The best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now
This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, Digital Trends and Yahoo Inc. may earn a commission.
Netflix‘s sci-fi library is not the streamer’s strongest area. But at least Netflix tries to add new films every month in this category, which is more than we can say for the fantasy movies on Netflix. And if you’re really up for something challenging to sit through, the extended cuts of Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon films are now on Netflix. Those movies are now superlong, and may require a few breaks.
Thankfully, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Back to the Future Part III, and Star Trek Beyond are all viable alternatives in August. T2 is particularly timely because Netflix has an anime series, Terminator Zero, debuting at the end of the month. In the meantime, you can catch all of our picks for the best sci-fi movies on Netflix below.
In need of a few more suggestions? We’ve curated guides to the best sci-fi movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best sci-fi movies on Hulu, too.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) [New]
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 137m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
Directed by: James Cameron
To date, no Terminator sci-fi sequel has ever recaptured the pure excitement of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. While The Terminator was a hit in 1984, Terminator 2 was the summer blockbuster of 1991. It also successfully transformed Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 from the villain of the first film to a heroic machine in nearly every film that came after it.
Roughly a decade after the events of the first film, an advanced T-1000 (Robert Patrick) has come back in time to finish off John Connor (Edward Furlong) and his mother, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Only the T-800 can protect them, but it’s Sarah who fully understands what this Terminator can do. With the Terminator’s help, the Connors may be able to prevent a war between humanity and the machines from ever happening.
Back to the Future Part III (1990) [New]
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 119m
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
To close out the trilogy, Back to the Future Part III sends Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) on a rescue mission to 1885 to rescue his friend, Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Marty’s actions are well-intended, but the level of technology they need to get home doesn’t exist in that time.
As the pair searches for a solution, Doc Brown becomes smitten with a schoolteacher, Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen). Meanwhile, Marty has made an enemy out of an outlaw, Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson). If Marty and Doc don’t find a way back to 1985 soon, there’s a grave waiting with Marty’s assumed name on it just a few days in their future.
Star Trek Beyond (2016) [New]
Metacritic: 68%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 122m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban
Directed by: Justin Lin
Nearly a decade after Star Trek Beyond, another sequel with the reboot cast has yet to materialize. So until that finally happens, this is likely the farewell performance of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Karl Urban as Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy, respectively. This time, the crew of the Enterprise runs up against Krall (Idris Elba), an alien who seems all too familiar with the Federation.
With most of the crew captured or killed, Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg) makes a new ally named Jaylah (Sofia Boutella). With Jaylah’s help, Kirk and his friends may be able to turn the tide and discover Krall’s true identity.
Back to the Future (1985)
Metacritic: 87%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 116m
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
All three Back to the Future films are once again on Netflix, but as history has shown us, they won’t be around forever. We wouldn’t argue that the original Back to the Future is a perfect movie, but rarely has any film mixed comedy and sci-fi as well as this one. Michael J. Fox arrived as a movie star thanks to his turn as Marty McFly, a high school student from 1985 who finds himself stuck in 1955.
A younger version of Marty’s friend Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd) might be able to fix Marty’s malfunctioning time machine. But only Marty can fix his greatest blunder. Because of his own mistakes, Marty’s parents — George McFly (Crispin Glover) and Lorraine Baines (Lea Thompson) — missed their first meeting and now barely know each other. And if Marty can’t get them to fall in love and restore his personal history, then he won’t even have a future to go home to.
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Metacritic: 60%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 106m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Romance
Stars: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, John Slattery
Directed by: George Nolfi
Matt Damon’s David Norris meets the woman of his dreams, Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt), in The Adjustment Bureau. The problem is that David was only supposed to see her once. By defying fate, David becomes aware of the Adjustment Bureau, an organization including people like Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie) and Richardson (John Slattery) who have guided his life.
Are the members of the Adjustment Bureau divine or angels? David doesn’t really care. All he knows is that he wants to be with Elise, and he’s willing to fight back against the Adjustment Bureau’s plan even if it means sacrificing his own destiny.
