Top Science Fiction Movies You Must Watch Now

Science fiction movies are among the most popular genres in cinema. We have compiled a list of the best science fiction movies for you to watch:

Science fiction movies, one of the most beloved genres in cinema culture, have been around for a very long time and are constantly evolving. In this content, we will explore what the best science fiction movies are, including both well-known classics and lesser-known but exceptional science fiction movies.

Although science fiction movies have existed since the silent cinema era, they began to gain prominence in the early 70s. Science fiction movies often feature futuristic themes, robots, time travel, and artificial intelligence. They utilize science-based depictions while also offering a critical perspective on political and social issues.

Science fiction movies made their mark with Georges Méliès‘ innovative photographic effects in 1902 with A Trip to the Moon. However, the genre was generally seen as low-budget until the early 70s. A significant turning point came with Stanley Kubrick‘s 1968 movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which is considered one of the best science fiction movies. Following this milestone, science fiction was addressed more broadly and blended with special effects in the 70s. movies like Star Wars (1977), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), E.T. (1982), and Men in Black (1997) paved the way for today’s big-budget science fiction movies

In this context, we will first provide a list of must-watch science fiction movies. Our science fiction movie watch list can also be considered a list of the best science fiction movies, as it includes some of the most prominent productions in the genre. Therefore, anyone searching for “watch science fiction movies” on a search engine should start with these movies.

Some entries on the list consist of movie series, such as Star Wars and Star Trek. If you enjoy the initial movies, it is worthwhile to explore the other movies in these series. Without further ado, here are the best science fiction movies:

1.2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey - Science fiction movies

Directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey features a screenplay by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. The movie explores the evolution of humanity, technology, artificial intelligence, and space travel, grounding these themes in scientific principles and employing realistic depictions. Due to its groundbreaking achievements, the movie is widely regarded as the best science fiction movie of all time by both critics and audiences.

Information about 2001: A Space Odyssey

Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniela Bianchi
Release Year: 1968
Duration: 142 minutes
Country: UK, USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Available Platforms: HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: 2001: A Space Odyssey on IMDb

2.Interstellar

Directed by Christopher Nolan, the movie Interstellar is set on a dying planet, presenting a dystopian version of Earth in the not-too-distant future. The movie follows pilot Joseph Cooper as he is given the opportunity to leave his farm and lead a mission into space in search of a new home. The narrative showcases the journey into deep space and features an exquisite depiction of a black hole.

Information about Interstellar

Title: Interstellar
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine
Release Year: 2014
Duration: 169 minutes
Country: USA, UK
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, HBO Max
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Interstellar on IMDb

3.The Martian

Adapted from Andy Weir‘s 2011 novel of the same name and brought to the big screen by Ridley Scott, The Martian stars Matt Damon in the lead role. The movie follows a team that travels to Mars in 2025. Due to a storm on the planet, they are forced to cut their mission short and return home. However, things don’t go as planned, and Mark Watney, a botanist, is left alone on Mars. Watney must find a way to survive for hundreds of days on the Red Planet.

Information about The Martian

Title: The Martian
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels
Release Year: 2015
Duration: 144 minutes
Country: USA, UK
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Hulu
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Martian on IMDb

4.Blade Runner 2049

Directed by Ridley Scott and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, the 1982 movie Blade Runner is set in a dystopian 2019. Large manufacturers like Tyrell produce robots known as Replicants, which have a human-like appearance. These Replicants are involved in illegal activities and are hunted by special police officers called Blade Runners. The movie follows the final challenging assignment of Rick Deckard, a Blade Runner who is nearing retirement. Blade Runner is considered one of the pioneers of dystopian movies and remains one of the most successful examples of the genre. Additionally, it is worth checking out the recently released Blade Runner 2049.

