However, with the large number of sci-fi subgenres, others naturally stand in the shadows. A few sci-fi subgenres that also have their representation in movies are so obscure that even fans of sci-fi might not be aware they exist. Overlooking them would be a mistake, though, since they offer a new view of the beloved genre in which almost everything is possible.
6 Cerebral Science Fiction
While everybody can imagine what the time travel subgenre is about, people might struggle with the definition of a cerebral science-fiction movie. This genre also puts a lot of emphasis on travel, but it isn’t through space or time, but the (usually human) mind. In other words, cerebral sci-fi is the type of movie that explores the inner corners of the characters’ minds and uses them to push forward the story.
A good example of one such movie is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in the leading role. After the main character undergoes a procedure to get his memories erased, the movie spends a lot of time going through them right in his head.
5 Exotic Ecosystems
Just like multiple less known science fiction subgenres, movies that belong into the category of exotic ecosystems movies could also fit into another subgenre, or more than one. In general, the stories that fit into this less-populated subgenre focus on non-human, alien societies and the ecosystem of their planets. One of the best movies that belongs among exotic ecosystems sci-fis is James Cameron’s iconic Avatar (2009).
The movie puts a strong emphasis on building the world of the planet Pandora, showing its beauty as well as natural resources and also taking care to explain that humans could very well ruin the planet, if only they got the chance to do so. Such an emphasis on ecosystems and their preservation or the danger they face is one of the major defining traits of this subgenre.
4 Gothic Science Fiction
The term gothic is most often associated with horror when it comes to storytelling. That’s why a lot of people might not be familiar with the subgenre of gothic sci-fi. It’s a genre that builds a strong atmosphere but isn’t a classical horror movie. A movie personifying is the adaptation of Mary Shelley’s iconic novel Frankenstein which contains both important sci-fi elements and the ability to create strong tension.
Frankenstein has been adapted multiple times since its one of the most famous sci-fi slash horror novels of all time. Yet two adaptations that stand out are the 1935 version with Boris Karloff in the titular role and the 1994 movie directed by Kenneth Branagh in which Branagh also plays one of the leading parts, Victor Frankenstein, the Monster’s creator. And those who enjoy theater can also try out the 2011 recording of the play Frankenstein in which Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, two actors known for playing Sherlock Holmes, alternate as the Frankenstein’s Monster.
3 Historic Sci-Fi
Since science fiction is generally associated with the futuristic, historic sci-fi is one of the more obscure, rarer subgenres. The basic rule for these movies is to take place in the past and be based on real historical events. Historic sci-fis should also ideally use technologies that were available at the time of filming.
The movie The Right Stuff (1983) is one of the samples of the subgenre. It focuses on space exploration in the 20th century and has a strong basis on reality. So while someone would hesitate to place this movie into the science fiction genre, its emphasis on space and science in general means it still fits in the category of historic sci-fis.
2 Hopepunk
Even though its name is similar to the likes of cyberpunk, hopepunk is very much different from it. It’s one of the newest science fiction subgenres, and as a result, not that many people are familiar with it. The writer Alexandria Rowland only created the term a few years back, in 2017. According to Rowland, hopepunk includes stories with a setting similar to the current world and with characters who face horrible situations and problems yet never give up and retain their hope, hence the genre’s name.
While it’s difficult to find a recent movie that would fit solely into this subgenre, some sci-fi movies contain elements of hopepunk. One example is Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) that has an optimistic ending despite all the bad things that happened to Peter Parker, such as the death of his aunt May.
1 Science Fantasy
Some fans of this genre like both sci-fi and fantasy and look for movies that blend the two sides. The science fantasy subgenre is ideal for them since it contains both elements of sci-fi (such as space travel) and fantasy (such as magic, or powers, that are mysterious enough to be considered magic by some).
The best known and iconic example of science fantasy are Star Wars. Despite having the word ‘star’ in its title, the series bends the rules of science and what is possible just enough to fit both into sci-fi and into fantasy at the same time.
More: Best Hard Sci-Fi Novels For Newcomers To The Subgenre
