In the 20th century, sci-fi authors imagined the 21st century would be full of flying cars and robot servants. They weren’t completely off with their predictions, but the greatest realization of “the future” has come in the popularity of sci-fi movies. Science fiction has gone mainstream, and with massive budgets, sci-fi stories have gotten bigger and more targeted at both today’s world and the world of tomorrow. Despite the increasing popularity, however, Netflix hasn’t exactly bolstered its sci-fi lineup. It’s one of the few lacking genres on the platform. That said, there are still some good options. Fortunately, you don’t have to hunt for them because we’ve done it for you. These are the best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now.
In need of a few more suggestions? We’ve curated a guide to the best sci-fi movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best sci-fi movies on Hulu, too.
Recently added to Netflix
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Godzilla1998 -
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Monsters vs. Aliens2009
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Mars Attacks!1996
Godzilla (1998) new
In retrospect, 1998 was probably too early for a CGI-heavy Godzilla. This first crack at a souped-up, modernized version of the classic monster was universally panned on release. But with a number of entries since, it’s easier to appreciate the ambitious swing of Roland Emmerich’s ambitious 1998 attempt. Matthew Broderick stars as Dr. Niko Tatopolous, an expert on the effects of radiation on animals, sent to study a gigantic lizard that has arrived in New York City. But when the media catches wind of the monster, the secret is out, and the military is forced to engage the beast, which has quietly laid 200 eggs.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) new
The first Terminator isn’t on Netflix, unfortunately, but Terminator 2: Judgement Day is a perfectly suitable sequel. Set 11 years after the original, young John Connor (Edward Furlong) becomes targeted by the shape-shifting new Terminator, T-1000 (Robert Patrick), sent back in time to destroy humanity’s only hope. In response, humans send the revamped, original T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to protect the boy. With John and his mother (Linda Hamilton) on the run, John forms a surprising bond with his Terminator protector.
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) new
An animated sci-fi adventure for the whole family, Monsters vs. Aliens follows Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) after a meteor full of space gunk transforms her into a giant. The government nicknames her Ginormica and puts her in a secret compound full of other monsters. But when an extraterrestrial robot lands on Earth and starts destroying everything, the president is persuaded to let loose Ginormica and her fellow monsters to save the world.
Mars Attacks! (1996) new
Tim Burton takes a swing at Cold War-inspired paranoia sci-fi in this satire of an alien invasion from Mars. As Martian spacecraft surround the world’s major cities, claiming they “come in peace,” President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) finds his own peace in professor Donald Kessler’s (Pierce Brosnan) assurance that the Martians are just here to say hello. Unfortunately, a greeting results in the complete annihilation of the U.S. Congress, mobilizing a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
Looper (2012)
Time travel exists in the future, but only to those who can pay for it. And usually, that means the mob uses it to send targets to the past where a hitman called a looper awaits. Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is one of the best loopers around. But when his bosses send his future self (Bruce Willis) to “close the loop” on him, he needs his special skills for self-preservation and vengeance.
Minority Report (2002)
Steven Spielberg is a worthy handler of Philip K. Dick’s seminal sci-fi novel. In Washington D.C. in 2054, police utilize a psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they commit crimes. Naturally, this provokes ethical and philosophical questions. But nobody ponders them quite so fiercely as Chief Paul Anderson (Tom Cruise), head of the Precrime unit, accused of a future murder of a man he’s never met.
Blade Runner (1982)
Netflix may not have the best collection of sci-fi movies but they do have one of the greatest ever made. Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner is the inspiration for many sci-fi films after it and helped prove that sci-fi could be mainstream. Harrison Ford plays Deckard, a retired Replicant Hunter forced back into his old job to kill four escaped Replicants from the colonies who have returned to Earth. Replicants — robots with near-perfect humanity — are outlawed on Earth. Before starting the job, Deckard goes to the Tyrell Corporation to investigate the background of the Replicants, where he meets Rachel (Sean Young), a beautiful Replicant who captures Deckard’s heart and forces him to reevaluate his job.
Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Okay, so it’s not really a sci-fi movie but there’s something biologically terrifying about Samuel L. Jackson fighting a bunch of snakes onboard a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles. That counts, right? Jackson plays FBI agent Nelville Flynn, assigned to escort a key witness to a trial and ensure that no assassins can eliminate the witness. But he didn’t count on the assassins being snakes! This movie is absolutely ridiculous but a ton of fun.
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The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
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.
Blood Red Sky (2021)
What’s the last kind of plane you want to hijack? Well, relatively high on the list is a plane on which a vampire is a passenger. Yet that’s exactly what happens in Blood Red Sky, which Deadline reports is on track to becoming the most successful German-made Netflix film ever, with over 50 million views globally. In this fast-paced fusion of horror, sci-fi, and action, Peri Baumeister plays Nadja, a newly transformed vampire traveling incognito. Once the hijackers shoot her and leave her for dead, we learn exactly what she is, and soon, the villains wish they hijacked a plane with Wesley Snipes as a passenger instead.
The Swarm (2020)
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)
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 flick 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)
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.
Stargate (1994)
Critics don’t seem overly fond of Stargate, but the proof of its worth is in its fans. The world-hopping adventure flick stars Kurt Russell as the depressed Col. Jack O’Neil, who leads the mission through the titular doorway to another world, and James Spader as the rogue scientist who’s about to be proven correct regarding his theory on the pyramids being built by someone other than the ancient Egyptians. Critics may not have loved the exciting and visually impressive action flick, but judging by what came after, the fans certainly did. Following in the footsteps of franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars, Stargate spawned the TV series Stargate SG-1 as well as three other TV spinoffs, novels, comics, and more in the years that followed.
Spectral (2016)
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.
Stardust (2007)
A little more fantasy than sci-fi if we’re being nitpicky, Stardust nonetheless should be right up most sci-fi fans’ alleys. Based on the Neil Gaiman epic, this genre-blending epic stars Charlie Cox as a young man named Tristan, forced to venture into the realm of fairies to retrieve a fallen star and win the heart of Victoria (Sienna Miller). Instead, Tristan finds Yvaine (Claire Danes), a woman with great power who is hunted by both the king’s sons and an evil witch.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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. 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)
Bong Joon-ho earned Best Director and Best Picture Oscars for Parasite, but he was making remarkable movies well before that recognition (Okja isn’t his only entry on this list). 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.
Freaks (2019)
One of the most highly regarded sci-fi films of the past few years, Freaks follows a 7-year-old girl named Chloe who has spent her entire life completely isolated from the world inside her home with her father, Henry (Emile Hirsch). Henry has told Chloe that the outside world is a terrifying, dangerous place but as she gets older, Chloe becomes too curious to not venture out into the world. This character-driven movie is dripping in tension and mystery, which slowly becomes revealed as Chloe discovers more about the world in which she inhabits. It’s a master class in how to make high-quality sci-fi on a limited budget.
I Am Mother (2019)
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 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?
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