The Mad Science Movie Awards: 58 Films, So Many Bad Ideas

The Mad Science Movie Awards: 58 Films, So Many Bad Ideas

Author: James Payne May 7, 2026 Duration: 1:34:00

We close out our Mad Science series the only way we know how: with a very serious, deeply prestigious and completely unofficial Mad Science Film Awards.

After 58 films and more than a century of sci-fi cinema, we look back at the scientists, monsters, labs, experiments and terrible decisions that defined the season.

From Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Invisible Man to The Fly, Re-Animator, Jurassic Park, Get Out and Poor Things, we trace how mad science evolved from gothic cautionary tales to atomic-age anxiety, body horror, corporate genetics, surveillance, consent and control.

Categories include Best Mad Scientist, Biggest Ego in a Lab Coat, Most Unethical Experiment, Best Creation, Best Lab, Hidden Gem and the big one: Best Mad Science Movie.

Plus we unveil what we will be covering the next series of Jounrey Through Sci-fi!

🚀 Join The JTSF Logbook
Recommendations, discoveries and updates from our journey through sci-fi cinema: journeythroughscifi.beehiiv.com


Ever wondered how a silent film from a century ago connects to the spectacle you saw at the multiplex last weekend? That’s the kind of thread Journey Through Sci-Fi: A Science Fiction Film Podcast follows, tracing the entire arc of the genre from its flickering beginnings to its CGI-drenched present. Hosts Matt and James act as your guides, not just reviewing movies but unpacking the ideas that fueled them. They’re interested in how a particular film’s design changed movie-making, or how a story from the 1950s reflected the anxieties of its time, creating a conversation across decades. You’ll hear detailed discussions that place each film within a larger historical tapestry, making connections you might have missed. This isn't a random list of reviews; it's a curated, chronological expedition. By focusing on one film per episode, the podcast allows for a deep dive into the context, the production challenges, and the lasting cultural footprint of each title. Whether it's the pioneering special effects of a classic or the philosophical questions posed by a modern epic, Matt and James explore how science fiction cinema holds a mirror to our own world. Tune in for a thoughtful analysis that appreciates both the artistic ambition and the pure entertainment value of the genre, discovering how every spaceship, robot, and alien visitor tells us something about ourselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Journey Through Sci-Fi: Science Fiction Film History
Podcast Episodes
Kraven the Hunter, Sonic 3, Star Wars Skeleton Crew: Future Frontiers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:21
It's Christmaaaaas! (well almost). This episode, we're unwrapping December's sci-fi and genre releases — Kraven the Hunter, The Lord Of The Rings:The War of the Rohirrim, Sonic 3, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Squid Game:…
Darkman (1990) & The Invisible Ray (1936): Supervillains & Antiheroes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:15
This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we're disussing a couple of scientists who lose the plot thanks to their own experiments. First up, it's a 1930s classic—The Invisible Ray (1936)—where Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi t…
Sci-Fi Buzz – Dune: Prophecy, Megalopolis & Venom 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:41
In this month's Future Frontiers bonus episode, we're diving into the sci-fi screenings we caught in October and sharing our thoughts on Megalopolis, Joker: Folie à Deux, Venom 3: The Last Dance, The Wild Robot, and Tran…
Looking Ahead - October's Biggest Sci-Fi & Your Questions Answered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:50
This week, we're kicking off a brand-new monthly special on the podcast—Future Frontiers! Join us as we gaze into the crystal ball of October to uncover all the exciting sci-fi coming your way! We'll be diving into the m…
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - The First Split Personality (1912 & 1931) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:03
In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we dive into the cinematic history of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. From the early 1912 silent film to the groundbreaking 1931 adaptation, we explore how filmmakers brought Robert Lo…
Journey Through Sci-Fi: Mad Science (Trailer) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24
Welcome to Journey Through Sci-Fi, the science fiction film podcast that explores the history and meaning of sci-fi cinema, one theme at a time. Hosted by (us!) James and Matt, two lifelong movie fans, the show takes a c…