Movies Like Turbo Kid (2015) for Retro-Apocalypse Fun
Retro-flavored sci-fi with practical gore, wild humor, and synth-soaked style.
Retro-flavored sci-fi with practical gore, wild humor, and synth-soaked style.
Best first watch
Prospect (2018)
92% fit98 min · IMDb 6.3 · RT 89%
Like Turbo Kid, a resourceful teenager fights to survive on a hostile frontier with improvised tools and unlikely allies. Streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, its 89% Rotten Tomatoes score reflects how well the scrappy adventure lands.
Watch if
You want a sci-fi survival story with real emotional stakes.
Skip if
You need constant jokes and camp to stay interested.
For you if
- Perfect when you love low-budget sci-fi that leans into practical effects and handmade charm
- Grab this for retro aesthetics, synth soundtracks, and VHS-era genre homages
- Grab this for anyone craving fun post-apocalyptic adventures that never take themselves too seriously
Not for you if
- You prefer serious, grounded science fiction with realistic world-building
- You avoid campy humor and over-the-top gore played for laughs
- You need high production values and polished visual effects to stay engaged
How Turbo Kid (2015) alternatives compare
Pick Kung Fury if you want maximum laughs in minimum time. Its 32 minutes are pure retro comedy. Pick Prospect if you prefer something serious with real tension and a longer runtime at 98 minutes. Psycho Goreman splits the difference, pairing absurd humor with wild creature effects. Blood Machines works best as a visual mood piece. Hobo with a Shotgun is the grittiest, most violent option here.
How funny is it?
Mostly serious
How long is the commitment?
Full feature, 98 min
How gory does it get?
Some blood, restrained
Retro style or its own thing?
Original frontier look
How funny is it?
Comedy first
How long is the commitment?
Standard length, 95 min
How gory does it get?
Over-the-top splatter
Retro style or its own thing?
Mix of retro and new
How funny is it?
Pure comedy
How long is the commitment?
Super short, 32 min
How gory does it get?
Cartoonish violence
Retro style or its own thing?
Full '80s homage
How funny is it?
Barely any humor
How long is the commitment?
Quick watch, 50 min
How gory does it get?
Minimal gore
Retro style or its own thing?
Heavy synth retro
How funny is it?
Dark comedy throughout
How long is the commitment?
Lean feature, 86 min
How gory does it get?
Extreme and constant
Retro style or its own thing?
Grindhouse throwback
Not sure what to watch?
Date night
At 98 minutes with an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's the most broadly appealing pick here.
Quick watch
Only 32 minutes long, so it fits perfectly into any gap in your evening.
Friend group
The absurd humor and wild creature designs get the best reactions from a crowd.
Find your pick
Do you want something as colorful and energetic as The Kid's comic book obsession?
Moments you loved
Best movies like Turbo Kid (2015)
1. Prospect (2018)
98 min · IMDb 6.3 · RT 89%
Like Turbo Kid, a resourceful teenager fights to survive on a hostile frontier with improvised tools and unlikely allies. Streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, its 89% Rotten Tomatoes score reflects how well the scrappy adventure lands.
Watch if
You want a sci-fi survival story with real emotional stakes.
Skip if
You need constant jokes and camp to stay interested.
Where to watch
2. Psycho Goreman (2020)
95 min · IMDb 6.3 · RT 92%
This comedy pairs a kid's fearless attitude with a world-ending alien threat, echoing Turbo Kid's mix of childhood innocence and ridiculous violence. Its 92% on Rotten Tomatoes confirms the wild tone works.
Watch if
You want a kid bossing around a cosmic monster for laughs.
Skip if
You find gross-out creature humor more annoying than funny.
Where to watch
3. Kung Fury (2015)
32 min · IMDb 7.9
At just 32 minutes, this retro action comedy packs every '80s cliche into a concentrated blast of absurdity. Its 7.9 IMDb rating is impressive for a short film, and the NR rating means it goes wherever it wants.
Watch if
You want a fast, ridiculous '80s action parody on a weeknight.
Skip if
You prefer stories with actual character development.
Where to watch
4. Blood Machines (2020)
50 min · IMDb 6.1 · RT 79%
A 50-minute synth-scored space chase that prioritizes stunning neon visuals and Carpenter Brut's music over traditional storytelling. It shares Turbo Kid's love of retro synth aesthetics in a sci-fi setting.
Watch if
You want a short, gorgeous synth-wave trip through space.
Skip if
You need a clear plot and strong dialogue to enjoy something.
5. Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)
86 min · IMDb 6.1 · RT 66%
A lone outsider cleaning up a lawless wasteland with improvised violence, played with the same grindhouse camp energy Turbo Kid channels. At 86 minutes, it's a lean, mean revenge ride.
Watch if
You want over-the-top grindhouse revenge with zero restraint.
Skip if
You find extreme screen violence unpleasant even when played for camp.
Where to watch
Beyond movies
TV shows and books that scratch the same itch
The Last Kids on Earth
Kids surviving the apocalypse with homemade weapons and pure heart. It captures that same blend of childhood adventure and post-apocalyptic danger that makes Turbo Kid special.
Netflix
Future Man
Time-traveling comedy that lovingly parodies 80s and 90s sci-fi tropes. The show's mix of genuine adventure and self-aware humor mirrors Turbo Kid's tone perfectly.
Buy on Amazon Video
Daybreak
High school cliques surviving in a post-apocalyptic wasteland with plenty of dark humor and 80s references. It has the same youthful energy and colorful violence as Turbo Kid.
Netflix
The Road
by Cormac McCarthy
While much darker in tone, it shares the core father-figure and innocent companion dynamic navigating a devastated world. The emotional bond between characters drives both stories through their harsh landscapes.
Available in most bookstores and libraries
Common questions about movies like Turbo Kid (2015)
What is the best movie like Turbo Kid (2015)?
Based on our analysis, Prospect (2018) is the closest match with a 92% fit score. See the full breakdown above for why it earned the top spot.
Is Prospect the best first pick here for fans of Turbo Kid?
Go with Prospect. It captures what makes Turbo Kid special and runs 98 minutes. Critics loved it at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.
If runtime matters after Turbo Kid, is Kung Fury at 32 minutes the shortest weeknight option here?
Kung Fury clocks in at 32 minutes, making it the shortest watch here. It carries a solid 7.9 on IMDb.
Which streaming apps should I open first to find Prospect after Turbo Kid?
Prospect is currently listed on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video for a follow-up to Turbo Kid. Availability changes by region, so confirm current streaming listings before watching, and use Amazon Video or Apple TV Store as a rental fallback.
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