There are a lot of streamers out there, and even with the glut of content and venues showing all of it,Paramount+has managed to stand out a bit. For one, the layout is easier to navigate than other streamers, and, two, like AppleTV+, it’s been consistent in releasing original content.
10The Iron Giant (1999)
The Iron Giant
Brad Bird’s phenomenal directorial debut,The Iron Giant, suffered an unfortunate fate at the box office but has nonetheless gone on togain a respectable fan base. Now that it’s on Paramount+, that fan base can expand. Here, a young boy befriends an enormous alien robot and must defend him from a government agent set on destroying him.
A BAFTA Winning Tale of Friendship
From the gorgeous classical animation to the note-perfect vocal performances,The Iron Giantis easily one of the best animated films from the 1990s. Whether it’s live-action or animated, Bird’s movie might just be the most touching work to come out of its respective decade. There’s an attention to character development inThe Iron Giantthat’s a cut above animated films of its era or any other. Not to mention, having Vin Diesel voice a mechanical titan was nothing short of a stroke of genius.
The 30 Best Sci-Fi Thrillers of All Time, Ranked
Science fiction has always been one of the most versatile genres in cinema. Here, you will find the best sci-fi movies with a strong thriller touch.
9Interstellar (2014)
Interstellar
Quite possibly Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious film to date,Interstellartells the story of a dying Earth and a people running out of hope. A star-studded epic,Interstellarisn’t quite the best product Nolan’s ever turned out, but it ranks mighty high. It’s also one that will make viewers think about their own lives and the meaning behind them.
Nolan’s Most Emotional Work
Matthew McConaughey is a natural under Nolan’s direction, and it’s a wonder they haven’t worked together since — there wasn’t anything inOppenheimerfor McConaughey? Really? But there are also incredible visuals, equally proficient supporting performances, and a strong sense of hope permeating throughout. Not to mention,the soundtrack is engrossingwhen it isn’t going just a bit too loud (or too soft).
8Arrival (2016)
A beautiful film and a major Oscar darling, Denis Villeneuve’sArrivalstands as one of the accomplisheddirector’s most revered accomplishments. Based on the equally impressive short story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang, the narrative tells a very new take on the alien invasion tale. Not to mention, it’s an unforgettable analysis of humans' difficulties in communicating with one another (especially if the other individual is from a different part of the world).
Amy Adams’s Career-Best Performance
All eight of the film’s Academy Award nominations were entirely deserved. Even for those who don’t usually focus on a film’s sound, they’ll remember every corner ofArrival’s soundtrack. Furthermore, it includes Amy Adams’s best performance to date, which is no small compliment.Arrivalpacks an emotional gut punch so it will satisfy those looking for a fresh sci-fi flick as well as fans of cathartic plots.
7Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Star Trek Beyond
A fun installment that could have been a really solid template for the franchise going forward,Star Trek Beyondfeels like an expansive episode from the classic TV series that, like the 2009 film, is perfectly accessible for non-fans. The narrative is relatively simple: the Enterprise gets trapped on a distant planet after an attack by the mysterious Krall (played by Idris Elba). With the help of a local, they must stop Krall’s plan to destroy the entire Federation.
Taking the Star Trek Franchise Back to Its Origins
WhileStar Trek Into Darknessgot into its own head,Star Trek Beyonddid things right by going back to basics. It may not be as thematically compelling as the 2009 film, but as a time-passer,Star Trek Beyondis one of 2016’s best. Moreover, it gives the then-recently-deceased Anton Yelchin his best screentime as Ensign Chekov.
15 Classic Star Trek Episodes That Are Deeply Philosophical
Star Trek had many thought-provoking themes, like censorship, Kierkegaardian and Sartrean existentialism, the nature of time, and genetic selection.
6Bumblebee (2018)
It took six movies and the excising ofTransformersfrom the title, but the Autobots vs. Decepticon franchise finally got a worthy installment withBumblebee. What was the key? A strong script that values character development over action sequences. HereHailee Steinfeld starsin the lead role as Charlie, a teenager who discovers Bumblebee the transforming car, and, together, they find their place in the world.
