Culture

The 11 Best Sci-Fi Movies You Can Stream Right Now, From 2001 to Ex Machina

Settle in for some space odysseys.
Image may contain Human Person Clothing Apparel Face Sleeve and Home Decor

As film genres go, science fiction is often the one that's hardest for folks to get into. Literal-minded moviegoers often have a hard time with worlds where anything—and everything—is possible and, well, some people just don't like space. But those willing to give in to their imaginations are deeply rewarded. That's because, when done right, sci-fi can offer a truly enriching cinematic experience—one where science and technology can easily be tempered with humor, horror, drama, or all of the above. Does all this talk make you wish you were diving into some great sci-fi right now? Good. Here’s the best of what you can currently find on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. The future, dear streamers, is bright.

  • If you only ever watch one sci-fi film in your life, let it be Stanley Kubrick’s *2001: A Space Odyssey*. A beautiful meditation on the evolution of humankind, the film's vast scope and breathtaking cinematography make it a bit of a mind-bender. It’s also quite prescient: The bulk of the action follows a group of men on a space mission who are aided, then held hostage, by HAL 9000—a piece of AI technology that has gotten better at being human than the flesh-and-blood astronauts relying on it. Its pace is glacial, but its storytelling and groundbreaking filmmaking techniques make it unlike almost anything else in cinema history. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • When you're a 31-year-old director who just invented "the blockbuster" with a flawless film about a vengeful shark, there’s only one thing to do: make an alien movie. In Steven Spielberg's *Jaws* follow-up, Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) is a blue-collar family guy whose late-night run-in with a UFO turns into an obsession. Much like last year’s *Arrival*, *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* steers clear of the horror-leaning "alien invasion" tropes and instead focuses on the practical implications of discovering extra-terrestrial life—like communication. Nearly 40 years later, it's still one of the most intelligent first-contact films ever made. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • The spacecraft *Nostromo* and her crew, which includes warrant officer Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), are headed home to Earth when they receive a distress call from a nearby planetoid and make a detour to investigate. Bad move. What they find is an unknown species of alien that begins to knock off crew members one by one. *Alien* turned Ridley Scott into a sci-fi icon while also launching a franchise that continues to this day (his next entry, *Alien: Covenant*, is due out in May). The movie also set the stage for the director's other bit of essential sci-fi viewing: 1982's *Blade Runner*. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • With all due respect to George Lucas and *A New Hope*, Irvin Kershner’s *Empire Strikes Back* is the rare sequel that manages to outshine its predecessor. Taking place a few years after the original film, the movie sees Darth Vader trying desperately to find the Rebel Alliance, which—under the leadership of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)—has set up shop on Hoth. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) are out there own their own, too, and as any Star Wars fan knows, the Rebels are at their most powerful when our trio of heroes is working together. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • Like *Star Wars*, the *Max Max* franchise got a narrative boost with its second entry, *Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior*. Whereas George Miller's original 1979 film saw Mel Gibson's Max Rockatansky fighting against the decline of a futuristic society, *Road Warrior* was a full-on dystopia centered on the aftermath of the events in the original movie and Max's attempt to reclaim his own humanity. Plus: Cool cars! Where to stream it: Amazon
  • Science fiction and dystopia go together like John Carpenter and synth scores. Fortunately, *Escape from New York* has all four. Set in the then-future year of 1997, *Escape'*s America is essentially a war zone where Manhattan is one big maximum security prison. That lock-up is where the POTUS lands when Air Force One crashes following an attempted hijacking. With the president being held hostage by one of the nation’s most notorious crime bosses, the government enlists the help of Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a soldier-turned-criminal who might just be America’s last great hope. Like much of Carpenter’s output, there’s a certain kitschiness to the entire thing—which is exactly what makes it a classic. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • Yes, it’s a comedy. And sort of a family film, too. But at its heart, *Back to the Future* is a sci-fi movie—and one of the most perfect examples of the genre. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is your typical cool '80s teen who just so happens to pal around with a mad scientist, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), who invents a time machine. Through a series of unfortunate events, Marty ends up getting sent back to 1955, where he befriends the teenaged versions of his parents and does his best to dissuade his mom from having the hots for him. By messing with history, Marty’s messing with his own future and slowly being erased. But he manages to right the past, find his way back to 1985, and give those fun-loving kids a taste of what rock ‘n’ roll should sound like. