The best sci-fi movies on Netflix

over the years, Netflix Has expanded into a variety of genres with original content, but they never let go of being a place for some of ​​the best movies ever made. As the streaming wars continue and services like Disney+ and Apple TV+ continue to gain traction, Netflix is ​​less of the dominant content hub it once was. That said, sci-fi fans can find great value in a Netflix subscription thanks to the genre movies available on the platform.

Netflix stands out as a leader in the genre thanks to the original sci-fi series Stranger things And that opened the floodgates to countless movies and streaming series for fans to enjoy. Much of its library consists of titles released in the last couple of decades, but there are some classics on the streaming service for people who love all flavors of sci-fi. From big-budget action movies to more cerebral films about the dangers of technology, there’s something on the service for everyone. For anyone looking for the best in sci-fi movies, Netflix remains a one-stop shop.

28

Spiderhead (2022)

Prisoners participate in a drug trial that controls emotions

Netflix released the original sci-fi movie Spiderhead In 2022, and it featured one of the biggest actors in the world today. MCU star Chris Hemsworth stars as a scientist who offers prisoners a chance to reduce their sentence if they undergo drug trials. These include “love drugs” and other drugs that induce fear and psychological pain.

Opposite Hemsworth is Jeff (played by Miles Teller), A man who feels deep inner turmoil over killing his friend in a drinking and driving accident. He soon finds that the scientist conducting the experiments is corrupt and unconcerned with the safety of the prisoners. The movie takes on some interesting sci-fi ideas and has a great cast, even if critics noted that the story didn’t keep up with the themes. Despite the bad reviews, the movie has a lot to offer fans of dystopian science fiction.

27

65 (2023)

A pilot from another world crash lands on Earth when it was ruled by dinosaurs

65 Star Adam Driver as a man piloting a spacecraft that crash-lands on an alien planet where monsters attack. However, what makes this movie different is that the alien planet is Earth and it was 65 million years ago and the monsters are dinosaurs. He and a young girl are the only survivors, and they have to find a way off the planet before an asteroid hits Earth, ending the dinosaur age.

While 65 Was a box office bomb and received lackluster reviews, it is too Fun to see dinosaurs return to the screen to wreak havoc While also combining them with the fun sci-fi premise. What the movie probably got wrong was denying that these were dinosaurs in the promotional materials, rather than letting it come as a surprise. But thanks to people discovering it on Netflix, audience reception is much better, with a Popcornmeter score of 65% on Rotten Tomatoes.

26

Advantageous (2015)

A woman undergoes a procedure to change her body

Advantageous Takes place in the near future where living conditions are harsh, and when cosmetics saleswoman Gwen (Jacqueline Kim) loses her job before she can get her daughter into an elite school, she agrees to undergo a medical procedure that will transfer her consciousness into a Younger, racially ambiguous body to keep her job. However, the transfer is not as expected.

Released exclusively on Netflix, Advantageous Give a Thought-provoking approach in how it deals with gender roles and family dynamics in a completely unique setup. The reception was overwhelming for the film, with critics praising its story and themes, and awarding it a very high 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also an award winner, impressive for its lower budget. It won the Special Jury Prize at the VC Filmfest at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and also won for Best Director.

25

Dumb (2018)

A mute man investigates a noir mystery in the future

After making his name with theatrical sci-fi releases Moon, Source codeAnd WarcraftDuncan Jones signed on to make the Netflix-exclusive sci-fi Dumb. The film has a great cast, with comedy stars Paul Rudd and Alexander Skarsgard in the lead roles. Skarsgård plays Leo, a man who became mute after an accident and when his mother refused to allow him to have surgery to help him.

As an adult, he works as a bartender and falls in love with a waitress who works with him, and this causes him to join an organized crime organization. When she disappears, he sets out to find her in the dystopian world of this universe. The Netflix sci-fi movie has amazing visuals and solid performances from the castBut it was compared unfavorably to another great Earth-based sci-fi movie, Blade Runner 2049.