Life (2017)
Metacritic: 54%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 104m
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson
Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Life may not have gotten the best reviews, but it’s got a hell of a cast including Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, and even Shogun’s Hiroyuki Sanada. This horror/sci-fi story takes place on the International Space Station as Rory Adams (Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Ryan Reynolds) and the rest of the crew examine “Calvin,” an apparent life form that was discovered on Mars and remotely sent to the station.
Calvin reacts badly to being poked and prodded, and soon escapes from the lab. Now, the crew is facing an unknown and hostile organism that’s picking them off one by one. And if Calvin manages to get to Earth, no one can predict what would happen next.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 7.9/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 125m
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Action
Stars: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada
Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki
Why is Godzilla Minus One so much better than the American MonsterVerse movies? There are two reasons. First, Godzilla has no redeeming qualities in Minus One. He is simply a monstrous force of nature. The second reason is that Minus One has a human story that resonates through Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki).
Shikishima should have died twice, first as a kamikaze pilot in the last days of World War II, and then during his initial encounter with Godzilla. Because he fails to act or give up his life, Shikishima views himself as a coward… and that’s a view shared by others. Noriko ōishi (Minami Hamabe), a woman who lives with Shikishima, sees him as the man he could be. She gives him something to live for, even if it means he may ultimately have to die.
Upgrade (2018)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 100m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars: Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, Harrison Gilbertson
Directed by: Leigh Whannell
The R rating for Upgrade doesn’t fully prepare you for just how brutal the fights in this movie can be once Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) becomes a lethal weapon of vengeance. It’s not what he wanted to become, of course. But without STEM (Simon Maiden), Grey would still be trapped inside his own paralyzed body following an attack that claimed the life of his wife.
Billionaire Eron Keen (Harrison Gilbertson) offered STEM to Grey to give him back his life. Yet instead of a dream, it’s becoming a nightmare as the AI STEM takes more and more control over Grey’s body.
Starship Troopers (1997)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 129m
Genre: Adventure, Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars: Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
There are plenty of unintentionally funny sci-fi movies, but Starship Troopers is well-aware that it’s a satire. Sometimes, it’s the audience of this movie that doesn’t realize director Paul Verhoeven is adding subversive humor to Robert A. Heinlein’s novel that might be flying over their heads.
In the relatively near future, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) follows his girlfriend, Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), into military service only to find disgrace. But just as Johnny is about to walk away, massive alien bugs attack Earth. This rallies Johnny and his fellow troops for an all-out war in space. Unfortunately for humanity, the bugs are intelligent and far more powerful than anyone initially believed.
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 123m
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Drama
Stars: Sofia Boutella, Michiel Huisman, Ed Skrein
Directed by: Zack Snyder
It took Zack Snyder two movies to retell the story of The Magnificent Seven in space, which is essentially what Rebel Moon is. Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire introduced Kora (Sofia Boutella), and revealed her personal connection to Motherworld, the heart of the empire that dominates the known universe. It also established that Kora is the title character in the sequel, Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver.
Kora and her remaining allies triumphed in the first part of the film when they survived an Imperium trap. But now the real challenge begins, because the Imperium is marshaling its forces to conquer Veldt, Kora’s adopted home. And she’ll do anything to protect her people, even if it kills her.
Spaceman (2024)
Metacritic: 56%
IMDb: 5.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 108m
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Stars: Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan
Directed by: Johan Renck
Alien’s promo line infamously states that “in space, no one can hear you scream.” Spaceman isn’t a horror film, so there’s not much suspense about whether astronaut Jakub Procházka (Adam Sandler) will survive. But since Jakub is alone in deep space, no one can hear or see just how badly he is being consumed by his loneliness, his inner turmoil, and his failing marriage to Lenka Procházka (Carey Mulligan). No one except Hanu? (Paul Dano), an alien spider that Jakub encounters on his journey.
Hanu? sees and knows everything in Jakub’s mind, often to the detriment of Jakub himself. Reliving painful memories isn’t something Jakub wants, and yet he’s so desperate for any kind of companionship that the prospect of Hanu? leaving him behind is absolutely devastating to him.
