The Mainstream 2010's

Part Deux: 2015-19

The Mainstream 2010's

The decade also saw an explosion of scifi movies which necessitated an overflow page.... this one......

2015: Mad Max: Fury Road 🇦🇺 🇺🇸

George Miller returned to his post-apocalyptic franchise with this high-octane chase film, where Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) reluctantly joins Furiosa (Charlize Theron) in liberating women from a tyrant warlord. The movie redefined action filmmaking with practical stunts and breathtaking visuals. It won six Oscars, becoming both a critical and popular triumph.

2015: Fantastic Four 🇺🇸

Josh Trank’s reboot of the Marvel team followed four young scientists who gain superpowers after an interdimensional experiment goes wrong. Despite its promising cast, including Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan, the film was marred by production troubles and was poorly received. It remains one of Marvel’s most infamous box office misfires.

2015: Jupiter Ascending 🇺🇸 🇦🇺

The Wachowskis directed this space opera where a cleaning woman (Mila Kunis) discovers she is the genetic heir to a galactic empire. With Channing Tatum as her warrior protector, the film blended stunning visuals with a convoluted plot. Though critically panned, its lavish world-building has since gained a small cult following.

2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron 🇺🇸

Joss Whedon’s follow-up to The Avengers (2012) saw Earth’s mightiest heroes face Ultron, an AI villain voiced by James Spader. Featuring large-scale battles, it expanded the MCU with new characters like Vision and Scarlet Witch. While not as beloved as its predecessor, it set key events in motion for Infinity War.

2015: Antman 🇺🇸

Directed by Peyton Reed, this lighter MCU entry followed thief-turned-hero Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), who dons a suit that lets him shrink while retaining full strength. The heist-comedy tone distinguished it from other Marvel films. Behind-the-scenes, the project was famously reshaped after Edgar Wright’s departure, yet still proved a success.

2015: Chappie 🇺🇸

Neill Blomkamp’s film imagined a near-future where robotic police patrol Johannesburg, and one machine gains sentience. Starring Sharlto Copley as the voice of Chappie, with Hugh Jackman and Dev Patel in supporting roles, the film examined questions of consciousness and morality. Though divisive, it added to Blomkamp’s distinct sci-fi catalog.

2015: Terminator Genisys 🇺🇸

Alan Taylor’s reboot attempted to reset the Terminator franchise by revisiting and altering the original timeline. Arnold Schwarzenegger returned as the aging T-800 alongside Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor. While offering fan service and new twists, its convoluted timeline alienated audiences, leading to underwhelming box office results.

2015: Advantageous 🇺🇸

Jennifer Phang directed this indie sci-fi drama where a woman undergoes a body-transfer procedure to secure her daughter’s future in a rigid society. Exploring issues of class, gender, and identity, the film took a thoughtful and humanistic approach rather than relying on spectacle. It won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance.

2015: Circle 🇺🇸

Fifty strangers wake up in a chamber, forced to decide who among them will live or die every two minutes. Directed by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione, the minimalist, dialogue-driven thriller used social psychology and moral dilemmas as its foundation. The story explored prejudice, democracy, and sacrifice under pressure.

2015: Infini 🇦🇺

Shane Abbess directed this Australian sci-fi thriller about a rescue team sent to retrieve a lone survivor from a mining facility on a distant planet. The crew faces infection and madness in a hostile environment. Known for its gritty atmosphere, the film drew comparisons to Event Horizon and Aliens.

2015: Jurassic World 🇺🇸

Colin Trevorrow revived the Jurassic Park franchise with a new theme park fully operational and open to tourists—until a genetically engineered hybrid dinosaur escapes. Starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, it became a global blockbuster. The film highlighted both nostalgia and cautionary tales of unchecked genetic engineering.

2015: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials 🇺🇸

The sequel to The Maze Runner followed Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and the other Gladers as they traversed a post-apocalyptic wasteland called the Scorch. Directed by Wes Ball, the film expanded the dystopian world while facing off against WCKD’s experiments. It continued the young adult adaptation trend of the 2010s.

2015: Self/less 🇺🇸

Tarsem Singh’s thriller starred Ben Kingsley as a wealthy man who transfers his consciousness into the body of Ryan Reynolds. At first gaining youth and vitality, he later discovers the dark origins of his new body. The film examined themes of mortality, identity, and corporate exploitation of science.

2015: They Call Me Jeeg🇮🇹

An Italian superhero film directed by Gabriele Mainetti, it tells the story of a petty thief who gains superhuman strength after contact with radioactive waste. Using his powers reluctantly, he becomes entangled in a conflict with a flamboyant gangster. The film gained acclaim for grounding superhero tropes in gritty realism.

2015: Vice 🇺🇸

Set in a future resort where lifelike androids cater to human desires, this film starred Bruce Willis and Thomas Jane. When one android gains self-awareness, chaos erupts as she fights for freedom. The movie attempted to explore free will and morality but was critically derided for its execution.

2015: Hot Tub Time Machine 2 🇺🇸

Steve Pink returned to direct this sequel where the gang misuses time travel once more, this time heading into the future. Starring Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke, the film leaned heavily on raunchy comedy. It was less successful than the first, with many critics finding it forced. Personal opinion: if you liked the first one then there is no reason not to like this one!

2015: Hardcore Henry 🇷🇺

Filmed entirely in first-person perspective, this Russian-American action sci-fi was directed by Ilya Naishuller. A man awakens cybernetically enhanced and must rescue his kidnapped wife from a warlord with telekinetic powers. The video-game-like style was groundbreaking, though polarizing, for its relentless pacing and immersive camerawork.

2015: Credence 🇬🇧

A British indie short film directed by Mike Buonaiuto, it tells the story of a father who sacrifices himself so his daughter can escape Earth’s environmental collapse on a refugee ship to the stars. Known for its strong emotional core, it emphasized family bonds within a speculative future.

2015: The End of the World and the Cat's Disappearance 🇯🇵

This Japanese sci-fi drama directed by Michihiro Takeuchi blended surrealism with quiet human storytelling. As society collapses, a man searches for his missing cat, reflecting on loss and meaning. The film used its apocalyptic setting as a backdrop for personal introspection.

2015: Star Wars: The Force Awakens 🇺🇸

J.J. Abrams relaunched the Star Wars saga with a new generation of heroes, while reintroducing classics like Han Solo and Leia. The story centered on the rise of the First Order and the search for Luke Skywalker. A massive cultural event, it broke box office records worldwide.

2015: The Martian 🇺🇸

Ridley Scott directed this adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel, starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars who must survive through ingenuity. Combining science, humor, and survival drama, it was praised for realism and optimism. The film earned multiple Oscar nominations and popularized the phrase “science the sh*t out of it.”