24

Dune (1984)

David Lynch’s original movie adaptation

The new one Don Movies left Netflix for other streaming services, but fans of the franchise still have one version to watch on the streaming giant. David Lynch’s 1984 version of Don is still there for people to enjoyAnd possibly compared to the more critically beloved new versions of the story. The Lynch version stars Kyle MacLachlan and is, if nothing else, a curiosity for fans of the Frank Herbert novels.

The biggest complaint about Lynch Don Is that the studio tried to put all the history in one movie, which is impossible. The studio interference was so great that Lynch just walked away, and he still washes his hands of the entire movie, refusing to even consider a director’s cut, even after he became a critically acclaimed filmmaker. Despite its shortcomings, Don has become a cult favorite and has more and more fans discovering it as the years go on.

23

Spaceman (2024)

Adam Sandler was sent into outer space

Adam Sandler has made more movies that have him stretching his dramatic acting talents. In 2024, he took the lead role in the sci-fi drama SpacemanBased on the novel Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfai. in this movie, Sandler is a Czech astronaut sent on a space mission to investigate a mysterious cloud of dust and particles. Spotted beyond Jupiter. He leaves his wife on the ground to do so and is dealing with loneliness as he is there alone.

Things turn bad when a South Korean mission also arrives, and they attempt to sabotage his trip and strand him in space. However, the story takes a wild turn when he realizes that he is not alone and finds an alien that looks like a spider-like creature that communicates with him telepathically. The film is a meditation on grief and loneliness and uses the empty spaces of space to make it even more difficult. Reviews were average, with praise for Sandler’s performance.

22

The Midnight Sky (2020)

A man tries to warn a spaceship in the cosmos not to return to Earth

George Clooney went to Netflix to direct the sci-fi movie The Midnight Sky. Based on the novel Good morning, midnight By Lili Brooks-DaltonThe film takes place in a future where a global catastrophe begins at the same time that an interplanetary spacecraft is on its way back to the planet. Clooney also stars in the movie as an academic who lives in the Arctic Circle and stays behind when others leave for safety to warn the spacecraft not to come back to Earth.

The Midnight SkyReleased exclusively on Netflix, is An Exploration of loneliness and regretAnd George Clooney is on top form, both behind and in front of the camera. The film received a limited theatrical release and picked up mixed to negative reviews. Despite this, the movie found its audience, and 72 million viewers watched it in the first week. The National Board of Review also named it the top 10 movies of the year, while it received a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination.

21

Zathura (2005)

The sequel to Jumanji goes sci-fi

Although it has almost nothing to do with the first movie in the franchise, Zathura: A Space Adventure is technically a sequel to Jumanji. Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man) from a script by David Koepp (Jurassic Park), The movie follows two brothers who find a mysterious board game that transports their home into outer space. With their older sister and an astronaut (Dax Shepard), they have to find a way back home.

Two of the kids actually ended up having successful film careers coming out of this lesser known sequel. One of the brothers was Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) and his older sister is played by Kristen Stewart (Twilight). The film received positive reviews (76% on Rotten Tomatoes), but was a box office bomb, making back its budget but losing money thanks to advertising costs. It also earned two Saturn Award nominations.

20

World War Z (2013)

A scientist is looking for a zombie cure

There is one sect of fans who hate World War p. The reason is that the book on which it is based (by Max Brooks) is so beloved, and the movie took great liberties with the source material. However, there is no way that the book could be made into a film in its format. This novel takes a zombie apocalypse and makes it sci-fi by telling different stories of scientists worldwide who are trying to find the source to find a cure.

The movie has too narrow a focus to create a hero, and It focused on one American researcher who was looking for scientists to get information About the research about the source of the apocalypse. Brad Pitt stars as the investigator, and his appearance helped the movie become a huge success, making $540 million at the box office. Reviews were mixed to positive, and the film took a more cerebral book and turned it into a more fun action setpiece.

19

Project Power (2020)

People achieve temporary superpowers from a new drug

There are many superhero movies in the world today, but one of the best sci-fi movies about superheroes on Netflix is ​​an original not based on any comic book. Project power Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt star in a movie about a world where a pill exists that can give someone superpowers for five minutes. The pills are highly illegal and Foxx plays one of the first test subjects who can shoot heat waves while Gordon-Levitt is a detective with bulletproof skin.

