direct-to-TV film,Earth IIis a complex science fiction narrative taking place on the titular space station. Earth II was instituted as the first orbital nation, with many peoples from around the world living within its walls. It is a peaceful nation, but when an armed, orbiting nuclear warhead from the People’s Republic of China enters Earth’s atmosphere, the citizens must decide their next course of action.
Regarding the bomb’s presence as a potential attack, the leaders of Earth II secure the bomb, but with their people in danger, they are forced to grapple with the idea that war may be just on the horizon.
Earth IISlowly Builds a Complex and Fascinating World
Earth IIis a complex narrative. It is a politically-driven thriller, with much of the viewers' time devoted to sitting in on meetings and exploring the moral dilemmas faced by the crew of this orbital nation. Some viewers are understandably turned away by this genre choice, but for those looking for deep world-building and lore,Earth IImight just be the series for you.
It is a slow-burn series, but for those with the patience to plumb its depths, they’ll be happily surprised with the dense mysteries and complex characterization that acts as the foundation for this hidden gem.Rent on AppleTV.
8Silent Running (1972)
The planet Earth is dying in Douglas Trumbull’s directorial debut,Silent Running.What remains of Earth’s great forests and plant life has been sent into orbit around Saturn in massive, space-faring geodesic domes. Freeman Lowell is a botanist and ecologist tasked with maintaining the crops of theValley Forgefor the eventual reforestation of the planet.
Lowell discovers that the domes are soon to be decommissioned, and in order to save his crops, he hijacks theValley Forgeand flies to the opposite side of Saturn. With only a pair of service droids as his companions, Lowell does everything in his power to keep hope alive for his dying home.
Silent Running Tells an Intimate, Spacefaring Tale of Ecological Importance
Critics were notably divided in their opinions ofSilent Running,with some praising the slow, philosophical storytelling and melodramatic tone while others felt that it was too self-indulgent and uninteresting. Your own mileage will vary with the narrative, though its ecological focus definitely still carries a meaningful note in today’s world. What should really draw viewers to this film are its visuals.
For a film in 1972, the effects work inSilent Runningwas truly ahead of its time, and with some excellent character work and a deep focus on theme,Silent Runningdeserves a far larger audience than it has.Rent on AppleTV.
7Solaris (1972)
Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky took a step into deep space with his 1972 science-fiction filmSolaris.Scientists have been studying the distant planet Solaris for decades, but something strange has begun to affect the crew. Kris Kelvin was once a crewmember of Solaris Station, but he was sent home after witnessing twisted hallucinations on the planet’s surface.
With experience in the planet’s unique affects on scientists, Kris is sent to investigate similar claims made by the new crew. However, when Kris arrives, he comes face-to-face with his late wife Hari, forcing him to question reality as he explores the meaning of these visions.
SolarisSuffered from its International Status
In truth, it makes complete sense thatSolarisgot lost in the cinematic shuffle. Its status as an international film, let alone a Soviet-era film, likely drove many viewers away, and while Tarkovsky would gain immense acclaim with the release ofStalker,Solarishasn’t found the same audience outside more serious cinematic circles.
Created as an opposition to the tech-heavy2001: A Space Odyssey,Tarkovsky had lofty ambitions forthis twisting, psychological film, and he succeeded in building one of the most philosophically driven science-fiction films of the decade. It now only needs to find a more mainstream audience.Stream on Max.
6Fantastic Planet (1973)
Released in France asLa Planete Sauvage,Rene Laloux’sFantastic Planetis set in the farthest reaches of space, on the planet of the Traag species. Centuries ago, the Traag took the people of Earth hostage, and seeing these “Oms” as little more than savage animals, they enslaved the populace.
Orphaned at a young age, the Om named Terr was taken in as a pet by the young Traag Tiwa, but a defect in his collar allowed him to acquire Traag knowledge. Escaping into the wilds, Terr brings this knowledge to his fellow Om, and with the promise of safety, they begin to build a rocket to escape to the planet’s moon, which they call the “Fantastic Planet.”
Fantastic PlanetIs a Wonderfully Eery, Thought-Provoking Science-Fiction Film
From the art style to the worldbuilding,Fantastic Planetis intentionally uncomfortable. It is an eery film, full of intense thematic and philosophical depth that has drawn audiences to it since its original release. Those in the film community know the impact that this film has had, especially in the way it brings animation to adult audiences.
However, its convoluted and often upsetting narrative can leave mainstream audiences wanting, and the film has largely fallen into obscurity despite its impact on the genre. However, if you’re looking fora head-scratching, thought-provoking animated film set in deep space, thenFantastic Planetmay just be for you.Stream on Max.
5Dark Star (1974)
Evolving from a student film into a feature-length science-fiction epic, John Carpenter’s major directorial debutDark Staris set in the far future, where humanity has begun to colonize the stars. TheDark Staris a ship with the sole mission of destroying unstable planets that pose a danger to these colonized worlds, but after 20 years, the ship is in bad shape.
Malfunctions plague the small crew daily, and so much time cramped in the small space has driven the crew a little nutty. With one of their bomb bays malfunctioning, putting the crew at risk, Pinback, Talby, Doolittle, and Boiler are forced to take drastic action to save themselves.
Dark StarRepresents the Best Elements of Carpenter’s Later Films
What most often surprises viewers aboutDark Staris its intentional humor. John Carpenter,the man behind horror greats such asHalloween, The Thing,andChristine,crafted a unique blend of genres, adding lighthearted comedy to this potentially bleak story.