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
Metacritic: 32%
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 134m
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
Stars: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Zack Snyder’s space opera, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, should be familiar to fans of Star Wars and other sci-fi epics. It takes place in a universe that is ruled by Motherworld and its intergalactic army, the Imperium. Kora (Sofia Boutella), an ex-member of the Imperium, sought to redeem herself by starting a new life out of Motherworld’s reach on a moon called Veldt.
When the Imperium finally arrives on Veldt, Kora can’t run anymore. To defend her adopted homeworld, Kora recruits a former Imperium general, Titus (Djimon Hounsou), as well as Kai (Charlie Hunnam), Gunnar (Michiel Huisman), Tarak (Staz Nair), Nemesis (Doona Bae), and more. But even this assortment of warriors may not be enough to withstand a full assault by the Imperium.
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 122m
Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction, Mystery
Stars: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx
Directed by: Juel Taylor
Very early on in They Cloned Tyrone, a drug dealer named Fontaine (John Boyega) is brutally murdered in front of one of his clients, Slick Charles (Foxx), and one of his Slick’s girls, Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris). But much to the surprise of Slick Charles and Yo-Yo, Fontaine shows up the next day without any memory of what happened to him.
While investigating the mystery of Fontaine’s apparent resurrection, the trio uncover a clone conspiracy that has very troubling implications for their lives and their future. And if they want to save themselves, Fontaine, Slick Charles, and Yo-Yo need to fight back.
65 (2023)
Metacritic: 40%
IMDb: 5.4/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 92m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman
Directed by: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
65 doesn’t try to hide its sci-fi premise. It’s about a pilot named Mills (Adam Driver), a man who accepts a long-term gig as a pilot to provide for his family. But when his starship crash lands on Earth 65 million years ago, Mills is left with no way to reunite with his wife, Nevine (Chloe Coleman), and their daughter, Alya (Nika King).
The only thing that gives Mills the will to live is Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), a young girl who is the only other survivor. When Mills discovers a potential escape from prehistoric Earth, he escorts Koa across a landscape that is filled with very ravenous and very dangerous dinosaurs.
Captain Nova (2021)
IMDb: 5.5/10
Duration: 86m
Genre: Adventure, Family, Science Fiction
Stars: Kika van de Vijver, Marouane Meftah, Anniek Pheifer
Directed by: Maurice Trouwborst
Captain Nova (Anniek Pheifer) has come from the future to save the past in the Dutch sci-fi movie that shares her name. Unfortunately, for Nova, the trip back in time has also changed her into a 12-year-old child. And young Nova (Kika van de Vijver) soon realizes that her mission is now nearly impossible because of this unforeseen side effect.
With few other viable options, Nova teams up with a kid named Nas (Marouane Meftah) as she attempts to rewrite the future by taking on a greedy corporation. And if Nova fails, her future is destined to unfold in the same way that it did before.
Rim of the World (2019)
IMDb: 5.2/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 99m
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Action, Comedy
Stars: Jack Gore, Miya Cech, Benjamin Flores Jr.
Directed by: McG
McG’s Rim of the World takes its inspiration from the kid-centric sci-fi films that Steven Spielberg produced and directed in the 1980s. At the Rim of the World summer camp in California, Alex (Jack Gore) is a boy who is still grieving the loss of his father when he starts bonding with his fellow social rejects, ZhenZhen (Miya Cech), Dariush (Benjamin Flores Jr.), and Gabriel (Alessio Scalzotto).
Much to their collective surprise, Alex and his new friends discover that they are in the midst of an alien invasion. And they may be the only ones left who can deliver the key to victory to NASA … if they can live long enough to escape.
What Happened to Monday (2017)
Metacritic: 47%
Rated: R
Duration: 123m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Action
Stars: Noomi Rapace, Marwan Kenzari, Christian Rubeck
Directed by: Tommy Wirkola
In the future, overpopulation and famine have forced world governments to strictly enforce a One-Child Policy. But not everyone is so keen on following the rule, especially a group of seven identical sisters (Noomi Rapace) who are forced to live a fugitive existence, constantly pursued by the Child Allocation Bureau. Led by Nicolette Cayman (Glenn Close), the Bureau is ruthless, but the sisters outwit them by assuming the identity of a single person and each entering the world only one day of the week. It works until Monday doesn’t come home.
