Science fiction movies cover a lot of ground. A single list can include a haunted spaceship, a stranded botanist on Mars and a laundromat owner who bounces between universes. This guide ranks 10 films and one trilogy that show what the genre can do, then sorts them by what you might be in the mood for.
It also covers the watch orders people search for most: Alien, Planet of the Apes, Dune and Blade Runner. Near the end, you will find what is new in 2026.
Quick answer: the best sci fi movies on this list are Alien, Mad Max: Fury Road, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Inception, Gravity, The Martian, the modern Planet of the Apes trilogy, Godzilla Minus One, Upgrade, Extinction and War Machine. Alien earns the top spot because it has shaped sci fi horror for decades. Fury Road is the pick if you want pure momentum, and The Martian is the easiest one to recommend to someone who says they do not like science fiction.
How These Sci Fi Movies Were Ranked
Rankings are editorial opinion, not box office data or audience ratings. Release years, directors and cast details are factual. Each film was judged on four things:
- Ideas: does the premise say something worth thinking about?
- Craft: are the visuals and effects used with purpose?
- Rewatch value: does it hold up on a second viewing?
- Influence: did it change how later films were made?
The Best Sci Fi Movies, Ranked
Alien (1979)
Ridley Scott's Alien follows the crew of a commercial towing vessel who answer a distress signal and bring something lethal aboard. The film is slow on purpose. For most of its runtime you barely see the creature, and that restraint is why it still works. It is also one of the best sci fi horror movies ever made, and it sets the template for dozens of films that came after.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller's Fury Road is close to a single two hour chase across a wasteland. Tom Hardy plays Max, but Charlize Theron's Furiosa carries much of the story. The stunts rely heavily on practical effects, which gives the action a physical weight many big budget films lack. It is the best post apocalyptic movie on this list, and an easy recommendation for anyone who wants to start with something fast.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Wang, a tired small business owner pulled into a multiverse conflict while dealing with a tax audit and a strained relationship with her daughter. It looks like chaos, but underneath it is a family drama. It won Best Picture at the Oscars, which is rare for a genre film, and it is proof that popular sci fi movies can also be personal.
Inception (2010)
Nolan's heist thriller takes place inside dreams. Leonardo DiCaprio leads a team that plants an idea in a target's mind, and the rules of the dream world are explained clearly enough that the layered finale stays easy to follow. It is one of the most rewatched good sci fi movies from the last two decades, mostly because small details reward a second viewing.
Gravity (2013)
Gravity strands Sandra Bullock's Dr. Ryan Stone and George Clooney's Matt Kowalski in orbit after debris destroys their shuttle. The film runs under 100 minutes and rarely lets up. It is a survival story first and a science fiction movie second, but the setting and the technology put it firmly in the genre. Watch it on the biggest screen you can find.
The Martian (2015)
Matt Damon stars as astronaut Mark Watney, left behind on Mars and forced to grow food, fix equipment and find a way to contact Earth. It is based on Andy Weir's novel. The tone is hopeful and funny, and problem solving drives the plot rather than villains. If you want a sci fi film the whole family can sit through, start here.
Rise, Dawn and War for the Planet of the Apes (2011, 2014, 2017)
The modern trilogy follows Caesar, played through motion capture by Andy Serkis, from a lab in San Francisco to a full scale war between apes and humans. Rise was directed by Rupert Wyatt, and Matt Reeves directed Dawn and War. The three films work as one long story about leadership, trust and what a society owes its own. Together they are among the best science fiction movies of the 2010s.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
The film is set in Japan right after World War II. A failed kamikaze pilot returns home to a ruined country, and then Godzilla arrives. The monster scenes are huge, but the human story is what makes the film stand out. It won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, a notable result given its modest budget compared with Hollywood blockbusters.
Upgrade (2018)
Grey Trace, played by Logan Marshall-Green, is paralyzed in an attack and receives an experimental implant called STEM that lets him walk again. The implant has its own ideas. It is a low budget, high energy thriller with violent action and a sharp central twist, and it ranks among the best cyberpunk movies of recent years because of its tech noir feel and its focus on what automation costs a person.
Extinction (2018)
A Netflix original starring Michael Peña as an engineer haunted by nightmares of an invasion. When the invasion arrives, his family is caught in the middle. The first half builds dread well, and the second half changes direction in a way that divides viewers. It is worth watching without spoilers, especially if you are looking for sci fi movies on Netflix.
War Machine (2023)
Another Netflix original, starring Alan Ritchson as a soldier going through Army Ranger selection when a massive machine from space begins hunting his squad. It starts like a military drama and turns into an alien invasion story. It is a straightforward action movie with a clear hook, and a good pick when you want something simple.