Of course, those who are surprised by this detail tend to forget that Carpenter helmed the outrageous action titlesBig Trouble in Little ChinaandEscape from New York.This early film is an excellent example of everything that Carpenter does well, and even if it doesn’t represent the best of the director’s work, it is still a great foundation for those looking to explore the seminal director’s work.Stream on Peacock.
Related:22 Long Forgotten ’70s B-Movies
4The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
David Bowie stars as the alien Thomas Jerome Newton in Nicolas Roeg’s 1976 classicThe Man Who Fell To Earth.Thomas came to Earth in order to deliver water back to his dying home planet, but he became trapped after his crash landing. Using his advanced alien technology to amass a fortune, Thomas attempts to construct a new ship home, but a chance meeting with a woman named Mary-Lou derails his mission.
Introduced to the vices of the modern world, Thomas becomes addicted to the pleasures of sex, alcohol, drugs, and television, losing sight of his mission as others attempt to uncover his interstellar secrets.
The Man Who Fell to EarthIs First-Class Cinema
Cinephiles are likely scoffing atThe Man Who Fell to Earth’sinclusion on this list. As its inclusion in the Criterion Collection proves, it is considered to be one of the best and most influential films of the decade, andits Prime Video series remakeshows that it still has a place in the modern day.
However, while it has gone on to influence the world of film, it has largely fallen out of the public consciousness. Very few know of this classic film, especially compared to other massive hits of the day, but everyone who loves the cinematic medium owes it to themselves to dive into this science-fiction masterpiece.Stream on The Criterion Channel.
3The War in Space (1977)
From Toho, the makers of theGodzillafranchise, comes the forgotten 1977 tokusatsu gem,The War in Space. Set in the year 1988, the film follows a team sent out to stop an alien invasion using an experimental spaceship. After an army of UFOs arrives on Earth and devastates its cities, a team of Japanese soldiers and scientists board the Gohten space defense ship in order to stop them.
Learning that the aliens' warship is on Venus, the crew battles through the invading forces and races to save their planet, but when one of their own is captured by alien forces, their operation quickly shifts into a rescue mission.
The War in SpaceIs an Action-Packed Interplanetary Adventure
The War in Spaceis an incredibly ambitious project, even if it never completely reaches the lofty heights toward which it aims. It boasts a massive cast of crew members, and the special effects are extremely impressive for the time, even if they look a bit dated by today’s standards.
The movie is a classic of the tokusatsu genre, but it never truly found its audience outside of Japan. As is the case with many of Toho’s films at the time, there is plenty of camp fueling this flashy science-fiction film, but at its heart is a fun, exciting space exploration film with some great action sequences in which tokusatsu fans will delight.
2Starcrash (1978)
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: a group of heroes in a distant galaxy are tasked with finding and destroying a secret super weapon hidden aboard a space station while avoiding the forces of a black armored figure of immense power. If you’re thinkingStar Wars,you’re dead wrong.
This isStarcrash,a 1978 Italian knockoff of the beloved franchise. The film follows Akton and Stella, two smugglers who team with Police Chief Thor and his quirky droid Elle to find the secret base of Count Zarth Arn. With laser sword in hand, Akton and Stella fight the Counts evil army, scantily clad Amazon warriors, and droids in this strange, campy adventure.
Starcrash: A Blatant Attempt to Capitalize on Star Wars Fame
The prevailing thought process behindStarcrashseems to be, “what ifStar Warswere sexy?” The excessively revealing female costumes were very ’70s, showcasing the growth of sci-fi erotica at the time, and the blatantly copied designs and narrative are wholly unapologetic in their attempt to shadowStar Wars’success.
Starcrashobviously gets forgotten for its much more iconic (and much better) predecessor, butStar Warsfans should still dive into this bizarre Italian knockoff. It has its indie charms, to be sure, and for fans of the Galaxy Far, Far Away, it is certainly entertaining to see a dollar store Darth Vader battling a wannabe Luke Skywalker.Stream on Freevee.
Related:Starcrash: The ‘70s Italian Star Wars Knockoff That Definitely Came From A Galaxy Far, Far, Away
1The Black Hole (1979)
Disney’sThe Black Holetakes place in the year 2130. The deep-space exploration vessel USS Palomino is on its return voyage to Earth when the crew discovers a long-missing ship called the USS Cygnus caught in the pull of a black hole. Though the ship initially seems to be abandoned, the crew meets Dr. Hans Reinhardt, the last surviving person aboard.
After the Cygnus was disabled, Reinhardt claims to have stayed behind to study the black hole. However, something doesn’t line up in Reinhardt’s story, and the Palomino’s crew will have to discover the truth under the doctor’s and his robot bodyguard, Maximillian’s, watchful eyes.
The Black HoleWasn’t Disney’s Most Successful
There are times when even Disney misses, and sadly,The Black Hole’smelodramatic story never truly landed with audiences. With that said, there’s quite a lot to love in this space-faring epic. The most obvious are the visual effects, which for the era were incredible.
Inspired by the cutting edge filming techniques used by Industrial Light and Magic, Disney pushed their own to the limit, innovating new technologies to capture some truly stunning shots. The story certainly has its issues, but it is still an exciting action film with an impressive amount of polish that Disney fans ought to experience.Stream on Disney+.
