2000: Titan A.E. 🇺🇸

This animated space opera follows a young man racing to locate a legendary ship that holds the key to humanity's survival after Earth’s destruction. Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, Titan A.E. blends sci-fi action with coming-of-age drama in a post-apocalyptic galaxy.

2000: X-Men 🇺🇸

Directed by Bryan Singer, X-Men launched a new era of superhero cinema with its story of mutants fighting for acceptance in a fearful world. Featuring iconic characters like Wolverine and Magneto, it framed genetic mutation as both a gift and a curse.

2000: Mission to Mars 🇺🇸

In this Brian De Palma-directed film, a rescue crew investigates a Martian expedition gone wrong and uncovers clues to humanity’s cosmic origin. The film blends scientific ambition with emotional depth, though opinions were split on its execution.

2000: The 6th Day 🇺🇸

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this dystopian thriller about illegal human cloning, where he discovers he’s been replaced by a copy. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, it explores identity, ethics, and corporate power in a near-future society.

2000: Pitch Black 🇺🇸

This gritty sci-fi horror film by David Twohy introduced Vin Diesel as anti-hero Riddick, a convict who becomes unlikely protector after a planetary crash leaves survivors stranded among deadly nocturnal predators. It spawned a cult following and sequels.

2000: Unbreakable 🇺🇸

M. Night Shyamalan reimagines the superhero origin story as a slow-burn thriller about a man who survives a train crash and begins to discover his extraordinary nature. Subtle and atmospheric, Unbreakable offers a grounded take on comic book mythology.

2000: Battlefield Earth 🇺🇸

In the year 3000, Earth is ruled by a tyrannical alien race, the Psychlos, but a group of humans begins to fight back. Directed by Roger Christian and based on L. Ron Hubbard’s novel, this infamous box office disaster is widely regarded as one of the worst sci-fi films ever made—derided for its acting, direction, and bizarre visuals.

2000: The Cell 🇺🇸

An experimental psychologist enters the mind of a comatose serial killer to find his last victim. Directed by Tarsem Singh, this film is a surreal psychological thriller notable for its haunting, visually elaborate dreamscapes and a chilling performance by Vincent D’Onofrio.

2000: Red Planet 🇺🇸 🇦🇺

When Earth becomes uninhabitable, a mission to Mars goes awry as the crew battles dwindling oxygen, a rogue robot, and Martian mysteries. Directed by Antony Hoffman, this Mars survival story flopped despite a strong cast and production design.

2000: Space Cowboys 🇺🇸

Four aging test pilots are recruited by NASA to retrieve a malfunctioning satellite they helped design. Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, this entertaining, character-driven space adventure blends humor, nostalgia, and tension in a late-career astronaut tale.

2000: Hollow Man 🇩🇪 🇺🇸

A scientist develops an invisibility serum and uses himself as a test subject—with disturbing results. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, this modern take on The Invisible Man focuses on the psychological unraveling of power and voyeurism, though it drew mixed reviews for its dark tone.

2000: Timequest 🇺🇸

A mysterious traveler alters history by preventing JFK’s assassination, triggering a drastically changed world. Directed by Robert Dyke, this low-budget time travel drama explores the butterfly effects of historical revisionism with a thoughtful but modest execution.

2001: K-Pax 🇺🇸

A mysterious man claiming to be from the planet K-PAX is institutionalized, but his calm wisdom and knowledge challenge the boundaries between delusion and truth. Directed by Iain Softley, the film stars Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges in a cerebral sci-fi drama about trauma and belief.

2001: Donnie Darko 🇺🇸

In Richard Kelly’s cult psychological sci-fi, a troubled teen receives cryptic warnings from a man in a rabbit suit about the end of the world. Blending time travel, suburban alienation, and metaphysical dread, it became a defining film for a generation.

2001: A.I. Artificial Intelligence 🇺🇸

Originally conceived by Stanley Kubrick and completed by Steven Spielberg, this futuristic fairy tale follows David, a childlike android on a quest to become real. Haunting and visually rich, it explores love, abandonment, and the blurred line between human and machine.

2001: Evolution 🇺🇸

When a meteor brings alien life to Earth, rapid mutation escalates into chaos, and a team of oddball scientists must stop it. Directed by Ivan Reitman, this comedy-infused sci-fi riffs on Ghostbusters with slime, laughs, and some unlikely heroism.

2001: Tremors 3: Back to Perfection 🇺🇸

Returning to its roots, this third Tremors installment brings the action back to Perfection, Nevada, where new Graboid evolutions threaten the town. Directed by Brent Maddock, it mixes monster mayhem with campy small-town charm.

2001: Vanilla Sky 🇺🇸

A wealthy man’s life unravels after a car crash in this surreal romantic sci-fi thriller directed by Cameron Crowe. A remake of Abre los ojos, the film blurs reality, dream, and memory in a stylish meditation on identity and regret.

2001: Avalon 🇯🇵 🇵🇱

In a bleak future, players immerse themselves in a dangerous military-themed virtual reality game that may hide deeper secrets. Directed by Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), this Polish-Japanese film is a haunting, slow-paced meditation on reality, identity, and escapism, with a muted color palette and philosophical undertones.

2001: Cowboy Bebop: The Movie 🇯🇵

Set between episodes of the beloved anime series, the Bebop crew hunts a bioterrorist threatening Mars with a deadly virus. Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, this stylish, jazz-infused film delivers action, character depth, and noir moodiness true to the original series.

2001: Ghosts of Mars 🇺🇸

On a colonized Mars, a police force investigates a mining colony overtaken by violent, ancient spirits. Directed by John Carpenter, this horror-action hybrid was widely panned but later gained cult interest for its B-movie tone and pulpy aesthetic.