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • Though the '80s are often associated with neon, popped collars, and Members Only jackets, a quick look at some of the most popular films of the decade are proof that there was also a deep sense of disillusionment. In the same year that Gordon Gekko was declaring "greed is good" in *Wall Street*, Paul Verhoeven was unleashing one of the decade’s most subversive sci-fi flicks, which sees the mayor of Detroit hand over control to the evil Omni Consumer Products (OCP), an outfit that turns Motor City into a testing ground for new technology. That new tech includes RoboCop, a law-enforcing cyborg who attempts to eradicate the city of crime—until memories of his human existence find their way back into his head. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • If *The Terminator* raised the bar for sci-fi films, *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* broke it. Like the many cyborg movies that came before it—including the original—*T2* is a commentary on what it means to be human, and how far is “too far” when it comes to developing intelligent technology. While the storyline is similar to the first film—a Terminator is sent to LA to kill John Connor, the boy who will eventually lead the human resistance—*Judgment Day* makes this list for one important reason that has nothing to do with plot: amazing VFX. For *T2*, director James Cameron employed some truly groundbreaking CGI to create Terminators that moved like nothing else had before. And those liquid-metal shots are still impressive more than 25 years later. Where to stream it: Amazon, Hulu
  • Given the immense popularity of *The Matrix*, it was obvious that many sequels would follow. And while they may have slightly diluted the impact of the first film, *The Matrix* still stands alone in its ability to combine impressive direction with mind-bending action sequences and a storyline that actually makes you think. It also brought the directing duo the Wachowskis to the forefront of the action movie scene, and it’s been a better place ever since. Where to stream it: Amazon
  • Though one could easily point to the 1980s as the apex of the sci-fi film movement, the new millennium has proven that there are still plenty of unique stories to be told within the genre. But with its stellar acting, pitch-perfect directing, and relevant storyline, *Ex Machina* just might be the one we most need right now. When a programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) is sent to the isolated home of a tech wunderkind (Oscar Isaac), he believes he’s been invited to help in the development of a brilliant and beautiful humanoid robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander). But as Ava reveals more about herself, it becomes clear that she—not the humans—is in control. Where to stream it: Amazon
Jennifer M. Wood writes about movies, television, and pop culture. She is the editor of The Curious Viewer: A Miscellany of Bingeable Streaming TV Shows from the Past Twenty Years and the author of The Curious Movie Buff: A Miscellany of Fantastic Films from the Past 50 Years.  ... Read more
TopicsMoviesNetflixSci-fiUnderwire
Read More
Bill Atkinson, Macintosh Pioneer and Inventor of Hypercard, Dies at 74
Atkinson’s gleeful brilliance helped people draw on computer screens and access information via links.
24 Best Deals on Father's Day Gifts
Get Dad a WIRED-approved weather station, pair of headphones, or treadmill for less.
The Best Backpacking Tents for Getting Away From It All
The right shelter makes all the difference in the backcountry. Here are the best tents we’ve tested and love.
Tech Up Your Sourdough With These Upper-Crust Baking Gadgets
Sourdough bread is one of the most wonderful things you can make with your hands, but it can be fussy and hard to perfect. Now technology takes out most of the pesky guesswork.
Which Samsung Galaxy Phone Should You Buy?
From flagship and budget to flipping and folding, Samsung’s Galaxy range spans the breadth of the smartphone cosmos. WIRED’s here to help you make your choice.
The Best Weighted Blankets
If you’re looking for the sensation of a hug, these weighted blankets—plus weighted robes, eye masks, and more—will snuggle you back.
Everything You Need to Know About MicroSD Express
What is the latest MicroSD iteration, and why does your Nintendo Switch need it?
The 46 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Lost in Starlight, Kill Boksoon, and The Old Guard are just a few of the movies you should watch on Netflix this month.
The 46 Best Shows on Netflix Right Now
Dept. Q, Sirens, and Black Mirror are just a few of the shows you need to watch on Netflix this month.
Uber Just Reinvented the Bus … Again
Beyond the jokes about its new shuttle service are serious questions about what it will mean for struggling transit systems, air quality, and congestion.
Samsung Teases Z Fold Ultra, Bing Gets AI Video, and Nothing Sets A Date—Your Gear News of the Week
Plus: Ruark has new speakers, Photoshop comes to Android and summer's finest music player gets updated.
The Mystery of iPhone Crashes That Apple Denies Are Linked to Chinese Hacking
Plus: A 22-year-old former intern gets put in charge of a key anti-terrorism program, threat intelligence firms finally wrangle their confusing names for hacker groups, and more.