Warriors of Future (2022)
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 101m
Genre: Drama, Action, Science Fiction
Stars: Louis Koo, Lau Ching-wan, Carina Lau
Directed by: Ng Yuen-fai
This Chinese blockbuster sees a meteor strike the Earth. Onboard is a destructive alien lifeform that spawns and soon threatens humanity. After elite forces are almost completely wiped out trying to save their city, one surviving soldier, Tai Loo (Louis Koo), discovers that there’s a larger conspiracy connected to the invasion.
Spiderhead (2022)
Metacritic: 54%
Rated: R
Duration: 106m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars: Miles Teller, Chris Hemsworth, Jurnee Smollett
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Spiderhead is a state-of-the-art penitentiary where inmates wear a surgically attached device that administers dosages of mind-altering drugs in exchange for commuted sentences. It doesn’t look like a prison — there are no bars, cells, or uniforms. There are just drugs, administered at the beck and call of visionary Steve Abnesti (Thor: Love and Thunder‘s Chris Hemsworth), who presents himself as a humane reformer of the criminal justice system. When two subjects, Jeff (Miles Teller) and Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett), begin to form a connection, however, Abnesti takes special interest in them as his experiments begin to test the limits of free will itself.
The Adam Project (2022)
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 106m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo
Directed by: Shawn Levy
After a decade in development hell, with Tom Cruise attached to star at one point, Netflix finally saved the day and brought The Adam Project to life. Our story follows Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds), a fighter pilot living in a dystopian 2050. While manning a time jet to rescue his wife, Adam’s craft plummets into 2022, where the adult Adam is forced to take up arms with his younger self (Walker Scobell) in order to save the world from the tyrannic clutches of Maya Sorian (Catherine Keener), the wretched ruler of the future. At this point, we’ve seen Ryan Reynolds do it all, especially when it comes to action. While there’s plenty of the actor’s familiar chops on display, the sci-fi backbone of The Adam Project gives Reynolds a fun sandbox to show off in. And he delivers a performance that is a few notches above what we’d normally expect to see.
Stowaway (2021)
Metacritic: 63%
IMDb: 5.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 117m
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller, Adventure
Stars: Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim
Directed by: Joe Penna
Stowaway is a sci-fi film that explores just how far human beings are willing to go to protect one another, breathing new meaning into words like “sacrifice” and “preservation.” Following the crew (played by Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, and Daniel Dae Kim) of a Mars-bound spacecraft, the trio of planetary researchers discovers an accidental fourth passenger named Michael (Shamier Anderson) trapped aboard the vessel. Literally entangled in a carbon dioxide purifier, the dislocated launch engineer inadvertently destroys the device, robbing everyone aboard of precious oxygen. As the clock starts ticking on how much air is left to breathe, the crew is forced to consider some perilous and tragic choices in order to arrive on Mars safely. There’s nothing like the absence of familiar Earth to raise the stakes in any live-or-die situation, and Stowaway handles this familiar sci-fi formula with an impactful narrative.
Synchronic (2020)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 101m
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller, Horror
Stars: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Katie Aselton
Directed by: Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson
Synchronic stars Anthony Mackie and Steve Dornan as New Orleans paramedics Steve and Dennis. When a series of deaths are linked to an experimental new drug called Synchronic, the emergency responders are forced to follow the trail of the elusive chemical when Dennis’ daughter vanishes. Her disappearance may have more to do with the mind-altering substance and inter-dimensional time travel than either medical technician could ever expect. With the look and feel of a raw ’70s film, Synchronic successfully balances its sci-fi horror leanings, delivering thrill after thrill as the plot compounds and time begins to fold.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Metacritic: 80%
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 114m
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction, Action
Stars: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
Directed by: Michael Rianda
Want to get the kids into sci-fi? This techpocalyptic animated thrill ride from Lord/Miller (The Lego Movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story) ought to do the trick. Teenager Katie Mitchell has trouble connecting with her oddball family, especially when it comes to her father, who just could not be more different than Katie. But when he fears he might lose her forever when she leaves for film school, Katie’s father cancels her plane ticket to LA and takes the family on a road trip instead. Unfortunately, mid-trip, a scorned artificial intelligence (A.I.) called Pal incites a robotic rebellion, rounding up all the people of the Earth to send them out to space. Narrowly escaping capture, the Mitchells are now the last free humans on Earth, and with the help of a couple of damaged robots, they must find a way to save humanity — and their family.
