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The best sci-fi movies on Hulu right now

Caesar rides with a grim expression on his face in War for the Planet of the Apes.
20th Century Studios

Among the new movies on Hulu in April, the only prominent additions to the lineup of sci-fi movies were The Fifth Element and Pacific Rim, both of which have been on Hulu before. But as long as Hulu has top-tier titles like War for the Planet of the Apes and the 2021 remake of Dune, then sci-fi fans should be very happy with their options.

You can find the rest of our picks for the best sci-fi movies on Hulu below. They include the original Alien, Blade Runner 2049, and more. Not all of these films on this list are owned by Disney or 20th Century Studios, so catch them while you can. They won’t be around forever.

If you’re looking for more films to watch, remember that Hulu is part of the Disney Bundle. That includes the basic Hulu subscription (with ads), Disney+, and ESPN+, all for just $14 a month. That’s a great deal, and you don’t even have to travel to the future for it.

If you’re curious about what’s available in science fiction on other streaming services, we also have guides for the best sci-fi movies on Netflix, as well as the best sci-fi movies on Amazon Prime Video.

Recently added to Hulu

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) new

War for the Planet of the Apes
82 %
7.4/10
pg-13 140m
Genre Drama, Science Fiction, War
Stars Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Karin Konoval
Directed by Matt Reeves

The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy comes to a strong conclusion in War for the Planet of the Apes. After years of conflict with humans, Caesar (Andy Serkis) has lost almost all compassion for his rival species, especially after humans killed his wife and child. That’s why Caesar is so slow to warm up to Nova (Amiah Miller), a mute human girl who is befriended by his right-hand orangutan, Maurice (Karin Konoval).

Before Caesar can lead the apes to sanctuary, he’ll have one last battle to fight against the Colonel (Woody Harrelson), a man whose brutal tactics may allow humanity to retain their hold on the Planet of the Apes.

The Fifth Element (1997) new

The Fifth Element
53 %
7.6/10
pg-13 126m
Genre Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman
Directed by Luc Besson

In 1997, The Fifth Element was a breath of fresh air for sci-fi lovers with a story inspired by European science fiction comics. Bruce Willis stars as Korben Dallas, a former soldier turned cab driver. While trying to make a living in the future, Dallas’ world is rocked when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) literally drops in on his flying car.

Leeloo isn’t initially sure who she is or what she’s supposed to be doing shortly after her resurrection, but she eventually goes off to space in order to prevent the triumph of the Great Evil. And Dallas is going to help Leeloo do it, whether he wants to or not.

Dune (2021) new

Dune
74 %
8.0/10
pg-13 155m
Genre Science Fiction, Adventure
Stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac
Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Back in 1984, not even David Lynch could draw moviegoers into theaters for Dune. Thankfully, director Denis Villeneuve had much better fortune with his 2021 remake. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides, the son of Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson). The Atreides are among the most powerful families in the universe, which is why they’ve been tasked to take over spice production on the planet Arrakis. Because without spice, space travel is impossible.

As Paul is haunted by visions of Arrakis’ Fremen, Duke Leto attempts to make equitable deals with the natives of that world. What neither Leto nor Paul realize is that their family has been betrayed from the start, and they may not live long enough to avenge their loved ones.

Pacific Rim (2013) new

Pacific Rim
65 %
6.9/10
pg-13 131m
Genre Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
Stars Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris Elba
Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro doesn’t waste a lot of time explaining the set up of Pacific Rim. In an alternate version of the present, giant alien monsters called Kaiju cross over to our world through an undersea portal. To fight these monsters, humanity creates Jaegers, giant robot mechs that can battle the Kaiju on their own terms.

By 2020, even the Jaegers are losing their effectiveness against the Kaiju. Marshal Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) has a plan to turn the tide, but he needs former Jaeger pilot Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) to make it work. And it may already be too late to prevent humanity’s final defenses from being overrun.

The Creator (2023)

The Creator
63 %
6.8/10
pg-13 134m
Genre Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan
Directed by Gareth Edwards

After an extended absence from theaters, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards helmed and co-wrote The Creator. Tenet’s John David Washington stars as Sergeant Joshua Taylor, a soldier in humanity’s war against an overpowering AI force. Years after losing his wife, Maya Fey (Gemma Chan), to an AI attack, Taylor is given a new mission that may decide the outcome of the war.

Taylor’s goal is to find and destroy a new AI weapon, Alpha-O, which has the ability to control any technology remotely. But much to Taylor’s shock, the weapon is actually Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), a child-like AI he decides to take under his protection regardless of the consequences.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blade Runner 2049
81 %
8.0/10
r 164m
Genre Science Fiction, Drama
Stars Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Sylvia Hoeks
Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Dune director Denis Villeneuve did a fantastic job of bringing the world of Blade Runner 2049 to life and following up on the first film by Ridley Scott. But not enough people saw Blade Runner 2049 in theaters to give it another sequel. As a standalone feature, however, it’s a visually stunning experience.

The story features Barbie’s Ryan Gosling as K, a replicant Blade Runner whose job is to hunt down rogue replicants. K is very acclimated to his life’s work, and he even has an AI girlfriend, Joi (Ana de Armas). Joi is convinced that K is more than just another replicant, and she may be proven right when K discovers that he could be the son of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) and his replicant lover, Rachel (Sean Young). However, looking for answers in this case may prove to be too dangerous for both K and Deckard.

