Netflix is not all the time the primary streaming service you consider scrolling by means of if you’re within the temper for a world-hopping, alien-hunting, and even Earth-based sci-fi film. However whereas a Tyler Perry dramedy and Puss in Boots at present dominate the highest three, we’re right here to launch you out of your mind and into one thing good.
The 5 science fiction films beneath supply simply that—from a dystopian class wrestle in Earth’s orbit and one of many cheesiest, culty-est alien-bug battle films ever (with a younger Denise Richards!) to a diabolical AI doll and, my prime choose right here, a extra emotional, character-driven Godzilla film that, if you have not seen it, must be on the prime of your watchlist.
5
Elysium
A determined man fights for his life and has to get off-planet to do it
When you beloved South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp’s dusty, dystopian alien thriller District 9, then his 2013 motion sci-fi epic Elysium will equally impress you. Right here, Blomkamp takes one other social commentary shot at ideas of inequality and greed, as we observe Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), a struggling laborer on a 2154 Earth that is overpopulated and polluted, whereas these with wealth and standing float in orbit on Elysium, a utopian area station.
Damon does his finest motion work when he is a person on a mission, so when Max’s life is on the road after a deadly dose of radiation rips by means of his physique, the one technique to remedy himself is to get to Elysium, the place its wondrous therapeutic pods can repair him immediately. Nonetheless, to infiltrate the station, Max should get previous the defenses of its ruthless protector, Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster), who is decided to maintain the lower-class “riff-raff” out.
Elysium
- Launch Date
-
August 9, 2013
- Runtime
-
109 minutes
- Director
-
Neill Blomkamp
4
Struggle Machine
If anybody can take down a fierce alien killer robotic, it’s Alan Ritchson
With some excellently explosive and intense motion vibes paying homage to Predator and Struggle of the Worlds, this 2026 Netflix alien sci-fi thriller starring Reacher’s muscle-bound star Alan Ritchson is a trip from begin to end. Struggle Machine follows an Military Ranger trainee identified solely because the numerical 81 (Ritchson), who units out on a coaching train into the woods together with his fellow recruits to check their mettle.
However what they discover is a devastating conflict robotic, an extraterrestrial killing machine that wakes up and is hell-bent on searching them down. It’s an R-rated, man vs. machine battle for survival filled with exploding limbs, harrowing near-escapes over waterfalls, and a few cool cinematography. Not a foul subsequent step for Jack Reacher (whose spinoff, Neagley, simply arrived on Prime Video).
Struggle Machine
- Launch Date
-
March 6, 2026
- Runtime
-
107 minutes
- Director
-
Patrick Hughes
3
Starship Troopers
The cult-classic interstellar bug hunt
A phrase of recommendation earlier than urgent play on Paul Verhoeven’s gleefully over-the-top, teenybopper, alien sci-fi cult hit—don’t assume too laborious about it. Primarily based on Robert A. Heinlein’s 1959 young-adult novel of the identical title, Starship Troopers follows a gaggle of younger and horny new recruits of Earth’s Cellular Infantry as they go to conflict in opposition to the Bugs, a lethal race of gigantic alien bugs which are colonizing the galaxy.
The story facilities round Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien, Sleepy Hole), his girlfriend Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards, Wild Issues), and Carl Jenkins (Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mom), who’re all swept into the conflict, beginning with a disastrous invasion of the Bugs’ homeworld. That’s it, that’s all it’s essential to know. The Bugs are huge, they’re stuffed with goo, they usually have to be stopped.
Starship Troopers
- Launch Date
-
November 7, 1997
- Runtime
-
129 minutes
- Director
-
Paul Verhoeven
2
Megan
Chucky’s acquired nothing on this killer AI doll
In a world the place we’re all on edge in regards to the AIs placing an finish to people, might I return your consideration to this horror-sci-fi hit from 2022 about M3gan (Mannequin 3 Generative Android), a companion doll that takes its core goal approach, approach too far.
M3gan follows good roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), who all of a sudden turns into the authorized guardian of her younger niece Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill Home), whose dad and mom have each been killed. To assist Cady cope, Gemma provides her M3gan, who begins off as nurturing and useful, however quickly takes its protocol of defending Cady to extremes, because it turns into self-aware and begins eliminating any menace to Cady’s well-being. The creepy movie is filled with bizarre, iconic scenes (the arm-swinging dance scene that turned a world meme, for one), and has thus far spawned a sequel, M3gan 2.0, plus a by-product, Soulm8te.
M3GAN
- Launch Date
-
January 6, 2023
- Runtime
-
102 minutes
- Director
-
Gerard Johnstone
1
Godzilla Minus One
A contemporary, extra emotional tackle the kaiju basic
I don’t assume anybody had “Godzilla film wins Oscar” on their bingo card for the 2024 Academy Awards, however right here we’re. And nonetheless, Godzilla Minus One stays the one movie within the basic kaiju franchise’s historical past to take action. OK, the award was for Finest Visible Results, that are completely unbelievable, however Minus One stands above the others for its emotional angle, and never simply its big, lizard-like star.
Set in postwar Japan, the movie follows kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), who returns residence guilt-ridden after a cowardly encounter with Godzilla through the conflict. Kōichi settles down with Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe) as they increase an orphaned child collectively, however when the nightmarish kaiju returns, Kōichi will get his probability for redemption, becoming a member of a civilian group that units out to cease the monster earlier than it decimates the nation.
Godzilla Minus One
- Launch Date
-
November 3, 2023
- Runtime
-
124 minutes
- Director
-
Takashi Yamazaki
Time to blast off with some Netflix sci-fi
Whether or not you’re into killer robots, big bugs, creepy AI dolls, or kaiju-sized destruction, there’s a lot right here to maintain your sci-fi urge for food glad. Take a look at final week’s roundup of sci-fi films too, or jump over to our different streaming suggestions on How-To Geek.
- Subscription with adverts
-
Sure, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
-
Two or 4
- Dwell TV
-
No
- Value
-
Beginning at $8/month
Stream licensed and authentic programming with a month-to-month Netflix subscription.