Which Sci Fi Movie Should You Watch First?
| If you want | Watch |
|---|---|
| Tension and dread | Alien |
| Non stop action | Mad Max: Fury Road |
| Something emotional and strange | Everything Everywhere All at Once |
| A puzzle to unpack | Inception |
| A space survival story | Gravity or The Martian |
| A series to binge | Planet of the Apes trilogy |
| A monster film with real drama | Godzilla Minus One |
| Cyberpunk on a budget | Upgrade |
Best Sci Fi Movies by Subgenre
Best sci fi horror movies
Alien is the benchmark. Upgrade borrows from body horror, and Gravity uses its isolation to build real fear even though it has no monster.
Best post apocalyptic movies
Mad Max: Fury Road is the clear leader. The Planet of the Apes trilogy also fits, since it begins with a virus that devastates humanity and ends in a world rebuilt by someone else.
Best cyberpunk movies
Upgrade is the entry on this list. Blade Runner, covered below, is the film that defined the look of the genre.
Best sci fi movies on Netflix
War Machine and Extinction are both Netflix originals, so they are the safest bets for streaming on the platform.
Availability of every other film here depends on your country and changes regularly, so check the Netflix search bar before planning a movie night. For more picks, read our list of the best movies to watch on Netflix.
Classic and Old Sci Fi Movies Worth Seeking Out
Alien is the oldest film in the main ranking, but the genre goes back much further. If you enjoy older science fiction movies, the original Planet of the Apes (1968), Blade Runner (1982) and Lynch's Dune (1984) are the obvious next steps, and all three appear in the watch orders below. Older films can feel slower, so start with the one whose premise interests you most.
Planet of the Apes Movies in Order
The franchise has three separate continuities, so the order depends on how you want to watch.
- Planet of the Apes (1968)
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
- Planet of the Apes (2001), directed by Tim Burton
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), set generations after War
If you only want one path, watch the reboot films in release order. They tell a complete story and do not require the earlier movies.
Alien Movies in Chronological Order
The Alien films are easiest to watch in release order, but the in universe timeline is different. This is the story order for the main films, with the TV series placed where it fits:
- Prometheus (2012)
- Alien: Covenant (2017)
- Alien: Earth (TV series, set two years before Alien)
- Alien (1979)
- Alien: Romulus (2024), set between Alien and Aliens
- Aliens (1986)
- Alien 3 (1992)
- Alien Resurrection (1997)
Alien vs. Predator (2004) and its sequel are crossovers set in a separate timeframe. Most fans treat them as optional.
Dune Movies in Order
- Dune (1984), directed by David Lynch
- Dune (2021), directed by Denis Villeneuve, covering the first half of the novel
- Dune: Part Two (2024)
- Dune: Part Three, scheduled for December 18, 2026 and based on Dune Messiah
The Lynch film is a separate adaptation, not a prequel. Anyone starting fresh should begin with the 2021 film. HBO's series Dune: Prophecy is a prequel and is not required viewing for the movies.
Blade Runner Movies in Order
- Blade Runner (1982), directed by Ridley Scott
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017), directed by Denis Villeneuve
There are also shorts and animated projects set in the same world, but the two feature films tell the main story. Blade Runner exists in several cuts, and the Final Cut is the one most people recommend.
New Sci Fi Movies and Sci Fi Movies in 2026
Release schedules shift, so confirm dates in your local listings. Based on reported dates, these were the main science fiction titles for 2026:
Project Hail Mary
From Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. A teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory.
Disclosure Day
A new Spielberg science fiction film, with plot details kept mostly under wraps.
Dune: Part Three
Adapts Dune Messiah, set years after Part Two. Rewatch the first two films before it opens.
If you also follow superhero releases, see the latest Marvel announcements from SDCC 2026 and the Spider-Man: Brand New Day release date, cast and trailer details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best sci fi movie of all time?
There is no agreed answer. Alien, Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Inception come up most often in lists of the greatest sci fi movies of all time. This list puts Alien first for its influence and its lasting effect.
What are the best sci fi movies for beginners?
The Martian, Inception and Mad Max: Fury Road are all easy to follow and do not require knowledge of the genre.
What are the best sci fi movies on Netflix?
War Machine and Extinction are Netflix originals. Other titles rotate in and out depending on region.
In what order should I watch the Alien movies?
For a first watch, use release order starting with Alien (1979). To follow the story timeline, start with Prometheus.
In what order should I watch Planet of the Apes?
Watch the 2011 reboot trilogy in release order, then Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024). The original five films are a separate series.
Do I need to see the old Dune before the new ones?
No. Villeneuve's films are a fresh adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel and stand on their own.
What are the best cyberpunk movies?
Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 are the genre's defining films. Upgrade is a strong recent addition.
Which sci fi movies are best for a scary night?
Alien is the standard choice. Upgrade has body horror moments, and Gravity works if you prefer tension over gore.
Final Thoughts
Start with whatever matches your mood tonight, then follow the thread. If you like Alien, the franchise gives you a long watch order. If The Martian works for you, Project Hail Mary is the obvious follow up. Tell us which film you would move up or down the list, and if you want more to watch after this, browse our guide to the top Marvel and DC web series.
