10 Best Syfy Original Movies (According To IMDB)

The Syfy channel isn’t exactly known for making the best original films. It’s always been a hotspot for some of the best science fiction shows on television, but that success has never translated very well to their movies. They’re almost infamously bad. Giving Tara Reid chainsaw hands isn’t quite cinematic genius, though, as far as entertainment factor goes, it works pretty well.

However, there are some rare exceptions to the Syfy movie curse. Luckily, none of these include as many Sharknados or Megapiranhas as some other Syfy flicks. It’s up to you to decide if that’s disappointing or a relief to you. Here are the ten best Syfy original films (according to IMDb).

10 Mutant Chronicles (5.2)

Loosely based on the video game of the same name, this 2008 sci-fi flick lives in a future where Earth’s natural resources are used up, so humans rely on steam-power to survive and fight back against the mutants rampaging the lands.

Unlike many Syfy movies, this one had some seriously big names tied to it like Ron Perlman and Jon Malkovich. It wasn’t exactly a good film, but, for Syfy fare, it can at least be an entertaining watch… well, ignoring the weird religious overtones that are going on by the end.

9 100 Feet (5.5)

100 Feet is a rare film that started as a Syfy original but then actually got picked up for a theatrical release. The story surrounds Marnie, played by Famke Janneson, known for playing Jean Grey. This is a horror film that pits its characters against the ghost of Marnie’s ex-husband, who abused her until she struck back in self-defense. Now, he’s posthumously attacking the wife who dared to defy him.

The ending is ominous, the premise is decent, and many critics actually found it scary. So, as far as Syfy originals go, this one is a rare treat.

8 Man With The Screaming Brain (5.6)

For horror fans, this one is a real hidden treasure. Evil Dead‘s famed Bruce Campbell stars in and makes his directorial debut in this bizarre science fiction slapstick. He plays William Cole, a rude, racially insensitive man who travels abroad for a business deal. In a cascade of hijinks, someone else’s brain ends up in Cole’s body, and things only get wilder from there. It’s honestly crazy this film isn’t rated much worse, but that’s the chaotic magic of Bruce Campbell, isn’t it?

Considering how crazy the Ash vs. The Evil Dead films got—not to mention the new series—it’s no surprise that this was right up Bruce Campbell’s alley. It’s no masterpiece of a film, but it is a cooky little adventure that never takes itself seriously.

7 George and The Dragon (5.7)

While this film is called Geroge and The Dragon, the person most into dragons is actually his love interest, Princess Lunna. George goes to hunt the dragons and find her, but she stops him. Over time, they fall in love, and she shows him how dragons aren’t evil. In the end, George has to save the dragon and Lunna from her terrible knights and fiance and succeeds.

It’s a bit cheesy and very much Dragon Heart-like, but it’s not terrible, either. It has some decent actors (James Purefoy, Piper Perabo, Michael Clark Duncan, Patrick Swayze) and a less common fantasy premise than most knight stories. For fantasy fans, it can be a fun, lesser-known watch.

6 Infestation (5.9)

Much like a zombie movie or Hitchcock’s famous The Birds, Infestation is about a horde of violent creatures chasing down and destroying every human they encounter. Viewers follow Cooper, a telemarketer, through the terrible event. He has to protect his bosses’ pretty daughter, Sara, while they try to survive and revive other people from the evil infestation’s cocoons.

In the climax, Cooper uses all the bravery in him to save Sara from the bugs. The ending is left very open because it fades to black with a rumbling. Is help arriving? Is it more bugs? The world may never know.

5 Beyond Re-Animator (5.9)

This 2003 flick is a unique horror movie about a man who created zombies and then went to jail after his creation hurt others. Starring sci-fi legend Jeffrey Combs, best known for his Star Trek roles, the movie follow the scientist’s experiments in the prison, working on rats and trying to find more ways to make zombies and further his work.

He’s addicted to science and can’t be stopped, no matter how many people he hurts. However, things change when he convinces a young, impressionable doctor comes to work at the prison, and the zombie-maker convinces the dear doctor to get him the materials he needs. Chaos ensues.

4 Splinter (6.1)

So, what happens when a mutated creature infects the corpse of a gas station attendant? A terrifying splintered monster who hunts humans.

Four characters have to escape this haunted, deformed threat, using all their wits to save them. At least, using the items at the gas station like ice bags and fireworks. While some of them survive, the last shot of the movie implies there are so many more monsters lying dormant. Unfortunately, this decent little monster flick did not get a sequel.

3 Treasure Island (6.3)

Yes, that is Elijah Wood. As Ben Gunn, the abandoned pirate, in Treasure Island, a classic tale of action and adventure. What a wild world.

Sure, this one is a mini-series, but it is still a Syfy Original. And, despite its kookiness, this isn’t a terrible adaptation. The actors really threw themselves into their roles, and the two-part series also aired in the UK. It’s no Muppet Treasure Island, but any pirate fan would still have an enjoyable time.

2 Dog Soldiers (6.8)

For everyone tired of werewolves versus vampires, here’s the film for you: werewolves versus the army. Basically, this is an action flick where some soldiers investigating animal attacks with a zoologist are attacked by werewolves and they have to fight them off. Considering the end line is “werewolves ate my platoon,” the film is unique, and, in some ways, a little iconic.

Also, the dog survives the whole horror movie. That’s enough reason to watch it. The fact that it’s an action-packed movie about hidden enemies and survival is just a bonus.

1 The Descent (7.2)

Disaster movies can be hit or miss, but, considering this is Syfy’s best-rated original flick, it was a pretty big success for them.

What happens in The Descent is that oil drilling gets out of control, causing the Earth’s crust to sink, causing magma to rise and earthquakes, volcanoes, and more to happen across the globe. A team of scientists work to use nuclear power to save the planet. Meanwhile, they are also struggling with the debate if they should tell the public about the impending danger. Should everyone know they might die, or would it be better to keep them in the dark?

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