The Swarm (2020)
IMDb: 5.3/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 101m
Genre: Horror, Drama, Fantasy
Stars: Suliane Brahim, Sofian Khammes, Marie Narbonne
Directed by: Just Philippot
Bugs. They’re smaller than us, but few things freak us out more. Director Just Philippot capitalizes on our innate fear of things that crawl and hop in his 2020 horror film The Swarm. Suliane Brahim stars as the widow Virginie, who’s trying and failing to keep her family afloat by raising locusts. When she learns the insects have developed a taste for human blood, it opens the door for her to finally make money off the things while at the same time making them more dangerous. When the inevitable comes, as Richard Brody writes for The New Yorker, the film does for grasshoppers “what Alfred Hitchcock did for birds.”
Army of the Dead (2021)
Metacritic: 57%
IMDb: 5.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 148m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror, Crime
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick
Directed by: Zack Snyder
What do you do when there’s a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas? Well, obviously, you take advantage of the situation and rob one of the city’s most successful casinos. At least that’s what Dave Bautista’s Scott Ward and his squad of mercenaries do in the zombie heist movie Army of the Dead. Judging by the previews for the film, Ward and his squad of mercs will need all the firepower they have and more. Unlike the shambling horrors populating your average zombie story, the undead of Vegas (sounds like a band name) not only count Elvis Presley impersonators, Vegas showgirls, and Bengal tigers among their ranks, but they’re fast, smart, and a lot more organized.
Oxygen (2021)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 100m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi
Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Waking up with no memory of your identity would be pretty bad, right? Imagine that, on top of amnesia, you’re also inexplicably trapped in a cryogenic pod that’s slowly running out of air. That’s the premise for the French language sci-fi drama Oxygen. Mélanie Laurent plays the imprisoned protagonist who has nothing but her buried memories and the pod’s uncooperative computers to piece together who she is and how to survive. Oxygen looks to be a claustrophobic and gripping thriller, and it will be available for streaming beginning Wednesday, May 12.
Spectral (2016)
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 109m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Action
Stars: James Badge Dale, Emily Mortimer, Gonzalo Menendez
Directed by: Nic Mathieu
If you’re in the mood for good ol’ fashioned alien warfare, you’ll love Spectral. This early Netflix original shows just how creative the studio could get with a slim budget despite significant action demands. An extraterrestrial force begins to wreak havoc on a war-torn European city, forcing local engineers to team up with American Special Ops to stop the invasion.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Metacritic: 58%
IMDb: 5.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 118m
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Stars: George Clooney, Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo
Directed by: George Clooney
George Clooney directs and stars in The Midnight Sky. With humanity on the brink of extinction, scientist Augustine Lofthouse (George Clooney) refuses to vacate his Arctic laboratory when radiation levels on Earth grow to dangerous levels. Instead, he chooses to use his lab’s computer system to search for orbiting ships deployed on missions. Intending to warn the distant crew of Aether of Earth’s impending doom, Lofthouse discovers a young girl in the lab. The two band together to brave the Arctic elements on a journey to a north-bound radio tower that will be powerful enough to send a warning signal to Aether. An effects-laced sci-fi thriller, The Midnight Sky looks and feels like similar brink-of-the-apocalypse films but with extra weight placed on the performances — notably, Clooney. It’s not a perfect film, but it more than does its job.
