Whether it is to take a short escape from your life and gaze into the wilderness of a fictional universe of vast concepts or to leave yourself in awe during the whole entirety of the movie; everybody loves science fiction (Sci-fi). Sci-fi offers everything, from a different universe with flexible laws of futuristic cities to tap into the consciousness of the dystopian world. There is no limitation to the sci-fi genre.

From the 3600+ library of movies available on Netflix, Here are the best 10 movies the sci-fi genre has to offer. We select the movies based on critic scores, audience ratings on numerous websites, and the relevance of the movie to date. 

Best Sci-fi Movies Available on Netflix

Snowpiercer (2013)

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Cast: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, John Hurt, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer

Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes 

In the year 2031, 17 years after humanity planned to stop global warming via climate engineering, the plan backfires creating an ice age that covers the earth with snow and ice. A handful of survivors are overboard on a train that revolves around the earth. The self-sustaining train plows through snow and ice. The people on board are segregated with a rich and elite group on the front with luxury and the poor on the back compartment of the train. The poor are crammed and guarded. This story of a dystopian world inside of a train and an inhospitable outer world contrasts, creating breathtaking visuals and a thick plotline. The Academy Award winner Bong Joon-ho with a strong cast created a masterpiece that you can’t afford to miss.

Her (2013)

Director: Spike Jonze

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde

Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes 

Theodore Twombly, a man in future Los Angeles, writes heart-touching personal letters to people for a living. Deep inside he is heartbroken because he just came out of his long relationship. He discovers a new operating system that claims to be sentient and individual to every user. Intrigued by this he tries it out. Setting it up, he is greeted by “Samantha” who has a charming voice, is sensitive, and has a sense of humor. Later, they develop a bond and develop a love for each other. This Oscar-nominated picture beautifully explores the limitless possibility of falling in love and the risk of intimacy. 

Children of Men (2006)

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Cast: Clive Owen, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine

Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes

The story begins in a dystopian London in 2027, where human civilization has collapsed due to infertility. Due to some unknown event, the entire population has become infertile. The only baton for the continuity of humankind is in the hand of the last-born generation. There have been nuclear attacks and civil unrest in the whole world except for Great Britain. Despite holding all of the conflict, Great Britain is on the verge of breakdown and can’t hold much longer. But, all of a sudden a woman is found pregnant. Theo, the protagonist of the story sole purpose is to keep this woman safe to ensure the existence of humankind. 

One of the best dystopian movies out there, which keeps your attention glued and makes you eager to look out for every frame of the movie. 

Ex Machina (2015)

Director: Alex Garland 

Cast: Oscar Issac, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac,Alicia Vikander, Sonoya Mizuno.

Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes

Caleb Smith, an aspiring computer programmer at a reputed institution gets a chance to be part of a project for a week in a secluded place of his CEO, which leads him to a strange project. The project is called the turning test, and his job is to play the human component in the testing of an AI Android called Ava. The purpose of this test is to check her ability to gain consciousness despite the machine’s limitations. Caleb, during the process, develops a feeling for her and she reciprocates that feeling too. The visuals are spectacular and metaphorical, complemented by the brilliant acting of the cast. Ex Machina is a very coherent and well-made movie. A24 Studios didn’t deliver a movie, but rather a lifetime experience. 

District 9 (2009)

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Vanessa Haywood

Runtime:1 hour 52 minutes

One of the most creative, smart, and witty narratives in the science fiction genre. District 9 comprises a fresh concept of an alien invasion. An alien species arrives on the earth because their planet is inhospitable. They are trying to seek refuge in the earth. They are on a separate base in South Africa far from day-to-day human lives known as District 9. But the agency Multi-National United built for the welfare of the aliens, isn’t concerned about the relocation of the species but wants to master the technology of the extraterrestrials. A man finds himself in District 9 due to some unfortunate event. The unique premises and clever underlying theme about humans and their selfishness are brilliantly portrayed in this movie. With brilliant visuals and a perfect cast, this movie is a must-watch. 