The movie is a fun action thriller that makes good use of the temporary powers of the characters, winning two honors from the Visual Effects Society Awards. The organization awarded it for its outstanding effects simulations and outstanding composition in a photoreal feature. It also received average to positive reviews, with critics offering an approval rating of 61% on Rotten Tomatoes thanks to it mixing the superhero tropes with a more realistic atmosphere.

18

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

The rebooted Star Trek sequel

Star Trek Next Continues JJ Abrams’ rebooted timeline with the third movie in the series (and 13th overall). However, this is the first that Abrams did not direct. Justin Lin (F9) directed the film based on a script co-written by Simon Pegg (Shaun of the dead), who also plays Scotty in the franchise. The cast returns, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and more, for another intense space adventure.

Star Trek Next Sees the crew of the Enterprise sent on a rescue mission to save an escape podOnly to get attacked by a swarm of ships that tear the Enterprise apart. Critics praised the film, awarding it an 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a rebound from the criticism of the previous film in the franchise. It was a box office success, making $343 million on a $185 million budget. The film also earned an Oscar nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

17

Matrix Resurrections (2021)

Neo is trapped in the matrix again

The first Matrix was critically acclaimed and remains one of the most beloved sci-fi movies of all time. However, none of their sequels were that great. Each of these movies has positive moments, but they all also have detractors, making them polarizing, loved by some and hated by others. The 2021 sequel, The Matrix ResurrectionKept the trend, as it has just as many detractors as supporters.

Lana Wachowski directed it herself, and she made the movie she wanted, showing her pedigree in people telling filmmakers what they need to see in the movies. The bad guys here are the fans trying to take control as Neo is now working for a video game company that wants him to create their version of the Matrix. When he meets Trinity again, it’s time to fight for their freedom to be who they are meant to be. The movie was a box office flop, but all the reviews were mixed.

16

Upgrade (2018)

A man gets a superhuman upgrade to walk again

Upgrade is a movie that mostly came and went from theaters without much fanfare in 2018. The film is about a man in a dystopian future who ends up in a car accident when his self-driving car loses control and crashes. Some people show up by accident, murder his wife and shoot him, paralyzing him from the waist down. However, a rich scientist offers him a way to get his life back.

The movie then turns into a weird cyberpunk action movie. The scientist places a chip in the human body, which can sometimes take over and control his muscles and movements. It allows him to go again but at the cost of losing control to the whims of the chip. The movie was a success, thanks to its low $3 million budget. Its 88% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes ensured that it picked up new life when it hit streaming.

15

The Flash (2022)

Flash and Batman in a live action Flashpoint adaptation

The bottle Wasn’t a critical hit when it arrived in theaters, but it’s really no fault of its own. Fans knew that the movie was not part of the future DCU, and much like the last one Aquaman movie, most people felt that if it wasn’t connected, they didn’t want to see it. The movie also wasn’t helped when critics blasted some of the CGI, some of which was meant to look silly to go with the tone of the scenes. As a result, the movie was not a success critically or financially.

actually, The bottle Has a lot to love. Michael Keaton returned as Batman, and he helped steal almost every scene he appeared in. Sasha Kale is fantastic as Supergirl, and it’s fun to see Michael Shannon back as General Zod. The story is also solid, with Barry Allen learning the dangers of using time travel for selfish reasons. The film has a chance to be reevaluated now that it’s on Netflix.

14

They Clowned Tyrone (2023)

A trio of unlikely allies investigate a conspiracy

It’s always interesting to see sci-fi movies that are able to blend in comedy elements and still maintain the genre’s history. They clone Tyrone succeeded in balancing a lot of different flavors, Mixing pulpy mystery with blaxploitation along with some wacky characters and lots of laughs. The movie follows an unlikely trio of allies who come together to uncover a mystery that hints at a secret cloning operation under their noses.

