Choose your own double feature: The 12 best sci-fi movies on Netflix
- - Choose your own double feature: The 12 best sci-fi movies on Netflix
Ilana Gordon, Randall ColburnDecember 27, 2025 at 8:30 PM
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Linda Kaller; Dale Robinette/Newmarket Films; Toho Co., Ltd.
Eden Duncan-Smith as C.J. Walker in 'See You Yesterday'; Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko in 'Donnie Darko'; Godzilla in 'Godzilla Minus One'
Things just got dark in here, and it's not because someone finally turned off the overhead light. The culprit is the bleak future of technology, the existential threat of climate change, and the monsters — real and fantastical — that potentially hunt us all. The sci-fi films on this list explore these themes and more in projects that are, by turns, thought-provoking, action-packed, funny, and disturbing.
Allow EW to introduce you to the 12 best sci-fi films streaming on Netflix.
01 of 12
Bird Box (2018)
Netflix Sandra Bullock as Malorie Hayes in 'Bird Box'
Sight becomes a barrier in Bird Box, a postapocalyptic thriller where the enemy must go unseen, or else. Sandra Bullock stars as Malorie Hayes, a woman responsible for transporting her two young children down a river while wearing blindfolds: a strategy intended to help the survivors avoid seeing the entities that attacked Earth five years earlier, and who cause those who look upon them to commit suicide. Jumping between their present journey and the past events that led Malorie and the children to this point, director Susanne Bier leans into the tension of the unknown and relies on her talented but eclectic cast to do the rest. —Ilana Gordon
Where to watch Bird Box: Netflix
EW grade: B
Director: Susanne Bier
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Danielle Macdonald, Sarah Paulson
02 of 12
Cities of Last Things (2018)
Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Louise Grinberg as Ara and Lee Hong-chi as Zhang Dong Ling in 'Cities of Last Things'
A Chinese film constructed in reverse chronological order, Cities of Last Things tells one man’s story from end to beginning. Set in 2056 and littered with sci-fi goodies like rejuvenation fluids that make women look younger, and citizen ID tags, the film is set in the same city, and told over three separate nights, in three different phases of the man’s life.
The movie is a revenge film, and as such the violence is overt — an early suicide scene deserves a trigger warning — but the acting is excellent, and the story is devastating and engaging, making Cities of Last Things worthy of your time and consideration. —I.G.
Where to watch Cities of Last Things: Netflix
Director: Ho Wi Ding
Cast: Jack Kao, Lee Hong-chi, Hsieh Chang-Ying, Louise Grinberg
03 of 12
Donnie Darko (2001)
Mary Evans/Pandora Cinema/Flower Films/Adam Fields Productions/GA/Ronald Grant/Courtesy Everett Collection
Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko in 'Donnie Darko'
Sleep disorders, hallucinations, and rabbit costume-clad figures prophesying humanity’s imminent destruction are just a few of the treats provided in Donnie Darko, a trippy sci-fi thriller with a stacked cast. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Donnie Darko, a teenager struggling with his mental health, who begins sleepwalking and experiencing visions that take a toll on his everyday life.
Also starring Jake’s real-life sibling Maggie Gyllenhaal as Donnie’s sister, the flick was quickly adopted by college kids and film students as the movie to watch in the early aughts. The theatrical release was scheduled for shortly after the 9/11 attacks, and the movie — which features a plane crash — suffered accordingly. Regardless, the film quickly achieved cult classic status, and, according to Jake Gyllenhaal, remains one of his proudest career moments. —I.G.
Where to watch Donnie Darko: Netflix
Director: Richard Kelly
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Seth Rogen, Jena Malone
04 of 12
Don't Look Up (2021)
Niko Tavernise/Netflix
Jonah Hill as Jason Orlean, Leonardo DiCaprio as Dr. Randall Mindy, Meryl Streep as President Orlean, and Jennifer Lawrence as Kate Dibiasky in 'Don't Look Up'
As a comet sets its sights on Earth and prepares to wipe out human civilization, two astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) rush to warn the world of the impending collision — only to discover the world doesn't really care. "Based on events that haven't happened yet," as the film's trailer states, Don't Look Up is a sci-fi satire that skewers climate deniers and government inaction in the face of scientific evidence pointing to looming catastrophe.
