The best sci-fi movies on Netflix in December 2022
Let’s be honest: Talking about the best sci-fi movies on Netflix is like promoting “the best affordable apartments in New York City.” Netflix Filled with plenty of good and great shows and movies, but finding great sci-fi movies on the service — at least for now — isn’t easy.
That being said, we’ve got 10 sci-fi movies you can stream on Netflix right now, and we say this while doing our best not to confuse sci-fi with fantasy. Some of these movies may have less sci-fi elements than others – they can’t all be Star Trek – but they each fit the bill in their own way. And to help you filter it further, we’ve included Rotten Tomatoes critics’ ratings scores. We don’t think a review aggregator site is the ultimate arbiter of taste, but it can be helpful.
Also, we’ve put some of these movies at the top of this list because they’re about to leave, and we want to make sure you watch them while you still can. Here are the best sci-fi movies on Netflix, so watch while you still can!
The best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now
Elysium (2013)
In Elysium, science fiction is used to present a story about how class structures divide us, and it’s not hard to believe that director Neill Blomkamp thought the subtlety wasn’t right for this. In the year 2154, the rich are living on the Elysium space station, while the middle class and poor commoners are stuck in a miserable way on Earth, which has fallen into disrepair. This leads Max (Damon) to risk his entire life – which is already in danger – for a cause that can bring equality to humanity. Of course, the rich people above them really didn’t want to give up their superiority. Poorly compared to Blomkamp’s District 9, but still a solid flick, Elysium is one of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix. – but she is leaving soon on December 31st!
Rotten Tomatoes score: 64%
stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, William Fichtner
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Men in Black (1997)
For the second time in the same decade (hello, ID4), aliens have learned that you don’t mess with Will Smith. Men in Black saw James Darrell Edwards III (Smith) become “J” as he learned of a secret organization that has kept life on our planet going, keeping alien life secret. Agent K (Jones), his guide to this world, has a world of experience he’s not eager to divulge. Packed with aliens of all shapes and sizes, this innovative film is packed with fantastic CGI, unforgettable extraterrestrials and an impressive cast. But just like heaven, we have to warn you Men In Black will be leaving soon on December 31st!
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D’Onofrio, Rip Torn
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Star Trek (2009)
One of the best examples of how great reboots can be, JJ Abrams’ Star Trek dropped an excellent cast in long-loved roles. Part of her charm comes from seeing a young James T. You may know this character better from the William Shatner version, but Pine’s youthful confidence fits the character perfectly. Even better, Zachary Quinto’s Spock is an excellent chip. Backed by a strong script that begins with a poignant emotional beat, the only problem with Star Trek is that its sequels haven’t quite lived up to expectations. Having said that, again, watch it now! Star Trek will soon be leaving on December 31st!
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana
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The Platform (2020)
A sci-fi movie where the futuristic elements are more simple and subtle, The Platform is a dystopian horror movie where prisons are made less human. The food is distributed via a large floating platform that descends through a series of cells stacked on top of each other. Two people share each cell, and the system is so broken that the prisoners on the lower levels – who get food last – are driven to risk everything. The platform looks like what might have happened if this Black Mirror episode had been more disappointing.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%
stars: Evan Massage, Anthony St. John, Zurion Iguilor, Emily Boal. Alexandra Breakfast
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Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Science fiction and superheroes don’t often go together in the same sentence, but Spider-Man 2 is our pick for one of the best science fiction movies on Netflix for good reason. The teacher-student relationship built between supervillain Otto Octavius (Molina) and Peter Parker (Maguire) is perfect, as is how it twists and turns when Otto turns evil. But it’s not all science, because Mr. Parker’s decision as to whether or not to leave the spider suit in the trash can create stunningly emotional moments, like the speech given by his Aunt May (Harris).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris
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Mitchell vs. the Machines (2021)
So far, this list has given people some movies that families can watch together, but few that feel like families. And that’s where the Netflix Original The Mitchells vs The Machines come to the rescue for parents and children everywhere. This family adventure begins with one last vacation before daughter Katie (Jacobson) goes off to college, which comes as a surprise to Katie, as her father (McBride) decides the family needs a vacation. And he’s tired of all the tech his kids fill their eyes with. Then, Abi’s fears are realized, with the rise of a race of super-powered robots. Only by working together can the Mitchells beat the machines.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
stars: Abi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Ryanda, Eric Andre, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen
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The End of Evangelion (1997)
Warning: This is not something to watch with children. However: Step into Eva, Shinji, it’s time to see the final chapter of Evangelion, the series in which kids pilot giant mechs they’re not emotionally prepared to operate. Yes, you’ll want to watch the series first – don’t worry, it’s on Netflix – but once you’re ready, you’ll want to catch up on the latest adventures of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots. End of Evangelion was a massive success at the box office and on home video, and also garnered much critical praise for its blend of action and surrealism. It also generated controversy with its sexual content, especially as it is one scene early on.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
stars: Megumi Ogata, Casey Mongilo, Kotono Mitsuishi, Kari Kiranen, Megumi Hayashibara, Ryan Bartley, Yoko Miyamura, Stephanie McCune
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A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Entire articles have been written about whether or not A Clockwork Orange is science fiction. Most of the movie, as you’ll see, revolves around young serial killer Alex (McDowell) and his fellow gang members called “Drouge.” But when Alex finds himself in prison, undergoing an aversion therapy called The Ludovico Technique, we find the movie’s defining piece of the science of meditation – also known as science fiction. Exposed to videos breaking his violent tendencies, Alex leaves a changed man – and a less capable one because of it. One of director Stanley Kubrick’s finest works, A Clockwork Orange is a daring film in part because Ludovico’s technique never seems so far-fetched.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
stars: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Adrienne Curie, Miriam Carlin
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Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Similar to A Clockwork Orange, Sorry to Bother You might be seen more as “a-list surrealism” than science fiction. At first, the only thing unnatural about Sorry to Bother You is its penchant for breaking the fourth wall, and how Cassius Green’s (Stanfield) voice morphs into David Cross’s voice when he’s doing his thing. What is Cassius’ job? Well, in need of money, Cassius becomes a telemarketer, influencing the White Voice in order to get things done. Strange, but not science fiction. Well, things change when Cash finds out how WorryFree managed to find the workers. A lot of people might call this mind-bending moment a lot of things, but science fiction fits right in. Furthermore, Sorry to Bother You also earns a spot on this list because it’s quite the achievement for first-time director Potts Reilly. How many people reach for a fun, well-acted movie filled with an energetic soundtrack? Sorry to Bother You, it’s more than just one of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix, it’s also a great movie. For more laughs, check out our list The best comedies on Netflix.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
stars: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Patton Oswalt, David Cross
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Don’t search (2021)
Some would call Don’t Look Up – a comedy about the world’s farcical response to a planet-threatening crisis that looks similar to climate change so far – more science than fiction. Either way, this comedy group proved popular when it was brought to Netflix, drawing targets on everyone’s back, highlighting how complicit everyone is. Things get even stranger, however, when a billionaire decides that we can’t destroy the comet heading for Earth, because it can be mined for trillions of dollars worth of rare elements. So, he uses an unproven technique to split a comet into pieces, which supposedly won’t be destructive once it enters our orbit, some find its humor witty and others see it as deceptive, Don’t Look Up is the kind of sci-fi news callers might want to watch .
Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%
stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep
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