2001: Jurassic Park III 🇺🇸

A rescue mission returns to Isla Sorna, unleashing more dinosaur chaos. Directed by Joe Johnston, this third installment is leaner and more action-driven than its predecessors, though it lacked the awe and depth of Spielberg’s originals.

2001: Impostor 🇺🇸

In a dystopian future at war with aliens, a scientist must prove he’s not a replicant double. Based on a Philip K. Dick short story and directed by Gary Fleder, this cerebral thriller questions identity and memory, though critics found its expansion from a short film uneven.

2001: The One 🇺🇸

A rogue multiverse traveler kills his alternate selves to gain power, but his last target fights back. Directed by James Wong and starring Jet Li in dual roles, this high-octane martial arts sci-fi film blends Hong Kong action with speculative tech, earning cult popularity despite mixed reviews.

2002: Cube 2: Hypercube 🇨🇦

In this sequel to the cult original, eight strangers awaken inside a hyperdimensional cube where time and space behave unpredictably. Directed by Andrzej Sekuła, it ups the surreal stakes but retains the paranoia and mind-bending puzzles of the first film.

2002: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones 🇺🇸

Directed by George Lucas, this prequel deepens the galactic conflict as Anakin Skywalker falls in love with Padmé Amidala and steps closer to the dark side. While heavy on CGI and political intrigue, it sets the stage for the Republic’s transformation.

2002: Signs 🇺🇸

A rural family discovers mysterious crop circles in this atmospheric alien invasion thriller from M. Night Shyamalan. Starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, it turns extraterrestrial dread into an intimate story about loss and faith.

2002: Minority Report 🇺🇸

In a future where crimes are prevented before they happen, a PreCrime officer becomes the target of the system he enforces. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Philip K. Dick’s story, it’s a sleek, noir-tinged exploration of free will and surveillance.

2002: Solaris 🇺🇸

Steven Soderbergh’s meditative remake of Tarkovsky’s classic sees a psychologist sent to a space station haunted by physical manifestations of grief. With George Clooney in the lead, it’s a quiet, introspective piece on memory, loss, and second chances... i.e. a romance.... completely deviating from the classic original!

2002: Equilibrium 🇺🇸

In a dystopia where emotions are outlawed, a top enforcer begins to rebel. Directed by Kurt Wimmer, this visually stylized blend of Fahrenheit 451 and The Matrix features “Gun Kata” action and Christian Bale as a stoic revolutionary. A personal favorite, highly recommended!

2002: Star Trek: Nemesis 🇺🇸

The final Next Generation film pits Picard against a younger, darker clone of himself in a conflict that threatens both the Romulan Empire and the Federation. Directed by Stuart Baird, it delivers emotional farewells amid moral reflection and space battles.

2002: Men in Black II 🇺🇸

Agent J brings Agent K out of retirement to stop a new alien threat in this follow-up to the original. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, it revisits the slick humor and creature-filled universe but is often considered a lighter, less memorable sequel.

2002: Treasure Planet 🇺🇸

Disney reimagines Treasure Island in space, where young Jim Hawkins sails solar galleons and bonds with a cyborg cook. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, it fuses traditional animation with digital visuals in a swashbuckling, underappreciated adventure.

2002: Cypher 🇨🇦

An ordinary man becomes entangled in a web of corporate espionage, reality-bending drugs, and identity manipulation. Directed by Vincenzo Natali (Cube), this cerebral, stylish sci-fi thriller explores themes of control, surveillance, and self-deception.

2002: The Adventures of Pluto Nash 🇺🇸

In a futuristic lunar colony, a nightclub owner battles gangsters and corporate interests threatening his business. Directed by Ron Underwood and starring Eddie Murphy, this notorious box office bomb was panned for its flat humor and lackluster sci-fi world-building. Personally, Eddie shines through as always!

2002: Simone 🇺🇸

A fading director digitally creates a virtual actress who becomes a global phenomenon. Directed by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca), this satirical film critiques celebrity culture and digital manipulation, though it struggled to balance concept and comedy.

2002: Spider-Man 🇺🇸

Peter Parker gains spider-like abilities and must face the villainous Green Goblin while learning the cost of responsibility. Directed by Sam Raimi, this landmark superhero film launched a new era for comic book adaptations with its earnest tone and strong character focus. Based on production quality and acting, I think this was the real start for the new MCU.

2002: The Time Machine 🇺🇸

A grieving inventor travels far into the future, encountering the divided descendants of humanity. Directed by Simon Wells, this adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel mixes romance and action, though it diverges heavily from the original themes of class and evolution.

2003: Code 46 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

In a near-future where genetics and surveillance govern society, a man falls in love with a woman he's biologically forbidden to be with. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, this atmospheric sci-fi romance blends dystopia with emotional subtlety in a globalized world.

2003: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines 🇺🇸

John Connor returns in hiding, only to face a deadlier female Terminator sent to ensure Judgment Day. Directed by Jonathan Mostow, this installment features massive action and dark inevitability as the machines inch closer to domination.

2003: X2 🇺🇸

Bryan Singer’s sequel deepens the X-Men saga with a government-led attack on mutants and a personal reckoning for Wolverine. With a strong ensemble cast and tighter narrative, it elevated superhero cinema beyond its origins.

2003: Paycheck 🇺🇸

A reverse-engineer loses two years of memory and must use a set of mysterious items to piece together a conspiracy. Directed by John Woo and based on a Philip K. Dick story, the film mixes high-concept sci-fi with action but received mixed reviews.