Annihilation (2018)

Director: Alex Garland 

Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, Oscar Isaac 

Runtime: 2 hours

Movies of sci-fi usually don’t tend to have a deep unsettling tone underlying it. It is rare to see this genre popularized by Tarkovski with the movies like Stalker and Solaris to name a few. But this book adaptation of the same name does this brilliantly. We follow the character of Lena, a biologist whose husband is lost in this mysterious place referred to as area-X which is expanding along the coastal line. This mysterious place is sinister and the laws of nature do not apply here. Lena, to uncover the mystery puts her name forward to this mysterious bubble. The place is very sophisticated, with mutated animals, bizarre landscapes, and unearthly plants. Alex Garland, already featured in this list completely catches us off guard with its brilliant cinematography, edge-of-the-seat experience, and weird but sound plot. 

Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe

Runtime: 2 hours 28 minutes

Christopher Nolan didn’t just create a movie but a journey to embark on One of Nolan’s finest works, Inception, will leave its viewer dazed, and brain toasted and will probably keep you wondering what I just watched. With a clever but somewhat confusing plot, we follow Cobb, a thief who can get into the dreams of people. This skill has made him highly renowned in the infiltration business of the corporate world but also at the expense of his loved ones. He is assigned an impossible task to plant an idea into someone’s subconscious but his enemy is waiting for him at his every move. A brilliant star cast with the music of Hans Zimmer and a treat of perfect CGI  this movie is perhaps the most popular as well as the best Sci-fi has to offer. 

The Matrix (1999)

Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss

Runtime:2 hours 16 minutes

The best movie out there that popularized the concept of simulated reality and the movie that changed pop culture forever. The plot of The Matrix revolves around a computer hacker, who is contacted by a stranger to uncover the truth of the world hidden in plain sight. As he goes deeper into the rabbit hole, he finds that the world in the future is controlled by AI, and they are feeding humans a simulated reality to harvest the energy. Humans are kept sedated, effectively living a virtual life. The chosen one Neo, can he break free of this matrix or succumb to it?

Blade Runner 2049 ( 2017)

Tyrell Corp is an organization that makes bioengineered humans, which they intend to use as a workforce because of their ideal strength. But after a series of rebellions by the replicants, the Tyrell Corp. went bankrupt and the company was acquired by Wallace. We soon follow, K an LAPD officer tasked to retire the older Nexus 8 models. But he soon discovers evidence that alters his reality and sends him down a rabbit hole that threatens his existence.

The cinematography, the visuals, and the plot of this movie are some of the best of this decade. Everything about this movie feels thought out, from the whole picture to the very little details. Blade Runner 2049 is a visual masterpiece. You can pause this movie at any random point and hang it on your wall. This movie is a constant visual feast.

Director:Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis Dave Bautista, Jared Leto 

Runtime:2 hour 43 minutes

 Arrival (2016)

Another Denis Villeneuve film is one of the best movies about metaphor, aliens, and linguistics. Based on the award-winning novella Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang, is smart, twisty, and thought-provoking to say. The film’s soundtrack is pure bliss to the ears and might be the best visually pleasing movie on this list. This movie starts when 12 UFOs land on different places on Earth. A crew including our protagonist Louise Banks, a Linguistics professor are assigned to communicate with the species inside it. She is the hope of humanity to unravel the mystery of their unexpected visit and stop the global crisis about to happen.

Director:Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark O’Brien 

Runtime:1 hour 56 minutes

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind( 2004)

Erased Embrace: A Journey through Love, Loss, and Rediscovery.

The movie with the top spot on our list, is a classic, a masterpiece, and one of the best movies ever. A romance and sci-fi done right, we follow Jim Carrey who is in shock after he found out that his girlfriend, Clementine played by Kate Winslet had her memories of him removed. Shocked or to seek the same fate as her, he organizes the same thing for him; to have her memory erased. But in the middle of the process, he can’t fathom the fact he can’t love her hence turning into a quandary.

Director: Michel Gondry

Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst

Runtime:1 hour 48 mins

65(2023)

Helmed by the director duo of Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods,65 is a science fiction action thriller film that follows the story of an astronaut who is stranded in a mysterious. Soon he comes to know that there are mysterious people on the planet and he is stranded on a planet like Earth which was about 65 million ago. Now he must fight dinosaurs, and various powerful entities and save various people like him.