Outside the Wire (2021)
Metacritic: 45%
IMDb: 5.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 116m
Genre: Thriller, Action, Science Fiction
Stars: Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris, Enzo Cilenti
Directed by: Mikael H?fstr?m
In 2036, a Russian civil war has the U.S. providing wartime support to the nation. The military now fights alongside “Gumps,” robot soldiers that occupy every branch. As punishment for disobeying squad commands, Harp (Anthony Mackie), a drone pilot, is sent to Ukraine to fight alongside Leo (Damson Idris), an android super-soldier. Together, the duo is forced to take on Victor Koval, a terrorist determined to use Cold War missiles for combat. Led by two great lead performances and a medley of sci-fi action that’ll keep you glued to your seat, Outside the Wire delivers the thrills from start to finish.
The Discovery (2017)
Metacritic: 54%
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 102m
Genre: Drama, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Stars: Jason Segel, Rooney Mara, Robert Redford
Directed by: Charlie McDowell
In a reimagined modern era, proof of the afterlife is amongst us, thanks to the research of scientist Thomas Harbor (Robert Redford). With the news hitting the world by storm, suicide rates climb exponentially as people opt to begin life anew as opposed to remaining in troubling situations. Harbor’s son, Will (Jason Segel), questions his father’s studies. Meeting Isla (Rooney Mara) on a ferry, the two discuss mortality and eventually begin a relationship. When Will takes Isla to his father’s hidden compound, the nature of his father’s work comes to light in ways neither father, son, or Isla could ever expect. A wonder-filled, philosophical film, The Discovery features an intriguing story and stellar performances, especially from Segel and Redford.
The Wandering Earth (2019)
Metacritic: 57%
IMDb: 6.0/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Drama
Cast: Qu Chuxiao, Li Guangjie, Zhao Jinmai
The Wandering Earth may be the biggest film that you’ve never heard of, but it was a huge blockbuster in China. The movie takes place in the future, as the expanding sun forces humanity to literally move the Earth to another solar system. This requires Captain Wang Lei (Li Guangjie) to leave behind his son, Liu Qi (Qu Chuxiao), as his mission in space keeps him away for several years. However, both father and son will have major roles to play in order to ensure that the Earth survives its perilous journey.
Mirage (2018)
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama, Romance, Mystery
Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Chino Darín, Javier Gutiérrez
Don’t be afraid to read subtitles when watching Mirage. This Spanish sci-fi film has a story that is universal no matter which language is used. Adriana Ugarte stars as Vera Roy, a woman who inadvertently discovers a way to communicate with a teenager named Nico Lasarte (Joel Illescas) 25 years in the past. After helping Nico prevent his own accidental death, Vera discovers that her own world and timeline have greatly changed. Vera’s daughter no longer exists, and her husband, David (álvaro Morte), is married to someone else. Subsequently, Vera desperately searches for a way to regain what she lost.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Metacritic: 61%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Drama, Thriller, TV Movie
Cast: Fionn Whitehead, Will Poulter, Craig Parkinson, Alice Lowe, Asim Chaudhry
There’s nothing else on Netflix exactly like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. This spinoff from the British sci-fi anthology series is an interactive movie that allows players/viewers to control the fate of Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead). In 1984, Stefan is a young programmer who gets the chance to adapt a “choose your own adventure” book into a video game. However, art imitates life, and Stefan is soon faced with questions about his own free will. It’s not possible to see every bit of footage from Bandersnatch in one continuous viewing. That’s why it invites repeat viewings by letting alternate choices unlock new story paths. This may not be the future of all movies, but it is a subgenre worth exploring.
Advantageous (2015)
Metacritic: 59%
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Cast: Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Freya Adams
Advantageous is not a flashy sci-fi movie, but it is thought-provoking. In the near future, a single mother named Gwen Koh (Jacqueline Kim) loses her job and her financial security. Desperate to provide for her daughter, Jules (Samantha Kim), Gwen volunteers for a radical experiment to transfer her mind to a younger body. However, Gwen 2.0 (Freya Adams) is a very different woman from the original model, much to the horror of Jules and even Gwen herself.
Project Power (2020)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 113m
Genre: Action, Crime, Science Fiction
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback
Directed by: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Superheroes aren’t real, but their powers are. That’s the premise behind Project Power, a film that presents a near-future world in which superhuman powers can be granted to almost anyone via a special pill called Power. For five minutes, users of Power have abilities uniquely tied to them. New Orleans police detective Frank Shaver (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) openly uses Power, even against regulations. In his search for the source of Power, Frank comes across Art (Jamie Foxx), a man who may have unexpected connections to the development of the drug. This is a cautionary tale, and a fresh take on a very familiar genre.
