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WeirdThe 20 Best Sci-Fi Movies On Netflix
By Jade Budowski
@jadebudowski
Published
May 23, 2017, 9:00 p.m. ET
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Aliens, dystopia, and superheroes, oh my! These are the 20 best sci-fi movies Netflix has to offer.
Photos: Everett Collection ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
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A Trip to the Moon
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This classic 1902 silent film from film pioneer Georges Méliès tells the story of a group of astronomers who venture to the moon and are blown away by the fantastic things they discover there. The innovative film only clocks in at 13 minutes, but the impact it had on cinema is apparent over 100 years later. Netflix offers both black-and-white and color versions of the film.
[Stream A Trip to the Moon ]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This classic 1902 silent film from film pioneer Georges Méliès tells the story of a group of astronomers who venture to the moon and are blown away by the fantastic things they discover there. The innovative film only clocks in at 13 minutes, but the impact it had on cinema is apparent over 100 years later. Netflix offers both black-and-white and color versions of the film.
[Stream A Trip to the Moon ]
Everett Collection
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World of Tomorrow
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This beautiful animated short film follows a young girl as she is swept away on a tour of her future when she encounters a clone of herself. While the animation style may be simple, the film is anything but. This existential short will leave you thinking long after its seventeen-minute runtime has concluded.
[Stream World of Tomorrow ]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This beautiful animated short film follows a young girl as she is swept away on a tour of her future when she encounters a clone of herself. While the animation style may be simple, the film is anything but. This existential short will leave you thinking long after its seventeen-minute runtime has concluded.
[Stream World of Tomorrow ]
Netflix
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Metropolis
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
The story of a futuristic city and the massive class division between the working class and the city planners is told in a sprawling two-and-a-half hours. The stunning visual effects make it hard to believe the film was released in 1927, and its still-relevant message is one we could all learn something from.
[Stream Metropolis]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
The story of a futuristic city and the massive class division between the working class and the city planners is told in a sprawling two-and-a-half hours. The stunning visual effects make it hard to believe the film was released in 1927, and its still-relevant message is one we could all learn something from.
[Stream Metropolis]
Everett Collection
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Steven Spielberg's classic family film tells the tale of a troubled boy enduring his parents' divorce who befriends a stranded alien and resolves to help him return to his home planet. A perfect balance of whimsical and serious, this touching film will awaken every nostalgic bone in your body. There's a reason it's a classic.
[Stream E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Steven Spielberg's classic family film tells the tale of a troubled boy enduring his parents' divorce who befriends a stranded alien and resolves to help him return to his home planet. A perfect balance of whimsical and serious, this touching film will awaken every nostalgic bone in your body. There's a reason it's a classic.
[Stream E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]
Everett Collection
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The Iron Giant
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
This animated Cold War-set adventure follows a young boy who strikes up a friendship with a massive, kind-hearted robot from outer space. Unfortunately, the incredibly paranoid government is determined to destroy him - so the two band together to evade the destruction of this friendly giant. This heart-wrenching, thrilling film will move you in unexpected ways.
[Stream The Iron Giant]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
This animated Cold War-set adventure follows a young boy who strikes up a friendship with a massive, kind-hearted robot from outer space. Unfortunately, the incredibly paranoid government is determined to destroy him - so the two band together to evade the destruction of this friendly giant. This heart-wrenching, thrilling film will move you in unexpected ways.
[Stream The Iron Giant]
Everett Collection
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The Fly (1958)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Before Jeff Goldblum, there was the 1958 classic that horrified viewers everywhere. After a scientist attempts to use his teleportation device and a fly slips in with him, a terrifying accident ensues - and the rest is history. The creepy, campy sci-fi/horror classic will bend your mind and give you goose bumps.
[Stream The Fly (1958)]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Before Jeff Goldblum, there was the 1958 classic that horrified viewers everywhere. After a scientist attempts to use his teleportation device and a fly slips in with him, a terrifying accident ensues - and the rest is history. The creepy, campy sci-fi/horror classic will bend your mind and give you goose bumps.
[Stream The Fly (1958)]
Everett Collection
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The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
This 1951 genre classic follows an alien named Klaatu and his robot as they arrive to the Cold War-plagued Earth and try to send its inhabitants an important message: live peacefully and stop the use of atomic bombs, or be destroyed. Chaos ensues when a nervous soldier shoots Klaatu, however, and he ends up imprisoned in a hospital room. This relevant portrait of humanity is necessary viewing.