2003: The Matrix Reloaded 🇺🇸

Neo battles upgraded Agents and uncovers deeper layers of control in the second chapter of the Wachowskis' cyberpunk trilogy. Philosophical monologues meet breathtaking action in this ambitious expansion of the Matrix mythos.

2003: The Matrix Revolutions 🇺🇸

In the trilogy’s conclusion, Zion’s last stand against the machines unfolds while Neo confronts his destiny in both real and virtual worlds. Though divisive, the Wachowskis deliver an operatic finale steeped in sacrifice and system-breaking choice.

2003: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇨🇿

Literary legends like Allan Quatermain, Captain Nemo, and Dr. Jekyll unite to prevent world war in this Victorian steampunk adventure. Directed by Stephen Norrington, it’s a visually ambitious adaptation that struggled to balance its sprawling cast and tone.

2003: Alien Hunter 🇺🇸 🇧🇬

A scientist investigating a mysterious signal in Antarctica uncovers a deadly extraterrestrial secret. Directed by Ron Krauss and starring James Spader, this made-for-TV film mixes The Thing-like suspense with Cold War-era alien paranoia.

2003: The Core 🇺🇸

When Earth's core stops rotating, a group of scientists must journey to the planet’s center to restart it. Directed by Jon Amiel, this disaster sci-fi is infamous for its implausible physics but embraced by some as gleefully over-the-top.

2003: Hulk 🇺🇸

After a lab accident, Bruce Banner transforms into a powerful green monster fueled by rage and repressed trauma. Directed by Ang Lee, this cerebral take on the Marvel character uses comic panel transitions and Freudian themes, polarizing audiences with its somber tone.

2003: Koi... Mil Gaya 🇮🇳

A developmentally delayed young man befriends an alien who gives him extraordinary powers. Directed by Rakesh Roshan, this Indian sci-fi musical drew inspiration from E.T. and launched the popular Krrish superhero franchise, starring his son Hrithik Roshan.

2003: Timeline 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

A group of archaeologists use quantum teleportation to rescue a colleague stuck in 14th-century France. Directed by Richard Donner and based on the Michael Crichton novel, this time-travel adventure received poor reviews for its rushed pacing and uneven tone.

2003: Robot Stories 🇺🇸

This indie anthology explores human-robot relationships across four heartfelt segments. Written and directed by Greg Pak, the film combines emotional storytelling with speculative themes like AI parenting and digital consciousness.

2004: Steamboy 🇯🇵

In an alternate 19th century Britain, a young inventor becomes caught in a battle over a powerful steam-based energy device. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame, this steampunk anime is a visually rich exploration of science, ethics, and industrial ambition.

2004: I, Robot 🇺🇸

In a future dominated by intelligent machines, a detective skeptical of robots investigates a murder that may signal a robotic uprising. Directed by Alex Proyas and loosely inspired by Isaac Asimov’s work, the film blends action and ethical dilemmas.

2004: The Day After Tomorrow 🇺🇸

A paleoclimatologist races to save his son and warn the world as abrupt climate change plunges Earth into a new Ice Age. Directed by Roland Emmerich, this disaster epic pairs cutting-edge effects with environmental caution.

2004: Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation 🇺🇸

Set in the same universe but on a smaller scale, this direct-to-video sequel traps soldiers in a remote outpost where paranoia spreads faster than alien bugs. Directed by Phil Tippett, it swaps satire for horror with mixed results.

2004: The Butterfly Effect 🇺🇸

A troubled young man discovers he can travel back into his traumatic past—but each change has dark, unintended consequences. Directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber, this cult psychological sci-fi explores memory, regret, and chaos theory.

2004: The Chronicles of Riddick 🇺🇸

Vin Diesel returns as antihero Riddick, caught in an interplanetary conflict involving a death-worshipping empire. Directed by David Twohy, the film expands its gritty sci-fi roots into mythic space opera territory. I recall being invited to a special pre-screening. Though a completely different movie from Pitch Black, it wasn't as bad as the critics claimed!

2004: The Stepford Wives 🇺🇸

In a glossy remake of the 1975 thriller, a couple moves to an idyllic suburb where perfect wives harbor a disturbing secret. Directed by Frank Oz, this version adds satire and dark comedy to its feminist premise, though not all critics were convinced.

2004: Alien vs. Predator 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇨🇿 🇨🇦

An ancient pyramid beneath Antarctica becomes the battleground for a deadly hunt between xenomorphs and Predators, with humans caught in the crossfire. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, the crossover delivers spectacle over substance.

2004: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 🇺🇸

A man undergoes a procedure to erase memories of a failed relationship, only to fight for them as they vanish. Directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman, this inventive, poignant sci-fi romance became an instant modern classic.

2004: Primer 🇺🇸

Two engineers accidentally build a time machine in their garage, unleashing a complex web of paradoxes and ethical ambiguity. Directed by Shane Carruth on a micro-budget, this cerebral indie became a cult favorite for its realistic take on time travel.

2004: Cube Zero 🇨🇦

A prequel to Cube, this entry shows the people behind the scenes who operate the deadly structure, adding a bureaucratic layer to the psychological horror. Directed by Ernie Barbarash, it brings back the franchise’s moral ambiguity and dark puzzles.

2004: Casshern 🇯🇵

In a dystopian future, a fallen soldier is resurrected using controversial biotechnology, becoming a reluctant hero in a world torn by war and mutation. Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, this Japanese live-action film is visually striking and deeply philosophical, blending anime aesthetics with anti-war themes.