The pacing of the movie is relatively slow. But the thrilling action set pieces and the mystery keeps you weak. With a relatively common story, this movie finds the right balance of thriller, action, and character study to hook the audience. 

Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods

Cast: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt

Runtime:93 minutes

A Quiet Place(2018)

Directed by: John Krasinski

Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe

Runtime:90 minutes

The opening scene sets up the whole movie for you. With the captivating sound design and amazing cinematography, this movie pulls you close to the screen and jerks you off with its intense and horrifying scenes. 

The story revolves around the family of four but soon to be five. After the mysterious aliens invaded the earth, they live in a far-off land. All they try is to make no sound at all. Audible sounds can attract aliens. So, want to watch thrilling and awe-inspiring movies full of suspense, action, and thrillers then tune into Netflix.

This was one of my favorite Sci-fi movies of recent times. With no new story, this movie with its sound design, character study, and writing makes a thrilling watch for you. You can watch with your family and be afraid together.

A Quiet Place II(2020)

If you have not watched the first part I won’t spoil you. But all I can say is that it surpasses part one and offers one of the most thrilling and intense movie-watching experiences. 

With the addition of new cast members and the demise of certain old ones, this movie challenges every character to survive and to exist in this world. At its core, it is a survival movie with such great character depth that makes it a great watch for family.

Directed by: John Krasinski

Starring: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou

Runtime:97 minutes

The Platform(2019)

Directed by:Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

Starring:Iván Massagué,Antonia San Juan,Zorion Eguileor,Emilio Buale

Runtime:94 minutes

The platform is a thrilling science fiction movie set in a dystopian world inside a vertical prison. In this world, the ultimate battle is survival and food. There is a platform that has a plethora of food in it and it travels from top to bottom. But the prisoners should always eat their share of food. The prisoners at the top level abide by the rule so there is a riot and cannibalism

Apart from the survival and thriller aspects, this movie holds a deeply thought-provoking message and philosophical aspect that is very metaphorical. The platform talks about the social hierarchy with distinct classes. The privileged one always gets more and gets satisfied but the lower class has to fight to live and fight to eat food.

#Alive(2020)

Directed by:Cho Il-hyung 

Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Park Shin-Hye

Runtime:99 minutes

Amidst the chaos and rampage of zombies, we follow a loner who is digitally cut off from the world and now he must find a way to stay alive and meet his people. It is a traumatizing horror movie that may scar you for days but it is a great experience to have.

With a great fleshed-out character with a lot of emotional and mental baggage and a gripping plot that hooks you onto the screen,#Alive will entertain you, haunt you, and inspire you. 

Don’t Look Up(2021)

Directors: Adam McKay

Cast:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep

Runtime:138 minutes

The masterfully crafted satirical science fiction aims the dig at politicians and higher-class people who are aware of climate change and its repercussions, Two main leads played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jennifer Lawrence discover a huge comet coming towards the earth.

This is the backdrop of the plot. Now the Mckay intelligently weave in various characters and made the funniest and thought-provoking movie. 

After the movie finishes, it leaves you with questions and you have to find answers for yourself in this real world. This movie explores how manipulations, and lying cause a riot and can make people against each other.

Okja(2017)

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Stars: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, An Seo Hyun, Byun Hee-bong, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Yoon Je Moon, Shirley Henderson, Daniel Henshall, Devon Bostick, Woo Shik Choi, Giancarlo Esposito, Jake Gyllenhaal

Runtime: 118 minutes

It is a story of an innocent girl who loves her pig to its core but this capitalist world and media try to separate their bond. But this courageous girl goes beyond anything to rescue his beloved big even though the whole world is against her.

Bong Joon Ho deliberately makes the character goofy and little award to represent the culture and nature of certain demographics. He masterfully crafted a story that explores various sensitive themes like Commercial hybridization, and human overpopulation. Apart from the metaphor and message, this movie is fast-paced and has good writing and a funny character that will glue you to the screen. By the end of the movie, you will be forced to think about the movie its messages, and its overall philosophy. 

