In every way, science fiction has given rise to some of cinema’s most audacious and magnificent flights. The genre, which is sometimes patronised as “kids’ crap,” aims to look beyond the localism of most realist theatre in order to view other worlds and other existences. Sci-fi may have sprung from the seemingly endless possibilities of cinema. Today we will rank underrated top 10 sci-fi movies that are currently streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max. We can all say that sci-fi is our favourite genre because it takes us to places beyond our wildest imagination. So, Let’s get into it.
10. Lucid Dream
It is a south Korean sci-fi film written and directed by Kim Joon-sung. The story centers on Dae-ho, a smart journalist and single father who has sparked a few rivalries by outing various dishonest politicians and businesses. One day his son gets kidnapped without any demand for money.
Dae-ho thinks one of the enemies he revealed is retaliating. He enlists the aid of an investigator and a doctor friend to help him reconstruct his memories of the incident using lucid dreaming techniques as he looks for his son who mysteriously vanished. which will allow him to determine who the main kidnapping culprit is. The idea is somewhat similar to Inception but this film also contains deep emotional elements on top of a great story. It has a 6.1 rating on IMDb.
Watch: Lucid Dream | Netflix Official Site
9. Aniara
It is a sci-fi movie directed by Pella Kagerman and Hugo Lilja. The film is set in a dark future in which global warming has devastated earth and driven a mass exodus to Mars. The main plot begins during the first week of Aniara’s journey when the spacecraft rapidly changes course to avoid colliding with floating debris. However, in spite of their best attempts, part of the debris enters the ship and smashes the nuclear reactor, resulting in an eventual meltdown and forcing the crew to evacuate the entire ship’s cargo.
As a result, the ship is consequently left without any power to move quickly or navigate. Which makes it impossible for it to turn towards its original path. The captain tells the crew and passengers that they can resume their voyage to Mars when the spaceship crosses a planetary system in order to prevent complete catastrophe. Fans of science fiction should watch this film at least once, despite the story’s shortcomings. It is a dystopian science fiction movie that will get you thinking. It shows how slowly people deteriorate as their world falls apart. The movie has a 6.2 rating on IMDb and a 63 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
8. Black Box
It is a 2020 sci-fi horror film directed by Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr. The story centres on Nolan, a father who is suffering from emotional pain. He lost his wife and memories in a horrible tragedy. However, when Nolan participates in a clinical therapy intended to help him regain his memories, he learns a potentially horrific truth that he might not be ready to face, which worsens his already terrible situation.
In order to go deeper and learn more about his fuzzy memories he seeks the assistance of Lillian who appears to be a psychiatrist. In general, Black Box moves closer to the territory of the psychological thriller. While supporting its story with elements of science fiction and horror it also offers some wicked creativity to its iterations of the Momento movie. So, if you love Memento then you’ll enjoy this one too. The movie has a 6.2 rating on IMDb and a 65 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
7. Idiocracy
It is a sci-fi comedy movie directed by Mike Judge. The movie follows Joe Bauers, a U.S. Army historian. Joe together with a woman by the name of Rita participates in a top-secret cryogenic experiment but when the experiment goes horribly wrong things spiral out of control. The sleeping pair is abandoned when the facility where they are kept shuts down and they are left in hibernation until 2505.
Surprisingly when Joe and Rita waken in the year 2505 on a dystopian earth, they learned that the average intelligence of humans has fallen so much that joe is now the most intelligent person on the planet. Idiocracy is a social commentary that tackles subjects such as corporate greed and anti-intellectualism. Movie is hilarious and fun to watch in every way. It has a adventurous story and a wonderful acting that makes you laugh. Movie has a 6.5 rating on IMDb and a 60 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
6. The Girl with All the Gifts
It is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror film directed by Colm McCarthy. In the universe of the novel, practically everyone has been transformed into mindless flesh-eating monsters by some strange disease. Mankind’s only solution is a small group of mutant kids who thirst for flesh but still have some control over psychological and emotional abilities. The kids go to a rural British army outpost school where Dr. Caroline Caldwell abuses them to torturous experiments. The main plot is around a researcher and a professor who discover a girl named Melanie, who appears to be invincible to the infection.
