There is a case to be made that the US produces some of the best sci-fi films in the world, with modern classics such as Annihilation (2018), Her (2013), and Tenet (2020) making convincing runs for dominance. Yet, when you take a broader look at worldwide cinema, you soon start to realize that many countries produce some phenomenal sci-fi films, particularly when it comes to wild and weird entries in the genre.
From a chaotic yet visually stunning Japanese feature to a surreal sci-fi adventure from France, these are 10 of the wildest foreign language sci-fi films fans should check out if they are looking for something a bit off the beaten path.
‘Paprika’ (2006)
A revolutionary device known as the “DC Mini” allows users to enter the minds of others, with the technology touted as the next step in psychiatric care. Researcher Dr. Atsuko Chiba is one of the early researchers of the product and offers therapy under her pseudonym Paprika, helping a prominent detective, Konakawa, to deal with his past trauma. When the DC Mini falls into the wrong hands, it is used to blur the line between the dream and the real world, and the two must work together to stop it.
Jumping Through Dreams
Satoshi Kon’s Paprika is a love letter to cinema as much as it is a wild sci-fi feature. With a frenetic pace and lush visual world-building, no other anime (shy of Studio Ghibli) perfectly balances elements of sci-fi with a flair for classic cinema storytelling; you don’t have to appreciate the medium to enjoy how masterfully crafted the film Paprika is. The work is also based on the novel by one of Japan’s premier sci-fi authors, Yasutaka Tsutsui.
‘After Blue’ (2021)
Also known by the title After Blue (Dirty Paradise), the 2021 French sci-fi fantasy film takes place on a female-only planet of the same name. Here, the story follows Roxy, a rebellious teenager who undergoes a life-changing journey after she releases a criminal known as Kate Bush (not the actual singer). Rocky’s action caused her community to shun her and her mother, Zora, with their only means of redemption to hunt down Kate Bush and return her to her sand prison.
Coming-of-Age on a Lonely Planet
After Blue has some heavy feminist undertones, but it remains surprisingly accessible to a broader audience thanks to its sharp visuals and fantastic worldbuilding; you can dig deep into its metaphor or enjoy it for the spectacle it is. Notably, the movie blends elements of classic sci-fi and Western genres. A divisive film among both fans and critics, there is no denying that the actual execution here is a wild and one-of-a-kind cinematic experience.
‘Battle Heater’ (1986)
Two hapless electronics repairmen, Furuchi and Hama, go from one job to the next, and are currently set to work on a malfunctioning ‘kotatsu heater.’ An accident sees Furishi nearly die, with Hama saving his life by using electricity. This process, however, also results in bringing to life the portable heater they were working on, which seems to be behind a series of bizarre and unusual deaths that start to happen around the two.
When Science Brings a Portable Heater to Life
Killer furniture movies are far from uncommon these days. Still, Battle Heater was a bit of an oddity for its time, especially given the surreal approach filmmaker Jōji Iida took in crafting his story of a killer portable heater. Blending elements of humor and body horror into its bizarre sci-fi premise of a sentient portable heater, the film is chock-full of eccentric characters and strange scenarios/deaths. At the same time, the movie pays homage to old-school creature features in visual style and tone, helping to ground its absurd premise.
‘Stranger’ (2020)
Ukrainian director Dmitriy Tomashpolskiy tapped into various genres with his 2020 oddity Stranger. The film follows Inspector Gluhovsky, a methodical investigator tasked with investigating the practices of a hydrotherapy clinic after one of its patrons disappears. Expecting to find a murderer, instead, Gluhovsky finds a greater mystery attached to the institutions’ experimental practices, and a greater entity lurking in the water.
Lovecraft Meets Lynch in Ukraine
Stranger is a lovely, surreal sci-fi/mystery/horror gem that has remained in almost complete obscurity due to geographic area alone. Sure, it may be a bit rough around the edges due to budgetary constraints on a grandiose concept. Still, the film wonderfully captures a sense of unease and dread by tapping into cosmic horrors and bizarre science all wrapped up in an intriguing mystery. You will never see anything else quite like Stranger.
‘Violence Voyageur’ (2018)
With the summer ahead of them, two high school students, Bobby and his friend Akkun, head to the remote woods to find an old military base to play at. Yet, a bizarre theme park has emerged. After Akkun is taken and experimented on, Bobby has to navigate a nightmarish world where evil scientists experiment on kids to create robotic warriors.
Paper-Made Sci-Fi
Violence Voyageur employs an animation technique dubbed “geki-mation,” by its director/animator, Ujicha; think South Park but with more detail and a focus on sci-fi and horror that is the stuff of nightmare fuel. This mature, immersive animated film with a sci-fi twist offers plenty of strangeness. Despite its rudimentary style, everything is pieced together so meticulously that every scene feels like a work of art. The movie also captures that odd nostalgia of a more innocent sci-fi that fans would have adored as kids, while also delivering some legitimate horror.