2015: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 🇺🇸

The final entry in the series, directed by Francis Lawrence, depicted Katniss Everdeen leading the rebellion into the Capitol. With political propaganda and personal sacrifice at the forefront, the film concluded the dystopian saga. Though darker than earlier installments, it provided a faithful resolution to Suzanne Collins’ trilogy.

2015: 400 Days 🇺🇸

Four astronauts participate in a long-duration simulation to test the psychological effects of space travel, only to question whether they are still in an experiment or reality. Directed by Matt Osterman, the film explored paranoia, confinement, and the fragility of perception. It left audiences with deliberate ambiguity.

2015: Z for Zachariah 🇺🇸

Craig Zobel directed this post-apocalyptic drama starring Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine. A young woman believes she is the last survivor until she encounters two men, leading to tension and rivalry. More character study than spectacle, the film examined trust and human desire after catastrophe.

2015: Pixels 🇺🇸

Chris Columbus directed this action-comedy in which aliens misinterpret 1980s video games as a declaration of war, sending real-life Pac-Man and Donkey Kong to attack Earth. Starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James, the film mixed nostalgia with slapstick. Though panned critically, it found some popularity with retro gaming fans.

2015: Tomorrowland 🇺🇸

Brad Bird’s Disney adventure followed a teenager (Britt Robertson) and a former boy genius (George Clooney) as they discover a futuristic parallel world. With themes of optimism and imagination, the film tried to revive retro-futurist wonder. Despite mixed reviews, it stood out for its visual design and hopeful tone.

2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 🇺🇸

Directed by Gareth Edwards, this standalone entry in the Star Wars saga told the story of the ragtag Rebel team that stole the Death Star plans before the events of A New Hope. Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, and Alan Tudyk (as droid K-2SO), the film blended war drama with sci-fi spectacle. Its darker tone and climactic ending won both fan and critical acclaim.

2016: Deadpool 🇺🇸

Tim Miller’s irreverent superhero comedy starred Ryan Reynolds as the “merc with a mouth.” After gaining regenerative powers in a rogue experiment, Wade Wilson embarks on a quest for revenge while breaking the fourth wall with self-aware humor. A surprise box office hit, it revitalized R-rated comic book films with its mix of comedy and ultraviolence.

2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 🇺🇸

Zack Snyder’s ambitious DC epic brought Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) into conflict, with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) making her cinematic debut. While criticized for its heavy tone and convoluted plot, the film set the foundation for the DC Extended Universe. Its striking visuals and mythic scope remain divisive.

2016: Doctor Strange 🇺🇸

Directed by Scott Derrickson, this MCU entry followed Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a surgeon who turns to mysticism after a devastating accident. With mind-bending visuals inspired by psychedelic art, it introduced Marvel’s multiverse and mystical dimensions. The film’s blend of Eastern philosophy and comic-book action proved a global success.

2016: X-Men: Apocalypse 🇺🇸

Bryan Singer’s continuation of the X-Men saga brought the ancient mutant Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) to life as he sought to reshape the world. Featuring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence, the film showcased large-scale destruction and mutant battles. Despite strong performances, it was criticized for a bloated story and uneven pacing.

2016: Captain America: Civil War 🇺🇸

Anthony and Joe Russo directed this Marvel ensemble piece, where ideological divisions pit Captain America (Chris Evans) against Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). Featuring Spider-Man’s MCU debut (Tom Holland), the film balanced action spectacle with moral debate on accountability. Its “airport battle” became one of the MCU’s most iconic sequences.

2016: ARQ 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

Tony Elliott directed this Netflix sci-fi thriller about an engineer (Robbie Amell) caught in a time loop during a post-apocalyptic energy war. Each reset reveals betrayals and hidden motives as he tries to protect a device that could save humanity. The confined setting and clever plotting made it a standout indie gem.

2016: The Great Wall 🇨🇳 🇺🇸 🇯🇵

Directed by Zhang Yimou, this U.S.-China co-production starred Matt Damon as a mercenary who joins Chinese soldiers defending the Great Wall against monstrous creatures. Known for its colorful visuals and massive scale, the film combined historical fantasy with action spectacle. Despite mixed reviews, it gained attention as a major East-West collaboration.

2016: Passengers 🇺🇸

Morten Tyldum’s sci-fi romance starred Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt as two passengers awakened too early aboard a colony ship. As they face isolation, ethical dilemmas arise when the truth about their awakenings is revealed. The film mixed grand visuals with a polarizing moral narrative.

2016: The 5th Wave 🇺🇸

Based on Rick Yancey’s YA novel, this adaptation starred Chloë Grace Moretz as a teenager navigating Earth after waves of alien devastation. As she searches for her brother, she uncovers a larger conspiracy. Despite following the YA dystopian trend, the film underperformed critically and commercially.

2016: 10 Cloverfield Lane 🇺🇸

Dan Trachtenberg directed this tense psychological thriller, part of the Cloverfield anthology. A woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) awakens in a bunker with two men (John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.), who claim the outside world is toxic after an attack. Mixing paranoia with sci-fi horror, the film was praised for its suspenseful storytelling.

2016: 24 🇮🇳

This Tamil sci-fi thriller directed by Vikram Kumar starred Suriya in triple roles, including a scientist who invents a time-traveling watch. When it falls into the wrong hands, a struggle across timelines ensues. Known for its inventive premise and visual effects, it became a landmark in Indian science fiction cinema.

2016: Approaching the Unknown 🇺🇸

Directed by Mark Elijah Rosenberg, the film followed an astronaut (Mark Strong) on a one-way mission to Mars. As isolation and technical failures mount, he confronts the boundaries of human endurance. The slow-burn, philosophical style divided audiences but highlighted psychological realism in space travel.

2016: Cell 🇺🇸

Based on Stephen King’s novel, this apocalyptic thriller depicted a world where a mysterious phone signal turns people into violent “phoners.” Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, the film tried to blend zombie tropes with technological paranoia. Poor execution, however, made it a critical disappointment.

2016: Colossal 🇨🇦 🇪🇸 🇺🇸 🇰🇷

Nacho Vigalondo’s genre-bending film starred Anne Hathaway as a woman who discovers her actions control a giant monster rampaging in Seoul. Mixing indie drama with kaiju spectacle, it explored themes of abuse, control, and self-discovery. Acclaimed for its originality, it became a festival favorite.

2016: Einstein's God Model 🇺🇸

A low-budget indie directed by Philip T. Johnson, the film followed a man seeking to reconnect with his dead fiancée through quantum physics and experimental afterlife research. Combining metaphysics and science, it offered a philosophical exploration of grief and existence.

2016: Infinity Chamber 🇺🇸

Directed by Travis Milloy, this minimalist sci-fi centered on a man trapped in an automated prison run by an AI. Forced into repeated interrogations and dream-like simulations, he struggles to distinguish reality from manipulation. The confined set and psychological focus earned it comparisons to Moon.

