Science fiction movies have a tendency to run for an incredibly long time. Regardless of the quality of the production, a long runtime can put off potential audiences and lead to a decrease in box office success. Sometimes the length of a movie means that the plot drags, while other times, it's easy to get lost in the narrative despite the time spent in it.
These classic science fiction movies are iconic for a reason. They might hold a special place in the genre, but it's fair to say that perhaps a few minutes could have been shaved off of the runtime to make it more attractive to an even larger audience.
10 Avatar (2009)
Avatar was absolutely groundbreaking in its visuals. With new CGI technologies and the increase in demand for 3D, the movie went straight to the top of the box office thanks to repeat viewings. But everyone can agree that despite its success, popularity and demand, the James Cameron epic is a little long.
With Avatar running for 2 hours and 42 minutes, it was shocking to learn that its sequel would be even longer. Although the runtime gave plenty of room to truly drink in Pandora in all of its beauty, it's fair to say that some scenes genuinely dragged.
9 Blade Runner: 2049 (2017)
Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner: 2049 is a modern classic and easily on par with the original installment. In an era of disappointing sci-fi remakes and forgettable legacy sequels, 2049 bucked the trend. It delivered a compelling adventure featuring a new protagonist, the return of Deckard and a gorgeous visual palette.
But Blade Runner: 2049 suffered at the box office due to a mainstream unfamiliarity with the franchise and the runtime. Clocking in at 2 hours and 43 minutes, a tense story and hard-hitting action sequences couldn't take away from the fact that some non-sci-fi viewers would get bored. A runtime like this means that fewer showings are put on in cinemas, resulting in fewer people seeing them.
8 Dune (2021)
It seems there is a trend with modern classic science fiction epics, and Denis Villeneuve's Dune followed it. Perhaps it's because of the scale and sheer depth of the source material, but Dune is being adapted into multiple feature-length productions that put the focus on the length.
Dune runs for 2 hours and 35 minutes, immediately discouraging casual interest. This is a movie made for die-hard science fiction fans, with scenes taking as much time as they want to paint out the desolate desert, unique technologies and growing political rivalries. The complexity of the film warranted the runtime, but there are valid criticisms to be made of its overall pacing.
7 Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
A classic can be defined in multiple ways, and Doug Liman's Edge of Tomorrow has become a cult favorite of the genre. While a sequel is in development, the original continues to be an underrated hit that not many people saw. The time travel action thriller is packed full of stars and gifted with an innovative premise.
But with Edge of Tomorrow clocking in at 1 hour 53 minutes, even this was seemingly too long for some audiences. Despite being an excellent film, it perhaps would have gained more traction by becoming even tighter in its presentation. A shorter runtime would have set a faster tone and encouraged skeptics of the genre to try the complicated sci-fi spectacle.
6 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey is unrivaled as a critic's favorite, which encapsulates what movie making is all about. It's cinematic from the offset, and the masterful work of Stanley Kubrick is on full display. But Kubrick does have a habit of playing out his scenes for an extended period, even if they feature incredible performances and groundbreaking effects.
With 2001: A Space Odyssey setting a 2-hour and 19-minute runtime, this was originally set up for science fiction lovers. It's still a classic that has seemingly only been seen by those with a deep affection for the genre. But the pacing has been impacted by its length, with the slow narrative becoming almost uncomfortable. It gave the audience the time to reflect on its themes of A.I. and human development, which is both to its credit and detriment.
5 Watchmen (2009)
It was always going to be impossible to adapt Watchmen, but for many, Zack Snyder's take on the graphic novel is perhaps the best cinematic interpretation. It's still much-discussed for all of its flaws and accolades, with some narrative changes (including the removal of the squid) becoming quite controversial.
Snyder's Watchmen is a great reflection of his directorial style, and the runtime plays into his trademarks. Sitting at 2 hours and 25 minutes, it was the runtime needed to sum up the legendary Alan Moore's work, but it ultimately impacted its audience. With the philosophical themes being discussed around the superhero industry, Watchmen might have benefited from a quicker pace to continue to engage audiences.
4 Cloud Atlas (2012)
Cloud Atlas is a modern masterpiece and an underrated classic in what it managed to achieve. Directed by Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer and Lilly Wachowski, the movie brought together an all-star cast and attempted to adapt David Mitchell's incredibly powerful yet dense book.
The film adaptation of Cloud Atlas seemingly succeeded in taking this sprawling narrative from across time, from the page to the screen. But nobody saw it. That's probably down to the runtime. Cloud Atlas lasts 2 hours and 52 minutes. It's a lot of material to pack in, but with such a difficult premise, it's no surprise that audiences found it all a bit too daunting with that time attached.
3 Metropolis (1927)
There are so many cult classics out there that bombed at the box office, but the same parameters can't be used to measure Metropolis' success. The Fritz Lang picture is gorgeously detailed, philosophically engrossing and a defining movie for the sci-fi genre.
Metropolis might be one of the most important science fiction productions of all time, but few have seen it. That's partially because it is incredibly dated but also because it runs for 2 hours and 33 minutes. That's a lot to take in, and the era it was made in certainly influences the notion that plenty of scenes are outright dull. However, its world-building simply cannot be matched.
2 Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan's Interstellar is one of his many stand-out pieces. It's certainly confusing, but its time travel mechanics and visual marvels are so scientifically well-thought-out that the picture is even studied at universities. That's an incredible feat for a mainstream blockbuster.
Although Interstellar did perform well at the box office, it did still leave audiences scratching their heads. The ideas are massive, and this isn't helped by the density of the runtime. At 2 hours and 49 minutes, viewers ultimately need more of a break from the headache-inducing scientific fact and fiction.
1 Waterworld (1995)
Kevin Reynolds' Waterworld has become a cult classic for all the wrong reasons. Its performances and narrative might have suffered due to a disruptive production, but the legend of the film has grown far beyond its limits. The world-building is genuinely intriguing, and as a premise, it has massive merit.
One of the main problems with Waterworld was that it truly went on for too long, with its leads floating about on the ocean scene after scene. Clocking in at 2 hours and 15 minutes, there's no telling what might have changed at the box office if the length was more palatable.