The biggest difference between wonky sci-fi movies of the ‘80s and those of today is intent. If a modern sci-fi film fails, those failures stem from the production’s inherent cynicism. A clone movie like Gemini Man is forgettable because it’s generic and pandering. An ambitious space epic like Valerian is awful because it feels soulless. In the ‘80s, failed genre films could also come across as sweet and well-meaning (1984’s Supergirl, for example). The best example is also the biggest flop of ‘80s sci-fi flicks: Krull. 39 years ago, Krull hit theaters at a time when no one was ready for it.
