The top-10 sci-fi films in the public domain

Science fiction has long been a genre that pushes the boundaries of imagination, exploring futuristic concepts, space adventures, and existential dilemmas. Many sci-fi films that have fallen into the public domain offer a fascinating glimpse into the genre’s development. Here’s a curated list of the top 10 public domain sci-fi films which you can watch by clicking on the title.

10. Last Woman on Earth (1960)
After an unexplained catastrophe wipes out humanity, a businessman, his wife, and their lawyer survive in a tropical paradise where they must navigate their new reality. Tensions rise as the two men vie for the affections of the woman, creating a love triangle in a world where human civilisation has collapsed. The film explores survival, morality, and human desire in a post-apocalyptic setting.

9. In The Phantom Planet (1961)
An astronaut investigating lost spacecraft is pulled onto a mysterious asteroid, where he is shrunk to miniature size and taken prisoner by its tiny humanoid inhabitants. As he becomes involved in their struggles against an aggressive alien race called the Solarites, he must choose between escaping or helping defend his newfound allies. With time running out, he fights to stop the invasion and find a way back to Earth.

8. Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973)
A bizarre epidemic is sweeping a small town, where men are mysteriously dying after being seduced by beautiful women, who turn out to be part of a hybrid species of bee-like creatures. A government scientist investigates the strange occurrences, uncovering a secret lab where women are transformed into deadly Bee Girls. The film blends science fiction and erotic horror, exploring themes of sexuality and manipulation.

7. Indestructible Man (1956)
This sci-fi horror film is about a convicted criminal, Lon Chaney’s “Butcher” Benton, who is resurrected by a scientist using experimental treatments after being executed. Reborn with superhuman strength and near invincibility, Benton sets out on a vengeful rampage against the gang members and district attorney who betrayed him. As the police race to stop the unstoppable, the film blends crime thriller elements with classic B-movie science fiction.

6. First Spaceship on Venus (1960)
A multinational crew embarks on a perilous mission to Venus after discovering an alien artefact from the planet, believed to be a threat to Earth. As they navigate the harsh and mysterious Venusian landscape, they encounter deadly environmental hazards and traces of a lost civilisation. The film explores themes of cooperation and the dangers of unchecked technological advancement in a Cold War-era backdrop.

5. Teenagers from Outer Space (1959)
An alien race arrives on Earth intending to use it as a breeding ground for their giant, human-consuming creatures called Gargons. However, one of the aliens, Derek, rebels after discovering that humans are intelligent beings and falls in love with a local girl, Betty. As his ruthless commander Thor hunts him down, Derek must fight to stop the invasion and save Earth from destruction.

4. The Wasp Woman (1959)
The aging head of a cosmetics company, Janice Starlin, desperately seeks a way to restore her youth and turns to an experimental serum derived from wasp enzymes. The treatment initially makes her look younger, but it soon has horrifying side effects, transforming her into a monstrous, wasp-like creature with a thirst for blood. As her deadly rampage escalates, those around her must stop the mutation before it’s too late.

3. The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
A mute, telepathic alien resembling a black man crash-lands in Harlem, where he navigates human society while being pursued by two Men in Black-like bounty hunters from his home planet. As he explores the struggles of marginalised communities, he uses his extraordinary abilities to fix machines and help those in need, gaining the trust of locals.

2. The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962)
This cult horror-sci-fi mashup follows a mad scientist who keeps his fiancée’s severed head alive while searching for a new body for her. As his unethical experiments grow more dangerous, the head begins to develop psychic abilities and exact revenge. The film’s blend of body horror and science fiction has made it a unique and bizarre entry in the genre.

1. The Last Man on Earth (1964)
Based on Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend, this post-apocalyptic film stars Vincent Price as the last human survivor after a plague turns everyone else into vampire-like creatures. Isolated and struggling with loneliness, he searches for a cure while fighting off the infected each night. The Last Man on Earth is a bleak but gripping exploration of survival and human endurance.