2004: Immortel (ad vitam) 🇫🇷

In a dystopian New York ruled by genetic engineering, ancient Egyptian gods descend to find a fertile human woman. Directed by Enki Bilal and based on his graphic novels, this French film blends CGI-heavy visuals with philosophical musings on divinity and identity.

2004: The Final Cut 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇨🇦

In a world where people’s memories are recorded and edited after death, a "cutter" uncovers a dark secret while assembling a sanitized life story. Directed by Omar Naim and starring Robin Williams, this meditative sci-fi thriller explores privacy, morality, and memory.

2004: The Forgotten 🇺🇸

After her son is erased from existence and her memories are questioned, a mother uncovers a disturbing truth involving alien experiments. Directed by Joseph Ruben, this psychological thriller blends grief and extraterrestrial conspiracy, with a memorable mid-film plot twist.

2004: G.O.R.A. 🇹🇷

A Turkish carpet salesman is abducted by aliens and becomes an unlikely hero in an intergalactic adventure. Directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak, this sci-fi comedy is a cult classic in Turkey, known for spoofing Western sci-fi tropes with local humor. Definitely worth a watch!

2004: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇮🇹

In an alternate 1939, a heroic pilot and a journalist investigate a series of giant robot attacks and a global conspiracy. Directed by Kerry Conran, this retro-futuristic adventure was one of the first films shot entirely on digital backdrops, pioneering the “virtual set” approach.

2004: Spider-Man 2 🇺🇸

Peter Parker struggles with his dual life while facing Dr. Octopus, a brilliant scientist turned mechanical menace. Directed by Sam Raimi, this sequel is often hailed as one of the best superhero films, balancing character depth, action, and emotional stakes.

2005: Stealth 🇺🇸

An AI-controlled fighter jet gains sentience and goes rogue, forcing human pilots to stop their own creation. Directed by Rob Cohen, this high-concept action film is a cautionary tale of military AI, heavy on aerial spectacle and techno-paranoia.

2005: V for Vendetta 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

A masked anarchist sparks rebellion against a totalitarian regime in a near-future Britain. Directed by James McTeigue and scripted by the Wachowskis, this adaptation of Alan Moore’s graphic novel became a cultural touchstone for resistance and identity.

2005: Zathura: A Space Adventure 🇺🇸

Two brothers discover a mysterious board game that launches their house into outer space, where survival depends on finishing the game. Directed by Jon Favreau, this spiritual cousin to Jumanji blends heartfelt family dynamics with imaginative sci-fi adventure

2005: Sky High 🇺🇸

At a high school for teenage superheroes, the son of legendary crimefighters struggles with powers, popularity, and villainy. Directed by Mike Mitchell, this cheerful Disney film mixes teen comedy with comic book tropes in a light-hearted take on superhero growing pains.

2005: Serenity 🇺🇸

Joss Whedon’s follow-up to his cancelled cult series Firefly reunites the crew of the spaceship Serenity for a high-stakes mission exposing a galactic conspiracy. Mixing western grit with space opera, the film deepened fan affection and offered bittersweet closure. A must see!

2005: War of the Worlds 🇺🇸

A divorced father must protect his children as alien tripods decimate Earth in this intense Spielberg-directed adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic. With visceral action and modern paranoia, it presents a more personal, panic-stricken survival tale.

2005: Æon Flux 🇺🇸

In a dystopian future, a rebel assassin uncovers secrets that challenge her mission and identity. Based on the animated MTV series, this live-action version, directed by Karyn Kusama and starring Charlize Theron, was visually ambitious but critically mixed.

2005: Revenge of the Sith 🇺🇸

The transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader unfolds amid galactic war and political collapse. Directed by George Lucas, the prequel trilogy’s finale is its darkest and most operatic, bridging the gap to the original Star Wars saga.

2005: The Island 🇺🇸

Two residents of a sterile utopia discover they are clones destined for organ harvesting and flee to find the truth. Directed by Michael Bay, the film combines speculative ethics with his signature high-octane action style.

2005: Fantastic Four 🇺🇸

Four astronauts gain extraordinary powers after a cosmic storm and must battle their former colleague turned nemesis, Doctor Doom. Directed by Tim Story, this early Marvel adaptation offered light superhero fare with mixed reception.

2005: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

After Earth is destroyed to make way for an interstellar bypass, an ordinary man joins a wild adventure across the universe. Directed by Garth Jennings, this adaptation of Douglas Adams’ cult novel balances quirky absurdism with charming performances and dazzling visuals.

2005: Slipstream 🇺🇸

A scientist’s invention allows people to travel a few minutes back in time, but when a heist goes wrong, he must keep looping to survive. Directed by David van Eyssen and starring Sean Astin, this low-budget time travel thriller explores the classic chaos of altering short-term events.

2005: A Sound of Thunder 🇨🇿 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Time-traveling hunters accidentally alter evolution by stepping on a butterfly in the prehistoric past, leading to a collapsing future. Directed by Peter Hyams and based on Ray Bradbury's short story, the film is remembered more for its ambitious premise than its troubled production and CGI.

2005: Sin City 🇺🇸

Frank Miller’s gritty comic book comes to life in this hyper-stylized neo-noir anthology of crime, corruption, and vengeance. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller (with a segment by Quentin Tarantino), Sin City broke visual ground with its stark black-and-white aesthetic and faithful panel-to-frame adaptation.

2006: Krrish 🇮🇳

A young man with superhuman powers inherits his father’s legacy and becomes India’s first mainstream superhero. Directed by Rakesh Roshan, this Bollywood hit blends science fiction, romance, and action in a sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya (2003).

