Robots and artificial intelligence. Far-flung galaxies and planets. Futuristic realms and alternate universes. Science fiction is a genre that ignites our imaginations and transports us from our normal lives to mind-bending worlds. And with most of us pretty bloody bored with lockdown life, a good immersive sci-fi flick is just what we need right now.
Luckily for us, Netflix is packed with the very best in sci-fi cinema, from some of the best game-changing classics (such as 1984’s The Terminator), to some modern mind-boggling masterpieces (like the Oscar-winning Ex Machina).
Our fascination with what the future might look like launched the sci-fi genre way before our technology-obsessed age, with authors such as Isaac Asimov and H.G. Wells writing fantastical adventures and dystopian tales in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their classic novels even inspired some of the best-loved sci-fi films of our generation (I, Robot; The War of the Worlds; and more recently, The Invisible Man starring one of our all-time faves, Elisabeth Moss).
More recently, hit shows such as Stranger Things have reignited our love of science fiction and fantasy, giving a fresh take on dark underworlds and ghoulish otherworldly monsters – something once associated with teenage boys reading comic books. Did Millie Bobby Brown make sci-fi cool again? Or are all now just embracing our inner nerd with pride?
Whatever you think, there’s never been a better time to delve into Netflix’s offering of sci-fi flicks. While some of the all-time greats unfortunately aren’t yet available on the streaming site – Blade Runner, Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey – there is still plenty to sink your fantasy-hungry teeth into. Read on for our pick of the best sci-fi films on Netflix, and prosper.
If those don’t take your fancy then never fear as there are plenty of new releases on Netflix for you, take a look at our pick below and if you love a good binge-watch check out the other best Netflix documentaries, true crime documentaries and date night movies, or our ultimate roundup of the best tv series in the meantime.