Alien (1979)

Alien
89 %
8.5/10
r 117m
Genre Horror, Science Fiction
Stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm
Directed by Ridley Scott

2024 marks the 45th anniversary of Ridley Scott’s Alien, and it remains one of the best sci-fi/horror films of all-time. The story focuses on the ill-fated crew of the Nostromo, a spaceship that investigates a strange transmission during their interstellar journey. What they find is the body of a long-dead humanoid-like alien and a facehugger that leaves the ship’s executive officer, Kane (John Hurt), with an alien growing inside of his body.

No amount of Pepto-Bismol is going to save Kane when the xenomorph bursts from his body. Unfortunately for Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt), Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), and the rest of the crew, the xenomorph is more than capable of hunting them down one by one.

Dual (2022)

Dual
62 %
5.8/10
r 95m
Genre Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars Karen Gillan, Aaron Paul, Beulah Koale
Directed by Riley Stearns
Karen Gillan plays a dual role in Dual, as Sarah and her double. In the near future, Sarah is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and she allows herself to be cloned to spare her boyfriend, Peter (Beulah Koale), and her mother, (Maija Paunio), from the emotional pain of losing her. But when Sarah miraculously recovers her health, she is horrified to discover that the clone has already taken over her life. Sarah’s mother and Peter even prefer the clone to the real Sarah! And by law, only one Sarah can survive. That’s why Sarah has one year to train herself, with the help of Trent (Aaron Paul), to fight her clone in a battle to the death.

Crimes of the Future (2022)

Crimes of the Future
67 %
5.9/10
r 107m
Genre Drama, Horror, Science Fiction
Stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Scott Speedman
Directed by David Cronenberg
Ah, David Cronenberg. Never change. Crimes of the Future is Cronenberg’s first sci-fi film in two decades, and you really shouldn’t watch this movie while eating. It goes the full Cronenberg with disgusting sci-fi body horror. Viggo Mortensen stars as Saul Tenser, a man whose Accelerated Evolution Syndrome makes his body constantly produce new organs. So in this near future, Saul constantly has his organs removed as a piece of performance art by his partner, Caprice (Léa Seydoux). This actually sexually excites National Organ Registry agent Timlin (Love Lies Bleeding‘s Kristen Stewart), and it leads Saul into an even darker corner of the body modification underground.

Come True (2020)

Come True
68 %
5.9/10
105m
Genre Science Fiction, Horror
Stars Julia Sarah Stone, Landon Liboiron, Carlee Ryski
Directed by Anthony Scott Burns
Plagued by sleep disturbances her whole life, teenage Sarah (Julia Sarah Stone) sees things get worse after she runs away from home and is hunted by shadowy figures in her dreams every night. Hoping it will be the answer to her prayers, Sarah agrees to participate in a sleep study run by the creepy Dr. Meyer (Christopher Heatherington). Unfortunately, the study only makes things more dire as whatever’s stalking Sarah in her sleep begins to threaten her waking world. A visually impressive mix of sci-fi and horror, Come True has echoes of Philip K. Dick while feeling like a more thoughtful, indie answer to Wes Craven’s classic A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Come True - Official Trailer | HD | IFC Midnight

Little Fish (2021)

Little Fish
71 %
6.9/10
101m
Genre Romance, Science Fiction, Drama
Stars Olivia Cooke, Jack O'Connell, SoKo
Directed by Chad Hartigan
With echoes from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Never Let Me Go, Little Fish is not your average dystopian plague story. Rather than searching for cures for flesh-eating chemical weapons or fighting off hordes of brain-eating zombies, the characters of Little Fish are under siege from N.I.A. — a virus that devours its victims’ memories. Musicians can’t play their instruments, pilots can’t fly, and sailors can’t sail. While we get an idea of how the world as a whole is collapsing beneath the weight of the epidemic, the movie’s focus is on the heartbreaking story of Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Jude (Jack O’Connell), who struggle to hold together their relationship as the virus beings chipping away at Jude’s memories of their life together.
Little Fish - Official Trailer | HD | IFC Films

Boss Level (2021)

Boss Level
56 %
6.8/10
101m
Genre Action, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts
Directed by Joe Carnahan
Every morning is the same morning for Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) in Boss Level, and each of those mornings he wakes up to the same assassin burying a machete in his headboard and a small army of colorful killers waiting for him outside. No matter what he does, Roy can’t manage to survive past 12:47 p.m., and that doesn’t change until a clue from his estranged wife puts him on the right path. Time loop movies are nothing new. Films like Groundhog DayEdge of Tomorrow, and even Hulu’s own Palm Springs have turned the idea of living the same day over and over again into a subgenre all of its own. What sets Boss Level apart is the dark humor and perfectly over-the-top violence with which the story is told. It’s an action-packed and fun way to spend an hour and a half, with lots of blood and lots of laughs.
Boss Level - Trailer (Official) • A Hulu Original

Editors' Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Blair Marnell

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features.

Michileen Martin

Michileen Martin has written about pop culture in general and comics in particular for two decades. His work has appeared in numerous sites including Looper, PopMatters, Popdose, and nerdbastards.com. He probably knows more about the Incredible Hulk than you.

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