Sci-fi has the capability of taking cinema to a whole new scale, especially when the films are backed by one of the most popular streaming services. Netflix has been lauded for having a platform where even the weirdest of science fiction films can be distributed for audiences all over the world, and while some may flop, there are plenty of success stories on the streaming service.
Here, we will look back at some of the best sci-fi films to be distributed on the platform, looking at brief plot details and speaking on how well the films were received by audiences. All data collected for the article is from second-hand information due to Netflix’s policy of not releasing first-hand data on their programming.
‘Project Power’ (2020)
In a near-future New Orleans, a mysterious pill called “Power” hits the streets, and for five minutes, it grants users unpredictable superhuman strength. They get bulletproof skin, invisibility, or explosive strength, but the catch is that the users don’t know what they’ll get until they take the pill. The story centers on three allies: a former soldier named Art, a cop with a knack for bending the rules, and Robin, a teenage dealer with dreams bigger than her zip code.
Superpowers But Make It Gritty
Project Power is a captivating thriller that flips the superhero genre by trading capes and destiny for street-level stakes, moral gray zones, and a raw take on power and exploitation. The direction by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman keeps things moving at a slick pace, while the performances, from Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Dominique Fishback are chaotic and layered at the same time.
‘They Cloned Tyrone’ (2023)
In They Cloned Tyrone, Fontaine is a drug dealer in a rundown neighborhood called The Glen. But when he’s shot dead, he wakes up the next morning like nothing has happened. Teaming up with the flamboyant pimp Slick Charles and the razor-sharp sex worker Yo-Yo, Fontaine stumbles into a deadly conspiracy involving mind control and underground labs.
Sci-Fi with a Subversive Twist
A subversive sci-fi movie that combines elements of buddy comedy and social commentary, it’s a genre cocktail that shouldn’t ideally work, but it absolutely does. Juel Taylor’s directorial debut is bold, weird, and wildly entertaining, but it’s the chemistry between John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris that makes the film’s commentary on systematic control hit hard without losing a shred of humor.
‘See You Yesterday’ (2019)
Eden Duncan-Smith and Danté Crichlow star in See You Yesterday as C.J. Walker and Sebastian Thomas, two Brooklyn teens and science prodigies who have built functioning time machines out of modified backpacks. Their invention is meant to be a stepping stone in academia, but everything changes when C.J.’s brother is killed, and he’s so struck by the grief that he uses the time machine to try and undo the event.
Poignant and Powerful
Time travel and messing with the past have long led to the most unforgettable stories in cinema. See You Yesterday is a compact, emotionally charged sci-fi drama that punches above its weight by combining speculative fiction with social realism. But because the concept and execution is so clever, it comes out victorious. With nods to Back to the Future (including a cameo by Michael J. Fox), the movie has rewritten sci-fi history.
‘It’s What’s Inside’ (2024)
Eight years after college, a group of estranged friends reunites for a pre-wedding party at a remote house. The vibe is nostalgic until Forbes, the rich genius of the group, shows up with a suitcase containing a body-swapping device. What starts as a quirky party game turns into chaos as identities blur, secrets surface, and past grudges see present light.
Netflix’s Most Cerebral Recent Entry
It’s What’s Inside was a huge hit on Netflix when it first premiered in 2024, and the reason is that it’s a mind trip. A mix of body horror and tech paranoia, it may start at an unassuming tone, with a simple reunion, but it takes little time to transform into a psychological battleground. It’s like Coherence meeting Black Mirror, and it’s all kinds of unsettling.
‘Space Sweepers’ (2021)
Space Sweepers takes place in the year 2092, and it follows a ragtag crew consisting of Tae-ho, Captain Jang, Tiger Park, and the android Bubs. With the Earth dying and the elite settled into orbit, they are aboard the spaceship Victory, and their job is to scavenge space junk and survive. When the crew discovers Dorothy, a humanoid child that could be a weapon of mass destruction, they’re thrust into a bigger battle.