2006: The Prestige 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Two rival magicians in Victorian London engage in a dangerous game of one-upmanship, leading to murder, sacrifice, and science-fiction-level trickery. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film delves into obsession, identity, and a Tesla-inspired device with astonishing consequences.

2006: A Scanner Darkly 🇺🇸

In a near-future of surveillance and addiction, an undercover agent loses his identity while investigating a dangerous drug. Directed by Richard Linklater and based on Philip K. Dick’s novel, this rotoscoped film is a paranoid, cerebral descent into fractured consciousness.

2006: Children of Men 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇯🇵

In a bleak future where humans have become infertile, a disillusioned man must protect the first pregnant woman in 18 years. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, this haunting dystopia is both visually striking and deeply human, blending urgent political allegory with raw emotion.

2006: The Fountain 🇺🇸

Spanning a thousand years, a man searches for eternal life and love across three parallel stories. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this ambitious, visually poetic meditation on death, time, and transcendence defies easy categorization.

2006: X-Men: The Last Stand 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

The discovery of a "cure" for mutation triggers ideological rifts and a climactic war among mutants. Directed by Brett Ratner, the trilogy’s finale amplified action but divided fans over character arcs and major deaths.

2006: Lady in the Water 🇺🇸

A superintendent discovers a mysterious woman in his apartment complex pool who claims to be a nymph from a bedtime story. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this modern fairy tale was a personal and polarizing parable of belief and storytelling.

2006: Idiocracy 🇺🇸

A slacker wakes up in the future to find humanity shockingly dumbed down—and he’s now the smartest man alive. Directed by Mike Judge, this satirical cult comedy was under-promoted on release but later praised for its eerily prescient vision.

2006: Ultraviolet 🇺🇸

In a dystopian future ruled by fear of a blood-borne virus, a warrior defies the regime to protect a mysterious child. Directed by Kurt Wimmer, this fast-paced sci-fi action film, starring Milla Jovovich, emphasized style and choreography over coherence.

2006: Superman Returns 🇺🇸

After a mysterious absence, Superman returns to find a changed world and a dangerous new plot from Lex Luthor. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film serves as both sequel and homage to the 1978 classic, with a melancholic tone and reverence for legacy.

2006: Southland Tales 🇺🇸 🇩🇪

Set in a dystopian near-future Los Angeles during an energy crisis, the lives of actors, porn stars, and neo-Marxists intertwine in surreal chaos. Directed by Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), this sprawling, polarizing satire blends sci-fi, politics, and absurdism into a cult oddity.

2006: Alien Autopsy 🇬🇧

This British comedy dramatizes the real-life hoax surrounding the infamous 1995 "alien autopsy" footage, following two friends who fabricate the film to cover for a failed business venture. Directed by Jonny Campbell, the movie blends sci-fi lore with quirky true-crime farce.

2006: Déjà Vu 🇺🇸

A federal agent uses a top-secret time-bending surveillance system to prevent a terrorist bombing and save a woman he’s falling for. Directed by Tony Scott, this thriller mixes time travel with procedural suspense and stars Denzel Washington in a mind-warping race against fate.

2007: Spider-Man 3 🇺🇸

Peter Parker faces inner darkness, old foes, and a vengeful new villain as his alien-enhanced powers twist his personality. Directed by Sam Raimi, this third installment goes big on action but divides fans with its crowded plot and tonal shifts.

2007: Underdog 🇺🇸

A beagle gains superpowers and fights crime in Capitol City after a lab accident, embracing his destiny as a caped canine hero. Directed by Frederik Du Chau, this live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon adds slapstick humor and family-friendly adventure.

2007: Los cronocrímenes (Timecrimes) 🇪🇸

A man stumbles into a time loop after witnessing something strange in the woods, setting off a tense chain of paradoxes. Directed by Nacho Vigalondo, this Spanish sci-fi thriller builds an ingeniously minimalist time-travel narrative packed with suspense and dread.

2007: La Antena 🇦🇷

In a silent, dystopian city where the villain has stolen everyone’s voices, one family discovers a way to resist. Directed by Esteban Sapir, this Argentine film blends early cinema aesthetics with surreal storytelling, evoking German Expressionism and visual poetry.

2007: Sunshine 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

A crew is sent to reignite the dying Sun with a nuclear bomb but finds something terrifying en route. Directed by Danny Boyle, this visually stunning psychological sci-fi explores human fragility, cosmic awe, and existential terror.

2007: Transformers 🇺🇸

Teenager Sam Witwicky gets caught in a war between alien robots hiding on Earth. Directed by Michael Bay, this live-action adaptation of the 1980s toy franchise delivers explosive action and laid the foundation for a blockbuster series.

2007: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem 🇺🇸

After a Predator ship crashes in a small town, an alien outbreak forces the townspeople into a brutal survival scenario. Directed by the Brothers Strause, this sequel amps up gore and darkness but was criticized for murky visuals and minimal plot.

2007: The Mist 🇺🇸

Trapped in a supermarket after a strange mist envelops their town, residents face both deadly creatures and their own worst instincts. Directed by Frank Darabont from a Stephen King story, the film is best remembered for its uncompromisingly bleak ending. Very well made!

2007: I am Legend 🇺🇸

In a post-apocalyptic New York, a lone scientist struggles to find a cure for a virus that wiped out humanity and mutated survivors into nocturnal creatures. Directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Will Smith, the film balances action with poignant solitude.

2007: рудно быть богом (Hard to Be a God) 🇷🇺

A version of this long-gestating adaptation of Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s novel was filmed in 2007 by Alexei German but not released until 2013. It follows a human observer on a planet stuck in medieval barbarism. The haunting, grim spectacle challenges viewers with moral ambiguity and visceral realism.

