As Netflix continues to grow and become one of the most prominent distributors of original filmmaking in the modern era, they find themselves releasing a wide array of dynamic and effective films in nearly every genre imaginable. One specific genre that they have continuously managed to find success with is the genre of sci-fi, utilizing both high-budget and low-budget storytelling alike to create mystifying and effective stories that make the most of technology, space, and nearly every other sci-fi concept out there.
Much like the other genres that Netflix has explored throughout their original content, there is a wide variety of different types of stories being told, ranging from high-end award-winning films by acclaimed filmmakers to engaging, blockbuster spectacles. Sci-fi as a genre has always been about the inherent creativity and worldbuilding that can come from advanced, technological concepts, with these Netflix films easily being some of the most prominent and effective modern sci-fi films.
10
‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)
Directed by Adam McKay
Adam McKay‘s more recent works have often found an effective balance between the goofy, comedic antics of his early work with a distinct and effective political commentary and messaging relevant to modern times. These most directly go hand in hand with his apocalyptic sci-fi satire, Don’t Look Up, which effectively captures the chaos and vengeful mindset of living in modern times with disaster always looming. The climate change subtext is far from subtle, but it’s exactly the type of brash, unwavering messaging that gives McKay’s filmmaking such a distinct flavor.
The film follows a duo of astronomers who make the shocking discovery of a comet that is on course to collide with Earth and end all life as it is known. However, despite their best efforts to get the word out and warn people of the incoming apocalyptic event, it seems that everyone is either disinterested or too distracted to care about the end of the world. The film’s aggressive satire made massive waves when it was released, helping Don’t Look Up become one of the most successful Netflix films and earning an array of Academy Award nominations.
9
‘Project Power’ (2020)
Directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost
Considering the massive wave in popularity that superhero stories have had in the world of film throughout the 21st century, it only makes sense that there would be original, grittier takes on the concept in response to the trend. Project Power proves to be one of the most distinct and creative in this subgenre of subversive superhero stories, following a world that is being crippled by a dangerous drug that gives people temporary superpowers.
While the concept is interesting enough to garner attention as a grounded blockbuster experience, the real staying power and effectiveness of Project Power come from both the filmmaking on display and the electrifying star power of Jamie Foxx. Directing duo Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost provide a sense of personality and flair to the world of Project Power that not only amplifies the creative superpowers but also shows the darker, grittier side of superpowers in a real-world setting. Foxx is also a major benefit of the film, having enough charm and screen presence to elevate the entire film on his back.
8
‘Ultraman: Rising’ (2024)
Directed by Shannon Tindle
One of many visually enchanting stylized animated movies to crop up following the success of films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Ultraman: Rising acts as a modern, animated evolution of the classic Japanese superhero. The film follows a professional baseball player returning home to Japan out of obligation to pick up the mantle of Ultraman from his father, protecting Japan from kaiju when nobody else can. However, his new duties as a superhero end up taking a turn when he is imprinted on by a baby kaiju, now reluctantly raising it as a father.
While the animation is certainly beautiful and perfectly captures the alluring nature and excitement of Ultraman as a character, it’s the dynamic story and familial parallels that give the film an edge as one of the most effective Ultraman films to date. It’s one of many exceptionally well-crafted animated films that Netflix has played a part in creating, with the platform continuing to be a hub for well-made feature-length films of the modern era.
7
‘Oxygen’ (2021)
Directed by Alexandre Aja
A French bottle movie that makes maximum impact off of its inherent mystery and claustrophobic setting, Oxygen has an uncanny ability to get audiences hooked on its thrills and various twists and turns. The film follows a woman (Mélanie Laurent) as she wakes up in a cryogenic chamber with no recollection of who she is or how she got there. However, she soon finds herself in a race against the clock as she attempts to find a way out of the chamber before running out of air.
Oxygen makes sure to utilize every aspect of its cramped, enclosed space to make for the most effective cinematic experience imaginable, from the constant mystery of the situation at hand. While this type of enclosed space thriller has certainly found success in the past, the sci-fi twist and styling over the experience does a great deal in terms of elevating the film as its own individual experience. Laurent herself also gives a committed lead performance whose mixture of fear and determination serves as the crux and focal point for the entire film.
6
‘Spaceman’ (2024)
Directed by Johan Renck
While it’s relatively rare to see Adam Sandler taking part in a film that isn’t purely a comedy, Spaceman is one such exception that makes the most out of the comedian’s undeniable acting talents. The film sees Sandler as a lonely Czech astronaut six months deep into a solo space mission investigating a mysterious cloud of dust and particles just beyond Jupiter. However, he is soon forced to face his loneliness and the cracks in his marriage head-on when he begins interacting with a spider-like creature with telepathic abilities aboard his ship.
