Best movies like Arena
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
An intergalactic fighting competition between champions of various worlds has traditionally been won by a species much larger and stronger than humans. Entering the contest, a human finds he has to battle against not just his opponents and his self-doubts, but the corrupt system. Far in the future, on a distant space station, the legendary Arena is where the best fighters from every planet come to vie for the championship. But for over half a century, no Earthling has been good enough to be a contender. Until out of nowhere, comes an underdog: the great human hope, Steve Armstrong... and the best anyone's ever seen. He's been training all his life for a shot at the big time, but now he's up against some mighty big muscle: a ruthless extra-terrestrial crimelord who'll pull no punches to make sure he stops Steve dead. In the mood for hard-hitting sci-fi action? Arena will knock you out!.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Sport
Country: Italy
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: psychotronic, christian film, grindhouse, space horror, independent film, exciting, semi serious, futuristic, weird, cult film
Best tv shows and movies like Arena (1989):
Similar in 88%
The Man Who Saves the World (1982)
Plot Summary:
The film follows the adventures of Murat (Arkın) and Ali (Akkaya), whose spaceships crash on a desert planet following a battle, shown by using footage from Star Wars as well as Soviet and American space program newsreel clips. While hiking across the desert, they speculate that the planet is inhabited only by women. Murat does his "wolf whistle", which he uses on attractive women. However, he blows the wrong whistle and they are attacked by skeletons on horseback, which they defeat in hand-to-hand combat. The main villain soon shows up and captures the heroes, bringing them to his gladiatorial arena so they can fight. The villain tells them he is actually from Earth and is a 1,000 year old wizard. He tried to defeat Earth, but was always repelled by a shield of concentrated human brain molecules, which looks like the Death Star from Star Wars. The only way he can bypass this impenetrable defense is to use a human brain against it.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: Turkey
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: retro, surreal, grindhouse, mockbuster, cult classic, exciting, offbeat, humorous, suspenseful, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Space Mutiny (1988)
Plot Summary:
A pilot is the only hope to stop the mutiny of a spacecraft by its security crew, who plot to sell the crew of the ship into slavery.
IMDB Rating: 2.0
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: South Africa, USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: psychotronic, grindhouse, cult classic, independent film, exciting, humorous, futuristic, suspenseful, semi serious, eighties
Similar in 85%
Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961)
Plot Summary:
Clumsy invaders from Neptune are thwarted by hero Space Chief and a nondescript group of microshort-wearing Japanese kids.
IMDB Rating: 2.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 75 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, mockbuster, semi serious, psychotronic, bizarre, campy
Similar in 76%
Laserhawk (1997)
Plot Summary:
250 million years ago, a carnivorous species 'planted' a crop of humans on an uninhabited planet known as Earth. Now, the alien life form has returned to harvest its yield. With total destruction looming just moments away, a futuristic warrior (Jason James Richter) and a prophetic mental patient (Mark Hamill) join forces against the creatures, but with mortal weapons no match for the superior alien technology, the duo's only hope for victory lies in finding a 250 million year-old spaceship known as Laserhawk. The future of the world depends on it.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 612
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: Canada
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, semi serious
Similar in 77%
Alien Intruder (1993)
Plot Summary:
Set in the year 2022, a group of convicts sentenced to life in prison are led on a mission into uncharted deep space by Commander Skyler (Williams) to salvage a lost ship. As incentive to go on this dangerous mission, the convicts are given the opportunity to spend their weekends in a virtual reality world where they could live out their sexual fantasies with any woman they choose. However, a woman who is not part of the program appears in it (Scoggins), kills each virtual woman and seduces each convict. When she begins to appear outside the program, the men quickly turn on each other.
IMDB Rating: 3.2
IMDB Votes: 726
Genere: Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: independent film, scary, exciting, offbeat, serious, futuristic, suspenseful, stylized, psychotronic, black and white
Similar in 88%
Eliminators (1986)
Plot Summary:
A former pilot rebels against his creator, teaming up with the scientist responsible for android technology, her pet robot Spot, a rough-and-tumble riverboat guide, and a martial arts warrior.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, Spain
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: futuristic, grindhouse, psychotronic, funny, cult classic, action thriller, independent film, exciting, bleak, suspenseful
Similar in 77%
The Phantom Planet (1961)
Plot Summary:
After an invisible asteroid draws an astronaut and his ship to its surface, he is miniaturized by the phantom planet's exotic atmosphere.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: suspense, grindhouse, classic horror, independent film, offbeat, humorous, futuristic, semi serious, psychotronic, vintage
Similar in 80%
Rollerball (1975)
Plot Summary:
In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out of the game.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi, Sport
Country: UK, Canada, USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: futuristic, grindhouse, cult classic, apocalyptic, funny, depressing, disturbing, controversial, cynical, tech noir
Similar in 78%
War of the Planets (1977)
Plot Summary:
A strange signal arrives on the Earth disturbing all communications, while an UFO appears above the Antarctic sea. Captain Alex Hamilton is sent with his spaceship and crew to the space outside the Solar System to find the origin of that signal. They reach an unknown planet where a giant robot enslaved a whole population of humanoids by taking their psychic energies.