2007: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

The superhero team faces cosmic stakes as the Silver Surfer arrives, heralding the planet-eating Galactus. Directed by Tim Story, this lighter sequel introduces classic Marvel mythology but drew criticism for underwhelming drama and visuals.

2007: The Man from Earth 🇺🇸

A college professor shocks his friends by claiming he’s a 14,000-year-old immortal. Directed by Richard Schenkman from a story by Jerome Bixby, this low-budget cult film unfolds entirely through dialogue, provoking deep philosophical and emotional inquiry. Its cult success is attributed to early p2p sharing!

2007: Stardust 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

In a magical realm, a young man journeys to retrieve a fallen star—only to find she’s a woman with her own destiny. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, this whimsical fantasy blends romance, humor, and adventure in the vein of The Princess Bride.

2007: Chrysalis 🇫🇷

In a near-future Paris, a police officer investigates a murder linked to an experimental memory-restoration technology. Directed by Julien Leclercq, this French sci-fi noir blends cyberpunk aesthetics with a brooding, high-tech mystery.

2007: Appleseed Ex Machina 🇯🇵

In a post-apocalyptic utopia, two special ops agents confront a conspiracy that threatens human and cyborg coexistence. Directed by Shinji Aramaki and produced by John Woo, this sequel to Appleseed features cutting-edge CGI action and philosophical undertones.

2007: The Invasion 🇺🇸

An alien virus strips people of emotion, spreading like a plague as a psychiatrist struggles to protect her son, who may hold the key to a cure. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (with reshoots by the Wachowskis), this reimagining of Invasion of the Body Snatchers stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.

2007: The Last Mimzy 🇺🇸

Two children discover futuristic objects sent from the future, gaining psychic abilities and triggering government interest. Directed by Robert Shaye, this family-friendly sci-fi film weaves quantum physics with mysticism and environmental caution. A surprisingly well-made and serious family scifi!

2007: Next 🇺🇸

A man who can see two minutes into the future is recruited by the FBI to stop a nuclear attack—but foreseeing isn’t the same as changing. Directed by Lee Tamahori and based on a Philip K. Dick story, the film stars Nicolas Cage in a fast-paced, paradox-riddled thriller.

2008: Sleep Dealer 🇺🇸 🇲🇽

In a militarized future Mexico, workers remotely operate machines in the U.S. through neural interfaces, raising questions of labor, identity, and resistance. Directed by Alex Rivera, this indie cyberpunk gem offers a rare Latin American perspective on globalization.

2008: The X-Files: I Want to Believe 🇺🇸

Mulder and Scully reunite to investigate a missing persons case linked to psychic visions and sinister experiments. Directed by Chris Carter, this second X-Files film focuses more on spiritual themes than aliens, to mixed reception from longtime fans.

2008: The Happening 🇺🇸 🇮🇳

When people across the U.S. begin committing mass suicide, a science teacher tries to escape the mysterious phenomenon. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the film was widely panned for its wooden dialogue and baffling plot, though it retains cult appeal for its unintentional camp.

2008: Starship Troopers 3: Marauder 🇺🇸

The war against the Bugs escalates as Johnny Rico returns to lead a last-ditch mission involving a new powered exosuit. Directed by Edward Neumeier, this third installment tries to revive the satirical edge of the original, though on a shoestring budget.

2008: Journey to the Center of the Earth 🇺🇸

A scientist and his nephew discover a path to a hidden subterranean world full of wonders and danger. Directed by Eric Brevig and starring Brendan Fraser, this family-friendly reboot blends 3D thrills with Jules Verne-inspired adventure.

2008: WALL-E 🇺🇸

In a desolate future, a lonely trash-compacting robot discovers love and a way to restore Earth’s hope. Directed by Andrew Stanton for Pixar, this near-silent masterpiece charmed audiences with its emotional depth, environmental message, and visual storytelling.

2008: Stargate: The Ark of Truth 🇺🇸

SG-1 seeks an ancient device that could end the war with the Ori. Directed by Robert C. Cooper, this direct-to-DVD continuation of Stargate SG-1 offers closure to long-running plotlines with classic team dynamics and sci-fi lore.

2008: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 🇺🇸

Indiana Jones returns in the Cold War era to uncover a mysterious artifact linked to ancient aliens. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this long-awaited sequel divided fans with its mix of pulp action and extraterrestrial twists.

2008: Stargate: Continuum 🇺🇸

A time-altering plot by a Goa’uld sends SG-1 back to a timeline where the Stargate program never existed. Directed by Martin Wood, this time-travel adventure gives the Stargate franchise a high-stakes swan song with fan-favorite characters.

2008: Babylon A.D. 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

A mercenary escorts a mysterious woman with miraculous powers across a dystopian future. Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz and starring Vin Diesel, the film suffered from studio interference, resulting in a muddled but visually striking narrative.

2008: The Incredible Hulk 🇺🇸

Bruce Banner is on the run while seeking a cure for his transformations, but a new monstrous threat emerges. Directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Edward Norton, this reboot brings action and pathos to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's early days.

2008: Hancock 🇺🇸

A surly, alcoholic superhero struggles with his public image—until a PR man uncovers a deeper origin. Directed by Peter Berg, this offbeat take on superhero tropes mixes comedy and drama, though it shifts tone abruptly in its second half.

2008: City of Ember 🇺🇸

In a crumbling underground city powered by a failing generator, two teens race to find a way out. Directed by Gil Kenan and based on the novel by Jeanne DuPrau, this visually imaginative film blends post-apocalyptic mystery with youthful adventure. Worth a watch!

