The 17 Best Sci-Fi Movies on Amazon Prime and Hulu
Aliens, robots, starships: Just some of the reasons we love sci-fi. Here are the genre's best offerings on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
'Arrival' (2016)
On Amazon Prime and Hulu Alien invasion movies don't all have to be about carnage and spectacle. In the case of "Arrival," the emphasis is on bridging the seemingly impossible language barrier between humanity and their new alien neighbors. It's a smartly crafted movie about the need for communication and the perception of time.
'The Terminator' (1984)
On Hulu The tech got fancier in the second film, but there's nothing like James Cameron's franchise-launching first film about an unstoppable killing machine from the future. (That's all he does!)
'RoboCop' (1987)
On Hulu "Dead or alive, you are coming with me." We love this now-retro vision of the future, and its savage social satire. "I'd buy that for a dollar!'
'Children of Men' (2006)
On Amazon Prime Alfonso Cuaron has so far given us two absolute science fiction masterpieces. This 2006 drama presents a bleak look at society in a time when infertility is the new norm and a war breaks out when it's discovered that a new baby has finally been born.
'Galaxy Quest' (1999)
On Hulu This hilarious send-up of sci-fi shows like "Star Trek" remains one of the funniest movies we've ever seen. By Grabthar's Hammer, we can watch this one any time. (Even if it makes us tear up a little when we see Alan Rickman.)
'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai' (1984)
On Amazon Prime and Hulu If you haven't discovered this cult film starring RoboCop Peter Weller as a rock-star/brain-surgeon/adventurer, get on that right now! Plus, Jeff Goldblum as a cowboy!
'A.I. Artifical Intelligence' (2001)
On Hulu Love it or hate it, Steven Spielberg brought the late Stanley Kubrick's project about a world with A.I. kids (and gigolos!) to brilliant life.
'The Last Man on Earth' (1964)
On Amazon Prime Horror legend Vincent Price stars in the first adaptation of "I Am Legend" as the last non-mutated man on earth. A must for sci-fi and horror fans alike.
'Frequency' (2000)
On Amazon Prime A cop (Jim Caviezel) finds himself talking to his soon-to-be-dead firefighter dad (Dennis Quaid) on the radio, 30 years ago! Can they change the past to prevent tragedy? You betcha!
'Things to Come' (1936)
On Amazon Prime If only we were living in the glamorous, high-style vision of the future in films from the '30s. This British classic is based on a story by H.G. Wells and is often cited as "a landmark in cinematic design."
'The Host' (2006)
On Hulu "Snowpiercer" director Bong Joon-ho brings us a mutated river monster that devastates South Korea.
'Signs' (2002)
On Hulu A series of mysterious crop circles are just the first unnerving sign in M. Night Shyamalan's eerie alien invasion film. (Yeah, that ending sucks. But the pantry scene still makes us jump.)
'Grabbers' (2012)
On Hulu An Irish town learns that the only way to not be eaten by tentacled sea monsters is by staying drunk in this horror comedy in the vein of "Tremors."
'Evolution' (2001)
On Amazon Prime "Ghostbusters" director Ivan Reitman sends David Duchovny and crew to grapple with aliens in this underrated comedy.
'Monsters' (2010)
On Hulu Unfriendly aliens make all of Mexico a dangerous "Infected Zone" in the first feature from "Godzilla" and "Rogue One" director Gareth Edwards.
'Starship Troopers' (1997)
On Amazon Prime and Hulu Critics and audiences weren't overly fond of this adaptation in 1997, dismissing it as mindless shoot-em-up entertainment. But over time, "Starship Troopers" has built up a respectable cult following as fans have learned to appreciate its subversive, satirical qualities.
'Colossal' (2017)
On Hulu Anne Hathaway, who happens to be a blackout drunk, finds she's mysteriously connected to a creature trashing cities on the other side of the world in this underrated indie.