2016: Let’s Be Evil 🇬🇧

This British-American thriller followed adults supervising gifted children in a virtual reality program. When the children’s intelligence becomes threatening, the adults find themselves hunted. Blending VR with horror, the film examined technology’s dangers in education.

2016: Lost in the Pacific 🇨🇳

Vincent Zhou directed this Chinese sci-fi adventure about a futuristic luxury plane diverted to a mysterious island, where military secrets and mutated creatures threaten survival. Mixing disaster tropes with monster-movie thrills, it was one of China’s attempts to enter global sci-fi cinema.

2016: Midnight Special 🇺🇸

Jeff Nichols’ film followed a father (Michael Shannon) protecting his son, who has mysterious powers, from government agents and cultists. Mixing road-movie intimacy with supernatural wonder, the film was praised for its emotional depth. It drew comparisons to Spielberg’s early sci-fi works.

2016: Operation Avalanche 🇨🇦 🇺🇸

Matt Johnson’s mockumentary-style film imagined CIA agents faking the Apollo 11 moon landing during the Cold War. Blending dark comedy, conspiracy lore, and found-footage techniques, it stood out for its inventive storytelling.

2016: Rupture 🇺🇸

Noomi Rapace starred in this sci-fi horror about a woman abducted by a secret organization conducting genetic experiments. As she is pushed to confront her deepest fears, she learns unsettling truths about humanity’s evolution. Directed by Steven Shainberg, the film mixed psychological terror with body horror.

2016: Terra Formars 🇯🇵

Takashi Miike adapted the manga about humans sent to terraform Mars, only to encounter mutated humanoid cockroaches. Known for Miike’s over-the-top style, the film combined manga aesthetics with pulpy action. Reception was mixed but it remains a curiosity in his filmography.

2016: Star Trek Beyond 🇺🇸

Justin Lin directed the third Kelvin Timeline Star Trek film, where the Enterprise crew faced a deadly enemy (Idris Elba) after being stranded on a hostile planet. Celebrated for its optimism and camaraderie, it honored the franchise’s 50th anniversary with a mix of classic Trek spirit and modern action.

2016: Ghostbusters 🇺🇸

Paul Feig’s reboot featured an all-female team led by Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. When ghosts invade New York, the group develops new tech to fight them. Despite controversy and mixed reviews, it revived the franchise for a new generation.

2016: Suicide Squad 🇺🇸

David Ayer’s antihero ensemble saw imprisoned villains like Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Deadshot (Will Smith) forced into government missions. With its chaotic style and needle-drop soundtrack, the film divided critics but was a major box office success, cementing Robbie’s Harley as an icon.

2016: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Directed by Tim Burton, this adaptation of Ransom Riggs’ novel followed a boy (Asa Butterfield) who discovers a magical orphanage frozen in time. With Eva Green as the eccentric headmistress, the film mixed fantasy with gothic style. While visually striking, it received mixed reviews.

2016: Spectral 🇺🇸 🇭🇺

This Netflix original depicted a war zone plagued by ghost-like entities, leading soldiers and scientists to uncover the truth. Directed by Nic Mathieu, it combined military action with supernatural sci-fi. Its high-quality effects earned it praise as a hidden streaming gem.

2016: Independence Day: Resurgence 🇺🇸

Roland Emmerich returned 20 years after his original blockbuster, depicting Earth’s fight against a renewed alien invasion. With Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman reprising roles, the sequel attempted to scale up the spectacle. Lacking the charm of the first, it underperformed at the box office.

2016: Arrival 🇺🇸

Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Ted Chiang’s novella Story of Your Life starred Amy Adams as a linguist tasked with communicating with aliens. The nonlinear storytelling revealed profound truths about time and memory. Widely acclaimed, it earned eight Oscar nominations and cemented Villeneuve as a master of modern science fiction.

2017: The Shape of Water 🇺🇸 🇲🇽

Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning romantic fantasy followed a mute janitor (Sally Hawkins) who forms a bond with an amphibious creature in a Cold War-era lab. Mixing fairy tale elements with political allegory, it won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, a rare feat for a sci-fi-infused story.

2017: Time Trap 🇺🇸

Directed by Ben Foster and Mark Dennis, this indie film saw archaeology students discover a cave where time moves differently. As hours pass inside while decades race outside, they face existential choices. Praised for its concept despite budget limitations, it became a streaming cult hit. Despite low quality, the story more than makes up.

2017: Justice League 🇺🇸

Zack Snyder began, and Joss Whedon finished, this DC ensemble film bringing Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg together against Steppenwolf. Rushed production and tonal shifts led to mixed reviews, though it paved the way for Snyder’s later “Justice League” cut in 2021.

2017: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 🇺🇸

James Gunn’s sequel explored Peter Quill’s lineage as he meets his celestial father Ego (Kurt Russell). With humor, vibrant visuals, and emotional beats—especially Yondu’s storyline—the film cemented the Guardians as MCU fan favorites.

2017: Attraction 🇷🇺

Russian director Fedor Bondarchuk’s alien-contact thriller followed a spaceship crash in Moscow, sparking chaos and romance between a human girl and an alien survivor. Its large-scale effects made it one of Russia’s most ambitious sci-fi productions. Definitely worth a watch!

2017: Spider-Man: Homecoming 🇺🇸

Directed by Jon Watts, this reboot follows a young Peter Parker balancing high school life with his new role as Spider-Man under the watchful eye of Tony Stark. Facing the menacing Vulture, Peter learns the cost of responsibility and what it really means to be a hero. The film brought a fresh, lighter tone to Spider-Man’s entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

2017: Ghost in the Shell 🇺🇸 🇭🇰 🇨🇳

Rupert Sanders adapted the classic manga and anime, starring Scarlett Johansson as Major, a cyber-enhanced soldier grappling with her past. Despite striking visuals, the film drew criticism for “whitewashing” and for diluting the philosophical depth of the original.

2017: Thor: Ragnarok 🇺🇸

Directed by Taika Waititi, this third Thor installment shifts into colorful cosmic comedy as Thor is imprisoned on a gladiator planet and forced to fight the Hulk. Meanwhile, Hela, goddess of death, threatens Asgard itself, setting up an apocalyptic showdown. With its irreverent humor and bold visuals, it revitalized the Thor franchise.

2017: Bright 🇺🇸

David Ayer’s Netflix fantasy-sci-fi mashup placed Will Smith as a cop partnered with an orc in a world where humans and mythical beings coexist. Despite critical backlash, it became one of Netflix’s early “blockbuster” experiments.

2017: Bokeh 🇺🇸 🇮🇸

A quiet, meditative indie directed by Geoffrey Orthwein and Andrew Sullivan, the film followed a couple in Iceland who awaken to find humanity vanished. Exploring isolation, faith, and existential dread, it divided audiences but earned recognition for atmosphere.