[Stream The Day the Earth Stood Still ]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
This 1951 genre classic follows an alien named Klaatu and his robot as they arrive to the Cold War-plagued Earth and try to send its inhabitants an important message: live peacefully and stop the use of atomic bombs, or be destroyed. Chaos ensues when a nervous soldier shoots Klaatu, however, and he ends up imprisoned in a hospital room. This relevant portrait of humanity is necessary viewing.
[Stream The Day the Earth Stood Still ]
Everett Collection
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Hard to Be a God
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Clocking in at around 3 hours, this expansive, epic Russian drama follows a group of scientists who venture to the planet Arkanar to help the local civilization progress past their medieval phase of history. There's a catch, however - they can't violently intervene or kill anyone in the process. While the scientists learn how to play God on this planet, it becomes more and more difficult not to take a firm position to save Arkanar's inhabitants from themselves.
[Stream Hard to Be a God]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Clocking in at around 3 hours, this expansive, epic Russian drama follows a group of scientists who venture to the planet Arkanar to help the local civilization progress past their medieval phase of history. There's a catch, however - they can't violently intervene or kill anyone in the process. While the scientists learn how to play God on this planet, it becomes more and more difficult not to take a firm position to save Arkanar's inhabitants from themselves.
[Stream Hard to Be a God]
Netflix
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The Host (2006)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
This masterful South Korean monster film follows a snack bar owner whose daughter is suddenly snatched from him by a deadly monster that has emerged from the Han River. While the family initially mourns and agonizes over the loss, when they discover she is still alive, they resolve to do whatever they can to take on the monster and save her. Armed with genuine jump-out-of-your-seat moments, this is essential for sci-fi and horror lovers alike.
[Stream The Host (2006)]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
This masterful South Korean monster film follows a snack bar owner whose daughter is suddenly snatched from him by a deadly monster that has emerged from the Han River. While the family initially mourns and agonizes over the loss, when they discover she is still alive, they resolve to do whatever they can to take on the monster and save her. Armed with genuine jump-out-of-your-seat moments, this is essential for sci-fi and horror lovers alike.
[Stream The Host (2006)]
Everett Collection
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Captain America: Civil War
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
Friends fight, right? The third installment of the Captain America franchise finds our Avengers at odds after political interference causes a massive disagreement (and civil war!) between Captain America and Iron Man. Action-packed and absolutely thrilling, this might be one of the best Marvel flicks yet.
[Stream Captain America: Civil War]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
Friends fight, right? The third installment of the Captain America franchise finds our Avengers at odds after political interference causes a massive disagreement (and civil war!) between Captain America and Iron Man. Action-packed and absolutely thrilling, this might be one of the best Marvel flicks yet.
[Stream Captain America: Civil War]
Everett Collection
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Turbo Kid
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
Don't let the goofy title fool you - this is quite the flick. Set in a 1997 post-apocalyptic wasteland, the film follows a young, comic book-loving scavenger who becomes a reluctant hero to save his friend and beat the bad guy. Lovers of B-movies and cheesy 80 action flicks need look no further than this funny, exciting film.
[Stream Turbo Kid]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
Don't let the goofy title fool you - this is quite the flick. Set in a 1997 post-apocalyptic wasteland, the film follows a young, comic book-loving scavenger who becomes a reluctant hero to save his friend and beat the bad guy. Lovers of B-movies and cheesy 80 action flicks need look no further than this funny, exciting film.
[Stream Turbo Kid]
Everett Collection
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Upstream Color
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
After being attacked, hypnotized, and having their lives ruined, a man and a woman are drawn together and struggle to reassemble what's left of their damaged existences. This baffling artistic endeavor is not for everyone, but for those up for the intellectual challenge, it's certainly worth a watch.
[Stream Upstream Color]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
After being attacked, hypnotized, and having their lives ruined, a man and a woman are drawn together and struggle to reassemble what's left of their damaged existences. This baffling artistic endeavor is not for everyone, but for those up for the intellectual challenge, it's certainly worth a watch.
[Stream Upstream Color]
Everett Collection
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Escape from New York
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
This John Carpenter classic plunges us into a dystopian 1997 where Manhattan has now become a maximum-security prison and a major war between the United States and the Soviet Union is coming to an end. After the president's plane crashes into the island and inmates take him hostage, a former Special Forces soldier-turned-criminal (Kurt Russell) is sent in to save the president in exchange for his freedom.
[Stream Escape from New York ]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
This John Carpenter classic plunges us into a dystopian 1997 where Manhattan has now become a maximum-security prison and a major war between the United States and the Soviet Union is coming to an end. After the president's plane crashes into the island and inmates take him hostage, a former Special Forces soldier-turned-criminal (Kurt Russell) is sent in to save the president in exchange for his freedom.
