The crew of the spaceship Dark Star is tasked with locating and destroying unstable planets, as they pose a threat to future colonization projects. This is easier said than done, as the men onboard must contend with a decaying spacecraft, beach ball-like aliens, and intelligent bombs suffering from existential crises. The future, however, feels quite familiar, as the characters themselves find boredom and annoying coworkers to be their biggest problems. Iconic director John Carpenter’s (The Thing, Halloween) debut began as a student film and has, over the years, achieved cult status. Together with screenwriter Dan O’Bannon (Alien), he crafted a satire that pokes fun at both sci-fi films and working life. A low-budget gem that marked the start of several legendary careers.

– John Isaksson