2017: War for the Planet of the Apes 🇺🇸

Matt Reeves concluded the trilogy with Caesar (Andy Serkis) leading apes against a brutal human colonel (Woody Harrelson). With its biblical themes and groundbreaking motion-capture performances, it was hailed as a masterful sci-fi war epic.

2017: What Happened to Monday 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇧🇪

Tommy Wirkola’s dystopian thriller starred Noomi Rapace in seven roles as identical sisters hiding in a one-child-per-family future. The tense premise and Rapace’s performance elevated the Netflix release.

2017: Downsizing 🇺🇸

Alexander Payne’s satire starred Matt Damon in a world where people shrink themselves to reduce consumption. The story shifted from comedy to social critique, leaving audiences divided despite an inventive premise.

2017: Flatliners 🇺🇸

Niels Arden Oplev’s remake of the 1990 cult film featured Ellen Page and Diego Luna as medical students inducing near-death experiences. Attempting to mix horror and sci-fi, it failed to capture the eerie spirit of the original.

2017: Guardians 🇷🇺

A Russian superhero film directed by Sarik Andreasyan, featuring Soviet-era genetically engineered heroes—including a bear-man. Despite viral trailers, poor effects and execution made it widely mocked.

2017: How to Talk to Girls at Parties 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

John Cameron Mitchell adapted Neil Gaiman’s short story about a punk-loving teen (Alex Sharp) who meets alien girls visiting Earth. Co-starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman, it combined punk rebellion with whimsical sci-fi romance.

2017: iBoy 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Adam Randall’s British Netflix film followed a teenager (Bill Milner) who develops powers after fragments of a smartphone lodge in his brain. Combining urban grit with digital-age superpowers, it had mixed reception.

2017: Kill Switch 🇺🇸 🇳🇱

Tim Smit’s Dutch-American indie featured Dan Stevens as a pilot navigating a collapsing alternate reality caused by an energy experiment. Noted for its heavy use of first-person perspective, it was visually ambitious despite budgetary limits.

2017: Kong: Skull Island 🇺🇸

Jordan Vogt-Roberts reimagined King Kong in the 1970s, with Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson encountering the giant ape and other monsters. Its vibrant visuals and retro tone helped launch the “MonsterVerse.”

2017: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 🇫🇷 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 🇩🇪 🇧🇪 🇦🇪

Luc Besson adapted the French comic Valérian et Laureline, starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne. A visual spectacle brimming with imagination, it was one of Europe’s most expensive films ever, though its thin story limited its impact.

2017: Life 🇺🇸

Daniel Espinosa’s sci-fi thriller follows a crew aboard the International Space Station who discover a rapidly evolving alien organism from Mars. What begins as scientific wonder soon turns into a desperate survival struggle as the lifeform proves both intelligent and deadly. The film plays as a tense, claustrophobic blend of Alien and hard space horror.

2017: Geostorm 🇺🇸

Directed by Dean Devlin, this disaster epic imagines a future where a network of satellites controls Earth’s climate to prevent natural catastrophes. When the system malfunctions, the world is plunged into chaos with storms on an unprecedented scale. Gerard Butler stars as the engineer racing to stop the disaster before it becomes irreversible.

2017: 24 Hours to Live 🇿🇦 🇺🇸 🇨🇳

This action-sci-fi hybrid starred Ethan Hawke as an assassin temporarily resurrected to complete a mission. Combining John Wick-style gunplay with sci-fi elements, it found a niche audience.

2017: The Discovery 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

Charlie McDowell’s Netflix drama starred Robert Redford, Jason Segel, and Rooney Mara, exploring the consequences after science proves the afterlife exists. Philosophical and melancholy, it divided critics but intrigued fans of cerebral sci-fi.

2017: The Space Between Us 🇺🇸

Directed by Peter Chelsom, the film followed a boy born on Mars (Asa Butterfield) traveling to Earth for the first time. A romance-driven story with sci-fi trappings, it struggled critically. I guess the criticism was caused by the inability to categorize the movie as either a pure scifi or as a pure "chick-flick".

2017: Transformers: The Last Knight 🇺🇸

Michael Bay’s fifth Transformers entry dives into myth and history, tying the robotic war to Arthurian legend and World War II. As Optimus Prime falls under dark influence, Earth faces destruction unless the Autobots can find a hidden power. Known for its relentless action and sprawling scope, it pushed the franchise’s spectacle even further.

2017: Wonder Woman 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 🇭🇰

Directed by Patty Jenkins, this superhero origin story follows Diana, an Amazon princess, as she leaves her hidden island to fight in World War I. Discovering her divine powers, she becomes Wonder Woman and challenges the god Ares in hopes of ending the conflict. With Gal Gadot in the lead, the film became a cultural milestone for female-led superhero movies.

2017: Kingsman: The Golden Circle 🇬🇧

Matthew Vaughn’s sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service reunites Eggsy and the surviving members of the British spy agency after their base is destroyed. They join forces with their American counterparts, the Statesman, to stop a global drug cartel. The film doubled down on stylish action and outrageous set pieces, keeping the franchise’s over-the-top energy intact.

2017: Marjorie Prime 🇺🇸

Michael Almereyda adapted Jordan Harrison’s play, depicting holographic AIs recreating deceased loved ones. With Lois Smith, Jon Hamm, and Geena Davis, it explored memory, grief, and technology’s role in identity.

2017: The Man from Earth: Holocene 🇺🇸

Richard Schenkman’s sequel to the cult classic revisited the immortal professor John Oldman. When his secret is discovered by students, new challenges arise. Though lacking the impact of the original, it extended the story’s philosophical themes. Personally I did not understand why the makers let go of all that was good in the first movie... the dialogues!

2017: The Man with the Magic Box 🇵🇱

Bodo Kox’s Polish sci-fi film depicted a dystopian 2030 where a man finds a time-travel radio linking him to 1950s Poland. Mixing Orwellian futurism with romance, it stood out in Eastern European sci-fi.

2017: OtherLife 🇦🇺

Ben C. Lucas’ Australian indie followed a scientist (Jessica De Gouw) developing a drug that creates lifelike virtual memories. As corporate misuse emerges, she faces ethical dilemmas. Its inventive concept drew comparisons to Black Mirror.

2017: The Recall 🇨🇦 🇺🇸

Mauro Borrelli’s alien-invasion thriller featured Wesley Snipes as a conspiracy-prepper during abductions. Despite familiar tropes, it gained curiosity value for Snipes’ return.

2017: Logan 🇺🇸

James Mangold’s gritty farewell to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine blended western drama with superhero tropes. Set in a bleak near-future, it followed Logan protecting a mutant child. Hailed as one of the best superhero films, it earned an Oscar screenplay nomination.

2017: Blade Runner 2049 🇺🇸

Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s classic starred Ryan Gosling as a replicant uncovering buried truths, with Harrison Ford reprising Deckard. Visually breathtaking and philosophically rich, it earned two Oscars and cemented itself as a modern masterpiece.

