Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Science Fiction: 1540 Films to Rent
Clash of the Titans (1981)
- Dir. Desmond Davis
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, Ursula Andress
- Brave stab at visualising Greek mythology, taking the Perseus legend as its basis, this turned out to be the swansong for Ray Harryhausen and his…
Day of the Triffids (TV Mini-Series) (1981)
- Dir. Ken Hannam
Feat. John Duttine, Emma Relph, Maurice Colbourne
- More convincing and clinical than previous adaptations of John Wyndham's novel, this BBC series depicts the blinding of Earth's human population and…
Escape from New York (1981)
- Dir. John Carpenter
Feat. Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine…
- 1997 New York is a huge maximum–security prison where the President's plane just happens to crash! Futuristic actioner notable for its sardonic…
Excalibur (1981)
- Dir. John Boorman
Feat. Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Nicholas Clay…
- The King Arthur legend is given a fanciful, dynamic spin by a director at his creative peak in an epic fantasy tale of sorcery and magic.
Greatest American Hero, The (TV Series) (1981)
- Feat. William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca…
- A reluctant superhero if ever there was one, William Katt is engaging in this spoof sitcom as the toussle–haired school–teacher who is…
Heavy Metal (1981)
- Dir. Gerald Potterton
- Based on stories from the 70s sci–fi/fantasy mag, this replicates the stylish artwork, sleazy thrills and quirky storylines, with the added…
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV Series) (1981)
- Dir. Alan J.W. Bell
Feat. Peter Jones, Simon Jones, David Dixon…
- The excellent BBC TV adaptation of Douglas Adams' extraordinary books provides a wealth of brain–candy for cybernerds, techno–buffs and…
Inseminoid (Horror Planet) (1981)
- Dir. Norman J. Warren
Feat. Judy Geeson
- An interplanetry archaelogical team unleash a female vampire (Geeson) into their spaceship, in this super–trashy ALIEN knockoff. Unconvincing…
Looker (1981)
- Dir. Michael Crichton
Feat. Albert Finney, James Coburn, Susan Dey…
- Sci–fi thriller written and directed by Michael Crichton that comments upon and satirizes media, advertising, TV's effects on the populace, and…
Mad Max II - The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2) (1981)
- Dir. George Miller
Feat. Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence
- Studio–backed sequel retains the integrity of the first while sprucing up the artillery, pyrotechnics and going for a more futuristic style.…