Image via Netflix
Science fiction is one of the most diverse genres in film. Sci-fi movies often combine the best elements of action, drama, romance, mystery, horror, and thriller, into a creative version of some type of technology or future. Science fiction truly has something for everyone.
It’s taken decades for popular science fiction to become popular to the masses. The overwhelming success of films like E.T. and Star Wars led to not only a resurgence in sci-fi, but a renewed interest in sci-fi in popular culture. Plus, special effects have come a long way, so we get to see big-budget depictions beyond our wildest imaginations, spanning across superhero movies and other genres, too.
In recent years, we've gotten everything from new installments of the Star Wars and Mad Max films to Blade Runner and Jurassic Park remakes. We also get to see the genre kept alive in other related genres, including Marvel movies like Ant-Man. And the original content is only getting better, with movies like Snowpiercer and series like Black Mirror challenging our ideas about technology and the future. Whether you prefer your sci-fi films animated (shout out to Wall-E) or with a side of horror (word to Under the Skin), here are the best sci-fi movies on Netflix.
The Adam Project (2022)
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell
Genre: Sci-fi, Action, Comedy
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 46m
Rotten Tomatoes: 68% (Critics) 77% (Audience)
Ryan Reynolds’ latest collaboration with Netflix finds him reliving his childhood: literally. The sci-fi action comedy The Adam Project centers on young Adam Reed (Walker Scobell) as he grieves the death of his father (Mark Ruffalo) and discovers his older self (Ryan Reynolds) has traveled back in time from a future where time travel is possible. Together they go back in time to find their father and find the secret to saving the world. For Ryan Reynolds fans, The Adam Project is a blast, with Reynolds doing his usual shtick, except opposite an adorable child actor that acts… well, just like him. Mark Ruffalo is a welcome presence as well, exuding a warm dad presence, and the movie reunites him and Jennifer Garner in the last 13 Going on 30 reunion anyone ever expected. Netflix went all out on the budget, with special effects that rival any sci-fi movie from any of the major studios. Action packed and surprisingly emotional, The Adam Project is more than satisfying.
Gattaca (1997)
Director: Andrew Niccol
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, Uma Thurman, Gore Vidal
Genre: Sci-fi
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 46m
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% (Critics) 87% (Audience)
One of the most intelligent science fiction movies of the ‘90s, Gattaca has a lot on its mind. The dystopian sci-fi drama takes place in a future where society is driven by eugenics and children are conceived through specific genetic selection to ensure they have the very best genetic traits of their parents. The film follows Vincent (Ethan Hawke), a man born outside this genetic program, who dreams of going to space despite his genetic background disallowing him from doing so. Gattaca is not only one of the smartest sci-fi movies of the ‘90s, but also one of the best-looking, with Academy Award-nominated art direction that portrays a slick version of the future which still looks distinctive today. The world itself is also fully fleshed out, which allows its gradual shift toward noir and thriller elements to work so well. The trio of Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law similarly come together to make the movie feel human and believable, with all three giving one of their most underrated performances. Thought-provoking and just plain well-made, Gattaca is always worth a watch.