2017: Alien: Covenant 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Ridley Scott’s continuation of the Prometheus storyline saw colonists encountering deadly xenomorphs. With Michael Fassbender in dual roles, it explored creation and destruction. Reception was mixed, though its horror elements pleased fans of the original franchise.

2017: Orbiter 9 🇪🇸 🇨🇴

A Spanish sci-fi romance directed by Hatem Khraiche, it followed a woman raised on a solitary spaceship who discovers hidden truths about her mission. The blend of romance and speculative ethics found niche acclaim.

2017: Rememory 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

Mark Palansky’s drama starred Peter Dinklage investigating a device that records memories, after its inventor dies mysteriously. Thought-provoking but uneven, it was released via Google Play before theaters.

2017: Revolt 🇺🇸

Directed by Joe Miale, this South African-set alien invasion story followed a soldier (Lee Pace) with amnesia fighting alongside rebels. Despite budget limits, it delivered gritty sci-fi action.

2017: Singularity 🇨🇭/🇺🇸

Robert Kouba’s AI-uprising film starred John Cusack as a scientist whose invention leads to humanity’s near-extinction. Poor execution and low production values hurt its reception.

2017: Skyline 2: Beyond Skyline 🇺🇸

Liam O’Donnell’s sequel expanded the alien-invasion franchise, with Frank Grillo leading survivors across global battle zones. Blending martial arts and sci-fi spectacle, it outperformed expectations as a pulpy B-movie.

2017: Star Wars: The Last Jedi 🇺🇸

Rian Johnson’s divisive sequel challenged expectations with Rey’s ambiguous lineage, Luke’s disillusionment, and Kylo’s arc. Praised for subverting tropes but criticized by some fans, it remains one of the most debated entries in the saga.

2017: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 🇺🇸

Jake Kasdan rebooted the franchise as a video-game adventure, with teens transformed into avatars (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan). Mixing comedy, action, and nostalgia, it became a box office smash.

2018: Annihilation 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Directed by Alex Garland, this mind-bending science fiction thriller follows a team of scientists entering “The Shimmer,” a mysterious zone of mutating landscapes and lifeforms. With its haunting visuals and themes of self-destruction, the film became a modern cult classic despite its divisive reception.

2018: 2.0 🇮🇳

S. Shankar’s Indian science fiction spectacle stars Rajinikanth reprising his role as Chitti the robot, who battles a vengeful force taking the form of millions of mobile phones. Blending social commentary about technology addiction with massive visual effects, it became one of India’s most expensive and successful films.

2018: Await Further Instructions 🇬🇧

Directed by Johnny Kevorkian, this claustrophobic sci-fi horror unfolds in a family home sealed off by a mysterious black substance, with a TV broadcasting cryptic and authoritarian commands. The film combines themes of paranoia, xenophobia, and blind obedience to authority.

2018: Anon 🇨🇦 🇩🇪 🇺🇸

Andrew Niccol’s dystopian thriller imagines a future where privacy has been erased and every memory is recorded. Clive Owen plays a detective investigating a hacker, played by Amanda Seyfried, whose very existence threatens the system’s foundation. An interesting watch despite some usual tropes.

2018: The Cloverfield Paradox 🇺🇸

Directed by Julius Onah, this third installment in the Cloverfield franchise features a space station crew conducting experiments that tear open alternate dimensions. Released as a surprise on Netflix right after the Super Bowl, the film received mixed reviews but drew attention for its bold marketing.

2018: Freaks 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, this indie sci-fi blends family drama with superhero themes. A sheltered young girl discovers her father is hiding her from a world where people with powers are persecuted, leading to a tense and emotional revelation.

2018: High Life 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇵🇱 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Claire Denis directed this hypnotic and unsettling sci-fi about convicts sent on a deep-space mission toward a black hole. Robert Pattinson delivers a striking performance in a film exploring themes of isolation, desire, and humanity’s limits, marking Denis’ first English-language project. Yes, he can act!

2018: Tau 🇺🇸 🇷🇸 🇨🇿 🇨🇦

Directed by Federico D’Alessandro, this Netflix thriller follows a woman held captive in a futuristic smart house controlled by an AI named Tau, voiced by Gary Oldman. The film explores human-AI interaction, as the captive attempts to outwit both her captor and the artificial intelligence.

2018: Extinction 🇺🇸

Directed by Ben Young, this Netflix original stars Michael Peña as a man plagued by visions of an alien invasion, only to realize the shocking truth about his identity and humanity’s fate. The film received attention for its twist on the alien invasion genre.

2018: Az Úr hangja (His Master’s Voice) 🇭🇺

Directed by György Pálfi, this Hungarian science fiction drama is loosely inspired by Stanisław Lem’s novel. It follows a man searching for his missing father, who vanished after working on a project related to alien signals, blending political satire with metaphysical mystery.

2018: A.I. Rising 🇷🇸

Directed by Lazar Bodroža, this Serbian science fiction film depicts a bleak future where Earth has collapsed into authoritarianism. A human astronaut is paired with an android companion on a deep-space mission, exploring themes of intimacy, power, and exploitation between humans and machines.

2018: The Titan 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇪🇸

Directed by Lennart Ruff, this Netflix sci-fi drama stars Sam Worthington as a soldier undergoing genetic experimentation to adapt humanity for life on Saturn’s moon Titan. The film combines body horror and survival themes but was criticized for its execution despite an intriguing premise. Interesting watch....

2018: Black Panther 🇺🇸

Ryan Coogler directed this Marvel phenomenon that introduces audiences to Wakanda, a hidden African nation powered by futuristic technology. With Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the film was a cultural landmark, blending superhero spectacle with themes of heritage, responsibility, and identity.

2018: Ant-Man and the Wasp 🇺🇸

Peyton Reed’s lighthearted Marvel sequel follows Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) teaming up with Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) as the new Wasp. Their shrinking adventures bring humor and inventive action, while also setting up crucial links to the larger Avengers: Endgame storyline.

2018: Avengers: Infinity War 🇺🇸

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, this massive Marvel crossover unites nearly every hero in the franchise against Thanos, who seeks the Infinity Stones. With its shocking conclusion and sense of scale, it redefined the superhero ensemble film and left audiences in suspense.

2018: A Quiet Place 🇺🇸

Directed by John Krasinski, this critically acclaimed thriller imagines a post-apocalyptic world where alien creatures hunt by sound. With minimal dialogue and tense direction, the film highlights a family’s struggle for survival, and its use of silence became its most striking cinematic device.

2018: Rampage 🇺🇸

Directed by Brad Peyton and loosely based on the classic arcade game, the film stars Dwayne Johnson as a primatologist who must stop a trio of genetically modified giant creatures from destroying Chicago. With over-the-top action, it became a crowd-pleasing monster spectacle.

