12 Most Underrated 1980s Sci-Fi Movies

The 1980's proved to be a great time for Sci-Fi, with the likes of The Terminator, the evolution of the Star Wars franchise, comedies such as Ghostbusters and the move into family friendly fare with E.T. bringing critical acclaim and significant box office success. The move away from campy thrills to bigger and 'better' special effects also made the genre more accessible to a wider audience than ever before.

With such big budget fare out there, many of the lower profile and small budget Sci-Fi films of the decade didn't garner the positive reaction they deserved. Many low budget films of the early 80's in particular flew significantly under the radar, quality films that never got the acclaim they so richly deserved. There are also several 'big name' movies that also find a spot on this list, with insanely high audience expectations not allowing viewers and critics alike to appreciate that these films still had something to offer.

A number of films on this list work well as nostalgia pieces for the time they were created, while others had ideas that were years ahead of their time. All films on this list have some degree of imperfection, but this shouldn't mean they are not appreciated for the quality products they are.

So be prepared to reflect back on the Sci-Fi films that never got the love they deserved as we explore the most underrated films of the genre from the 1980's.

It's hard to understand exactly why this sequel didn't resonate with fans and critics, because it proves to be every bit as fun as the original. The Ghostbusters find themselves largely as novelty items who have celebrity status, but not a great deal of respect, with the increasingly angry citizens of New York no longer worshipping their heroes.

The central plot of a demigod dragging himself into our world utilising the negative energy of the city is a cracker, the villainous Vigo the Carpathian proving a menacing figure, especially when stuck in a painting. If anything the stakes feel more personal with Dana and Venkman's child the target of this evil magician from the past.

There is great humour to be had too with scenes in which the crew insult samples of the angry goo, with Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis' characters Raymond and Egon the butt of Venkman's banter once more. The Ghostbusters are also given some genuine obstacles to overcome, their first efforts to defeat the bad spirits occupying New York proving futile, the citizens turning on them quickly.

The finale is great fun, the use of a walking Statue of Liberty raising the spirits of the town and taking down Vigo and his evil plans in the process. It may not be as consistently humorous as the original, but it's still a fun second journey with the old gang.