Starship Troopers (1997)
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Cast: Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey
Genre: Sci-fi, Action
Rating: R
Runtime: 2h 9m
Rotten Tomatoes: 66% (Critics) 70% (Audience)
Time has been kind to the famously maligned Starship Troopers, with it now being revered as a stealthily smart satire instead of the dumb sci-fi action film many people thought it was at the time of its release. Based on the novel by Robert Heinlein, it follows soldier Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) as he joins the fight against giant alien bugs from another planet and helps turn the tide against the aliens. Whereas the original novel is widely considered fascist (Verhoeven subscribes to this interpretation), the film adaptation directly satirizes the novel, elevating its military fetishism and nationalism to comedic levels. Underneath the somewhat wooden acting and excessive violence is a startling anti-war treatise that takes aim at the military industrial complex, which was all too timely at the movie’s release and continues to be relevant to this day. Starship Troopers is a cult sci-fi favorite for a reason: few movies combine pure action movie fun with shockingly insightful satire.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks
Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 2h 44m
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (Critics) 81% (Audience)
V for Vendetta (2005)
Director: James McTeigue
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt
Genre: Sci-fi, Action
Rating: R
Runtime: 2h 12m
Rotten Tomatoes: 73% (Critics) 90% (Audience)
Before it was used by everyone from libertarians to anarchists, the Guy Fawkes mask is probably best known for its anti-fascist usage in the movie V For Vendetta. Based on the comic series of the same name, the movie centers on a post-apocalyptic Britain run by a fascist government. An anarchist freedom fighter named V (Hugo Weaving), teams up with Evey (Natalie Portman), a young working-class woman, in order to use guerilla warfare to overturn the government. While a bit tame by today’s standards, V For Vendetta’s anti-fascist bent was a bit controversial at the time, but has aged very well in the years since. The story is interesting and twisty, as written by The Matrix writers Lana and Lilly Wachowski and the set pieces still impress to this day. V For Vendetta may have some unwanted political baggage to its visuals, but it still remains a solid sci-fi action thriller that will have you pondering some big political questions.
The One (2001)
Director: James Wong
Cast: Jet Li, Carla Gugino, Delroy Lindo, Jason Statham
Genre: Sci-fi, Action
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 27m
Rotten Tomatoes: 13% (Critics) 51% (Audience)
Multiverses are all the rage right now with Spider-Man: No Way Home and Everything Everywhere All At Once bringing the science fiction concept into recent mainstream popularity. Way back in 2001, however, martial arts superstar Jet Li starred in his very own multiverse film. The science fiction action film The One centers on Gabriel Yulaw (Li), a rogue multiverse agent, as he seeks to destroy all alternate versions of himself in all realities in order to become the mythical being known as “The One.” His final target, LASD cop Gabe Law (also Li), teams up with another multiverse agent (Jason Statham) to put an end to Yulaw’s quest. The One would already be pretty good with its novel premise alone, but when you have the undeniably talented Jet Li in the lead role, you get plenty of well done extended martial arts sequences (and in this specific case, twice the Jet Li, too!) The movie is absolutely of its time, with plenty of nu metal (this movie manages to hit the holy trifecta of nu metal by having songs by Drowning Pool, Disturbed, and Papa Roach) but it’s a short, fun romp that realizes it’s fun to sit back and watch Jet Li do his thing. A sci-fi actioner way ahead of its time, The One deserves more love.
The Book of Eli (2010)
Director: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
Cast: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson
Genre: Sci-fi, Action
Rating: R
Runtime: 1h 58m
Rotten Tomatoes: 47% (Critics) 64% (Audience)
Looper (2012)
Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano
Genre: Sci-fi, Action
Rating: R
Runtime: 1h 59m
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% (Critics) 82% (Audience)
Synchronic (2019)
Director: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Katie Aselton, Ally Ioannides
Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 1h 42m
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% (Critics) 76% (Audience)
See You Yesterday (2019)
Director: Sefton Bristol
Cast: Eden Duncan-Smith, Dante Crichlow, Astro
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 1h 26m
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% (Critics) 38% (Audience)
Executive produced by Spike Lee, See You Yesterday is essentially a cross between Back to the Future and The Hate U Give. The film follows teenagers C.J. (Eden Duncan-Smith) and Sebastian (Dante Crichlow), who build a pair of time machines in order to go back in time and prevent the murder of C.J.’s brother Calvin (Astro) by a police officer. While the subject matter is undeniably heavy, See You Yesterday feels buoyant and creative, strengthened by charming performances from the two leads. It’s rare to have a science fiction movie with an all Black cast, let alone one that focuses specifically on Black cultural issues, but See You Yesterday succeeds in combining real life issues with a larger than life premise that explores these issues in a way more realistic dramas can’t. Director Stefon Bristol’s debut feature shows more than enough promise for his directorial career down the line.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Director: George Clooney
Cast: George Clooney, Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Caoilinn Springall
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 58m
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% (Critics) 26% (Audience)
The new movie that sees George Clooney return to the director’s chair is the stunning new sci-fi Netflix original The Midnight Sky. Based on the novel Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton, the film follows lonely scientist Augustine (Clooney) as races to contact a crew of astronauts and stop them from coming home amid a sudden mysterious global catastrophe. The Midnight Sky is among one of Netflix’s most expensive original films of 2020 and it shows with impressive special effects and a top notch cast including Kyle Chandler and Felicity Jones. While certainly suspenseful, the movie has plenty of heart, especially in the scenes with Clooney and newcomer Caoilinn Springall as the young girl that Augustine befriends during his attempts to make contact. The Midnight Sky is an emotional and exhilarating slice of science fiction from George Clooney, and further proof of his prowess as a director.