2018: Deadpool 2 🇺🇸

David Leitch’s irreverent sequel continues Ryan Reynolds’ anarchic superhero comedy, this time introducing Josh Brolin as Cable and Zazie Beetz as Domino. The film mixes brutal action with fourth-wall-breaking humor, and its self-aware satire made it one of the most successful R-rated superhero films.

2018: Elizabeth Harvest 🇺🇸

Directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, this stylish sci-fi thriller retells the Bluebeard myth with a futuristic twist. A young bride enters her wealthy husband’s secluded estate, where she discovers hidden laboratories and forbidden secrets about her own existence.

2018: Mortal Engines 🇳🇿 🇺🇸

Directed by Christian Rivers and based on Philip Reeve’s novel, this steampunk epic portrays a future where mobile cities roam a ravaged Earth devouring smaller towns. Despite Peter Jackson’s involvement as producer, the film underperformed, though its visual world-building drew praise.

2018: A.X.L. 🇺🇸

Directed by Oliver Daly, this family-oriented sci-fi adventure centers on a young man who discovers a top-secret robotic dog built for military purposes. As he bonds with the machine, both must evade the government agents determined to reclaim their creation.

2018: The Predator 🇺🇸

Shane Black directed this continuation of the Predator franchise, blending action and dark humor. When a young boy accidentally triggers the Predators’ return to Earth, a ragtag team of ex-soldiers and scientists must battle the alien hunters — now enhanced through genetic upgrades.

2018: Incredibles 2 🇺🇸

Directed by Brad Bird, Pixar’s long-awaited sequel sees Elastigirl take the spotlight as the new face of superhero resurgence, while Mr. Incredible struggles with parenting at home. With dazzling animation and a witty script, it became one of Pixar’s biggest hits.

2018: Ready Player One 🇺🇸

Steven Spielberg adapts Ernest Cline’s bestselling novel, set in a dystopian future where people escape reality through the virtual universe of the OASIS. Packed with pop culture references and groundbreaking visuals, it follows a teenager’s quest to win control of the virtual world.

2018: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch 🇬🇧

Directed by David Slade, this interactive Netflix experiment lets viewers choose the fate of a young programmer in 1984 as he adapts a branching-path video game. Pioneering for its format, it blurred the line between cinema and gaming, earning Emmy recognition.

2018: Isle of Dogs 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇬🇧

Wes Anderson’s stop-motion animated feature imagines a near-future Japan where dogs are quarantined on Trash Island due to a canine flu. A boy’s search for his lost pet unfolds in Anderson’s distinct visual style, combining political satire with heartfelt storytelling. Scifi + Wes Anderson + dogs.... what else do we need?

2018: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 🇺🇸

Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, this groundbreaking animated film introduces Miles Morales as a new Spider-Man who discovers a multiverse of alternate Spider-heroes. Praised for its unique animation style, it redefined comic book adaptations and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

2018: Kin 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

Directed by Jonathan and Josh Baker, this indie sci-fi thriller tells the story of a teenager who discovers a mysterious alien weapon, forcing him and his ex-con brother into a dangerous conflict. Blending family drama with futuristic tech, it was praised for ambition despite mixed reviews.

2018: Maze Runner: The Death Cure 🇺🇸

Directed by Wes Ball, the third installment of the dystopian YA series follows Thomas and his allies as they infiltrate the Last City to rescue their friends and confront WCKD. The film closes the trilogy with large-scale action and themes of sacrifice.

2018: Bumblebee 🇨🇳 🇺🇸

Directed by Travis Knight, this Transformers spinoff serves as a prequel, focusing on Bumblebee’s arrival on Earth in the 1980s. A heartfelt friendship with a teenage girl (Hailee Steinfeld) grounds the story, earning praise as the most character-driven and warmly received entry in the franchise.

2018: Upgrade 🇦🇺 🇺🇸

Directed by Leigh Whannell, this cyberpunk action thriller follows a paralyzed man who regains control of his body through an experimental AI implant named STEM. As he hunts his wife’s killers, the film explores questions of free will and machine dominance, with brutal action sequences and a dark twist ending.

2018: Solo: A Star Wars Story 🇺🇸

Ron Howard directed this prequel focusing on the early adventures of Han Solo, showing how he met Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and first flew the Millennium Falcon. Though divisive among fans, the film provides backstory to one of Star Wars’ most beloved characters, blending heist-film energy with space opera charm.

2018: The Humanity Bureau 🇨🇦

Directed by Rob W. King, this dystopian thriller stars Nicolas Cage as an officer in a near-future America where unproductive citizens are exiled to a colony called New Eden. When he discovers a sinister truth behind the system, he risks everything to save a mother and child. Strong story, cheap execution....

2018: Hotel Artemis 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Directed by Drew Pearce, this neon-soaked near-future thriller centers on a secret hospital for criminals, run by a strict nurse played by Jodie Foster. When a riot engulfs Los Angeles, the sanctuary is threatened, leading to shifting alliances among its eccentric guests.

2018: Pacific Rim Uprising 🇺🇸

Steven S. DeKnight takes over from Guillermo del Toro in this sequel, where a new generation of Jaeger pilots must defend Earth from a revived kaiju threat. While criticized for lacking the original’s visual flair, it expands the mythology with faster-paced action and younger protagonists.

2018: 2036 Origin Unknown 🇬🇧

Directed by Hasraf Dulull, this cerebral sci-fi stars Katee Sackhoff as a mission controller working with an AI system to investigate a mysterious object on Mars. Minimalist and slow-burning, the film emphasizes philosophical themes of artificial intelligence and cosmic mystery over spectacle. More of a scifi drama than a scifi spectacle.

2018: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 🇺🇸

Directed by J.A. Bayona, this darker installment of the franchise sees Owen and Claire attempting to rescue dinosaurs from an erupting island, only to uncover a sinister scheme involving genetic exploitation. With gothic flourishes and themes of corporate greed, it bridges the gap to a world where humans and dinosaurs coexist.

2018: Venom 🇺🇸 🇨🇳

Directed by Ruben Fleischer, this antihero origin story stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a journalist who becomes host to the alien symbiote Venom. Mixing dark humor with chaotic action, the film proved a box office success despite critical division, launching Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.

2018: Fahrenheit 451 🇺🇸

Ramin Bahrani adapts Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel for HBO, with Michael B. Jordan as Guy Montag and Michael Shannon as his authoritarian superior. The story of book-burning “firemen” in a surveillance-heavy future remains timely, though the adaptation drew mixed reviews for its execution.

2018: Prospect 🇺🇸

Directed by Zeek Earl and Christopher Caldwell, this indie sci-fi western follows a father and daughter who travel to a toxic moon to harvest valuable alien gems. Stranded after betrayal, the girl must navigate hostile terrain and dangerous rivals. Praised for its atmosphere and world-building on a modest budget, it became a cult favorite.

