10 Sci-Fi Movie Concepts That Shouldn't Work But Do
3. Arrival
It was a risk to make an alien movie that was less about the aliens themselves, and more about international relations and language learning. Because when you think about it, all that sounds incredibly boring.
Often, audiences want alien films to be heavier on the sci-fi elements and visuals. In the age of blockbusters like Interstellar or anything that Marvel pumps out, you’re taking a risk by putting out a sci-fi film more interested in being thoughtful than visually intense.
It has elements of politics and linguistics, and the higher concept of reading the alien’s language gifting you the ability to see the future. Really, it’s more about the people than it is about the aliens, and this could mean it would flop big-time with audiences.
However it was one of the biggest films of 2016! That seems to be a theme here though: you take a risk and challenge what audiences normally want to see, and often you can create something way more impactful.