The Best Transformers Movie
On top of the script, Travis Knight’s direction is razor sharp, crafting a blockbuster that has appeal even to those who not only dislikeTransformers, but big-budget cinema as a whole. A big part of that appeal comes from the cast, especially Steinfeld and John Cena as Agent Burns. That said, it’s not devoid of action sequences, and the ones found inBumblebeeare far more coherent than those found in Michael Bay’sTransformersfilms.
5A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
With their son facing a terminal illness, a couple, Henry and Monica Swinton, decide to get an AI named David to replace their son and the loss they are expecting. However, when their son survives, the family dynamic becomes disrupted, eventually leading to the family deciding to return David. Knowing this means that David will be decommissioned, Monica abandons him in the woods instead, which leads David on a long journey to try to reunite with his family.
Exploring Our Relationship with AI
Also one of thesaddest movies on Paramount+, Stephen Speilberg’s masterfully crafted sci-fi cautionary tale, initially conceived by Stanley Kubrick,A.I. Artificial Intelligence,raises many moral questions that remain unanswered as we near becoming more integrated with AI in every facet of life. Moral implications aside, the movie is a masterfully crafted drama that pulls at the heartstrings while also creating an immersive world where AI and humans live side-by-side. Haley Joel Osment’s performance will have you in tears by the end.
4Life (2017)
After successfully recapturing a space probe returning from Mars, the crew aboard the International Space Station learns that a new organic life has made its way onto their vessel. At first, believing they found something miraculous, the new life form quickly evolves and begins attacking the crew. They must fight to survive and ensure the alien life does not make it back to Earth.
Drifting Along with the Horrors
Daniel Espinosa’sLifeoffers a pretty straightforward horror experience free of any greater context and quick to cut to the chase. This results in a slightly shallow sci-fi movie, but for those who just want a solid sci-fi horror experience, the movie is perfect for a movie night when you want to watch something scary. Plus, the cast here is well-rounded, and the effects are executed well.
3The Abyss (1989)
After an American nuclear submarine sinks in the Caribbean, a search and recovery team is dispatched to an experimental underwater drilling platform called Deep Core to attempt to recover the sunken vessel. However, the team starts to experience weird phenomena that start to put the crew on edge and lash out against one another. The crew slowly starts to believe that they are not alone underwater, and have come across an intelligent species that is causing the weird occurrences.
An Innovative Sci-fi Experience
Sci-fi does not always need to go into space to give viewers a unique vision of another world, especially when the deepest parts of the ocean remain unexplored. James Cameron’sThe Abysspresented a unique and fresh take on the sci-fi genre, with effects that were considered groundbreaking at the time, and still hold up as a spectacle to this day. The movie got a 4k restoration with additional footage that saw it return to theaters in late 2023, further cementing the film’slongevity and importance in the genre.
2Total Recall (1990)
Total Recall
A sci-fi classic by Paul Verhoeven,Total Recallfollowed his highly successful RoboCop to explore themes of authority and corruption again, utilizing the sci-fi genre. Here Doug Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) finds himself navigating the underground of Mars after an identity crisis occurs after he learns that his memories are implanted.
A Classic 90s Sci-fi/Action
With some gnarly effects, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s eye-popping prosthetic,Total Recallmanaged to meld thought-provoking questions about the nature of reality and identity with exciting sci-fi action. The movie has become iconic, with a distinct visual style that was innovative at the time and remains impressive to this day. The movie also carries some B-movie silliness and satire, which makes it a fun outing.It is a cult classicyou should watch at least once if you are a sci-fi fan.
9 Great Movies Based on Sci-Fi Books from the Last Decade
Discover how the endless possibilities of filmmaking allowed these compelling sci-fi novels to come alive on the big screen.
1A Quiet Place (2018)
A Quiet Place
A Quiet Placetakes place in a post-apocalyptic world where hostile aliens that hunt by sound have taken over the planet. It follows one family’s attempt to live in a world where any noise can mean death. This becomes complicated with the birth of a new child, forcing the family to find a way to exist in silence with a newborn while also scouring for supplies and contending with other desperate survivors.
Sci-fi Horror at Its Best
John Krasinski’s directorial debut certainly had a huge impact on release (grossing $341 million worldwide). It was touted as an innovative masterpiece in the sci-fi horror genre and certainly lived up to the hype. Besides the frightful scenario of a world where Aliens hunt by sound rule, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt’s performances capture the situation’s desperation as they care for their family perfectly.