2019: Alita: Battle Angel 🇺🇸

Directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron, this adaptation of Yukito Kishiro’s manga Battle Angel Alita tells the story of a cyborg girl discovered in a scrapyard with no memory of her past. As Alita uncovers her combat abilities, she seeks her identity in a dystopian world ruled by an elite city above. The film stood out for its pioneering use of performance-capture and CGI, particularly in Alita’s expressive, anime-inspired eyes.

2019: Men in Black: International 🇺🇸

Directed by F. Gary Gray, this spin-off stars Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth as new agents tackling alien threats while uncovering a mole within the organization. Expanding the Men in Black universe beyond New York, the film introduces global locations but received mixed reviews for lacking the charm of the original Will Smith–Tommy Lee Jones duo. Personally, I found Tessa perfect for the role.

2019: Captain Marvel 🇺🇸

Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, this Marvel origin story stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, a former Air Force pilot who gains cosmic powers after an accident involving alien technology. Set in the 1990s, the film explores her role in the Kree-Skrull conflict while tying into the larger MCU. It became the first Marvel film led by a female superhero, sparking cultural discussion and major box-office success.

2019: Avengers: Endgame 🇺🇸

Anthony and Joe Russo directed this culmination of the MCU’s Infinity Saga, bringing together heroes across two decades of films to undo Thanos’s devastation from Infinity War. Featuring time-travel, massive battles, and poignant character arcs, it became one of the highest-grossing films of all time. The climactic farewell to several founding Avengers marked a turning point for superhero cinema.

2019: Spider-Man: Far from Home 🇺🇸

Directed by Jon Watts, this post-Endgame installment follows Peter Parker on a school trip to Europe, where he faces Mysterio, a master illusionist played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Blending teen comedy with global superhero action, the film explores Peter’s struggle with stepping into Iron Man’s legacy. Its twist ending had major implications for the MCU’s future.

2019: Rim of the World 🇺🇸

Directed by McG, this Netflix adventure follows four misfit teens at a summer camp who must band together to save the world during an alien invasion. Designed as a throwback to 1980s kids’ adventure films, it mixes sci-fi spectacle with coming-of-age themes, though reviews criticized its derivative nature.

2019: Code 8 🇨🇦

Directed by Jeff Chan, this indie sci-fi thriller (expanded from a short film) stars Robbie and Stephen Amell in a world where people with superpowers are marginalized and policed. The story follows a desperate young man who turns to crime to help his sick mother. Funded largely through crowdfunding, it impressed audiences with its grounded take on powered individuals in a gritty, near-future society.

2019: Project Ithaca 🇨🇦

Directed by Nicholas Humphries, this low-budget Canadian sci-fi follows six strangers who awaken trapped aboard an alien ship. As they suffer from invasive experiments, they must piece together why they were abducted and how to survive. The film emphasizes psychological tension over action, though its execution divided critics.

2019: 9 🇮🇳

Directed by Jenuse Mohamed, this Malayalam-language Indian sci-fi thriller blends cosmic mystery with family drama. It follows a scientist who brings his young son to the Himalayas to study a nine-day celestial event that disrupts technology worldwide. Combining science-fiction elements with emotional depth, it stood out as a rare large-scale Indian entry in the genre.

2019: 3022 🇺🇸

Directed by John Suits, this space-set survival drama stars Omar Epps and Kate Walsh as astronauts stranded on a space station after Earth suffers a cataclysmic disaster. Struggling with isolation, paranoia, and dwindling resources, the crew faces the possibility of being humanity’s last survivors. Its moody atmosphere evokes classic psychological space dramas.

2019: Brightburn 🇺🇸

Directed by David Yarovesky and produced by James Gunn, this horror twist on the Superman mythos follows a boy from another planet raised in Kansas who begins to use his powers for destruction rather than good. As his adoptive parents struggle with fear and denial, the film asks what would happen if a superpowered child grew into a sociopath. Its chilling inversion of superhero tropes earned it a cult following.

2019: Cargo 🇮🇳

Directed by Arati Kadav, this Indian science-fiction drama tells the story of a lonely demon astronaut who processes the dead aboard a spaceship before sending them for reincarnation. When a new female assistant arrives, the monotony of his existence begins to shift. Blending mythological elements with futuristic settings, the film explores mortality, alienation, and human connection in an unusual, meditative style.

2019: Gemini Man 🇺🇸

Directed by Ang Lee, this action sci-fi thriller stars Will Smith as an aging assassin who faces off against a younger clone of himself. Pioneering high-frame-rate filmmaking and de-aging visual effects, the film pushes cinematic technology even as its narrative drew mixed reviews. The dual role performance by Smith was the centerpiece, though the tech overshadowed the story for many critics.

2019: Aniara 🇸🇪 🇩🇰

Directed by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, this Swedish sci-fi adapts a 1956 epic poem about a spaceship bound for Mars that veers off course, leaving its passengers adrift in space indefinitely. The film explores existential despair, the collapse of societal order, and humanity’s search for meaning in the face of cosmic indifference. Its slow, haunting tone and bleak vision of the future resonated with arthouse audiences.

2019: Terminator: Dark Fate 🇺🇸

Directed by Tim Miller and produced by James Cameron, this direct sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day ignores later sequels, reuniting Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800. The story introduces new characters, including a young woman targeted by an advanced Terminator and a soldier enhanced with cybernetics. Though praised for its action and Hamilton’s return, the film underperformed commercially.

2019: Dark Phoenix 🇺🇸

Directed by Simon Kinberg, this installment in the X-Men series adapts the famed Dark Phoenix Saga. Sophie Turner stars as Jean Grey, whose powers spiral out of control after a cosmic encounter, threatening both her team and the world. Despite tackling one of Marvel’s most iconic storylines, the film was criticized for weak execution and became one of the lowest-grossing entries in the franchise.

2019: In the Shadow of the Moon 🇺🇸

Directed by Jim Mickle, this Netflix thriller follows a Philadelphia detective whose pursuit of a mysterious female serial killer stretches across decades, with each killing occurring at nine-year intervals. Mixing police procedural with time-travel science fiction, the story examines obsession, fate, and the ripple effects of political extremism. Quite an interesting watch...

2019: IO 🇺🇸

Directed by Jonathan Helpert, this Netflix sci-fi drama centers on a young woman (Margaret Qualley) left behind on a dying Earth after most of humanity has fled to a space colony. Her solitary existence is interrupted by a stranger (Anthony Mackie) who pushes her to consider leaving. Quiet and contemplative, the film emphasizes mood and philosophy over spectacle. Very well made and a must-watch.

2019: Synchronic 🇺🇸

Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, this indie sci-fi thriller stars Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan as New Orleans paramedics who encounter a dangerous new designer drug. Mackie’s character discovers the drug enables time travel, forcing him to risk using it to save Dornan’s missing daughter. The directors’ trademark blend of human drama and high-concept sci-fi earned praise despite modest scale. One of the most intriguing scifi movies.

