Year: 1994
Runtime: 94 mins
Language: English
In a distant world that feels like a frontier town, a steadfast pacifist must confront his convictions when a ruthless alien outlaw and his gang slaughter his estranged sheriff father, seize control of the settlement, and endanger the people he cares about. The clash turns the dusty streets into a high‑stakes showdown.
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Set in the year 3031 on a frontier planet light years from Earth, the tumbleweed town of Oblivion faces a dangerous threat as a bizarre gang of futuristic desperadoes eyes turning it into their private playground. The action opens with the murder of Marshal Stone by Red Eye, Andrew Divoff, a power-hungry villain who wields a coveted planet-specific substance that also shorts out electronics to help him cheat in a street showdown; the blow also disables Stell Barr, the cyborg deputy, portrayed by Meg Foster. Red Eye and his cronies begin pressuring Oblivion’s residents to surrender control and accept his rule.
The town’s mortician Gaunt, Carel Struycken, who possesses a supernatural ability to foresee death, sets out to find Marshal Stone’s son Zack, Richard Joseph Paul, who is prospecting in the wilderness. Zack’s journey toward his hometown becomes entwined with a larger reckoning as fate pulls him back into a confrontation he never sought.
On the road, Zack saves a native named Buteo, Jimmie F. Skaggs, from a near-fatal encounter with a giant scorpion. The two form an uneasy alliance and head toward Oblivion for the funeral, their trek marked by a misadventure in a saloon where Zack maintains a surprising restraint, choosing peace over violence even when taunted by Red Eye’s henchmen. Upon reaching town, they cross paths with Mattie Chase, Jackie Swanson at the local whorehouse, who learns that Zack’s empathy allows him to feel what others experience and that he recoils from unnecessary harm, a realization that deepens his resolve to protect the vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Gaunt’s warning reaches Zack: one of Red Eye’s associates was connected to the deaths that haunt Buteo, fueling a personal vendetta. Buteo’s desire for justice drives him to challenge that foe to a fair fight, a duel in which he emerges victorious but is then captured by Red Eye’s gang, placed in stocks, and whipped as punishment. The brutality hardens the group’s purpose, strengthening Zack’s resolve to intervene.
As tensions escalate, Zack confronts his fears and takes decisive action—he saves Buteo and opens fire on the townspeople who had aligned with Red Eye, marking a bold turn toward decisive resistance. The situation escalates further when Mattie is abducted by Red Eye and dragged into the Badlands. Zack, Mattie, and their allies rally to mount a daring rescue, moving through peril toward Oblivion’s heart to dismantle Red Eye’s operation once and for all.
Doc Valentine, George Takei, an inventor whose technology had previously failed to shield the Marshal, lends his expertise to the effort, helping the group navigate the deadly terrain and devise a plan to outmaneuver Red Eye. In the end, the united team confronts the gang, defeats the villains, and restores a fragile peace to Oblivion, proving that courage and compassion can prevail in a world defined by danger and distance.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:24
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
High-stakes showdowns where the dusty frontier meets alien threats.If you liked the frontier town under alien siege in Oblivion, explore more movies that mix sci-fi with western justice. These stories feature tense showdowns, reluctant heroes, and the struggle to bring order to a lawless world, offering a similar blend of genres.
Stories in this thread typically involve a threat to an isolated community, often on a frontier or colony, forcing a protagonist to step up and defend it. The narrative follows a straightforward path from inciting incident to final confrontation, focusing on action, resilience, and restoring order.
These movies are grouped by their unique fusion of sci-fi and western genres, creating a specific tone of tense action in a rugged, frontier setting. They share a focus on justice, community defense, and heroes who are tested against overwhelming odds.
When pacifist principles are shattered by violence, a hero is forged.Fans of Oblivion's pacifist hero pushed to violence will find similar journeys here. These movies explore characters who must overcome their deepest convictions to take up arms, creating a powerful arc of personal transformation and necessary action.
The narrative pattern follows a character with a strong moral code against violence. A personal loss or direct threat shatters their peaceful world, forcing them on a path of vengeance or rescue. The journey is one of internal conflict, culminating in a final test of their new resolve.
Movies are united by the powerful character arc of a pacifist reluctantly embracing violence. This creates a specific emotional mix of moral tension, personal loss, and determined action, making the protagonist's journey the core of the experience.
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Track the full timeline of Oblivion with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
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