12 Best 1990s Sci-Fi Movies

8. The Fifth Element

FIfth Element
Columbia Pictures

It would be a disservice to The Fifth Element to call it a cult favorite given that it earned over $260m at the box office and wound up as the ninth highest-grossing movie of 1997, but initial reactions were incredibly polarized towards Luc Besson's batsh*t insane sci-fi epic.

A lavish and over-the-top blockbuster that throws every single penny of the $90m budget up on the screen, The Fifth Element is a constant assault on the senses, and that's meant in the nicest possible way. As is the case with most similar projects, the plot is the least of anyone's concerns as Besson dazzles the audience with cutting-edge CGI, futuristic action scenes and production design that borders on the self-indulgent.

The divisive nature of The Fifth Element can be summed up by the fact that it made just as many 'Best Of' lists as it did 'Worst Of' in the year it was released, while Gary Oldman actively despises it, despite his scene-stealing performance being one of the best parts about it. Everybody hates Ruby Rhod though, with no exceptions.

Contributor

I don't do social media, so like or follow me in person but please maintain a safe distance or the authorities will be notified. Don't snap me though, I'll probably break. I was once labelled a misogynist on this very site in a twenty paragraph-long rant for daring to speak ill of the Twilight franchise. I stand by what I said, it's crap.