Summary
Sci-fiTV shows have been some of the most expensive and high-budget series on television, and for good reason.Contemporary sci-fi series likeFoundation,The Last of Us, andFallouthave all found homes on streaming services,which have more money to offer producers than network television. Additionally, as a genre, sci-fi often requires a larger budget since the visual effects needed to create battles in space or otherworldly creatures must be high-quality to look realistic. However, a sci-fi series can still be immersive and astounding, even if it doesn’t have the resources to compete with the more polished series.
In reality, some of the most creative and enduring series have developed from the pressures of a limited budget.
Many of thebest hard sci-fi showshave had enormous budgets because they are so dedicated to having sprawling set pieces and impressive effects. Additionally,an often overlooked aspect of the budget is how much money goes to the actors.As a series increases in popularity, this means that the budget might increase. However, it also means the performers are in high demand and must be paid more. It seems there’s an advantage expensive TV shows have over smaller productions. In reality, some of the most creative and enduring series have developed from the pressures of a limited budget.
18 Low Budget Sci-Fi Movies That Are Better Than Blockbusters (& Where To Stream Them)
These low budget sci-fi movies are better than many blockbusters and are often overlooked. We’ll show you the best ones and where to stream them.
Eureka
Cast
In the fictional town of Eureka, Oregon, sheriff Jack Carter is an ordinary guy in a town full of geniuses. Whenever there’s a technological accident or a science experiment gone wrong, Sheriff Carter and the town’s scientists step in to solve the mystery and save the day.
These sets were well-built and aren’t low quality, but it’s obvious that most of the series was filmed on a sound stage.
The concept ofEurekais tremendously fun and lends itself to the dichotomy of exciting plotlines and ideas with the constraints of budgets. Like most network shows, asit aired on the Syfy channel during its five-season run,Eurekahad a select number of sets and locations that the characters interacted with. These sets were well-built and aren’t low quality, but it’s obvious that most of the series was filmed on a sound stage. Additionally, the show’s premise necessitated that many pieces of technology be created for individual episodes.
Though the residents of the titular town are all supposed to be geniuses, there’s also a cozy and intimate quality to the show that’s often lost when the budget of a series grows. Some sci-fi series can be cold and alienating to audiences, as that’s the atmosphere that best matches the tone and themes of the show. However, this isn’t the case withEureka. Since it’s similar to a sitcom with sci-fi elements,it creates a warm and inviting quality that’s comforting for viewers.
Red Dwarf
Set in the distant future aboard the mining spaceship Red Dwarf, this British sci-fi sitcom follows the misadventures of Dave Lister, the last known human survivor, and his companions: a hologram of his dead bunkmate, a creature that evolved from his cat, and a neurotic android. Isolated in deep space, they encounter bizarre phenomena and alien creatures as they traverse the galaxy.
Almost all ofRed Dwarftakes place on the spaceship that the protagonist, Dave Lister, wakes up on when he discovers he’s the last human in the universe. Though the conceit of the series is inherently sad,Red Dwarfuses this melancholic tone to set the stage foran amazing show that was recently brought back after its initial cancelation in 2007.It’s true that Lister’s ship is massive and holds plenty of nooks and crannies for the characters to get into trouble,
Part of the charm ofRed Dwarfis the fact that the special effects are campy, and the character designs aren’t high-tech. Similarly toEureka,Red Dwarftackles typical sitcom storylines and sees its characters have mundane interpersonal struggles that are increased in stakes and tension through the use of the sci-fi setting. The past few seasons have seen an increase in the production value of the series. However,the original episodes are just as compelling, even if they’re not as visually dynamic.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
As one of the longest-running sci-fi series of all time,Doctor Whohas gone through many evolutions, and the most recent incarnation of the Doctor is the most dazzling yet. Since Ncuti Gatwa joined the series as the Fifteenth Doctor,the series has been airing on Disney+ and has only increased in scale and visual intrigue.This dramatic change in quality began around the time that Matt Smith joined as the Eleventh Doctor and has only come to define further how audiences see the show.
The pacing, effects, and villains were all seemingly handmade, and it was amazing that the show managed to cultivate the viewership it did.
The change in the tone and style of the show are some of theharsh realities ofDoctor Who’s modern era, as the original incarnation of the series was an educational and low-tech show. The pacing, effects, and villains were all seemingly handmade, and it was amazing that the show managed to cultivate the viewership it did. However,looking back on the classic era ofDoctor Whois a great reminder of the show’s rootsand how far it’s come.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is a sci-fi television series that revolves around a group of humans and aliens that work together on a space station known as Babylon 5 during the twenty-third century. The show explores intergalactic relations, conflict, and the relationships of the crew as they attempt to help their respective species thrive and survive.
The characters inBabylon 5are interesting because they diverge strongly from the typical archetypes that populate a traditional sci-fi show.Babylon 5takes place in the aftermath of many galactic wars and is in direct conversation with the human stories of war and discrimination that were prominent during the period it aired.Much of the narrative takes place on the space station called Babylon 5,as it’s the perfect convergence of alien life from across the galaxy, allowing the characters to interact with many people without having to create multiple sets.