2019: Ad Astra 🇺🇸 🇧🇷

Directed by James Gray, this meditative sci-fi epic stars Brad Pitt as an astronaut who journeys to the outer solar system in search of his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones), whose experiments threaten Earth. The film combines space exploration with an intimate study of isolation, duty, and paternal relationships. Its visually stunning cinematography and Pitt’s restrained performance were widely acclaimed. A bit too esoteric for me....

2019: Color Out of Space 🇺🇸

Directed by Richard Stanley, this adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s story stars Nicolas Cage as a father whose family farm is struck by a strange meteorite that unleashes a surreal, mutating alien presence. Mixing body horror with psychedelic visuals, the film marks Stanley’s long-awaited return to directing. Its cosmic dread and Cage’s unhinged performance made it a cult favorite among horror and sci-fi fans. Loved it!

2019: Captive State 🇺🇸

Directed by Rupert Wyatt, this dystopian sci-fi thriller is set in Chicago nearly a decade after an alien occupation has subdued humanity under a false peace. The story follows both collaborators and resistance fighters as they navigate control, surveillance, and rebellion. With a grounded, political tone, the film emphasizes themes of freedom and oppression more than alien spectacle. It feels like the right time to watch this movie!

2019: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 🇺🇸

Directed by J.J. Abrams, this conclusion to the sequel trilogy reunites Rey, Finn, and Poe as they confront the resurrected Emperor Palpatine and the threat of the Final Order. The film delivers space battles, lightsaber duels, and answers to lingering mysteries while exploring Rey’s lineage. Despite strong visuals and nostalgia-driven moments, it divided fans and critics over pacing and narrative choices.

2019: Jumanji: The Next Level 🇺🇸

Directed by Jake Kasdan, this sequel sees the group of teens returning to the dangerous video game world of Jumanji, this time with new avatars and the addition of two unwitting older players. The shifting roles provide comedic twists, while the adventurers must traverse deserts, mountains, and deadly traps to escape. Its mix of humor, action, and heartfelt moments continued the franchise’s renewed success.

2019: The Blackout 🇷🇺

Directed by Egor Baranov, this Russian sci-fi action film depicts a mysterious global event that wipes out most of humanity, leaving only a small safe zone in Eastern Europe. Survivors face hostile alien forces and must uncover the truth behind the catastrophe. Known for its large-scale effects and ambitious scope, it was one of the most prominent Russian genre films of the decade. Definitely worth a watch!

2019: Shazam! 🇺🇸

Directed by David F. Sandberg, this DC superhero comedy follows a foster teenager, Billy Batson, who gains the ability to transform into an adult superhero (played by Zachary Levi) by saying the word “Shazam.” Mixing family drama with lighthearted humor, the film highlights themes of belonging and responsibility. Its lighter tone distinguished it from darker DC entries and earned widespread praise.

2019: Iron Sky: The Coming Race 🇫🇮 🇩🇪 🇧🇪

Directed by Timo Vuorensola, this sequel to Iron Sky continues the satirical story of Nazis who fled to the Moon, this time featuring a hidden underground civilization at Earth’s core. With lizard-people, hollow Earth conspiracy riffs, and a resurrected Hitler, the film embraces absurdist pulp science fiction. Though visually inventive, it polarized audiences with its chaotic tone.

2019: I am Mother 🇦🇺

Directed by Grant Sputore, this Netflix sci-fi thriller follows a teenage girl raised in an underground bunker by a robot called “Mother” after an extinction-level event. When an injured stranger arrives, the girl begins to question everything she’s been told about the outside world. Blending psychological tension with sleek design, the film explores AI ethics, truth, and human survival.

2019: Cosmos 🇬🇧

Directed by brothers Elliot and Zander Weaver, this indie sci-fi drama tells the story of three amateur astronomers who make a world-changing discovery while scanning the night sky. With a minimal cast and a single setting, the film emphasizes dialogue, camaraderie, and wonder over spectacle. It gained attention for achieving an epic sense of awe on a micro-budget.

2019: Crazy Alien 🇨🇳

Directed by Ning Hao, this Chinese sci-fi comedy stars Huang Bo as a zookeeper who unexpectedly encounters an alien visitor. Mistaking it for an exotic animal, he becomes embroiled in international intrigue while trying to manage his chaotic new “pet.” Combining slapstick humor with social satire, the film was a major Lunar New Year release in China. One of the funniest scifi movies I have ever watched!

2019: Glass 🇺🇸

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this psychological superhero thriller brings together characters from Unbreakable and Split. Bruce Willis returns as the vigilante David Dunn, Samuel L. Jackson as the brilliant but fragile Mr. Glass, and James McAvoy as Kevin, a man with multiple personalities. Their clash unfolds in a psychiatric facility, culminating in a subversive take on superhero tropes.

2019: Replicas 🇺🇸

Directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff, this sci-fi thriller stars Keanu Reeves as a neuroscientist who loses his family in a car accident and attempts to bring them back through cloning and mind-transfer technology. As he hides his secret from the outside world, ethical dilemmas and corporate interference complicate his quest. Despite intriguing ideas, the film was widely criticized for weak execution.

2019: See You Yesterday 🇺🇸

Directed by Stefon Bristol and produced by Spike Lee, this Netflix sci-fi drama follows two Bronx teenagers who invent a pair of time-travel backpacks. When police violence claims the life of one teen’s brother, she tries to undo the tragedy by going back in time, only to confront the limits of altering fate. Combining social commentary with genre storytelling, it earned critical acclaim.

2019: The Vast of Night 🇺🇸

Directed by Andrew Patterson, this minimalist sci-fi mystery unfolds in 1950s New Mexico as a switchboard operator and a radio DJ discover a strange signal from the sky. Told in long, unbroken takes with vintage atmosphere and crackling dialogue, the film evokes The Twilight Zone in tone and structure, highlighting the mystery of early UFO folklore. Excellent camera-work makes it a definite must-watch!

2019: The Platform (El Hoyo) 🇪🇸

Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, this Spanish dystopian allegory is set in a vertical prison where food descends floor by floor — those on top feast while those below starve. When a man wakes up on a mid-level floor, he tries to change the brutal system. Stark, claustrophobic, and politically charged, The Platform became a Netflix hit for its dark social commentary. A refreshingly new story makes it one of the top scifi movies of the decade!

2019: The Wandering Earth 🇨🇳

Directed by Frant Gwo, this ambitious Chinese blockbuster envisions a future where humans attempt to move Earth out of its orbit to escape an expanding sun. As giant thrusters propel the planet across the galaxy, a group of engineers races to prevent disaster. Blending awe-inspiring visuals with human-scale heroism, the film showcases China’s arrival on the global sci-fi stage.

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