Self/less (2015)
Director: Tarsem Singh
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Ben Kingsley, Victor Garber
Genre: Science Fiction, Action
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 56m
Rotten Tomatoes: 19% (Critics) 46% (Audience)
Director Tarsem Singh has made his name directing mind-bending, underrated features such as 2000’s The Cell and 2006’s The Fall. His 2015 film Self/less is similarly heady: it centers on a man dying of cancer (Ben Kingsley) as he transfers his consciousness into a younger body (Ryan Reynolds) and begins to uncover a conspiracy behind his new host body and the corporation behind the procedure. What follows is a very entertaining action thriller with a charming Ryan Reynolds. Singh’s visual style is more subdued here but he makes up for it with appropriately thrilling chase scenes and gun fights, of which Reynolds is more than up for the task. A solid action thriller with an intriguing science fiction twist, Self/less is another great movie from acclaimed director Tarsem Singh.
Total Recall (1990)
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside
Alongside Starship Troopers, Total Recall is evidence of Paul Verhoeven being one of our very best directors of science fiction action, with both movies becoming huge hits in the ’90s. Loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” Total Recall follows construction worker Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) as he discovers a memory chip in his brain during a virtual vacation to Mars and unlocks recollections of being an agent fighting against an oppressive regime. The most expensive film ever made at the time of its release, Total Recall still looks great, showcasing impressive effects and hugely elaborate set designs for its space station and Mars settings. For many fans of legendary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick, the movie is an impressively fun adaptation of his work. Movie audiences got the best of both worlds: a typically charming and action-filled performance from Arnold Schwarzenegger, combined with an intelligent and thoughtful movie that plays with reality, memory, and post-capitalist ideas. Total Recall is one of the very best science fiction action films of the ’90s, and holds up well today.
Project Power (2020)
Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback
The pandemic has deprived us of many of our widely anticipated superhero films, with Black Widow and Wonder Woman 1984 getting delayed indefinitely and the one superhero movie to come out, New Mutants, getting a very small theatrical-only release. It’s the perfect time for Netflix to step in, and step in it did with the enjoyable Project Power. Directed by Catfish directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, the film centers on ex-soldier Art (Jamie Foxx), cop Frank (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and teenager Robin (Dominique Fishback) as they search New Orleans for the distributor behind a pill that grants users superpowers for a limited amount of time. While not the most original premise in the history of cinema, Project Power makes up for that in its charming cast and slick action scenes that are among the best in recent Netflix originals. Foxx and Gordon-Levitt turn in solid performances, but the star-making turn comes from Dominique Fishback, who’s been slowly making a name for herself with great performances in 2017’s The Hate U Give and HBO’s The Deuce and Random Acts of Flyness. Alongside a smart and knowing use of its New Orleans background, Project Power is the perfect superhero movie for this decidedly superhero movie-less year.
Event Horizon
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan
Event Horizon is as underrated as it is deeply unnerving. The sci fi horror movie follows a rescue crew in the year 2047 as they investigate a spaceship that disappeared seven years earlier, only to learn that something horrific is behind its disappearance, and is still on board. Future Resident Evil director Paul W. S. Anderson brings his industrial Gothic style to this space chiller, delivering some effective scares. It also helps that Jurassic Park’s Sam Neill, an underrated actor who usually gives roles his all, stars in a major role. Impressive effects and production design still make Event Horizon deeply creepy, even today, making it a must watch for any fans of sci fi horror.