A Scrappy Underdog Sci-Fi
South Korea’s first space blockbuster, Space Sweepers is a visual feast. Directed by Jo Sung-hee and led by Song Joong-ki and Kim Tae-ri’s compelling performances, it’s got a lot going for itself. There is high-stakes action, the world-building is rich, the effects are surprisingly rich, and the story, while familiar, feels fresh thanks to its character-driven approach.
‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)
Featuring an all-star cast, Don’t Look Up focuses on the apocalypse, with humanity facing a comet that is en route to impact Earth and cause an extinction event. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) must work together to convince the public that urgent action is needed to save the world. Unfortunately, corporate greed will take effect, with capitalists like Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance) convincing the President (Meryl Streep) to focus efforts on mining the comet for resources and selling them off.
It’s Not Subtle, and That’s the Point
A comedic take on the world’s humanity versus corporate greed would ensue, including satirical takes on media coverage, something news outlets didn’t take kindly to. Adam McKay’s direction makes full use of the absurdity of the plot, turning a disaster movie into a scathing critique. DiCaprio and Lawrence ground the chaos, while Streep and Jonah Hill steal scenes as cartoonish political figures.
‘Spiderhead’ (2022)
Spiderhead focuses on a prison facility for inmates looking to reduce their sentences by participating in various drug tests. With Jeff (Miles Teller) serving as the main character, we see his interactions with Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth) as Steve administers multiple drugs, such as a love, fear, and obedience drug.
Tech-Driven Sci-Fi With a Human Core
As the film reaches its conclusion, audiences are clued in that Steve is not actually an underling, but the head of a pharmaceutical company with the goal of developing a drug that will force someone to act against the very thing or person they love. This take on the psychological thriller and the science behind it enraptured audiences because while it may be science fiction today, there is a very real possibility that such a future could come soon.
‘The Adam Project’ (2022)
Taking a look at the craziness of time travel, Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) of the year 2050 sets out on a journey to save his wife, who had been killed while traveling to the year 2018. Crash-landing in 2022, Adam meets his younger self (Walker Scobell), and the duo must survive being hunted by 2050 corporate powerhouse Maya Sorian (Catherine Keener).
Complex Enough to be Intriguing
The Adam Project received high marks from critics, with some even comparing the film favorably to the sci-fi classic, Back to the Future. Samba TV, a company focused on offering real-time insight and analytics, would state that over 384,000 homes watched the film over the first three days of its release. But beyond the stats, it’s the fact that the movie is not trying to be groundbreaking, just fun, is what makes it an ideal weekend watch for sci-fi fans.
‘I Am Mother’ (2019)
Jumping forward to a lonely future, I Am Mother offers a look at what steps had to be taken to see humanity thrive where it once failed. Featuring a robot designated Mother (Luke Hawker providing the body, Rose Byrne providing the voice) who is in charge of raising children from embryos, audiences would get to witness Mother raising Daughter (Clara Ruggard) and preparing her for a test that determines if she is ready for the outside world. After encounters with a living human being from outside, Daughter learns that Mother had caused the extinction-level event that wiped out humanity, and is forced to make a grave decision.
A Compelling Genre Entry
I Am Mother is a slow-burning thriller that thrives on tension and ambiguity. Directed by Grant Sputore, it boasts a sterile but haunting atmosphere where every interaction feels loaded. The robot design is believable enough, and Byrne’s voice work is equal parts warm and menacing. Quite thought-provoking, the movie asks big questions about trust, creation, and autonomy.
‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ (2018)
This film serves to drive speculation and more fan theories about where the monsters from Cloverfield (2008) come from, as well as captures the attention of fans who are into the cosmic horrors of space, as this film follows scientists working in space to test a new particle accelerator that sends the team into an alternate reality, which only leads them to facing strange phenomena.
Not Perfect, But a Fascinating One
Facing one of the most hyped-up releases, with a Super Bowl advertisement announcing that the film would release on Netflix as soon as the eponymous football game concluded, The Cloverfield Paradox breaks the mold of the franchise by skipping a theatrical release altogether and introducing a new take on the monster franchise directly to Netflix. Directed by Julius Onah, it is packed with eerie visuals and unsettling twists and logic that spirals without warning.