Directed by Adam McKay (The Big Short), and featuring half of Hollywood, Don't Look Up offers great jokes and fun cameos, but be warned: it's not exactly light fare. Still, as far as sci-fi comedies go, this one is worth a watch — just don't think too deeply about the implications of the film's ending. —I.G.
Where to watch Don't Look Up: Netflix
EW grade: B
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, Meryl Streep, Timothée Chalamet
05 of 12
Elysium (2013)
Kimberley French/Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Matt Damon as Max Da Costa and Wagner Moura as Spider in 'Elysium'
Matt Damon is a man on a mission to save himself in the 2013 sci-fi thriller Elysium. Damon plays Max, a former car thief living in the dystopic remains of Los Angeles in the year 2154. After Max learns he has five days to live, he attempts to leave Earth and head to Elysium — the artificial world where the wealthy reside — which houses technology capable of curing any ailment. But when Max hijacks information belonging to Elysium's defense secretary (Jodie Foster), it seems unlikely he will ever reach Elysium alive.
Directed by Neill Blomkamp, EW's critic writes, "Elysium confirms the talent — for razory mayhem and shocking satire, for the crazed spectacle of future decay — that Blomkamp showcased in his amazing first feature, District 9 (2009)." —I.G.
Where to watch Elysium: Netflix
EW grade: B+
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna
06 of 12
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Toho International
Godzilla in 'Godzilla Minus One'
Godzilla Minus One won the 2024 Oscar for Best Visual Effects, but the film is so much more than a monster movie with incredible CGI. Set in Japan, a country ravaged by the after-effects of World War II, the film follows a failed kamikaze pilot as he is haunted both by his performance during the war and a gargantuan monster with a heat ray capable of razing Tokyo.
A love story disguised as a horror movie, Godzilla Minus One offers stunning performances, a fascinating historical perspective, and — of course — the kind of city-trampling mayhem one would expect when selecting a Godzilla movie. You know they did a good job when the filmmaker has you sympathizing with both the monster and the citizens rallying to defeat it. —I.G.
Where to watch Godzilla Minus One: Netflix
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka
07 of 12
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Netflix Felicity Jones as Sully in 'The Midnight Sky'
George Clooney directs, co-produces, and stars in this moody and often wordless adaptation of Lily Brooks-Dalton's 2016 novel Good Morning, Midnight. Clooney — face wrapped in a giant gray beard — plays Augustine, a scientist at an Arctic research station that's still standing after an unnamed global catastrophe leaves the Earth irradiated. Health declining, he makes two big discoveries: 1) There's a mysterious little girl (Caoilinn Springall) on the station with him, and 2) her only hope for survival is the Aether, a distant spaceship that's returning to Earth unaware of the fate that's befallen it. The Midnight Sky is familiar in its use of genre tropes, but Clooney's soulful performance brings a welcome warmth to this cold vision of Earth's future. —Randall Colburn
Where to watch The Midnight Sky: Netflix
EW grade: B
Director: George Clooney
Cast: George Clooney, Felicity Jones, Tiffany Boone, Kyle Chandler, Sophie Rundle
08 of 12
Oxygen (2021)
Netflix Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth 'Liz' Hansen in 'Oxygen'
A nightmare comes to life for claustrophobics everywhere, as Oxygen is a French-language sci-fi film that thinks outside the box in terms of action. At the genesis, an unidentified woman (Mélanie Laurent) awakens in an airtight medical unit, unsure of who or where she is. Interactions with the system's AI — dubbed M.I.L.O. (Medical Interface Liaison Officer) — provide some clarity as to her identity, but no matter what she tries, she cannot escape her prison.
