Russia has long been fascinated with the future and other worlds, leading it to create many sci-fi films, many of the best coming from the ’60s to the late 1990s.
Many of these movies don’t get much attention outside of Russia, but these are some underrated gems you need to watch if you are a sci-fi fan.
So, without further ado, let’s look at the best Russian sci-fi movies!
Dead Man’s Letters (1986)
First on the list is Dead Man’s Letters, which was released in 1986 and directed by Konstantin Lopushansky.
For his first film ever, he did a fantastic job with this film, creating an emotionally charged story that leaves you feeling a certain level of emptiness after watching it.
Plot
It tells the story of a Russian scientist known only as “The Professor” as he comes to grips with the death of his family amid the complete nuclear destruction of the world.
He hides inside a museum’s basement, where he survives the blasts, but he is surrounded by a group of other survivors, many of whom are infected with radiation sickness.
Surrounded by the dead and dying, the story keeps its depressing tone throughout the film as the Professor slowly comes to terms with what has happened and what it means to hold onto the human spirit within all of us.
He struggles with his feelings, and the movie doesn’t stray away from showing how broken of a man he is as he grapples with the meaning of his life now.
Why You Should Watch It
If you are looking for a movie that will make you cry and is directed by someone who knows how to tell such a heavy story properly, then you will want to check out Dead Man’s Letters.
You should also give it a watch because, in a world where fear of a nuclear war seems closer than ever, movies like this can help one process anxiety and fear in a controlled environment.
Planet of Storms (1962)
An oldie but a goldie, Planet of Storms was released in 1962.
Directed by Pavel Klushantsev and starring Gennadi Vernov and Kyunna Ignatova, this is one of the best Russian films ever made in the sci-fi genre.
It has long been cited as one of the most influential films for film students looking to create sci-fi films.
Even George Lucas, who created arguably one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time, wanted to meet Klushantsev when he went to Russia and stated that he considered Klushantsev the godfather of Star Wars.
When it comes to special effects in his movies, Klushantsev was ahead of his time, as Planet of the Storms utilizes them to great effect, creating a movie that sucks you into it with its amazing visual effects.
Plot
Planet of Storms tells the story of a group of cosmonauts traveling to the red planet Venus to explore it and seek out any potential alien life they may find on it.
Unfortunately, one of the three spaceships is destroyed during the mission, leaving only two of these ships to carry out the space mission.
The surviving cosmonauts land on Venus, but all they find is a deadly environment filled with horrific creatures of alien proportions constantly trying to eat the group.
Why You Should Watch It
As a sci-fi movie, this film hits every one of the necessary tropes for a good science-fiction story.
If you want to watch one of the first films to inspire the modern-day sci-fi genre, you should watch it from a director who knows his craft.
This is easily one of the best Russian movies that take place in outer space, and you’re missing out if you don’t give it a watch.
Amphibian Man (1962)
Do you ever feel like The Little Mermaid seems too normal of a film or too familiar?
Do you wish you could watch something that looks like a cursed film but is a solid sci-fi film?
If you answered yes, let me introduce you to the 1962 Russian film Amphibian Man.
Plot
Directed by Gennady Kazansky and Vladimir Chebotaryov, it tells the story of a young man who was born with gills and thus has to live in the water as he cannot survive very long on the surface.
However, much like the Little Mermaid, this strange merman creature named Ichthyander falls in love with a young woman from the surface world.
As he falls in love, he has to deal with exploitative pearl fishers who are overharvesting his home, leading him into some dangerous situations and also putting the one he loves in danger.
Why You Should Watch It
It is a darker version of The Little Mermaid story but still incredibly good.
While not many outside of Eastern Europe have watched or even heard of it, it deserves all the love it can get.
So you should watch it and enjoy a spin on a story you may already love but from a different cultural background.
Plus, the amphibian man looks like a sparkly disco ball in his design, and if that isn’t a reason to watch, I don’t know what is.
Imagine Edward’s chest from Twilight, but all over his body, and that’s the amphibian man for you.
Don’t expect Icthyander to have a happy ending; the best stories are heartbreaking.
Speaking of mermaids, you should also check out the best mermaid horror movies.
Per Astra Ad Aspera (1981)
Next up on the list is one of the best movies, Per Astra Ad Aspera, directed by Richard Viktorov and Nikolai Viktorov and released in 1981.
Plot
Based on a screenplay by Kir Bulychev, a Soviet Union writer, it is a space opera that tells the story of an exploration story that is out searching the universe when it comes into contact with a dead ship that is merely floating in the uncaring void.
The cosmonauts board the destroyed spaceship to explore what is upon it, and they find a young woman who can teleport around at will and use telekinesis.
Why You Should Watch It
While the first film is heavy Soviet filmmaking, it is still a great film to watch.
If you don’t want to see all the slight Soviet propaganda and influences, then there is a 2001 restoration remake by Nikolai Viktorov, Richard Viktorov’s son, and it edits out a lot of the Soviet influence upon this film.
You should watch it if you love the feeling of a dead universe, where nothing is between you and the unforgiving void of space.
Combine that with a strange woman with stranger abilities, and it is a recipe for a unique speculative fiction film.
Solaris (1972)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris was released in 1972.
Plot
Solaris tells the story of a psychologist who has been to the space station Solaris to examine the group of scientists and astronauts currently at the base and decide whether or not the expedition should continue.
Most astronauts on the space station have already begun to go mad.
Before too long, Kevin finds himself slipping into madness as well, as he is visited by visages of his dead wife, who had unfortunately committed suicide down on Earth sometime earlier.
Why You Should Watch It
This is well worth watching because it is an atmospheric and moody movie.
It doesn’t rely on jump scares or cheap kills to make you uncomfortable.
Instead, it takes the finer points of human nature, the concept of madness, and how it can worm its way into a group, slowly causing everyone to spiral.
It is a terrifying concept, and Tarkovsky does it beautifully.
While Steven Soderbergh made a 2002 remake starring George Clooney as Kevin, it does not capture the same atmosphere as the original.
So give the original a watch, but avoid the remake if you can help.
Hard To Be A God (2013)
Last, we have Hard To Be A God, directed by Aleksei German Sr and based on Russian literature by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
Plot
The general plot of this film is that a group of scientists with a time machine are observing a planet with a medieval civilization that mirrors the real world.
Once the Renaissance began, some scientists were sent to this world to observe what happens and with strict commands not to interact with anything on the planet.
However, after witnessing crimes and such occurring, the lead scientist in charge of this mission decides that he cannot stay neutral and steps in.
Why You Should Watch It
It is a film that explores the concept of intellectuals being slaughtered for being intelligent and what a world would look like if their greatest minds were killed before they made any of their massive breakthroughs.
It is a fascinating film; you should watch it because the storytelling is so good.
While many movies on this list are long movies, this one is nearly three hours long, but as you get sucked into this parallel world and watch the main character struggle with remaining neutral, you will barely notice the time pass.
So what are you waiting for? Give Hard To Be A God a watch; you won’t regret it!
Conclusion
The best Russian sci-fi movies are from the 1960s to the late 1990s.
These films explore social and global issues that affected Russia during this time, typically the Soviet era, giving us films with much commentary.
Even today, the stories told within these stories have a place and meaning in the modern era.
Most of these movies are in Russian, but some have been translated or come with subtitles, so keep that in mind when reviewing them.
Russian sci-fi films are some of the best in the genre. They combine social commentary with traditional tropes like time travel, space exploration, terrifying alien species, and the never-ending desire to learn more about the world.
Many of the films on this list have been popular for over fifty years and will likely continue to be popular for another fifty.