John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx make a great and hilarious team in the They clone Tyrone figure, While the Netflix sci-fi movie embraces the fun of its genre-bending, it still manages to tell a captivating story. Critics loved the movie, with an extremely high 95% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a high 82% Popcornmeter score from audience members. It also earned an impressive nine NAACP Image Award nominations.

13

The Adam Project (2022)

A soldier from the future goes into the past and seeks help from his younger self

Adam Project brought Ryan Reynolds back to Netflix for this original sci-fi movie about a man from a dystopian future who travels back in time to save his wife, only to crash-land in 2022. It is here that Adam meets his younger self and the two of them have to work together by traveling back to their dead father to prevent the terrible future from happening.

As with most time travel movies, things here get a little weird at times, but Reynolds and young actor Walker Scobell have great chemistry and the film was a hit with critics and audiences. Like many of Reynolds’ movies, Adam Project Tries to strike a chord of nostalgia with the movie going for A cross between Back to the future And Great. Young Walker Scobell used this as a launching point for his career, as he has since moved on to star in Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+.

12

I Am Mother (2019)

A young girl was raised by a robot

The original Netflix film I am mother is one of the streaming service’s more successful attempts at original science fiction. The film follows a young girl named Daughter who is raised by a robot named Mother in an underground, post-apocalyptic world. However, when a survivor (Hilary Swank) finds them, the relationship between the human child and the robot mother is threatened. The film then takes a hard look at paranoia and co-dependency.

The film is definitely ambitious and aims high, which has sunk sci-fi films in the past. however, The end result is clever, thrilling and satisfyingAnd should be high on any sci-fi fan’s list. Critics praised the story and gave it a very high 89% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also earned honors at the AACTA Awards in Australia, where it received nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Hilary Swank) and Best Visual Effects or Animation.

11

Don’t Look Up (2021)

Two scientists attempt to warn the world of an impending disaster

In 2021, Adam McKay directs the political satire Don’t look up And Netflix released it during awards season, hoping for the best. What resulted was a slew of awards nominations, including four at the Oscars, including Best Picture. The movie was about two astronomers who learn that a comet is heading for Earth and when it hits, it will destroy human civilization. However, no one seems to care, and in the end, the astronomers realize why the rich and powerful want to keep it under wraps.

A sci-fi movie that Could have been like Armageddon Or Deep impact Finished as a dark comedy About a world that was too busy to pay attention to celebrity news and political controversy. The movie received some backlash when it came out because it seemed to be too heavily invested in satire, but that’s why it was a success. It earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won Best Screenplay at the WGA Awards.

10

Okja (2017)

A young girl tries to save her superpig pet

years Before he won an Oscar for directing parasiteBong Joon-ho directs the sci-fi fantasy movie Okay. The movie takes place in a world where a company has been breeding super pigs, and 26 of them have been sent to farmers around the world to raise. When a young girl in South Korea develops a close relationship with her father’s super pig, she does everything she can to save his life. It also has a recognizable cast, with Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Steven Yeun and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The movie premiered at Cannes and was in competition for the Palme d’Or. It’s one of the higher quality sci-fi movies on Netflix, with a fairly high 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an equally high 81% audience score Popcornmeter rating. While it received a theatrical release in South Korea, it was considered a television release in America and was nominated for Best Television Presentation at the Saturn Awards in 2018.

9

Oxygen (2021)

A woman’s cryo-chamber is running out of oxygen

The original Netflix sci-fi movie Oxygen can be seen as a similar achievement to Gravity Like it Focuses almost exclusively on one character and their need in space. in 2021 Oxygen Movie, Liz (Melanie Laurent) wakes up to find herself in a medical cryogenic unit where she learns that the oxygen levels are dropping. She tries to escape but needs a code to get out. She is able to contact the AI ​​running the camera and is also able to dial out and try to find help.

However, she soon learns that her predicament is more difficult than just dropping oxygen levels. Melanie Laurent is in the lead with Alexandre Aja as the director, and they created a minor masterpiece. Critics praised the claustrophobic setting and acting and rewarded it with an 89% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Todd McCarthy of Term praised the movie thanks to “Mélanie Laurent’s resourceful performance as a woman who has no idea why she’s trapped in a tiny cryogenic pod.“