Sean Connery’s Hidden Sci-Fi Gem Gets a 4K Makeover—Why This Forgotten Flick Might Just Blow Your Mind (And Your Zodiac Sign)
Added on October 25, 2025 inEntertainment News Cards, Movie News Cards
Popular
Numerology Meets Netflix: Get Your Daily Dose of Cosmic Cinema Suggestions Powered By Our AI Astrologer. Find The Show Or Movie You Were Meant To See!
Ever wonder what it’s like when Sean Connery channels his inner space sheriff on Jupiter’s moon IO, tackling corporate gunmen in a showdown that could make even the cold vacuum of space sweat? Yeah, me neither—until I stumbled upon Outland, a seriously under-the-radar gem that’s like High Noon crashed into Alien’s dark, eerie playground. It’s 1981, and sci-fi is riding this crazy wave from the blockbuster blitz of Star Wars to the horror-infused shadows of Alien—talk about a cosmic cocktail! Connery, maybe still nursing some post-Bond blues, finds himself alone against some ruthless corporate baddies, but trust me, he’s bringing that cool-as-ice charm we all secretly love.
Now, here’s a cosmic kicker—just like today’s unpredictable planetary lineup messing with our moods, Outland’s fate got tangled in the stars of timing and circumstance, leading it to be a cult mystery rather than a blockbuster titan. But thanks to a shiny new 4K re-release from Arrow Video, it’s like this flick is getting a second star-studded act, complete with behind-the-scenes wizardry and effects that were a wild precursor to the green screen magic we drool over today. So, if you’re curious about what’s lurking on that mining colony beyond the stars—or just in the mood for some blazingly cool action wrapped in an astrological twist—that Connery vibe is waiting for you. Ready to dive into this forgotten corner of sci-fi history? LEARN MORE
One of my favorite things to do here at JoBlo is to highlight obscure movies that deserve a lot more love. I’ve dedicated an entire column/series to it called The Best Movie You Never Saw, and one of the best movies I’ve ever covered is Peter Hyams’ 1981 movie Outland. A kind of quasi sci-fi remake of High Noon set on Jupiter’s Moon, IO, it stars Sean Connery as a Marshal set to enforce law on a mining colony who finds himself marked for death by the company administering the moon when he discovers a conspiracy. They hire gunmen to take him out, and with no one on the moon willing to help him, he has to take on the killers alone.
What’s particularly interesting about Outland is the period in which it was made. In ’81, sci-fi as a genre was in an interesting place. Star Wars had changed the game back in 1977 by introducing cutting-edge special effects, which allowed filmmakers to tackle science fiction and fantasy in a way no one ever really could before. But another very influential film was 1979’s Alien, a distinctly adult take on the genre, which introduced elements of horror. Outland is very much an offshoot of Alien, with it almost feeling like a spin-off of sorts, with the ominous company administered by the main villain (an against-type Peter Boyle) feeling like Weyland-Yutani.
Another reason Outland feels like a sequel to Alien is the fact that nine department heads were involved in the production design on both movies, while the film was produced by The Ladd Company, which was run by Alan Ladd Jr, who greenlit Alien as the head of 20th Century Fox. Indeed, just the next year, he would also be responsible for Blade Runner. And, they both have (amazing) scores by Jerry Goldsmith.
Sadly, Outland is still a pretty obscure movie, which is a surprise given that it’s a big-budget sci-fi action movie with Sean Connery as the hero. Maybe it’s due to the fact that – at the time it was made – Connery’s career was on a downslide, with him still struggling to come into his own post-James Bond (some believe Outland flopping pushed him towards agreeing to make Never Say Never Again). His real resurgence would begin with The Name of the Rose and Highlander in 1986, and The Untouchables in 1987. When it came out, Outland was a flop, and as such hasn’t had the place in the pantheon of classic sci-fi movies it deserves.
Thankfully, the good folks at Arrow Video have given it a deluxe 4K re-release, and this new edition is gorgeous. The movie looks superb in 4K, and it’s packed with interesting extras that explore its unique place in cinema history. Despite being a flop, Outland was important because it was the first film shot with the IntroVision front projection system, which was an important precursor to green screen. Many of the disc extras are devoted to explaining how the system came to be and its impact (many classic VFX shots, which, as the boys running from a train in Stand by Me, and Harrison Ford jumping from the bus in The Fugitive, were done with this process). Peter Hyams sits for an extended interview, as does DP Stephen Goldblatt, who admits that despite his credit, Hyams shot the film and only hired him to shoot the IntroVision scenes.
If you’ve never seen Outland, I highly recommend picking up this new set (buy it here), as its a movie ripe for rediscovery. It has tons of action, some really cool bladder gore fx, Connery in top form, a classic Jerry Goldsmith score, and that iconic Alien vibe. And, while you’re at it check out this episode of The Best Movie You Never Saw that I did on it!
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
This will close in 0 seconds
This will close in 0 seconds
', 'https%3A%2F%2Ficonoclasmic.com%2Fsean-connerys-hidden-sci-fi-gem-gets-a-4k-makeover-why-this-forgotten-flick-might-just-blow-your-mind-and-your-zodiac-sign%2F')){kind=link}