IMDB Rating: 2.9
IMDB Votes: 998
Genere: Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: Italy
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: mysterious, offbeat, bleak, semi serious, ambiguous ending, psychotronic
Similar in 85%
Space Raiders (1983)
Plot Summary:
A futuristic, sensitive tale of adventure and confrontation when a 10 year old boy is accidentally kidnapped by a spaceship filled with a motley crew of space pirates.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: futuristic, independent film, exciting, stylized, semi serious, cult film
Similar in 76%
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983)
Plot Summary:
Three women makes an emergency landing on a planet plagued with a fatal disease, but are captured by dictator Overdog. Adventurer Wolff goes there to rescue them and meets Niki, the only Earthling left from a medical expedition. Combining their talents, they try to rescue the women.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, intense, suspenseful, semi serious, stylized, retro, action adventure, humorous, fast, futuristic
Similar in 87%
Starcrash (1978)
Plot Summary:
A pair of smugglers manage to pick up a castaway while running from the authorities, who turns out to be the only survivor from a secret mission to destroy a mysterious superweapon designed by the evil Count Zartharn. The smugglers are soon recruited by the Emperor to complete the mission, as well as to rescue the Emperor's son, who has gone missing.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: futuristic, psychotronic, grindhouse, funny, retro, exciting, serious, fast, independent film, weird
Similar in 83%
Babylon 5: In the Beginning (1998)
Plot Summary:
Londo Mollari, the Centauri Emperor, recounts the initial contact between the Humans and Minbari, which resulted in a major incident and subsequent war, for an eager pair of youngsters wanting a story about love and conflict.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: christian film, intellectual, exciting, bleak, serious, suspenseful, light, clever, enigmatic, unusual plot structure
Similar in 88%
Wing Commander (1999)
Plot Summary:
The Hollywood version of the popular video game series "Wing Commander". Unlike other video games to feature film transitions, series creator Chris Roberts was heavily involved in the film's creation. This is the story of Christopher Blair and Todd "Maniac" Marshall as they arrive at the Tiger Claw and are soon forced to stop a Kilrathi fleet heading towards Earth.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: Luxembourg, USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, uplifting, action adventure, disgusting, fast, futuristic, bleak, suspenseful, serious, humorous
Similar in 85%
Real Steel (2011)
Plot Summary:
In the near-future, Charlie Kenton is a washed-up fighter who retired from the ring when robots took over the sport. After Charlie's robot is trashed, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max to rebuild and train an unlikely contender.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 350000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Sport
Country: USA, India
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: futuristic, feel good, exciting, sentimental, inspirational, entertaining, touching, emotional, stylized, visual
Similar in 84%
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
Plot Summary:
A young farmer assembles a band of diverse mercenaries to defend his peaceful planet from an evil tyrant.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: futuristic, humorous, independent film, stylized, exciting, psychotronic, grindhouse, cult classic, art house, offbeat
Similar in 87%
Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998)
Plot Summary:
Susan Ivanova discovers a derelict spaceship in hyperspace. They tow it back to Babylon 5, then strange things start happening. People are being telepathically taken over by aliens from another (third)space.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: exciting, futuristic, christian film, intellectual, tense, serious, suspenseful, stylized, gloomy, lovecraft
Similar in 90%
Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods (2009)
Plot Summary:
An alien similar to Ra appears out of the Stargate, killing five soldiers and kidnapping another, a year after the original Stargate mission. A new team is assembled, including some old members, and they go in search of the missing soldier in order to find out how Ra could still be alive. Meanwhile, the alien Gou'ald kidnap Sha're and Skaara, implanting them with symbiotes and making them Gou'ald hosts.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, suspenseful, stylized, futuristic
Similar in 86%
Battlestar Galactica (1978)
Plot Summary:
After the destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Mankind, the last major fighter carrier leads a makeshift fugitive fleet in a desperate search for the legendary planet Earth. This film is adapted from a television series that aired on ABC from September 17, 1978, to August 17, 1980. The first and fifth episodes of the series were edited into this theatrical feature film. Taken together, the two episodes ran 148 minutes, without commercials, while the film runs 125 minutes.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 148 min
Plot tags: futuristic, suspenseful, exciting, serious, psychotronic, epic, stylized, vintage, tv series pilot, cult film
Similar in 85%
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008)
Plot Summary:
The war against the Bugs continues! A Federation Starship crash-lands on the distant Alien planet OM-1, stranding beloved leader Sky Marshal Anoke and several others, including comely but tough pilot Lola Beck. It's up to Colonel/General Johnny Rico, reluctant hero of the original Bug Invasion on Planet P, to lead a team of Troopers on a daring rescue mission.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, South Africa, Germany
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: futuristic, absurd, exciting, semi serious, psychotronic, action adventure, suspense, epic, saga, lovecraft
Similar in 84%
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Plot Summary:
In the year 3000, man is no match for the Psychlos, a greedy, manipulative race of aliens on a quest for ultimate profit. Led by the powerful Terl, the Psychlos are stripping Earth clean of its natural resources, using the broken remnants of humanity as slaves. What is left of the human race has descended into a near primitive state. After being captured, it is up to Tyler to save mankind.
