7 Old Sci-Fi Movies to Watch for Free in December 2023
From thrash horror to all-time classics, these movies are available to watch for free.
These days, only the most avid collectors prefer physical media for classic movies – long gone are the days when we had to scour Amazon or eBay for DVD discs (or even VHS tapes), as they're now available on many streaming services.
This is also true for classic sci-fi movies. The icing on the cake is that they are now available for free on these services!
7. Forbidden Planet (1956)
Where to watch for free: Tubi, Internet Archive
Our list starts with the true staple of the sci-fi genre: Forbidden Planet. The movie was a first in many ways: electronic music as a soundtrack, the idea of interplanetary travel in man-made spaceships, the witty and lovable Robby the Robot, who became a true Hollywood icon in his own right. It was also one of the first breakout roles for the legendary Leslie Nielson.
6. Battle in Outer Space (1959)
Where to watch for free: Tubi, The Roku Channel, Internet Archive
The 1950s was a golden era of sci-fi not only for Hollywood, but also for the Japanese film industry. A typical example is 1959's Battle in Outer Space, directed by the incomparable Godzilla creator Ishirō Honda. According to the plot, mysterious events began to occur on Earth, the source of which turned out to be an alien race that had settled on the Moon. The UN forces must fight back against the alien invaders.
5. A Boy and His Dog (1975)
Where to watch for free: Tubi, Fubo, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV, Shout! TV, Internet Archive
Harlan Ellison is one of the most influential science fiction writers of the 20th century, having contributed the short stories I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, as well as scripts for episodes of the cult TV series The Outer Limits and Star Trek. In 1969, he wrote the novella A Boy and His Dog, which was adapted for the screen by actor L. Q. Jones in 1975. The plot follows a boy who survives in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and communicates telepathically with his misanthropic dog.
4. Inseminoid (1981)
Where to watch for free: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV, Shout! TV
At the time of Inseminoid's release, audiences were already familiar with space horror following 1979's Alien, but the '80s were famous for their thrash takes on the genre, and this movie is the craziest of them all. In the story, a scientist on a remote planet is impregnated by an alien creature, causing her to kill former colleagues.
3. Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Where to watch for free: Peacock, Vudu, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Crackle, Amazon Freevem Pluto TV, Shout! TV, Internet Archive
Galaxy of Terror is another example of a sci-fi horror B-movie. The film also has similar plot elements to Alien and is one of the first films James Cameron worked on as a production designer and second unit director before moving on to Aliens in 1986.
2. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
Where to watch for free: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
Fans of the horror genre know that the two scariest tropes are clowns and aliens. So how do you play on two phobias at once? By telling the story of killer alien clowns! Produced by the Chiodo Brothers, the movie has become not only a cult classic, but an entire meme that is now available for free.
1. The Fifth Element (1997)
Where to watch for free: YouTube, Internet Archive
Finally, what could be better than a Luc Besson classic starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm and Chris Tucker? The thrilling and crazy love story of ex-soldier Korben Dallas and the "perfect woman" Leeloo is also available for free.