2008: The Day the Earth Stood Still 🇺🇸

An alien arrives on Earth to warn humanity of its self-destructive ways. Directed by Scott Derrickson, this remake of the 1951 classic trades Cold War tension for ecological warnings but struggles with emotionless performances and CGI excess.

2008: Alien Raiders 🇺🇸

During a grocery store siege, a group of armed strangers hunts for an alien parasite hidden among the customers. Directed by Ben Rock, this tight sci-fi horror-thriller blends The Thing and The Mist with paranoia-fueled suspense.

2008: Blindness 🇧🇷 🇨🇦 🇯🇵

A mysterious epidemic causes sudden blindness, plunging society into chaos as survivors struggle to maintain morality. Directed by Fernando Meirelles and based on José Saramago’s novel, the film is a harrowing allegory of civilization's fragility.

2008: Dasavathaaram 🇮🇳

A scientist’s bioweapon sets off a global chase across centuries, with Kamal Haasan playing ten different roles. Directed by K. S. Ravikumar, this ambitious Indian epic fuses science fiction with historical drama and philosophical themes of chaos theory and karma.

2008: Dante 01 🇫🇷

A mentally disturbed prisoner with mysterious powers is sent to a space station orbiting a fiery planet, where reality and madness blur. Directed by Marc Caro (Delicatessen), this dark French sci-fi fable mixes body horror with spiritual transformation.

2008: Doomsday 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇿🇦

A deadly virus in Scotland leads to a walled-off quarantine zone—until the virus resurfaces decades later and a team is sent in. Directed by Neil Marshall, this chaotic mashup of Mad Max, Escape from New York, and 28 Days Later revels in grindhouse spectacle.

2008: Iron Man 🇺🇸

After a life-altering kidnapping, billionaire Tony Stark builds a high-tech suit to fight evil and reclaims his legacy. Directed by Jon Favreau, this stylish, witty origin story launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and redefined the modern superhero film.

2008: Jumper 🇺🇸

A young man who can teleport finds himself hunted by a secret organization bent on eliminating his kind. Directed by Doug Liman, this action-packed sci-fi adapts Steven Gould’s novel but struggles under a thin plot despite energetic worldbuilding.

2008: Meet Dave 🇺🇸

Tiny aliens pilot a human-shaped spaceship to recover a lost power source on Earth, but emotional confusion ensues. Directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy in dual roles, this family-friendly comedy mixes slapstick with light sci-fi themes.

2008: Outlander 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 🇨🇿

A space traveler crash-lands in Iron Age Norway—bringing with him a deadly alien creature that threatens Viking clans. Directed by Howard McCain, this sword-and-sci-fi hybrid delivers monster action with mythological flair.

2008-2009: Обитаемый остров (The Inhabited Island) Parts I & II 🇷🇺

In a dystopian future, a young Earth cosmonaut crash-lands on a distant planet ruled by a totalitarian regime that controls minds through radio towers. Directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk and based on the Strugatsky brothers’ novel, this ambitious Russian duology (Obitaemyy Ostrov) spans two films—Part I released in 2008, and Part II in 2009—exploring authoritarianism, rebellion, and alienation with epic visuals and political undertones.

2009: RoboGeisha 🇯🇵

A geisha-turned-cyborg assassin becomes embroiled in a bizarre plot involving body weapons, giant robots, and explosive sushi. Directed by Noboru Iguchi, this ultraviolent Japanese exploitation flick revels in its absurdity and creative gore.

2009: Splice 🇨🇦 🇫🇷

Genetic engineers create a hybrid creature combining human and animal DNA—leading to unpredictable, horrific consequences. Directed by Vincenzo Natali (Cube), this disturbing bio-horror examines scientific ethics and blurred boundaries.

2009: Mr. Nobody 🇧🇪 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇩🇪

In a distant future where humans have conquered mortality, the last mortal man recalls the branching possibilities of his life. Directed by Jaco Van Dormael, this visually rich and philosophical film explores time, choice, and identity across parallel timelines.

2009: Moon 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

A solitary worker on a lunar mining base begins to question his reality as his mission nears its end. Directed by Duncan Jones, this minimalist sci-fi gem offers a haunting meditation on isolation and identity, powered by Sam Rockwell’s dual performance. A must-see!

2009: Avatar 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

A paralyzed ex-Marine is sent to infiltrate an alien world but finds himself aligning with its native people. Directed by James Cameron, this groundbreaking blockbuster stunned with its 3D visuals and motion capture, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time (until briefly dethroned).

2009: District 9 🇳🇿 🇺🇸 🇿🇦

An alien refugee camp in South Africa becomes the center of tension when a bureaucrat is exposed to alien biotechnology. Directed by Neill Blomkamp, this allegorical sci-fi thriller mixes body horror with political commentary on apartheid and xenophobia.

2009: Star Trek 🇺🇸

A reboot of the iconic franchise, this origin story follows young versions of Kirk and Spock as they confront a vengeful time-traveling Romulan. Directed by J.J. Abrams, the film injects new energy into the series while honoring its legacy.

2009: 2081 🇺🇸

Based on Kurt Vonnegut’s short story Harrison Bergeron, this short film envisions a future where enforced equality stifles individuality. Directed by Chandler Tuttle, it’s a stylized and haunting adaptation of dystopian satire.

You can watch it on YouTube.

2009: The Fourth Kind 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

A psychologist investigates strange patient behavior in Alaska, uncovering possible alien abductions. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and marketed as “based on true events,” the film blends dramatization with mockumentary, though critics panned its authenticity claims.

