Prime Video is the place for thought-provoking sci-fi. Time travel and artificial intelligence, dystopian futures and shapeshifting aliens — whatever your interest is, the streamer’s library has got the goods.
Look, we know how packed the streaming landscape is. Finding a worthwhile movie to watch in this content crowd can be a challenge. Well, friend, you’ve come to the right place. You’ve landed on this article because you’re searching for worthwhile sci-fi movie suggestions. Below is our guide to the best of what Prime Video has to offer.
These science fiction movies crack the surface of what you can find on the streamer, but they’re a great place to start. From a time-traveling killer cyborg and a curious cybernetic being to the iconic Man of Steel and an isolated alien horror classic, the choices are pretty epic. Basically, you’ve beamed down to the proper planet. Keep reading to find out for yourself.
Read more: These Epic Sci_Fi TV Shows Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
James Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi masterpiece changed the genre and put Arnold Schwarzenegger on the map. The movie tells the story of a woman fighting to stay alive as a cybernetic being from the future is sent back in time to terminate her, thus stopping humanity’s hero, John Connor, from ever being born.
Mel Brooks set his sights on Star Wars in this 1987 space opera parody. It’s equal parts silly, smart and downright hilarious. What would you expect from this cast? SCTV alums Rick Moranis and John Candy chew the scenery opposite the likes of Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, Joan Rivers and Brooks himself.
Sam Rockwell shines in this underrated sci-fi drama. Moon follows an astronaut on his final days working a three-year solo shift at a lunar mine. But as he gets ready to reunite with his wife, his health takes a bizarre turn, forcing Sam to face some dark truths.
In John Carpenter’s postapocalyptic cult classic, it’s 1997 in New York and the city has been ravaged by war. Manhattan has been turned into a giant walled-in prison. After the president is taken hostage, former Special Forces officer (and current prisoner) Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is recruited to save the day in return for his own freedom.
Four decades later, this sci-fi horror movie still holds up. The premise is simple: A group of scientists in Antarctica battle for survival against a shape-shifting alien threat. Thanks to the cast’s solid performances, the epic practical effects, and enduring tension, The Thing is absolutely worth a watch. Just don’t bother with the 2017 remake.
Alfonso Cuarón directed this dystopian tale that explores a future where infertility has become the world’s biggest threat. Theo (played by Clive Owen) is a jaded bureaucrat who’s revealed as an unexpected hero in the battle to save humanity. Hey, no pressure.
Alex Garland’s movie about AI, free will, and humanity’s hunger for power feels more relevant now than when it was released in 2014. Garland wrote and directed the flick, which leans heavily on the claustrophobic confines of the set pieces and the strong performances of its lean cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac.
2012’s superb adaptation of the Judge Dredd comics is a delicious smorgasbord of ultraviolence. Karl Urban lifts the character from its Sylvester Stallone doldrums and, with the help of Alex Garland’s script and Pete Travis’ directing, Dredd has remained a worthy entry in the cluttered comic book adaptation game.
This mind-bending cult classic stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a misunderstood high schooler who, after seemingly surviving a crazy accident, begins traveling through time. In the process, he discovers the joy of being alive and in love. Themes of depression, repression and alternative universes fill this delightfully bizarre film. Also, let’s not forget that giant demon bunny named Frank.
10 Cloverfield Lane is a riveting psychological thriller that unfolds into something unexpectedly supernatural. Technically a sequel to Cloverfield — which means it’s absolutely a sci-fi movie — this entry explores the monstrous nature of reality and the metaphorical monsters it can create. The tight-knit cast delivers, but John Goodman’s Howard is a force to reckon with.
It’s hard to leave The Tomorrow War off this list, because it’s Prime Video’s big sci-fi actioner starring Chris Pratt. It follows a schoolteacher who’s drafted into a war with aliens, in the future. An easily digestible flick that you can watch while looking at your phone.
Superman: The Movie is an example of a comic book movie done right. Richard Donner’s superhero epic set the standard for how modern day films of this ilk could operate. Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor is a legendary portrayal of the DC Comics villain. Through an effortless balance of heroism, physical power, humor and heart, Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of Kal-El remains as iconic as ever.
Rian Johnson’s sci-fi thriller explores a future where time travel exists. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a hitman who waits in the past for the mob to send him targets to eliminate. Things get complicated when his future self, played by Bruce Willis, is sent back in time for him to kill. Twisty smart writing, solid performances and savvy filmmaking make this movie a thoroughly entertaining ride.