IMDB Rating: 2.5
IMDB Votes: 82000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: futuristic, exciting, suspenseful, stylized, apocalyptic, cult classic, controversial, serious, psychotronic, suspense
Similar in 89%
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Plot Summary:
Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 372000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: saga, action adventure, futuristic, psychotronic, exciting, captivating, epic, suspense, funny, retro
Similar in 84%
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
Plot Summary:
Capt. William "Buck" Rogers is a jovial space cowboy who is accidentally time-warped from 1987 to 2491. Earth is engaged in interplanetary war following a global holocaust, and Buck's piloting skills make him an ideal starfighter recruit for the Earth Defense Directorate, where his closest colleagues are Dr. Huer (Tim O'Connor), squadron leader Col. Wilma Deering (former model Erin Gray, looking oh-so-foxy), the wisecracking robot Twiki (voiced by cartoon legend Mel Blanc), and a portable computer-brain named Dr. Theopolis, who's carried by Twiki like oversized bling-bling.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: psychotronic, uplifting, saga, cult classic, futuristic, exciting, atmospheric, serious, suspenseful, stylized
Similar in 78%
The Last Starfighter (1984)
Plot Summary:
A video game expert Alex Rogan finds himself transported to another planet after conquering The Last Starfighter video game only to find out it was just a test. He was recruited to join the team of best Starfighters to defend their world from the attack.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 45000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, cult classic, light, entertaining, semi serious, retro, epic, anamorphic, mindfuck, humorous
Similar in 89%
Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers (2002)
Plot Summary:
After being punished for retreat from combat, Ranger David Martel is given command of the Liandra, a haunted 20-year old Minbari fighting ship. He's escorting ambassadors to a secret archaeological site, the oldest city on record and a clue to a dangerous ancient race.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: light, futuristic, stylized, bleak, serious, suspenseful, exciting, intellectual, epic, saga
Similar in 85%
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (2012)
Plot Summary:
The first Cylon war has been raging for 10 years and a young Ensign William Adama joins the fleet. He's disappointed not to be assigned to a fighter but to a freighter, and his co-pilot isn't too keen on having a rookie flying his aircraft as he has only a short time before he again becomes a civilian. Their cargo is a civilian scientist, Dr. Becca Kelly, but they no sooner leave than she has new orders for them and a new destination. Although she’s less than forthcoming about the details of her mission, Adama is keen, particularly as it involves going into Cylon controlled space. However, nothing is as it seems.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: futuristic, exciting, light, entertaining, tense, intense, serious, suspenseful, action packed, stylized
Similar in 89%
Jupiter Ascending (2015)
Plot Summary:
In a universe where human genetic material is the most precious commodity, an impoverished young Earth woman becomes the key to strategic maneuvers and internal strife within a powerful dynasty….
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 193000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, fairy tale, suspenseful, visually stunning, psychotronic, light, disturbing, mystic, futuristic
Similar in 75%
John Carter (2012)
Plot Summary:
John Carter is a war-weary, former military captain who's inexplicably transported to the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars) and reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict. It's a world on the brink of collapse, and Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 283000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: epic, entertaining, exciting, surprise ending, futuristic, heroic, action packed, action adventure, captivating, cult classic
Similar in 78%
Pacific Rim (2013)
Plot Summary:
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed-up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 523000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: futuristic, exciting, stylized, serious, visually stunning, entertaining, apocalyptic, mecha, breathtaking, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
The Fifth Element (1997)
Plot Summary:
In 2257, a taxi driver is unintentionally given the task of saving a young girl who is part of the key that will ensure the survival of humanity.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 497000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: France, UK
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: futuristic, visually stunning, breathtaking, exciting, cult classic, colorful, entertaining, visual, cyber, surreal