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. Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Directed by Ed Wood, Plan 9 from Outer Space is a cult classic known for its low-budget production, wooden acting, and unintentionally hilarious dialogue. In the film, aliens attempt to stop humans from creating a doomsday weapon by resurrecting the dead. Despite being labelled “the worst movie ever made,” its campy charm and earnest ambition have made it an enduring piece of sci-fi history.

9. 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.

8. 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.

7. 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.

6. Disappearance Of Flight 412 (1974)
A suspenseful movie that follows a U.S. Air Force crew on a routine radar test mission when their plane mysteriously vanishes after encountering unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The crew is detained by a secret military organisation, who tries to cover up the strange incident. As the commanding officer investigates, he uncovers a government conspiracy to suppress knowledge of the UFO sighting.

5. 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.

4. Rocketship X-M (1950)
Rocketship X-M tells the story of the first manned mission to the Moon, which goes awry and leads the crew to land on Mars instead. On Mars, they encounter a post-apocalyptic society of mutants, survivors of a nuclear disaster. The film, released during the Cold War, is noted for its commentary on the dangers of nuclear power and space exploration.

3. 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.

2. This Is Not A Test (1962)
As news of an impending nuclear strike hits, a highway patrol officer takes control of a small group of travellers and attempts to prepare them for survival in an isolated stretch of road. As tensions rise and human nature unravels under the pressure, the group faces the grim reality of life in the shadow of nuclear war. The film serves as a tense psychological exploration of fear and desperation during the Cold War.

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.