Moon (2009)
Director: Duncan Jones
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott
An underrated sci fi indie picture from the late 2000’s, Moon hails from director Duncan Jones, who himself hails from a real life “Starman”: his father is David Bowie. Moon follows astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), who works a lonely job on the moon gathering resources to send back to Earth. When he has a physical accident, however, he discovers something disturbing about his mission and soon attempts to get back home to his wife. What’s remarkable about Moon is how great it looks on such a low budget, with impressive effects and set design. The movie is also essentially a one man show starring Sam Rockwell, and he’s more than up to the task, giving a quietly heartbreaking performance in the lead (and mostly only) role. Moon is a stunning, technically impressive sci fi thriller that will stay with you long after it’s over.
Snowpiercer (2014)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Starring: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton
Set in the year 2031 in an Earth ravaged by climate change, Snowpiercer has only become more relevant in the years since its release. Directed by Okja and Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, Snowpiercer follows the remnants of humanity as they live on a large, constantly moving train that’s heavily stratified by class. The movie centers on Curtis (Chris Evans), a member of the lower class section of the train, who leads a revolt that journeys to the front of the train and tries to overthrow the elite members of their society. Snowpiercer is righteously unsubtle in regards to its commentary on classism, with its plot moving at a breakneck pace that never lets up. The close-quarters fight scenes are tensely directed, and the characters are well drawn, especially Evans’, as well as Jamie Bell’s. Snowpiercer is as unusual as it is well made, and remains criminally underrated.
Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus (2019)
Director: Jenny Goldberg & Jake Wyatt
Starring: Richard Steven Horvitz, Rosearik Rikki Simons, Andy Berman
Invader Zim is one of the most popular Nicktoons of the 2000s, thanks to its idiosyncratic dark humor and creepy animation. A favorite amongst the Hot Topic crowd, Invader Zim’s popularity continued long after the series ended (and arguably increased) through hugely successful merchandise sales. It was only a matter of time before a revival was greenlit, and this year Netflix gave us Invader Zim: Enter The Florpus. Enter The Florpus follows the titular alien invader as he learns that his leaders never had any intentions of leading the charge to invade Earth, and loses confidence, allowing his human nemesis Dib to gain the upper hand. The movie has everything a fan could want: the trademark humor of the series, a compelling plot, and returning voice actors giving great performances. Invader Zim: Enter The Florpus joins Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling in a great year for continuations of classic Nicktoons.
Advantageous (2015)
Director: Jennifer Phang
Starring: Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Ken Jeong
Another impressive low-budget sci-fi gem, Advantageous centers on a mother (Jacqueline Kim) in the near future who, after being fired from her job, agrees to undergo a potentially dangerous procedure in order to continue caring for her daughter. The film plays like an episode of The Twilight Zone, going for a more dramatic tone that comments on everyday issues, despite taking place in a future that’s a bit different from our present. Advantageous is also notable for being one of few science fiction films directed by an Asian American woman and featuring an Asian American protagonist. Advantageous may not be as action-packed as other sci-fi films, but the story is just as satisfying.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Director: David Slade
Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Will Poulter, Alice Lowe
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is definitely unlike anything you’ve experienced before (unless you were raised on choose your adventure books and video games, in which case, you might be all too familiar). Bandersnatch follows young programmer Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead), who is adapting a choose your own adventure novel into a video game, as he slowly begins to lose track of reality in an eerily similar way to that of the novel’s author. Bandersnatch itself is an interactive film that allows you to make choices for Stefan. The number of choices present in the film add up to over one trillion possible paths viewers can take, meaning there’s a good chance that you could reach a far different ending from any of your friends. Bandersnatch cleverly comments on the idea of free will by directly referencing the choose your own adventure format, and is as deliciously dark and creepy as your typical Black Mirror episode. Bandersnatch is a truly singular movie experience.