More than simply a wild sci-fi adventure that sees Sandler as an astronaut traveling across space, Spaceman instead tackles the approach and concepts of the vast reaches of outer space, compounding already existing loneliness and depression. For a film that is filled with sci-fi iconography and entirely takes place in space, a large chunk of what makes the film so beautiful is its human element, with Sandler tapping into his humanistic tendencies perfectly in the film.
5
‘It’s What’s Inside’ (2024)
Directed by Greg Jardin
The body swap concept is one that has been widely explored both in and outside the sci-fi genre, yet the implementation of the concept in a cliquey, toxic modern-day friend group is exactly what makes It’s What’s Inside so compelling and dynamic. The film follows a long-lasting friend group reuniting for the first time in years for a wedding, spending the night before the wedding partying before using a strange machine that allows them to swap bodies. While initially used for a fun party game, it doesn’t take long before insecurities and secrets derail the entire night.
It’s What’s Inside finds a great balance between slow-building twists, a wide array of dynamic and intricate characters, and a fine-tuned classic premise to make the absolute most out of these conflicting and toxic personalities. It has just enough of a sci-fi twist to things to make it feel both grounded in reality and wondrous in its execution, creating a sense where audiences are second-guessing what will happen next.
4
‘Space Sweepers’ (2021)
Directed by Jo Sung-hee
A low-budget space western film from South Korea, Space Sweepers shows how, even with a relatively smaller budget compared to other high-concept and effect-focused films, a strong enough vision and execution can go a long way. The film takes place in the futuristic year of 2092, following a team of space junk collectors finding themselves in an unexpected predicament when they discover a humanoid robot named Dorothy. They soon realize that not only is Dorothy a weapon of mass destruction, but by finding her, the collectors have placed themselves in the center of a highly dangerous business deal.
Nearly every dollar of Space Sweepers’ limited $21.2 million budget is dedicated to making the film feel as beautifully compelling and dynamic as possible, seamlessly bringing its world and characters to life in the process. Much like other recent South Korean projects that found audiences across the world, the film is very sharp and direct with its criticism of capitalistic ideals, utilizing its glamorous sci-fi setting to amplify these messages further.
3
‘Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood’ (2021)
Directed by Richard Linklater
While director Richard Linklater is most commonly recognized for his critically acclaimed comedies over sci-fi films, he occasionally dabbles in the world of animated sci-fi films, with Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood perfectly utilizing the director’s humanistic talents. The film follows a man reminiscing and narrating stories of his life living as a 10-year-old in 1969 Houston, weaving together his nostalgic memories of the era with a fantastic story of how he was asked to go to the moon before the famed Apollo 11 team.
The film has an uncanny ability to have the audience feel a deep-rooted nostalgia and comfort for the time period that it presents, even if they have never experienced this specific era in American history. It’s a loving letter to suburban culture and childhood as a whole, with a fantastical view of the world and an important look at the optimism that was felt in the lead-up to and during the famed moon landing. It shares a fair bit in common visually with Linklater’s other animated sci-fi film, A Scanner Darkly, yet this film is much more in touch with Linklater’s specific blend of human stories seen in his live-action works.
2
‘They Cloned Tyrone’ (2023)
Directed by Juel Taylor
Taking a stylized, modern spin on a classic sci-fi concept, They Cloned Tyrone completely reinvents the very notions of a clone story to make for an instantly engaging and highly entertaining sci-fi comedy. The film sees an unsuspecting trio consisting of a drug dealer, one of his customers, and a sex worker uncovering a confusing conspiracy that is impacting their entire town. They soon find a strange underground cloning facility underneath the town as they attempt to get to the bottom of why the clones are being made and the true nature of their city.
The concepts and alluring nature of its story are fun enough to make for an entertaining film, yet it’s all in the stylistic execution and top-notch cast that gives They Cloned Tyrone its edge among other sci-fi comedies. The film fully leans into the most comedic and over-the-top prospects of its plot while still honing in on its distinct social messaging, eventually transforming into a chaotic, over-the-top satire.
1
‘Okja’ (2017)
Directed by Bong Joon-ho
Considering just how much Bong Joon-ho has become a massively acclaimed household name through both his best-picture-winning Parasite and recent sci-fi blockbuster Mickey 17, many forget about the director’s previous sci-fi adventure, Okja. The film follows a young girl who, after befriending a massive super pig named Okja, decides to risk everything in order to prevent a powerful company from kidnapping Okja for their own nefarious and personal schemes.
The film is relatively similar to his other acclaimed works, mixing raw emotion and anti-capitalist theming together to make for a highly entertaining and dynamic experience. The film effectively combines science fiction and fantasy to make for an experience largely elevated by its connections to the human spirit. While the film is among the most overlooked when it comes to Bong’s cinematic outings, it is filled to the brim with enough sci-fi charm to make it a must-watch for any and all Netflix users.