When the station is ambushed the three manage to escape with the help of Sergeant Eddie Parks. From that moment their dangerous survival adventure starts during which Melanie try to deal with who she is. It is not a typical zombie movie but it is truly portray a very original and sci-fi infused take on the zombie tale. And a mind-blowing climax that will surprise you. The movie has a 6.6 rating on IMDb and a 67 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
5. The Vast of Night
It is a sci-fi mystery film directed by Andrew Patterson. The plot is set in 1950s New Mexico and is partially based on the Kecksburg alien encounter and the disappearances at Foss Lake. The movie follows teenage radio disc jockey Everett Sloan and switchboard operator Fay Crocker as they stumble upon a puzzling audio signal that might have otherworldly connections.
In their quest to find the origin of a strange signal that has landed on their community they eventually discover more than they had anticipated which might transform the world permanently. The storyline moves slowly but is well worth seeing. It is a kind of origin story that makes our curiosity about alien intelligence feel normal and it is not your typical sci-fi film with insane action. It is a high concept sci-fi story that starts slowly but quickly picks up pace and keeps you amazed and the movie has a 6.7 rating on IMDb and a 66 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
It is a sci-fi comedy movie directed by Garth Jennings. The story Centers around Arthur Dent whose house has been marked for deconstruction to make way for a new road. However, it turns out that the planet earth has also been designated for destruction in order to make place for a new cosmic access road.
Fortunately, his buddy Ford Prefect rescues him and takes him into space and it turns out that Ford is an Extraterrestrial from a little planet close to Betelgeuse. Who has long known that the earth is dying. Together they succeed in making their way out discovering the real story behind the world. You must add it to your watch list it’s a great sci-fi adventure movie that will keep you entertained. The movie has a 6.7 rating on IMDb and a 65 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. Chronicle
It is a sci-fi action movie directed by Josh Trank. The plot revolves around Andrew an unconfident shy youngster, who utilizes a video camera as a method of escape and creativity. However, all starts to change when Andrew, his cousin Matt and attractive colleague Steve find a strange artifact in the tunnel. That grants them amazing superhuman abilities. Soon after they begin to manage their newly found powers with Andrew emerging as the strongest.
They initially utilize their new abilities for fun and financial benefit. But as their powers grow in strength their lives get out of control and evil sides take charge. Overall, it’s a breath of fresh air in terms of the uniqueness. It is a thrilling action-packed story that has a terrific beginning and conclusion. Its middle part keeps viewers hooked. It’s a must-see for sci-fi fans. The movie has a 7 rating on IMDb and a 71 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. Mirage
It is a Spanish sci-fi mystery movie directed by Oriol Paulo. The plot centres on Vera Roy a woman who unintentionally finds a method for contacting a youngster named Nico, who lives 25 years back in time. After assisting Nico and avoiding his own tragic demise Vera learns that her own reality and time frame have been massively affected. Where her kid no longer exists and her hubby David is now wed to someone else. Vera tries to correct her mistake. She is desperately looking for a solution to get back everything she lost and make things to how they were before.
It is a time-traveling story that amazes its viewers with its fresh concept. Overall, it’s a mind-blowing movie that exceed all expectations and sends you on a roller coaster journey full of twists and turns. And provides a flawlessly satisfying climax where everything fits into its proper place. The movie has a 7.4 rating on IMDb and a 74 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch: Mirage 2018 | Netflix Official Site
1. Moon
It is a sci-fi drama movie directed by Duncan Jones. The story revolves around astronaut Sam Bell, his three-year assignment to the moon base is almost completed. He is eager to meet his family again. But Sam’s health unexpectedly declines, he experiences severe intense seizures and nightmares. He suffers a fatal crash in which he meets a carbon copy of himself, probably a duplicate. Now that the clock is ticking Sam must solve the puzzle before the company team comes and solve the mystery of his look alike.
It is the most underrated sci-fi movie on this list. Very few people have spoken about it and it deserves better attention. It’s a great suspenseful sci-fi movie that will make you smile and give you shocks with some major twists that are full of suspense to keep you focused and guessing. The movie has a 7.8 rating on IMDb and an 89 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
| Movies | Director | Release Year | |
| 10. | Lucid Dream | Kim Joon-sung | 2017 |
| 9. | Aniara | Pella Kagerman and Hugo Lilja | 2018 |
| 8. | Black Box | Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr. | 2020 |
| 7. | Idiocracy | Mike Judge | 2006 |
| 6. | The Girl with All the Gifts | Colm McCarthy | 2016 |
| 5. | The Vast of Night | Andrew Patterson | 2019 |
| 4. | The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy | Garth Jennings | 2005 |
| 3. | Chronicle | Josh Trank | 2012 |
| 2. | Mirage | Oriol Paulo | 2018 |
| 1. | Moon | Duncan Jones | 2009 |