Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Favorite Overlooked Sci-Fi Movie Is The Quiet Earth

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Neil deGrasse Tyson, a popular science communicator, is a big fan of science fiction movies like The Matrix, The Martian, and The Quiet Earth. He also enjoys lesser-known films, and recently shared his pick for an underrated ’80s classic that he believes more movie fans should see.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, like Brian Cox and Carl Sagan, has become a popular science communicator, earning the admiration of many. He enjoys breaking down the wonders of the universe for everyone, and often applies his knowledge of astrophysics to analyze science fiction films. From classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey to more recent hits like Gravity, he points out what these movies get right – and wrong. He particularly recommends a science fiction film from New Zealand that tackles the familiar idea of a lone survivor, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

The Quiet Earth Is a Unique Take on the Apocalypse

The Quiet Earth begins after a mysterious event leaves Zac Hobson believing he’s the only person left on the planet. He wakes up and wanders through the empty town, slowly realizing he truly is alone.

As the shock of the situation hits him, he nearly loses his mind, proclaiming himself the leader of the deserted world and even considering ending his life. However, at the very last second, he decides to keep going, and quickly meets a woman named Joanne. Believing others must have also survived “The Event,” they begin searching Auckland. There, they meet Api, a Maori man, who joins their group.

Soon after Zac, Joanne, and Api become a group, romantic feelings start to complicate things. Zac begins to worry that Joanne is falling for Api. To distract himself, he develops a theory about what happened – he believes an experiment somehow transported them to a different universe. As they share their stories, he starts to think they all survived because they died at the exact moment the strange event took place.

Haunted by his role in the disaster known as the Event, Zac desperately tries to stop another one from destroying the world. The climax arrives with a shocking and famously unresolved cliffhanger, leaving viewers stunned.

Released in 1985, this film didn’t earn much money – less than $1 million – and as a result, very few people ever saw it. One notable fan isn’t just a supporter of the movie, but also helped create the commentary for its DVD release, demonstrating a real passion for both film and science fiction.

Why Neil deGrasse Tyson Loves The Quiet Earth

While recording an episode of StarTalk Plus, Neil deGrasse Tyson shared his rankings of science fiction films, categorizing them from his top picks down to the worst, using a scale from S-tier to F-tier.

I’ve always been fascinated by ‘last man on Earth’ stories, and ‘The Quiet Earth’ really struck me. It’s a trope we’ve seen before – films like ‘Omega Man’ and ‘The World, the Flesh and the Devil’ explore similar ideas – but what really grabbed me about ‘The Quiet Earth’ was watching the main character figure out how to survive. It’s compelling to see just how resourceful he becomes when faced with complete isolation. It wasn’t about the apocalypse itself, but his ingenuity in the face of it.

He concluded by calling the movie a solid science fiction drama, giving it an A rating, similar to films like Contact and The Martian. Unlike many stories about the last person on Earth, which usually show a character who’s already accepted being alone, The Quiet Earth takes a different approach.

As Tyson pointed out, the story really focuses on the characters’ struggle to survive and the ingenuity they demonstrate. The main character is a physicist connected to the central event, and he’s trying to figure out what happened and prevent a recurrence. Ultimately, the story makes you think about how you yourself would respond if you were in their shoes.

I was completely blown away by this movie, and apparently, someone noticed! One of the producers actually asked me to do the commentary on the DVD, which was incredible. The scientist involved pointed out that it’s actually a remake of an older film called The World, the Flesh and the Devil – both movies use the end of the world as a way to really dig into issues like jealousy and prejudice. It’s easy to get caught up in the sci-fi elements, and they definitely add to the excitement, but what really makes this film special is the intense drama and the way the characters interact. It’s that tension that truly brings the story to life.

The Quiet Earth Is a Must-See Cult Classic

Like many films made in Australia and New Zealand, particularly in the 1980s, The Quiet Earth didn’t achieve widespread success. It wasn’t a hit when it was released in 1985, and remained largely unknown except to devoted science fiction fans. It’s only recently begun to gain attention, likely thanks to a recommendation from Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Science fiction consistently delivers beloved, classic films that often find new audiences over time. Luckily, the film The Quiet Earth was championed by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and his science fiction picks are always a hit with movie fans.

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2026-01-18 06:37