Bright (2017)
Director: David Ayer
Starring: Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace, Lucy Fry, Edgar Ramirez
It’s Lord of the Rings meets a gritty LA cop drama meets an fantastical allegory on race, and it’s, well, kind of a mess. Will Smith does his best as a human cop that lives in an an alternate universe where there’s orcs, fairies and elves that coexist somewhat peacefully after a big war. Until, along with his partner, the very first orc cop (Edgerton), Smith comes across a magic wand that evil elves want to use for evil things. Similar to Suicide Squad (also directed by David Ayer), the film sports an intriguing trailer that hints at an bold concept, but fails to execute in a satisfying way. But if you came to the orc cop movie for hard-won observations on the human condition, you came to the wrong place. Luckily, you don’t have to pay for the price of theatre admission, so you can just fast forward to the action
The Discovery (2017)
Director: Charlie McDowell
Starring: Jason Segal, Robert Redford, Rooney Mara, Jesse Plemons
If you enjoy torturing yourself by watching promising, but under-realized concepts, this is the Netflix original for you. In it, a scientist (Redford) discovers proof that the afterlife exists. We meet him during a televised interview that ends with a producer blowing his brains out—something that millions of people do when they hear the news. The scientist’s son (Segal) takes a ferry ride to rendezvous with dad and he understandably has a few reservations about the research. While onboard, he meets a snippy young lady (Mara) that he later saves from committing suicide in the ocean. Things progress within their cult-like manor where everyone wears matching jumpsuits. But the film moves with no sense of urgency until the final revelation lands with a underwhelming plop. Segal and Mara, both delightful, talented actors, were either burdened with a stilted script or simply possess zero chemistry with each other. Unfortunately, the film devotes a lot of time to this grating couple. And Redford and Plemmons, while more or less believable, just don’t blow your mind ever or really make you care about them one way or the other. It’s really too bad because on paper, fewer movies promise more, but on film, even fewer deliver less.
Limitless (2011)
Director: Neil Burger
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro
A sci-fi thriller with a completely ludicrous but fun premise, Limitless was a surprise hit in 2011. The film follows unsuccessful writer Eddie (Bradley Cooper), who takes a mysterious pill that allows him to access one hundred percent of his brain, making him a financial wizard. He becomes largely successful and even gets his girlfriend (Abbie Cornish) back, but his success attracts the attention of a business mogul (Robert De Niro) who wants to take advantage of Eddie by any means necessary. Limitless took the popular “humans only use ten percent of their brains” myth and essentially made it into a stylish thriller. While completely nonsensical on a science level, Limitless is a thrilling movie with a fun early Bradley Cooper performance at its center.
Okja (2017)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Ahn Seo-hyun, Byun Hee-bong, Steven Yeun, Jake Gyllenhaal
In an effort to make a more efficient livestock, a meat corporation led by twin sister CEOs (both played by Swinton) breeds 26 super-pigs in a laboratory and releases them to different locales to make them seem more natural. 10 years down the line, Mija, a young girl, lives in the South Korean countryside with her beloved Okja when they’re visited by a deranged zoologist, Dr. Johnny Wilcox (Gyllenhaal), who lets MIja know her pig is the best of the 26 and will be the star of their big unveiling of the new meat. She then meets an animal freedom fighter (Dano) that want to plant a recording device in Okja to record the cruelty of the slaughterhouse and thanks to some translation deception, Mija appears to agree to it. Distraught at the error, she follows Okja to New York where the big pig gets forcibly bred and has bits of her eaten alive by Wilcox. Eventually, Okja gets taken to a mass killing plant, where Mija attempts a daring rescue amid the red, dripping slaughter. It takes a special type of director to combine all the elements that Joon-ho does in this film, blending sadism with sweetness, magical realism with science fiction and a child-animal friendship story mixed with a scathing critique of capitalism and the industrial food complex. After this, you’d have to be some kind of monster if you still feel that the lone carnivorous argument of “I like to eat meat” is fully sufficient.