Information about Blade Runner 2049

Title: Blade Runner 2049
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Jared Leto
Release Year: 2017
Duration: 164 minutes
Country: USA, UK
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Hulu
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Blade Runner 2049 on IMDb

5.Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the first movie in the Star Wars series and a standout in the realm of fantastic science fiction movies, is both written and directed by George Lucas. Although it was the first movie released in the series, it is the fourth in chronological order within the story. The movie depicts a galaxy embroiled in civil war and follows the struggle of the Rebel Forces against the Galactic Empire. The rebels aim to thwart the Death Star, a weapon in the hands of the Empire capable of destroying entire planets, and set the stage for an epic series.

Information about Star Wars Episode IV

Title: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Director: George Lucas
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
Release Year: 1977
Duration: 121 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Fantasy
Available Platforms: Disney+, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope on IMDb

6.Alien

The legendary science fiction movie Alien, released in 1979 and directed by Ridley Scott, features the iconic design of the Alien created by H.R. Giger. The movie is a cornerstone of the “space horror” subgenre. In the movie, the main computer of a cargo ship instructs the crew to investigate a signal from a nearby planet, leading to their landing on the mysterious world. The crew discovers strange eggs on the planet, and one member is attacked by a scorpion-like creature that hatches from one of the eggs. The return of the entire crew to the ship marks the beginning of the horrific events that follow.

Information about Alien

Title: Alien
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Release Year: 1979
Duration: 117 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Available Platforms: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Alien on IMDb

7.Dune

Dune: Desert Planet was adapted into a new version in 2021, revisiting the 1984 movie Dune. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the movie is set in the year 10191. It follows the story of Paul Atreides, a character born with extraordinary talents and a significant destiny. The movie explores the planet Arrakis and the battle for the universe’s most valuable mineral, “Spice”.

Information about Dune

Title: Dune
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya
Release Year: 2021
Duration: 155 minutes
Country: USA, Canada
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Available Platforms: HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Dune on IMDb

8.Back to the Future

Time travel in movies wasn’t uncommon before Back to the Future in 1985, but it was Marty McFly and Doc Brown who popularized the idea of cramming a flux capacitor into the back of a DeLorean. In this family-friendly sci-fi classic, Michael J. Fox’s Marty accidentally travels back to 1955. There, he encounters his parents as high school students and inadvertently attracts his mother’s attention. Marty must find a way to make his parents fall in love again and return to the future.

Information about Back to the Future

Title: Back to the Future
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
Release Year: 1985
Duration: 116 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Comedy
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Netflix
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Back to the Future on IMDb

9.Planet of the Apes

Adapted from Pierre Boulle‘s French novel La Planète des Singes, Planet of the Apes was directed by Franklin Schaffner and marked the beginning of an important series.

The movie features a group of astronauts whose spaceship makes an unforeseen landing on a distant planet. Although this scenario might seem cliché, the twist is that on this planet, humans are primitive, living in caves, while apes have developed a sophisticated civilization. The movie also offers a critique of the system, as the astronauts are captured by apes for experimentation and face life-threatening situations. Additionally, the Planet of the Apes series was remade in 2001 and concluded in 2017 with War for the Planet of the Apes. It is worth exploring these productions as well.

Information about Planet of the Apes

Title: Planet of the Apes
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Cast: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans
Release Year: 1968
Duration: 112 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Netflix
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Planet of the Apes on IMDb

10.Star Trek

Star Trek is a 1979 science fiction space movie directed by Robert Wise and based on the Star Trek television series created by Gene Roddenberry, who also served as the producer. Set in the 2270s, the movie features a mysterious and extremely powerful race known as the V’Ger approaching Earth, destroying everything in their path. James T. Kirk is given command of the newly refurbished Starship USS Enterprise to lead a mission to save the planet and uncover the origins of V’Ger.