As she seeks to understand who placed her in the box and why, truths about her personal life and the current state of the world come into focus. Laurent is excellent, and despite being forced to perform on her back, she manages to imbue the film with a strong sense of determination and humanity. —I.G.
Where to watch Oxygen: Netflix
EW grade: B
Director: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi
09 of 12
See You Yesterday (2019)
Linda Kallerüs/Netflix Eden Duncan-Smith as C.J. Walker and Danté Crichlow as Sebastian Thomas in 'See You Yesterday'
The best way to live life with no regrets is to build a time machine — which is exactly what happens in Netflix's Spike Lee-produced sci-fi adventure film, See You Yesterday. After best friends and high school science prodigies, C.J. (Eden Duncan-Smith) and Sebastian (Danté Crichlow), unlock the secrets to time travel, they're forced to use their newfound invention in an attempt to save C.J.'s brother Calvin (Brian "Stro" Bradley) from a fatal encounter with the police. A modern take on Back to the Future — also featuring an appearance by the original time traveler, Michael J. Fox — the film grapples with highly relevant cultural issues like police brutality while still having fun with high school tropes and time loops. —I.G.
Where to watch See You Yesterday: Netflix
Director: Stefon Bristol
Cast: Eden Duncan-Smith, Danté Crichlow, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Brian "Stro" Bradley
10 of 12
The Terminator (1984)
Orion Pictures Corporation/Courtesy Everett Collection
Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator in 'The Terminator'
One of the most action-packed sci-fi flicks of the 1980s is also one of the most enduring. The movie that launched the careers of director James Cameron and star Arnold Schwarzenegger tells the story of a cyborg assassin (Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to hunt and terminate one woman: Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Sarah finds help in Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a human soldier who was sent back in time to protect her from the Terminator.
Arnold wasn’t joking when he said, “I’ll be back”. The Terminator's success created a launch pad for five movie sequels, plus a TV show, two web series, and an anime series. In a review of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, EW's writer calls the first film in the franchise “one of the most original movies of the 1980s …likely to remain one of the best sci-fi films ever made.” —I.G.
Where to watch The Terminator: Netflix
EW grade: A
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield
11 of 12
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
Parrish Lewis/Netflix Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, and John Boyega as Fontaine in 'They Cloned Tyrone'
A single genre isn't enough to contain one of Netflix's 2023 releases, They Cloned Tyrone. A sci-fi comedy that combines '70s Blaxploitation with mystery and social satire, the film has similar vibes to movies like Get Out (2017) or Sorry to Bother You (2018) while employing a far more absurd premise.
Fontaine (John Boyega) is a drug dealer living in an impoverished area called the Glen. While trying to collect funds owed to him by a local pimp named Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), Fontaine is shot and killed — but that doesn't stop him from showing up on Slick's doorstep the next day to collect his money. A satirical romp that has as much to say about class and racial injustices as it does about mystery movie tropes, They Cloned Tyrone is smart, silly, and uniformly well-acted. —I.G.
Where to watch They Cloned Tyrone: Netflix
Director: Juel Taylor
Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx
12 of 12
What Happened to Monday (2017)
Netflix Noomi Rapace as one of the Settman Siblings in 'What Happened to Monday'
Orphan Black lovers will want to check out What Happened to Monday, a 2017 sci-fi action thriller directed by Tommy Wirkola. The film stars Noomi Rapace (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), giving seven unique performances as septuplet sisters, each named after a different day of the week. The siblings live in a fascist America where overpopulation has necessitated the creation of a Child Allocation Bureau (run by Glenn Close), which imposes a single-child policy on all families.
The septuplets live secretly with their grandfather (Willem Dafoe), share the name Karen Settman (a relic from their dead mother), and are only allowed to leave the house on the day of the week that corresponds with their name. But after Monday goes out and never comes home, it's up to her sisters to save her. —I.G.
Where to watch What Happened to Monday: Netflix
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close, Willem Dafoe
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
