Release date: March 9, 2012 Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe After some failed attempts over the decades to bring A Princess of Mars and the rest of the John Carter-led books to the big screen, Disney bet $263 million (plus marketing) on a big sci-fi epic directed and co-written by Finding Nemo's Andrew Stanton. The result was a financial disaster that only grossed $284.1 million worldwide and opened to mixed reviews to boot. However, there's always been a vocal minority of sci-fi lovers who were enchanted by its colorful and old-fashioned take on Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom (Mars). The movie follows the titular character, a troubled Confederate Army captain who's suddenly (and unwittingly) transported to Mars, where alien and human civilizations coexist in a delicate balance. War is threatening to engulf the planet, and Carter's arrival might help the good guys gain the upper hand against an elusive faction. Despite the cookie-cutter, good-vs-evil premise, the original story's colorful and very inventive worldbuilding soon makes Barsoom one of the coolest sci-fi settings we've seen on the big screen. At this point, it's clear that Disney has no interest in a sequel, but the movie had a definitive ending that allows it to work perfectly on its own. It looks great, packs an all-star cast, and offers old-school sci-fi adventures of the sort we can rarely find outside of Star Wars and Star Trek . Plus, Michael Giacchino's original score is out of this world. 4. The Rocketeer Release date: June 21, 1991 Cast: Billy Campbell, Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly Joe Johnston's second movie garnered generally favorable reviews when it was first released and has amassed quite a cult following over the years, to the point that it greatly shaped bigger period movies like the first Captain America, which Johnston helmed later in his career. Though formally old-timey, it was based on a character created by writer-artist Dave Stevens in 1982 . Back in 1991, however, audiences didn't connect much with stunt pilot Cliff Secord's old-fashioned adventures. It was a superhero flick before superhero flicks were selling millions of tickets. With the popularity of comic book movies today, one has to wonder if The Rocketeer simply came out too early. It's certainly a movie we're happy to recommend now. Set in 1938 in Los Angeles, California, The Rocketeer tells the story of Cliff Secord, who comes across a rocket pack he uses to fly without an aircraft, essentially becoming a proto-Iron Man of sorts (putting other differences aside). This naturally attracts the attention of dangerous men, and the plot blows up from there. The Rocketeer's simplicity and sincerity are infectious, and even in the early '90s, it felt like a delightful throwback. Nowadays, in the age of the old being cool again, it's impossible not to fall in love with it. 3. Treasure Planet Release date: November 27, 2002 Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brian Murray, Emma Thompson Disney's Treasure Planet was an iconic animated sci-fi adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island that '90s kids will swear was a cornerstone of their childhood. So, you'd assume it was a big hit at the time, right? Wrong. It was a commercial failure that only grossed $109.6 million on a massive (for 2D animation) $140 million budget. Despite that, the critical reception was very positive, and it was even nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. Give it a rewatch, and you'll probably land on that side of the fence too. Like in Treasure Island, the story follows a young man named Jim Hawkins, who meets a group of colorful characters in search of a legendary treasure. Without delving into spoilers, the movie delivers a proper pirate adventure with a fun outer space twist. Its tone is on the lighter side, but the drama and peril are still tangible. Just a delightful time overall. The problem? It opened against the second Harry Potter movie, Die Another Day, and even Disney's own The Santa Clause 2. This baffling release strategy and marketing misfire quickly demolished the flick's chances of finding an audience in cinemas, but with positive reviews and a strong enough media push, it gained a cult following in the months and years that followed. And too right, because it's a rollicking space adventure chock-full of weird aliens, robots, pirates, and inventive action sequences. 2. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Image credit: Disney) Release date: December 23, 1954 Cast: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas Another classic novel brought to the silver screen, but this time with Richard Fleischer's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Disney successfully cracked the adaptation of the famous sci-fi novel by Jules Verne. The epic movie was an instant financial and critical success, so why are we bringing it up here? Well, it came out in 1954 — 71 years ago — so chances are good that anyone reading this article didn't contribute to that box office back in the day, and in 2025, you'll have a hard time finding folks who have seen it. It might not be underrated, but it sure is overlooked… like many other genre classics. With actors as famous as Kirk Douglas and James Mason spearheading the production, it's baffling to see even modern cinephiles ignore it. In Verne's book (which you should read at least once in your life), an advanced submarine is commanded by the enigmatic Captain Nemo, who's hell-bent on fighting the rampant imperialism of the 19th century. The story is narrated by Professor Pierre Aronnax and includes plenty of underwater exploits and proper dramatic beats that explore man's relationship with nature, political resistance, and the weight of hate and revenge. For the most part, Fleischer's adaptation nailed those key elements and turned Jules Verne's most visionary ideas into striking scenes that made excellent use of the special effects created by the craftsmen of the 1950s. It's also an excellent reminder of how character-driven adventures full of weighty drama and upfront political elements can also enchant mainstream audiences. 1. Lilo & Stitch (2002) Release date: June 21, 2002 Cast: Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere We're constantly perplexed by "best of Disney" lists that ignore Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois' Lilo and Stitch, an excellent riff on friendly alien sci-fi flicks . As iconic as Experiment 626 is, it's far too often that we see this movie pushed aside in favor of more formulaic Disney Animation efforts. And sure, the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake turned out okay and somehow amassed over $1 billion worldwide earlier this year, but it's not a patch on the original. When a genetically-engineered alien creature ends up on Earth, a Hawaiian girl named Lilo Pelekai finds him and becomes his best friend. The ensuing adventure is genuinely heartfelt, colorful, and comedic in ways other Disney classics of the era just couldn't manage. At first glance, it looks like 'E.T. but in Hawaii', but that's not really a fair way to describe the movie, as the scope of the story is grander and its brand of comedy more energetic. It's closer to The Iron Giant in tone, if anything. Lilo & Stitch spawned three direct-to-video sequels, three TV shows, the aforementioned live-action remake, and countless adorable plushies, so it's strange that Disney Animation retrospectives tend to bundle it with troubled efforts like Atlantis or Treasure Planet. If you ask us, it's up there with classics like Aladdin or The Lion King. Source: https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/best-disney-sci-fi-movies-that-arent-big-franchises