Information about Star Trek

Title: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Director: Robert Wise
Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Persis Khambatta
Release Year: 1979
Duration: 132 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 6.4/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Star Trek: The Motion Picture on IMDb

11.The Matrix

The Matrix, one of the pioneering action science fiction movies, tells the story of Neo, a computer programmer who escapes the Matrix, a simulated reality in which humanity is unknowingly trapped by intelligent machines. Directed by the Wachowski brothers, this cyberpunk classic serves as a wake-up call through Neo’s revolution in the dystopian world he inhabits. Featuring hypnotic fight choreography and groundbreaking visual and sound effects, The Matrix has become one of the top science fiction movies of all time.

Information about Matrix

Title: The Matrix
Director: The Wachowskis
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Release Year: 1999
Duration: 136 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Netflix
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Matrix on IMDb

12.Twelve Monkeys

Twelve Monkeys, a significant science fiction movie released in 1995, was directed by Terry Gilliam and stars Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Madeleine Stowe. The movie explores the theme that seeing the future is not a reward but a painful burden. In 12 Monkeys, we learn that the world has been devastated by a virus, leaving only 1 percent of the population alive in 2035. The survivors are living in underground colonies. Humanity develops a time machine to combat the virus, and one of the prisoners, James Cole, accidentally travels back to 1990 and discovers that the virus was created by humans.

Information about Twelve Monkeys

Title: Twelve Monkeys
Director: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Gary Oldman, Christopher Plummer
Release Year: 1995
Duration: 129 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, HBO Max
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Twelve Monkeys on IMDb

13.The Thing

The Thing, directed by John Carpenter, written by Bill Lancaster, and starring Kurt Russell, is a 1982 movienamed after an extraterrestrial creature capable of imitating other living things through their cells. The story revolves around a creature from a spaceship that crashed in the South Pole in ancient times. The “Thing”, initially discovered by the Norwegians who were subsequently killed, is now targeting the American team. Although The Thing did not receive much attention upon its initial release due to the popularity of friendlier aliens in science fiction at the time, it eventually became a cult classic and gained the recognition it deserved.

Information about Twelve Monkeys

Title: The Thing
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Release Year: 1982
Duration: 108 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Thing on IMDb

14.Jurassic Park

The science fiction movie Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg, is the precursor to the two subsequent movies in the series. The movie narrates the story of dinosaurs cloned in a park who escape from their enclosures and begin to hunt the guests, leading to chaos. These extinct dinosaurs were created from the DNA extracted from prehistoric mosquito fossils discovered during an excavation.

Information about Jurassic Park

Title: Jurassic Park
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough
Release Year: 1993
Duration: 127 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Jurassic Park on IMDb

15.Aliens

Aliens 2, the sequel to Alien (1979), which is considered a pioneer among science fiction space movies, is set 57 years after the events of the first movie. The movie is regarded as a milestone for the science fiction genre by many critics.

Lieutenant Ellen Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo, is awakened from deep sleep to discover that the planet has been colonized by humans. However, communication with the colony soon ceases, and Ripley is given another mission. This time, the objective is to destroy the Alien.

Information about Aliens

Title: Aliens
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton
Release Year: 1986
Duration: 137 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Hulu
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Aliens on IMDb

16.E.T.

E.T. (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) is a masterpiece science fiction movie directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison. The movie depicts a curious alien race that visits Earth and accidentally leaves one of their own behind. The cute and inquisitive creature, who has traveled 3 million light years, is stranded in an unfamiliar place. A 10-year-old boy named Elliot takes action to help the creature find its way home.

Information about E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Title: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
Release Year: 1982
Duration: 115 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Family, Fantasy, Adventure
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Disney+
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: E.T. on IMDb

17.Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Written and directed by James Cameron, Terminator 2 is a 1991 science fiction action movie that occurs 10 years after the events of the first movie. In this sequel, Sarah Connor and her ten-year-old son John are targeted for death by a new and more advanced Terminator, the T-1000. In contrast to this advanced robot sent from the future to kill John, a less advanced Model 101 Terminator is sent by the future resistance to protect him. This movie is widely regarded as the best in the series by most critics.

