12 Most Underrated 1980s Sci-Fi Movies

While it may not quite get to top place on this list, there is no doubt that the premise for this 1988 cult classic is the best on this list, and one of the great 'so stupid it's awesome' movie ideas. The film sees an every day drifter called John who comes upon a pair of sunglasses that lets him see which humans are actually aliens, while also allowing him to read subliminal messages being pushed on to consumers as part of an alien-government conspiracy!

This genius premise is utilised with great campy fun by Writer-Director John Carpenter, even if the Government-Alien conspiracy to brainwash the human race is a little heavy handed in its delivery.

The movie works best when it doesn't take itself too seriously, former WWE star Roddy Piper relaxing into the craziness of the film as the protagonist John as the story progresses. With such classic lines as "I've come come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum", Piper brings a likability to our unlikely hero by letting us all know to not take any of the film too seriously.

The acting proves a real mixed bag, with some actors taking their roles far too seriously while others, like Piper, playing it for the nonsense fun it really is. It is great silly fun and definitely worth a look with this in mind.