The impressive back catalog of Netflix means that it is home to some of the best and most memorable movies of all time, especially within the sci-fi genre. While some of the most iconic sci-fi films like The Terminator and Star Wars aren’t on Netflix, the platform still has some great entries in the genre.
Some of these are underrated Netflix originals, some are cult classics, and some are hidden gems that are among the best, lesser-known sci-fi films in recent memory. There’s also an Oscar nominee and one of the biggest blockbuster movies of all time, combining to showcase how great Netflix’s sci-fi catalog actually is.
Upgrade (2018)
2018’s Upgrade perfectly blends sci-fi technology with exciting action sequences, yet it also features some horror elements. The horror aspect makes sense given the director is Leigh Whannell (known for The Invisible Man and Insidious: Chapter 3), but sci-fi remains the film’s main genre.
The film tells the story of a paralyzed technophobe who gets implanted with a chip that allows him to control his body and walk again. With the help of the AI implant and his new superhuman strength and agility, he seeks out revenge on those who harmed him.
Upgrade was a mild box office hit, yet was a much stronger success with critics. It sits at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and was praised for the way it utilized the sci-fi aspect to tell a revenge action story. There was even talk of a sequel or a spin-off TV show, though not much progress has been made on it.
Starship Troopers (1997)
Like a lot of the works by filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, Starship Troopers was misunderstood and viewed as a campy action movie and nothing more. However, it is actually something of a military satire film, commenting on xenophobia and other aspects, making it an anti-war movie.
The film may seem like it’s glorifying violence but the truth is that it condemns it. This is something that people have picked up more over time, helping Starship Troopers become more of a cult classic. Of course, there’s still some great sci-fi action involved.
Based on a 1959 novel of the same name, Starship Troopers is set in the 23rd century and focuses on a group of soldiers engaged in an interstellar war against aliens known as Arachnids. While critics weren’t huge on the film initially, time has been kind to it and it’s well-received now.
Melancholia (2011)
Filmmaker Lars von Trier is known for being a director who is innovative and provocative, evidenced by films like Antichrist and Nymphomaniac. In between those movies, he put out something of a hidden gem with Melancholia. All three are part of von Trier’s unofficial “Depression Trilogy.”
The story centers around two sisters, with one of them getting married just before a planet is set to collide with Earth. This impending doom threatens their relationship and is the driving force of the emotional aspect of the film.
The sci-fi side of things comes from the pure concept of planets colliding, making this a different kind of film within the genre. Critical reception was very strong, with a lot of praise going to Kirsten Dunst’s lead performance, carrying this with some of the best work of her career.
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
He’s been criminally underutilized in Hollywood since the end of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, so it was a nice change of pace to see John Boyega get a starring role in this Netflix original. They Cloned Tyrone mixes the sci-fi genre with comedy and mystery to create something unique.
The movie follows a drug dealer who is killed but then returns the next day in front of the person who killed him. That sets off an intriguing tale involving cloning, a conspiracy theory, and more, which is enough to fully lock some viewers in.
On top of the intriguing premise, the cast is great with Boyega joined by Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx (who also produced the film). They Cloned Tyrone was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception, holding an outstanding 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s What’s Inside (2024)
It’s What’s Inside is one of Netflix’s most interesting and unique originals, even if it somewhat flew under the radar upon release. A lot of people overlooked it as something kind of goofy, given the youthful cast and the outside-of-the-box premise.
However, those who gave It’s What’s Inside a chance learned that it was something to behold. The film centers on a group of college friends who reunite after nearly a decade and play a game where they can swap bodies with each other.
This is a film that you have to pay attention to so you can know who is in whose body at any given moment. Everyone begins to do unsavory things while in another body, leading to a thrilling climax that never quite goes where you’re expecting. It’s an experience to watch this on Netflix.
Okja (2017)
Thanks to his incredible Best Picture winning and record-setting Parasite, Bong Joon Ho has become a household name and when that name is attached to a film, it feels like it’s a must-see. That’s the case for his past films, including the Netflix original Okja.
Released in 2017, Okja tells one of Joon Ho’s creative and unique tales as it focuses on a teenage girl and the bond she forms with a genetically modified super pig. The corporation behind the pig ultimately comes back to experiment on the pig, meaning it needs to be rescued.
Although not as widely known as projects like Parasite and Snowpiercer, Okja is one of Joon Ho’s most critically acclaimed films. Plus, it boasts a stellar cast including Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, and more.
Pacific Rim (2013)
Since he’s most known as a master of movies involving monsters, it was only a matter of time before Guillermo del Toro dipped his toes into the world of kaijus. He did that with Pacific Rim, which is set in the future during a time when humanity is at war with giant monsters.
To combat the kaijus, humans created giant humanoid mechas known as Jaegers, which have to be piloted by two individuals. Simply seeing the battles between the mechas and the kaijus is enough to make this a sci-fi classic.
However, what truly makes Pacific Rim great is the relationship forged between washed-up pilot Raleigh (Charlie Hunnam) and rookie pilot Mako (Rinko Kikuchi). Guillermo del Toro’s signature style is all over this, truly turning it into something special.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Over the decades, there have been so many movies about Godzilla that it’s difficult to keep up with which ones are which and which ones are connected. Godzilla Minus One avoids all that by telling a standalone story featuring the kaiju.
Godzilla Minus One is set in postwar Japan and follows a former kamikaze pilot struggling with PTSD and how he and those around him deal with the arrival of the titular Godzilla. Many have praised this as the best Godzilla movie ever made, which is high praise.
Although it wasn’t made for a big budget, Godzilla Minus One has outstanding special effects that earned it an Academy Award. The film also managed to become a hit in the United States despite not being in English and has been a big success on Netflix.
The Wild Robot (2024)
Animation is home to some of the best sci-fi movies ever made and The Wild Robot ranks right near the top of that list. The film centers on a service robot that gets stranded on an island and becomes a friend and family to various wildlife species.
The film is heartfelt at the center, especially with the mother-son relationship forged by the titular robot and an orphaned goose. On top of that, the animation style is beautiful, leading the film to be nominated for an Oscar.
The Wild Robot was the rare original story to become a big hit at the box office. The voice cast led by Lupita Nyong’o, Kit Connor, and Pedro Pascal is fantastic and that’s not even mentioning the stellar supporting cast. This is a must-watch for the whole family.
Jurassic Park (1993)
There aren’t many movies in history more iconic than Jurassic Park. The 1993 film might be the greatest achievement by legendary director Steven Spielberg, as it was a huge financial success, spawned an entire franchise, and remains one of the best movies ever made.
Based on the novel of the same name, the film tells the story of a wildlife park opened featuring dinosaurs that were brought back from extinction by genetic scientists, only for them to get free and terrorize the visitors. The tense scenes involving the threat of the dinosaurs are thrilling.
The original stands out for many reasons, including the incredible visual effects, which hold up decades later and look better than a lot of films released in the modern day. Add in the memorable score and the likable cast, and it’s easy to see why this is so beloved.
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