Information about Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Title: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Release Year: 1991
Duration: 137 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Netflix
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Terminator 2 on IMDb

18.The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of the earliest pioneers of the science fiction genre. Although the movie is presented in black-and-white, it remains a must-watch within the genre.

The Day the Earth Stood Still centers on an alien named Klaatu who arrives on Earth with an important message for humanity. However, as soon as he disembarks from his spacecraft, Klaatu is injured by soldiers and subsequently taken to the hospital, where he is isolated and unable to convey his message to the world leaders. After escaping from the hospital and observing humanity for a while, Klaatu decides to adopt a different approach to deliver his crucial message. Additionally, there is a remake of the movie released in 2008, starring Keanu Reeves.

Information about The Day the Earth Stood Still

Title: The Day the Earth Stood Still
Director: Robert Wise
Cast: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe
Release Year: 1951
Duration: 92 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Day the Earth Stood Still on IMDb

19.Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a cult science fiction movie directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Bob Balaban, and Melinda Dillon.

The movie begins with the sudden appearance of missing military planes, followed by a global surge in UFO sightings. Those who witness the UFOs are haunted by an image that they cannot comprehend, driving them to uncover its meaning.

Information about Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Title: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon
Release Year: 1977
Duration: 137 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Close Encounters of the Third Kind on IMDb

20.I, Robot

Alex Proyas directs I, Robot, a 2004 movie starring Will Smith. Adapted from Isaac Asimov‘s short story of the same name, the movie is set in 2035. In this futuristic world, robots are deeply integrated into daily life, and people generally place complete trust in them. However, Del Spooner, a detective portrayed by Smith, harbors doubts about robots. Spooner investigates the death of Dr. Miles Hogenmiller and suspects that a robot may be responsible for the murder.

Information about I, Robot

Title: I, Robot
Director: Alex Proyas
Cast: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell
Release Year: 2004
Duration: 115 minutes
Country: USA
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Language: English
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: I, Robot on IMDb

New science fiction movies coming out in 2024

Mickey 17
Distant
A Quiet Place: Day One
Dune: Part 2
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Rebel Moon: Part 2
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Furiosa

Netflix sci-fi movie recommendations

In recent years, Netflix has produced and offered a variety of science fiction movies to its subscribers. While some of these movies may not be particularly strong, the Netflix science fiction movies we have listed are generally well-regarded. If you haven’t seen them yet, Okja, Oxygen, and Annihilation are notable examples of unique and captivating science fiction. Here are the best science fiction movies on Netflix:

Okja (2017)
Oxygen (2021)
Bird Box (2018)
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Annihilation (2018)
Don’t Look Up (2021)
What Happened to Monday (2017)
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Spider-Head (2022)
I Am Mother (2019)
Tau (2018)
The Adam Project (2023)
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Mute (2018)

Not-so-well-known science fiction movie recommendations 🎞️

Finally, we’ve included some lesser-known science fiction movie recommendations that you might not have seen. Many of these movies have been overshadowed by other great science fiction movies from similar years or even the same year, but that doesn’t mean they’re lacking in quality. They simply need to be noticed.

Ad Astra (Towards the Stars – 2019)
Pandorum (Horror in Space – 2009)
Event Horizon (1997)
AI Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence – 2001)
The Adjustment Bureau (Agents of Destiny – 2011)
Every (2013)
Predestination (2014)
Life (2017)
Prometheus (2012)
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Ex Machina (2015)
High Life (2018)
Another Earth (2011)
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Chronicle (Supernatural – 2015)

In our best science fiction movies content, we explored the brief history of science fiction movies and provided recommendations through various lists. While our list of best science fiction movies includes widely recognized movies, our 2024 science fiction movies list highlights the top productions released this year. Additionally, we presented a curated Netflix science fiction list and featured underappreciated science fiction productions.

Of course, there are many more noteworthy productions to add to our best science fiction movies content. In the meantime, feel free to share the science fiction movies that left a lasting impact on you in the comments section.

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