[Stream Escape from New York ]
Everett Collection
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Trollhunter
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
Everything is not as it seems in this sci-fi/horror flick; a group of students initially sets out to investigate a series of strange bear killings, but soon encounter a mysterious hunter who tells them he spends his days tracking and hunting trolls. Full of fascinating folklore, comedy, thrills, and chills, this unique Norwegian film might just become your new fave.
[Stream Trollhunter]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
Everything is not as it seems in this sci-fi/horror flick; a group of students initially sets out to investigate a series of strange bear killings, but soon encounter a mysterious hunter who tells them he spends his days tracking and hunting trolls. Full of fascinating folklore, comedy, thrills, and chills, this unique Norwegian film might just become your new fave.
[Stream Trollhunter]
Everett Collection
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These Final Hours
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
On the last day of earth's existence, a self-obsessed man named James makes his way across a city plagued by chaos to attend the party to end all parties. On his way, however, he encounters a little girl desperate to find her father, and unexpectedly discovers what really matters as earth's final minutes tick away.
[Stream These Final Hours]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
On the last day of earth's existence, a self-obsessed man named James makes his way across a city plagued by chaos to attend the party to end all parties. On his way, however, he encounters a little girl desperate to find her father, and unexpectedly discovers what really matters as earth's final minutes tick away.
[Stream These Final Hours]
Everett Collection
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Advantageous
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
Set in the near future where older women are deemed more and more unnecessary, a mother realizes she may lose her job as a biomedical firm's spokesperson in favor of a younger candidate. Desperate to provide for her daughter, she agrees to undergo a procedure to transfer her consciousness to the body of a younger woman.
[Stream Advantageous]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
Set in the near future where older women are deemed more and more unnecessary, a mother realizes she may lose her job as a biomedical firm's spokesperson in favor of a younger candidate. Desperate to provide for her daughter, she agrees to undergo a procedure to transfer her consciousness to the body of a younger woman.
[Stream Advantageous]
Everett Collection
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Spectral
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
This Netflix Original follows an engineer as he teams up with an elite Special Ops force to stop a supernatural forces tearing through a war-ravaged European city. This high-stakes, action-driven flick evokes the feeling of genre classics and provides a series of new thrills for the streaming audience era.
[Stream Spectral]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
This Netflix Original follows an engineer as he teams up with an elite Special Ops force to stop a supernatural forces tearing through a war-ravaged European city. This high-stakes, action-driven flick evokes the feeling of genre classics and provides a series of new thrills for the streaming audience era.
[Stream Spectral]
Everett Collection
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The Prestige
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
Christopher Nolan's magic-driven movie features an all-star cast including the likes of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Scarlett Johansson, and follows two rival stage magicians in 19th century London as they desperately attempt to expose each others' tricks. A series of terrifying and mind-boggling events ensue as the two become totally consumed by their rivalry.
[Stream The Prestige]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
Christopher Nolan's magic-driven movie features an all-star cast including the likes of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Scarlett Johansson, and follows two rival stage magicians in 19th century London as they desperately attempt to expose each others' tricks. A series of terrifying and mind-boggling events ensue as the two become totally consumed by their rivalry.
[Stream The Prestige]
Everett Collection
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Monsters
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
Helmed by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards, this thrilling film brings us to earth six years post-alien invasion as a reluctant journalist agrees to help take a shell-shocked American tourist to the safe U.S. border - but they must venture through an infected area of Mexico to get there. This mysterious, slow-burn drama is subtle and powerful in its messaging.
[Stream Monsters]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
Helmed by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards, this thrilling film brings us to earth six years post-alien invasion as a reluctant journalist agrees to help take a shell-shocked American tourist to the safe U.S. border - but they must venture through an infected area of Mexico to get there. This mysterious, slow-burn drama is subtle and powerful in its messaging.
[Stream Monsters]
Everett Collection
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Mr. Nobody
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%
This strange sci-fi drama tells the tale of Nemo Nobody (Jared Leto), the last mortal in the world of immortals, as he reflects on his 120 years of life and begins to contemplate whether or not he made the right choices. This dazzling, ambitious film became a cult hit and features one of Leto's best performances.
[Stream Mr. Nobody]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%
This strange sci-fi drama tells the tale of Nemo Nobody (Jared Leto), the last mortal in the world of immortals, as he reflects on his 120 years of life and begins to contemplate whether or not he made the right choices. This dazzling, ambitious film became a cult hit and features one of Leto's best performances.
[Stream Mr. Nobody]
Everett Collection