2009: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 🇺🇸

The Autobots return to defend Earth against a revived Decepticon threat involving ancient alien tech. Directed by Michael Bay, this bombastic sequel amps up the spectacle but was widely criticized for incoherent plotting and over-the-top humor.

2009: Terminator Salvation 🇺🇸

In a post-apocalyptic future, John Connor fights Skynet while uncovering the mystery of a man who may bridge machine and human. Directed by McG, this fourth Terminator entry shifts to full-on war but received mixed reactions for its grim tone and narrative choices.

2009: X-Men Origins: Wolverine 🇺🇸

Before the X-Men, Logan’s early life and transformation into Weapon X are explored. Directed by Gavin Hood, the film was criticized for underdeveloped characters and controversial changes—particularly to fan-favorite Deadpool.

2009: 2012 🇺🇸

When the Earth’s crust destabilizes, a man tries to save his family amid global cataclysm. Directed by Roland Emmerich, this disaster epic delivers massive destruction and spectacle, but with a heavy dose of melodrama and pseudoscience.

2009: Pandorum 🇬🇧 🇩🇪

Two astronauts awaken on a seemingly abandoned spaceship with no memory—and something lurking in the dark. Directed by Christian Alvart, this claustrophobic space thriller combines sci-fi horror with a twisty plot about humanity’s survival.

2009: Knowing 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

A time capsule reveals a cryptic list of disasters—some yet to come. Directed by Alex Proyas, this apocalyptic thriller mixes numerology, solar flares, and angels with Nicolas Cage at the helm. An interesting watch...

2009: S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale 🇺🇸

Donnie’s younger sister Sam is drawn into a surreal series of time-loop events. Directed by Chris Fisher, this direct-to-video sequel lacks the originality and depth of the original, and was disowned by Donnie Darko's creators.

2009: Aliens in the Attic 🇺🇸

A group of kids must fend off a group of tiny alien invaders targeting their vacation home. Directed by John Schultz, this light sci-fi comedy plays like a family-friendly version of Home Alone with extraterrestrials. Good fun!

2009: Race to Witch Mountain 🇺🇸

A cab driver helps two mysterious teens with powers evade a government agency. Directed by Andy Fickman and starring Dwayne Johnson, this loose remake of the 1975 film blends action, humor, and mild sci-fi for younger audiences.

2009: Watchmen 🇺🇸

In an alternate 1985, masked vigilantes face extinction and a dark conspiracy unfolds. Directed by Zack Snyder and adapted from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ graphic novel, the film captures the source’s visual style and moral ambiguity, though opinions on its tone remain divided.

2009: 9 🇺🇸 🇱🇺

In a post-apocalyptic world, a group of sentient ragdoll-like creations must fight machines to save what’s left of life. Directed by Shane Acker and produced by Tim Burton, this haunting animated film mixes steampunk aesthetics with philosophical undertones.

2009: Alien Trespass 🇺🇸

A loving homage to 1950s sci-fi B-movies, this film follows an alien crash and the havoc caused by an escaped creature in a desert town. Directed by R.W. Goodwin, it’s knowingly campy and filled with retro charm. Very enjoyable!

2009: Battle for Terra 🇺🇸

Humans invade a peaceful alien planet after ruining Earth, forcing a young alien and a human pilot to unite against war. Directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas, this animated parable questions colonialism and ecological collapse. First shown in 2007 at TIFF, it was commerically released in 2009.

2009: The Box 🇺🇸

A couple is offered a box: press its button and receive $1 million—but a stranger will die. Directed by Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), the film expands Richard Matheson’s short story into a metaphysical thriller tinged with Cold War paranoia.

2009: Cargo 🇨🇭

In a future where Earth is uninhabitable, a medic on a cargo ship discovers a disturbing secret about a utopian space colony. Directed by Ivan Engler and Ralph Etter, this Swiss sci-fi thriller blends Alien-like suspense with social commentary.

2009: Kenny Begins 🇸🇪

A bumbling galactic failure sets off on a quest to save a teenager with hidden powers in this Swedish sci-fi comedy. Directed by Carl Åstrand and Mats Lindberg, it’s a quirky and effects-laden parody of superhero tropes.

2009: Land of the Lost 🇺🇸

A disgraced scientist is sucked into an alternate dimension full of dinosaurs, lizard men, and weird time flows. Directed by Brad Silberling and starring Will Ferrell, this loose adaptation of the 1970s TV show embraces absurdist humor and psychedelic sci-fi. Funny....

2009: Metropia 🇸🇪 🇩🇰 🇳🇴

In a dystopian Europe dominated by a mega-corporation, a man begins hearing voices—and uncovers a mind control conspiracy. Directed by Tarik Saleh, this animated film uses hyperrealistic rotoscoping to evoke Orwellian paranoia with a unique visual style.

2009: Push 🇺🇸

Telekinetic and psychic individuals are hunted by a secretive government agency known as Division. Directed by Paul McGuigan, this stylish thriller features kinetic action, but its tangled plot leaves many questions unanswered.

2009: Surrogates 🇺🇸

In a future where people live through ideal robotic avatars, a murder leads to a conspiracy that shakes the foundations of this surrogate society. Directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Bruce Willis, the film explores identity, disconnection, and control.

2009: The Time Traveler’s Wife 🇺🇸

A man with a genetic disorder involuntarily travels through time, complicating his romance with his wife across decades. Directed by Robert Schwentke and based on Audrey Niffenegger’s novel, the film blends tragic love with soft science fiction.