10 Great Sci-Fi Movies Under 90 Minutes

Because George Lucas is synonymous with Star Wars, its easy to forget the legendary filmmaker's first feature, THX-1138. Set in a dystopian future where all humans are controlled by mind-altering drugs, one individual called THX-1138 (Robert Duvall) rebels against the system when he falls for a woman. Basically, it's the same plot as Nineteen Eighty-Four (except it has robots).

Due to the premise and futuristic setting, THX-1138 could've been bogged down by forced exposition or an overly complex narrative (especially since Lucas is calling the shots).

Luckily, this sci-fi classic keeps things simple. Rather than spelling everything out, the dialogue is minimal and hard to decipher, leaving a lot of scenes to interpretation. Many intense moments (like the radiation explosion in the beginning) are shown through scratchy computer screens, forcing us to draw our own conclusions with what's going on.

However, the element that most viewers remember about THX-1138 is the atmosphere. From the opening scene, it's clear this is a world governed by ruthless suppression. The barren aesthetic and ominous music constantly gives off a sense of hopelessness. The androids look silly by today's standards, but you can't help tensing up every time they show up.

It may have done badly with critics and the box-office when it premiered, but it's obvious nowadays why THX-1138 is revered so highly.