15.Radius(2017)
This Canadian sci-fi thriller movie centers on two survivors of a car crash: a man named Liam (Diego Klattenhoff) who inexplicably kills anyone who comes within a certain radius of him, and a woman named Jane (Charlotte Sullivan) who nullifies it whenever she’s nearby.
Radiusis a high-concept sci-fi film that pulls you along from start to end with its surprising twists and reveals. It probably flew under your radar, but it’s worth checking out if you missed it!
14.Europa Report(2013)
In this found footage movie, an international crew of astronauts are sent to explore one of Jupiter’s moons: Europa. They lose communications with Earth, but still push forward to see what they can find—and it’s quite possible that they find life on this space rock.
Europa Reporttakes a grounded approach to sci-fi, which feels more realistic thanks to the found footage technique. It’s an atmospheric slow-burn, so don’t go into it expecting an action-packed affair.
13.Pandorum(2009)
Want a good sci-fi horror film that you can stream for free?Pandorumfits the bill! This movie, which takes place in the future after Earth is ravaged by overpopulation, is set on a spaceship with 60,000 humans on a 123-year trip to an Earth-like planet.
Two passengers are awoken from hypersleep to discover that everyone is missing. Not only that, they suffer from amnesia and a unique condition called “pandorum” that causes psychosis under stress.
Pandorumis nothing new, but it delivers a thrilling ride as the secrets of the spaceship are explored only to unveil more mysteries.
12.Archive(2020)
Archiveis a British sci-fi movie with a premise that might feel familiar: a scientist, in a bid to bring his late wife back from the dead, endeavors to create a human-equivalent AI robot—and it’s almost ready.
Despite its clichéd plot,Archivesucceeds with its clean execution and thoughtful moments, which set it apart from most sci-fi movies of this kind that ends up feeling rote and uninspired.
11.Time Lapse(2014)
One of the better indie sci-fi movies,Time Lapsecenters on three friends who discover an abandoned camera-like machine next door, which can take photos of a moment 24 hours in the future. Knowing what lies ahead causes all kinds of issues for the three of them.
Despite forgettable characters,Time Lapseis a smart take on the ramifications of being able to see into the future. Is it revolutionary? Not quite. Is it entertaining? Absolutely.
Related:The Best Time Travel Movies
10.Vanilla Sky(2001)
David Aames (Tom Cruise), the privileged owner of a magazine publication, ends up in a car accident when his lover purposely crashes their car. He wakes up in a different reality, one where he’s accused of her murder—and he plans to kill himself to join her.
Vanilla Skyis an ambitious sci-fi movie that plays with the ideas of memory and mind manipulation. What is reality? How can you tell? You’ll be flipped upside down by its twists, and you’ll probably want to watch it a few more times to grasp what it’s getting at.
9.Timecrimes(2007)
While taking a break from home renovations, a man spots unusual activity in the woods around his house. When he investigates, he’s caught up in an unfortunate series of events that send him back in time by one hour. Now he has to figure out how to break the time loop.
Timecrimesis one of the best movies about causal time loops, as it goes one step further than most movies. (I won’t spoil in what way!) Note that this is a Spanish-language film, so be prepared to read subtitles—the dubbed version lacks much of the original’soomph.
Related:The Best Time Loop Movies Like Groundhog Day
8.Cube(1997)
When six strangers wake up and find themselves in a strange maze of booby-trapped rooms, they have to figure out what’s going on, how to escape, and how far they’re willing to go in order to survive.
If nothing else,Cubeserves as proof that a low budget doesn’t matter all that much if you have a fun and intriguing premise. This mix of horror and sci-fi results in an experience that’s as gruesome as it is cerebral. Weak stomachs may want to skip this one.
Related:The Best Escape Room Movies
7.Coherence(2013)
Coherenceis a low-key cerebral sci-fi thriller about a group of friends having a dinner party that goes wrong. When an unknown comet passes overhead and causes a power blackout, reality is warped and mysterious events begin taking place.
This indie sci-fi film is everything that a low-budget flick should be: clever premise, smart direction, and sharp writing that leads to a powerful climax. It starts off a little slow, but if you can make it through the first act, you’ll be well-rewarded by the end.
Related:The Best One Room Movies
6.Men in Black(1997)
Men in Blackfeatures Will Smith as an NYPD officer who’s recruited to the MIB, a clandestine organization that’s been monitoring aliens on Earth (unknown to the public) since 1961. Right off the bat, he’s thrown into the deep end as a vicious alien lands in New York.
You don’t see many top-notch sci-fi comedy movies, butMen in Blackknocks it out of the park and remains a classic after all these years. With its sharp story and engaging performances, this fueled adventure flick will have you pumping your fists.
5.Redline(2009)
In the distant future, on another planet named Dorothy, a racer named JP competes in a race that’ll get him closer to competing in the galaxy’s most popular and most competitive racing event: the Redline.
Redlineis one of the greatest sci-fi anime films ever forgotten. Most people have never even heard of it, let alone seen it! But now that you’ve been exposed, you have no excuse to miss out on this exciting and brilliantly animated movie for adults.
4.RoboCop(1987)
RoboCopis one of the most iconic sci-fi movies of the 80s, featuring a murdered cop who’s resurrected in the form of a cyborg. As he delivers merciless judgment against criminals, RoboCop struggles with the vestiges of his own humanity within him.
The film uses its action-heavy premise to explore themes of identity, corruption, and criminal justice. It holds up well today, even if the overall aesthetics feel dated.
Related:The Best Movies With Robots and Artificial Intelligence
3.The Fifth Element(1997)
The Fifth Elementis a sprawling tale that really can’t be summed up in one sentence—or even a few of them. It involves a taxi driver, a humanoid woman who crashes into his car, ancient aliens with an ancient weapon, a great evil in deep space, and so much more.
There’s truly no other film likeThe Fifth Element, which is what makes it such a divisive watch. You might love it, you might hate it, but one thing’s for sure: you’ll never forget it. It’s up there as one of the most iconic sci-fi movies in cinema history.
Related:The Best Sci-Fi Movie Scenes of All Time, Ranked
2.The Man From Earth(2007)
Retiring college professor John Oldman gathers his colleagues for a farewell party, then drops a bombshell: he’s actually a Cro-Magnon who’s 14,000 years old and he has lived through humanity’s most important historical events.
The Man From Earthis the embodiment of sci-fi thought experiments. Most of the film takes place in John Oldman’s house and is comprised of dialogue between him and his colleagues, with much of the dialogue taking the shape of intellectual arguments.
It’ll definitely leave you scratching your head as you contemplate the ideas it puts forth, but don’t take that to mean it’s boring. It’s surprisingly engaging, and it feels very much like a stage play that’s been recorded for viewing as a movie.
1.Ghost in the Shell(1995)
Set in a futuristic 2029, Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg security agent—augmented by cybernetic body parts—trying to track down a hacker known as Puppet Master. But in this high-tech world, everything is complex and nothing is simple.
Ghost in the Shellis a landmark film, not just for animation and not just for science fiction but for film itself. Hailed as one of the greatest cyberpunk movies of all time,Ghost in the Shellwent on to inspire many critical hits, includingThe MatrixandAvatar.
Related:The Best Dystopian Movies of All Time (And Their Meanings)
