Coming to movie night, the gathering call in my house never changes. Everyone wants to see science fiction.
But which movie? Thankfully, Netflix’s library has some. A nice mix of originals and existing classics.
Here are our favorites as of February 2023:
read more: Best Sci-Fi TV Shows on Netflix
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A bit conventional in terms of aesthetics, Jung_E is a gripping sci-fi flick focused on AI and class struggle. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, creator of the critically acclaimed 2016 zombie movie Train to Busan, Jung_E doesn’t reach dizzying heights, but it’s still definitely worth watching. I have.
20th Century Fox
I may be alone in this (or in the minority), but Minority Report is – for me – one of the best sci-fi movies of the century. It’s also an energetic mystery thriller unlike anything you’ve seen before or since. If you haven’t watched it yet, you probably have, but watch it ASAP.
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There’s a reason this Norwegian film has been stuck in Netflix’s Top 10 for some time. A ragtag group must rally in the mountains to contain a giant ancient troll wreaking havoc. A solid monster movie with impressive special effects.
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I saw The Colony recently. Surprisingly good!
It follows a very familiar metaphor. Returning to Earth years after abandoning it, the wealthy find themselves attacked by a new and unknown threat. But Colony subverts some of these clichés and says surprisingly powerful things about how we dehumanize each other.
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Spiderhead is the latest from Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and also stars Miles Teller, who stars in the same movie.
Spiderhead isn’t on par with top-tier Top Gun: Maverick, but it’s still worth watching. Based on a dystopian short story published in The New Yorker, Spiderhead takes place in a state-of-the-art prison, where drug-induced experiments are conducted with inmates.
Warner Bros. Pictures Espana/YouTube screenshot
This Spanish time travel gem should be on your radar. The mother discovers a connection to her past and uses it for good, but the results in the present are devastating. It produces a satisfying climax with intensity.
MGM
Mist is great. His sci-fi horror film based on the stories of Stephen King, with superbly executed horror elements. Be careful, it has the end of sucking oxygen out of your lungs. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Universal
Before Tom Cruise and Joseph Kosinski teamed up in Top Gun: Maverick, there was Oblivion.
Oblivion is an underrated and now largely forgotten post-apocalyptic sci-fi flick that isn’t all that it seems. It’s ambitious and incredibly beautiful. You may have missed Oblivion in theaters, but there’s never been a better time to give it a chance.
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Platform is a terrifying high-concept Spanish sci-fi horror movie. Correctional facility prisoners are fed in a very unique way.The people on the top floor are fed ridiculous amounts of food, and the people on the bottom eat leftovers.Chaos ensues.
It’s not perfect, but it’s still well worth watching.
columbia movie
Men in Black is now streaming on Netflix. You know this movie, everyone has seen this movie. it’s good. you should see it
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An Australian sci-fi thriller starring Hilary Swank and Rose Byrne, I am Mother tells the post-apocalyptic story of a daughter raised by Mother, a robot tasked with helping the Earth regenerate. So tense, so weird, so good.
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Mitchells vs. Machine (2021)
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one of the smartest and most relatable children’s movies in years. This is like a movie that a child and parent can watch together and both can enjoy.
You should know, my kids have made me watch this… 8 times so far? sweet.
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The Adam Project isn’t a perfect movie, but teeth Perfect for those looking for a simple watch for family movie watching fun. Ryan Reynolds takes on the task of Ryan Reynolds as his time-traveling pilot working with his 12-year-old self on a mission to save the future.
See, it’s a crowd pleaser!
Video screenshots by Amanda Kooser/CNET
is this sci fi? I think it’s sci-fi.
It’s sci-fi. End of discussion.
Don’t Look Up is far from a perfect movie. It smells like fake Hollywood activism, and it’s way too long and nasty. But it’s still important and also… pretty interesting, don’t you think?
Regardless of its flaws, I think Don’t Look Up is a film that has had a positive impact on the world and is worth watching.
netflix
Apollo 10 1/2: Childhood in Space (2022)
Apollo 11 1/2 is loosely based on Richard Linklater’s childhood. Set around the time of the Apollo moon landings, the animated story stars Glenn Powell, Jack Black, Zachary Levi and Josh Wiggins and features beautiful animated aesthetics.
It’s a beautifully made movie that you can’t afford to miss.
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