Oxygen(2021)

Director: Alexandre Aja

Stars: Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi

Runtime: 101 minutes

If you are planning for a chill science fiction movie or  Netflix and chill session then, let me tell you that this movie will scare the living shit out of you. This is not your normal sci-fi movie. This movie is scary, gruesome, and very frightening at times. And on top of that it is a one-location movie. 

After a deep sleep, Laurent opens her eye and find herself in the cryogenic chamber unaware of her memories and her life. She soon realizes that she has limited oxygen in the tank and that she must work with the Artificial intelligence assistant to escape. The ticking time bomb storytelling with a thrilling and captivating character makes this a great watch. Oxygen explores the zeal to survive, to know everything, and to track back all the events that led to now. It is a great watch and I suggest you watch it alone and ruminate.

Vivarium(2020)

Director: Lorcan Finnegan

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots

Runtime: 97 minutes

I was awe-struck, confused, and baffled by the storytelling and the confusing narrative of the movie. The greenish color profile director chooses to use, haunts you and aids in the story enhancement. And the originality of the concept feels fresh entertains you and sometimes scares you to your core. On top of that, we as a human as a certain societal pressure or self-invested pressure to settle down, find love, find good company, get a house, and much more. This movie explores this theme and how. You need to watch this. 

A married couple went to live a life of suburbia and settle down with good neighbors and environment. But the suburbia is silent and eerie and almost empty. There was only one salesman present in the community. They try to get out of suburbia, but they can’t, it’s like they are stuck in the look. 

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch(2018)

Directed by: David Slade

Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Craig Parkinson, Alice Lowe, Asim Chaudhry, Will Poulter

Runtime:90 minutes for default path/312 minutes in the original footage

How do you ever wonder i you can manipulate the character in a movie like a video game? Wander no more and log into your Netflix account watch this interactive Black Mirror movie and decide on the character itself. I could not believe what I was doing and what this was all supposed to mean. But as the credit rolled, I remember thinking so technically, I was that character in the movie

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The movie follows the story of a normal teenager residing in London. He is a game developer who is attempting to make a game in which you can choose your adventure, and venture into your findings and exploration. The story goes deep when he is contacted by the big video game production company but he rejects it and works on it on his own. Through the bad relationship with his father, and unstable mental health, now we navigate him and make his decision.

The Adam Project(2022)

Director: Shawn Levy

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Zoe Saldana, Catherine Keener, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo

Run time:106 minutes

The Adam Project is a very fun family movie that you can enjoy right now. It is a funny and goofy movie about the family and love of a family with a science fiction twist. The light-hearted humor makes you laugh and makes you free. With great acting, cinematography, and masterful storytelling, this movie lets you into its imaginative world with the flawed and awkward characters.

Tau(2018)

Director:Federico D’Alessandro

Cast:Maika Monroe, Ed Skrein, Gary Oldman

Run time:97 minutes

For the first few scenes, I found this movie very disturbing and downright but as the movie progressed this was a great watch. For some reason, I felt like a simple and very fun movie. It felt like some Disney movie with simple and fun characters. With cheesy acting and somewhat of a fun yet intriguing plot, this is fun to watch during family gatherings.  

We are introduced to a girl named Julia who is held captive by a menacing artificial intelligence. Now she needs to work her way up and find a way to get out of its prison. Otherwise, she will be subject to this devilish experiment. Fun fact: The voice of the AI is Gary Oldman

I Am Mother(2019)

Director:Grant Sputore

Cast: Rose Byrne, Hilary Swank, Clara Rugaard, Luke Hawker, Tahlia Sturzaker, Jacob Nolan

Run time:113 minutes

The possibility of AI and machines ruling us always makes me wander and I want to explore this theme through any entertainment like books, series, and anime. In the search for that, I came across I am mother. A movie that entertained me and baffled me with its storytelling and its absurd premise. I was intrigued and wanted more of it.

After a chaotic and destructive event, we see a world inside a bunker that was made to repopulate human beings. An artificial intelligence robot is raising a beautiful girl. It teaches her ethics and responsibility and most importantly, she can’t go outside the bunker as she may die.

But in her hidden exploration and curiosity visits, she finds a woman screaming for help. She saves her and now the new twist and turn in the plot happens.