‘Incredible But True’ (2022)
An older couple finally gets enough to buy their dream home, though as they move in, they are advised of a secret room that they are told best to leave alone. When curiosity gets the best of them, they realize that there is a portal that makes them disappear for 12 hours after entering, while also making them three days younger. These small gains put a strain on the relationship, as the two have different views of whether it is a gift or a waste of time.
Inconvenient Time Travel
It may seem odd to call the French film Incredible But True “wild,” as the film itself moves at a somewhat slower pace, with its humor and sci-fi themes more subdued. However, once you step back, the movie taps into the humor of director Quinten Dupieux and highlights his knack for turning a simple idea into something utterly absurd. A time travel film that moves in short intervals, the approach of the characters and how they interact with the portal, shows that sometimes less is more, as a couple awkwardly and comedically learn to deal with the odd phenomenon in their home.
‘Brick’ (2025)
After a miscarriage, the relationship between Tim and Olivia is on the verge of collapse, leading to a separation when Tim decides to forgo a trip to focus on his work. Yet, the night Olivia plans to leave, the two find themselves trapped in their apartment complex, with a strange metal wall blocking their escape. As they make their way through the complex’s wall and find others, they learn that the phenomenon may be the result of new intelligent protection tech gone wrong, and one of the people in the building, now dead, may have the secret to escape in his notes.
Trapped Inside with Future Tech
A nice little escalating sci-fi mystery, there is a sense of severity in the situation that Tim, Olivia, and the residents of a small German apartment complex find themselves in that makes Brick an utterly gripping viewing experience. The movie also serves as an example of Netflix’s efforts to introduce more original, international content to its platform. Those who appreciate sci-fi movies that utilize a single location will enjoy the mix of mystery and drama within the confines of a single building.
‘Timecrimes’ (2007)
Héctor is a middle-aged man seeking peace in the countryside with his wife. However, when he spots a mysterious figure and follows it into the woods, he finds himself caught up in a bizarre series of events. Believing there to be a killer on the loose, Hector hides in a machine that happens to be a time-traveling device. Stuck in an hour-long loop, Hector must unravel and try to make sense of what has happened to save his life and restore order.
Killer Stuck in a Time Loop
Dealing with time paradoxes and blending in elements of complex sci-fi logic and a gritty thriller, Timecrimes would garner director Nacho Vigalondo a cult following among both horror and sci-fi fans. What works most brilliantly here is building on the fears and paranoia of Hector, brilliantly portrayed by Javier Gutiérrez, rather than relying too heavily on action or sensationalism. The result is a dark, psychological trip with a time travel mystery at the center; a true and utter treat for science fiction fans.
‘Biotherapy’ (1986)
A group of Japanese scientists believes they are nearing a breakthrough with a chemical known as “GT medicine,” which is designed to induce rapid cellular growth. Yet with their discovery comes a mysterious blue figure, who starts killing them one by one, looking to grab the formula for himself. The sci-fi-focused plot, however, primarily exists as a way to set up a series of bizarre kills.
A Macabre Sci-Fi Movie Almost Lost to Time
A visual oddity from a one-time filmmaker, Biotherapy, once unearthed, has become a cult favorite among Japanese horror fans. Notably, the monster the film creates is an utterly unique visual spectacle, a sort of mad creature made by science that lives between reality and some hellish alternative reality. The oddity can only be found in grainy VHS rips shared online, but it adds to the peculiarity of this one; it feels like a sci-fi-fuelled slasher film beamed in from another dimension. If you want to make it a double, pair it with the other Japanese sci-fi oddity of the same era, Guzoo: The Thing Forsaken by God – Part I.
‘Else’ (2024)
The French-Belgian co-production by Thibault Emin was born out of pandemic anxiety, with two individuals meeting just before a lockdown, finding themselves trapped together. Here, the worldwide disease the duo face is quite like anything else, as people start merging with any surfaces. As the two try to do everything they can to avoid sinking into the world, they have to witness the horrors as others begin to invade their space.
I’ll Stop The World and Melt With You
While, on paper, Else sounds like a straightforward body horror movie, the emphasis here is on visuals and atmosphere, creating a sense of wonder more often than dread. Else offers the most beautiful world-ending event you are likely to find committed to film, with an endearing love story at its heart. The scale of the ‘infection’ will also catch users by surprise as the first minimal cases of humans melting into the walls or pavement are soon replaced by an entire alien world consumed by the bizarre pandemic.