Bird Box (2018)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 124m
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Science Fiction
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, Jacki Weaver
Directed by: Susanne Bier
It’s understandable if you get some Quiet Place vibes from Bird Box. Both are sci-fi horror movies that deal with monsters that directly connect with human senses. In this flick, the creatures can make anyone who sees them become insane with suicidal urges. Hence the constant blindfolds to keep the entities out. Sandra Bullock plays Malorie Hayes, a woman struggling to survive in this horrific new world, while flashbacks explore how she dealt with the end of life as she knew it. Not all of the moments land, but Bird Box has its share of real scares.
See You Yesterday (2019)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 5.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 86m
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Crime, Action
Stars: Eden Duncan-Smith, Dante Crichlow, Astro
Directed by: Stefon Bristol
Many sci-fi films have something important to say about the present, and See You Yesterday has a premise that seems all too timely. The story follows C.J. Walker (Eden Duncan-Smith), a revolutionary genius even as a teenager. C.J. has come up with actual working time machines, and she has a very personal reason to use them. Her brother, Calvin Walker (Brian “Stro” Bradley), has been killed during an encounter with the police. To save Calvin, C.J. and her friend Sebastian (Danté Crichlow) try to change the past. Needless to say, complications ensue.
Beyond Skyline (2017)
Metacritic: 46%
IMDb: 5.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 105m
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Adventure, Horror
Stars: Frank Grillo, Bojana Novakovi?, Iko Uwais
Directed by: Liam O'Donnell
The long-delayed follow-up to 2010’s Skyline is one of the rare instances where the sequel is vastly superior to the original. This unapologetically pulpy, alien invasion B-movie shows what happens when civilians are left to defend themselves against a superior species of aliens. Paradise Highway‘s Frank Grillo stars as a cop at odds with his son when the aliens strike. Suddenly sent running for their lives, the father-son duo move at a breakneck pace, traversing through subterranean tunnels to the nuclear wasteland of Los Angeles to an alien ship to a rebel human base in Laos to mount a final defense. Beyond Skyline is absolutely nutty, but if you like big action, ludicrous sci-fi tropes, and good ol’ fashioned human versus alien violence, this one’s for you.
Okja (2017)
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction, Action
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Seo-hyun Ahn, Jake Gyllenhaal, Devon Bostick, Lily Collins, Steven Yuen
Bong Joon-ho earned Best Director and Best Picture Oscars for Parasite, but he was making remarkable movies well before that recognition. Okja is one of his most polemical films, taking on the meat industry and capitalism at large in this touching sci-fi drama for Netflix. The story follows Mija, a young girl who has grown up in the mountains of South Korea with a fictional super-pig best friend named Okja. But when the multinational conglomerate Mirando Corporation kidnaps Okja and transports her to New York to launch an entirely new meat industry, it’s up to Mija to save her best friend. A caustic satire of the greed and grotesqueness of American food processing, Okja pokes fun at everyone from self-obsessed CEOs to bumbling, naive activists in a sci-fi romp that hits close to home.
I Am Mother (2019)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 114m
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars: Clara Rugaard, Hilary Swank, Rose Byrne
Directed by: Grant Sputore
Director Grant Sputore turned a lot of heads with I Am Mother, a superbly made and terrifically acted sci-fi thriller. In the far future, humanity is seemingly extinct. An android called Mother (voiced by Bridesmaids star Rose Byrne) fulfills its primary function by attempting to revive humanity. But first, Mother raises Daughter (Clara Rugaard) for practice and teaches her how to survive in this inhospitable world. However, Daughter’s reality is shattered when she encounters a woman (Hilary Swank) from the outside, who happens to be the first human that Daughter has ever met. And once the newcomer is inside of the bunker, I Am Mother takes a decidedly sinister turn. The truth will come out, but will anyone survive to see it?