Babylon 5was well ahead of its time in the way that its plots and multi-season arcs were meticulously planned,and the series was always intended to span five seasons. Though there are shorter arcs throughout the show,Babylon 5was intensely serialized, making it perfect for the streaming age. WatchingBabylon 5now, it’s easy to overlook the weaker elements like poor visual effects when taking into consideration the breadth of the storytelling.
Firefly
Firefly is a science fiction television series set in the year 2517, focusing on the crew of the spaceship Serenity. As humans inhabit a new star system, the renegade crew, led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds, navigates conflicts and alliances while pursuing their own interests across lawless territories.
When watching the series today, it still holds up as an incredible addition to the genre because of how well it blends sci-fi and neo-Western elements.
In some ways, theFireflyTV show was doomed from the startbecause the network aired the episodes out of order.Fireflydid not have the budget and resources of other flashy sci-fi dramas, so each episode was vital in creating the character arcs and interpersonal relationships that the story relied upon. Though there are great episodes when the crew of Serenity, the spaceship, gets to traverse a new and exciting planet,the show had limited time and money to make these locations as grand as possible.
After series creator Joss Whedon’s success with his supernatural fantasy show,Buffy The Vampire Slayer, there was a significant audience base ready to acceptFirefly. However, there were too many factors working against it. When watching the series today, it still holds up as an incredible addition to the genre because of how well it blends sci-fi and neo-Western elements. Additionally,the performances are what anchorFirefly,especially during the episodes when the crew is confined to the ship.
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television series that premiered in 2004. The plot follows the crew of the aging Battlestar Galactica as they protect a small fleet of human survivors from the renewed threat of the Cylons, in a quest to find the mythical 13th colony, Earth.
The limited budget ofBattlestar Galacticacomes through in its intergalactic battle scenes, as the animation and effects of the ships and blasters often leave something to be desired. ThoughBattlestar Galacticahas never achieved the notoriety of TV shows likeStar Trek, it shouldn’t be forgotten, especially considering how much it does with the story despite a lower budget.It began as a one-season show in 1978that was interesting enough it set a precedent for a revival in 2004 that blew fans away.
When the reboot ended in 2009, the finale ensured that there couldn’t be another remake ofBattlestar Galactica, and this has polarized audiences and critics. As time has passed,Battlestar Galacticahas only grown in the estimation of viewerswho are being exposed to the story for the first time. It’s inarguable that the series has transcended the sci-fi genre and is considered an amazing drama that explores nuanced topics about the nature of humanity.
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits is a science fiction anthology television series that explores various themes of speculative fiction. Each episode features a self-contained story often involving elements of alien encounters, futuristic technology, or otherworldly phenomena. The show blends moral, philosophical, and existential questions within its narratives, offering a diverse array of tales that challenge human understanding and societal norms. The series first aired in 1963 and has since been revived, continuing to captivate audiences with its imaginative storytelling.
The first iteration ofThe Outer Limitsran from 1963 to 1965 but was still looked back on fondly by viewers who remember the original TV show.For the 1990s,The Outer Limitsdid have a relatively larger budget,and this is because it aired on Showtime, which was recognized for having high-quality series because it was a premium cable network. However, when compared to the millions of dollars that are poured into sci-fi series today, the amount of money given toThe Outer Limitswas negligible.
The Outer Limitswas a much more successful reboot of an anthology series than the remake ofThe Twilight Zone, and it includes many great guest actors.
As a sci-fi anthology series,The Outer Limitshad the difficult job of introducing new sets and characters with every episode.This meant that much of the budget went toward paying the actors and creating realistic settings. Unfortunately, the biggest pitfall thatThe Outer Limitsfaced was the special effects, but even the highest-budget shows from the ’90s haven’t aged well in terms of special effects. Additionally,The Outer Limitswas a much more successful reboot of an anthology series than the remake ofThe Twilight Zone, and it includes many great guest actors.
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The 100
The 100 is a sci-fi post-apocalyptic TV series set ninety-seven years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization. When a spaceship housing humanity’s lone survivors send one hundred juvenile delinquents back to Earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the planet, they discover that Earth is still inhabited. Now constantly in a state of power flux with warring clans, cannibals, and mountain-dwellers, the juveniles must attempt to survive while re-establishing contact with the Ark.
While The CW had no problem giving plenty of money to TV series likeSupernaturalbecause of its large following, shows likeThe 100took some time to get off the ground.Today,The 100is well remembered for constantly reinventing itself throughout the seasonsand its ability to keep the audience engaged with new characters and storylines. The protagonist, Clarke, remained one of the most consistent parts of the series throughout its seven-season run, but the actress, Eliza Taylor, was never paid as much as the biggest names in sci-fi.
At the start of thesci-fiseries, some of the scenes took place in space, but the series limited the exterior shots and utilized practical sets that became the physical rooms within the space station. However,the practical effects seen throughout the show are some of the best parts.In having to get creative with resources and physical sets, the writing and character development get to shine. Fortunately, it’s the character relationships that are far more interesting onThe 100rather than big set pieces or effects.
