Summary

• Sci-fi movies set in the past or near future tend to age poorly as real-world technology catches up.
• Some sci-fi movies with dated technologies are considered iconic examples of inadvertent retrofuturism.
• Outdated tech in sci-fi films can contribute to their aesthetic charm, but it can also make the futuristic setting seem less believable.

As the real world catches up to the fictional futuristic technologies depicted in cinema, there is an increasing number of sci-fi movies that have aged poorly thanks to actual tech developments being much different. This problem is closely related to the sci-fi subgenre of retrofuturism, which fuses the aesthetic of past eras with fantastical sci-fi mechanics. However, while there are retrofuturistic films where dated technologies shine, there are also sci-fi movies where the supposedly futuristic tech has been rendered obsolete by the age of time and the invention of real products and concepts.

The problem with sci-fi movies set in futures that have ed is that many tend to age poorly, as real-world technological advances have rapidly caught up to sci-fi in recent years. On the other hand, dated technologies showing up in supposedly advanced future timelines is part of the charm of many old sci-fi films. Movies that have aged poorly thanks to real tech aren't necessarily bad, and some have even been recognized as iconic examples of inadvertent retrofuturism.

10 Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

Starring Keanu Reeves in the title role, Johnny Mnemonic is about a data courier who stores confidential files within his brain implant. The movie's dystopian setting accurately predicted how the world would be rife with data theft by 2021. However, it's considered to be one of the worst Keanu Reeves sci-fi movies for several reasons, chief among which is its ridiculous conception of futuristic technologies. From the oversized brain implant that's only able to store 80 GB of data in Johnny's brain, to the campy visualization of VR web surfing, Johnny Mnemonic definitely aged poorly in of tech.

9 Blade Runner (1982)

Blade Runner imagines a world where androids are virtually indistinguishable from real human beings. This is why it's ridiculous how this hi-tech world is still filled with old-school CRT monitors, and that Deckard even uses one to "enhance" a photo into revealing details. In this case, however, even the Polaroid photo that Deckard then receives fits well with Blade Runner's neo-noir aesthetic. While the dated monitors make Blade Runner's dystopian future seem less believable to more pedantic viewers, it's also a negligible misstep in an otherwise near-flawless blend of noir and sci-fi.

8 Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Back to the Future Part II actually gets many things about the "future" of 2015 correct. This includes advances in robotics, drones, wearable tech, and even the evolution of gaming. However, in the movie's supposedly futuristic setting, fax machines in every room have become the primary form of data broadcast. In relation to how the movie imagines a print-dependent future society, despite the prevalence of Google Glass-like devices, the internet doesn't exist in Back to the Future Part II. It's a pretty glaring omission, especially since there are so many things Back to the Future Part II predicted correctly about the future.

7 Strange Days (1995)

Strange Days revolves around the use of the SQUID, an illegal device that records memories and sensations from the cerebral cortex of the person wearing it. The SQUID device itself is designed comparably to modern medical devices that read brain activity. Moreover, the idea of a black market for illegally obtained memories for pleasure seekers is a great premise for a sci-fi thriller. However, Strange Days takes a laughable turn when it's revealed that the SQUID records memories on a classic '90s MiniDisc, which stores a maximum of 80 minutes of audio. Strange Days has a great futuristic concept, but it missed the mark in of data storage.

6 Alien (1979)

The movie that launched one of the most beloved sci-fi horror franchises in history, Alien takes place largely in the long-haul space vehicle called the Nostromo. This ship features hypersleep chambers and an advanced AI that manages its operations. It's even manned by a robot that's perfectly disguised as a human. Yet, although Alien takes place in the spacefaring age, the Nostromo is surprisingly outfitted with CRT monitors and analog circuitry. On the other hand, while the outdated electronics seem out-of-place in the distant future, the retrofuturistic esthetic does contribute greatly to the movie's formative blend of sci-fi and horror, which is why it became iconic in the first place.

5 Total Recall (1990)

Total Recall is one of those classic sci-fi films that accurately predicted many real-world future technologies, including the prevalence of video calling and even the beginnings of memory-altering devices. While the computers and futuristic devices in Total Recall are laughably clunky, outdated, and unnecessarily flashy, they do fit in well with the comedic action sci-fi movie's overall look and feel. However, the movie aged poorly in of its depiction of driverless cars. Though driverless vehicle technology is being developed across the world today, Total Recall's ridiculous and creepy animatronic cab drivers thankfully haven't made it into the real world.

4 The Lawnmower Man (1992)

Similar to Johnny Mnemonic, The Lawnmower Man has a compelling premise, but ultimately it fails because of its overly campy visualization of futuristic tech. The Lawnmower Man's virtual world being used in conjunction with drugs for revolutionary medical treatments isn't that far-fetched today, and the titular antihero developing astounding mental powers adds just the right amount of fantasy to the sci-fi horror plot. However, the movie suffers from a common problem among '90s sci-fi films: imagining cyberspace as a color-saturated, poorly animated physical space with infinite possibilities. As this imagery is central to the plot, the otherwise great sci-fi tale is considered accidentally comedic today.

3 2010: The Year We Make (1984)

The underrated sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey continues the original's foray into the history and future of human evolution. This is yet another case of CRT monitors and analog circuitry running extensively across supposedly cutting-edge spaceships from the distant future. At the same time, 2001: A Space Odyssey and 2010: The Year We Make are both considered iconic retrofuturistic films, precisely because of the way the technology depicted in these films has aged poorly by modern standards. Indeed, 2010: The Year We Make is a great example of how outdated tech can work to the advantage of certain sci-fi films.

2 Hackers (1995)

When it comes to so-bad-it's-good films that completely misunderstood the internet, no movie is as hated or beloved as Hackers. The movie's fantastical visualization of hackers physically moving through a fictional hyper-stylized cyberspace is the most iconically cringey of its kind. The hacking scenes themselves are more about style than accuracy, just like Hackers' edgy idea of what a server room looks like. The only thing that aged well in the movie is the superior '90s fashion and soundtrack. At the same time, the way Hackers aged so badly is a huge part of why it's such a beloved cult sci-fi film.

1 Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

Largely regarded to be one of the worst Star Trek movies, Star Trek: Nemesis features a short scene that has aged very poorly thanks to real tech. When Captain Picard, Data, and Worf land on the planet Kolarus III in order to investigate an unusual energy reading, they are attacked by the planet's native inhabitants. It then becomes very apparent that the land vehicle they use to explore potentially hostile planets, while armed for heavy combat, leaves its engers completely defenseless. It may be a small detail in an otherwise so-so film, but it's still ridiculous that a Federation-issued exploration buggy wouldn't be armored like modern military vehicles.