Sci-fi has always been one of my absolute favorite genres. Few things are more intriguing than futuristic technology and worlds unlike our own. But honestly, it gets even better when you add a heavy dose of thriller elements to the mix. A great sci-fi thriller keeps your heart pounding while you try to figure out the answer.
With huge theatrical releases like “The End of Oak Street” and Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” making this a massive month for sci-fi fans, the genre is top of mind right now. But if you want to skip the theater seats and stay on the couch, Netflix’s library has some serious gems hiding behind its bigger titles.
If you are looking for a movie night pick that packs in plenty of tension and dystopian goodness, you are in the right place. Here are five of the best sci-fi thrillers on Netflix right now that are completely worth your time.
‘Oxygen’ (2021)
I love a good single-location thriller, especially when it turns a confined space into the source of constant tension. “Oxygen” is a French-language thriller set entirely inside a sleek but ultra-cramped cryogenic pod. Through tight close-ups and shallow depth of field, the film keeps its limited setting visually compelling while maintaining a constant sense of unease. If you enjoy survival thrillers like “Buried” and “127 Hours,” this feels like a sci-fi take on that same trapped-in-one-place formula.
“Oxygen” follows a woman, Elizabeth (Mélanie Laurent), who wakes up inside a sealed cryogenic pod with no memory of who she is or how she got there. An advanced medical AI informs her that her oxygen supply is rapidly running out. Unable to open the pod without a security code, she searches its database for clues about her identity while contacting emergency services for help. As fragmented memories begin to return, she uncovers surprising details about her past and the circumstances that led to her confinement.
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‘Ex Machina’ (2015)
“Ex Machina” is a critically acclaimed sci-fi psychological thriller written and directed by Alex Garland. Marking Garland’s directorial debut, the film became an instant classic, winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and earning a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Operating as a claustrophobic three-character drama, the film very much relies on psychological tension and a growing sense of paranoia. It’s definitely one of the defining AI-focused movies of the 21st century.
Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) is a talented programmer who wins a company competition to spend a week at the secluded estate of his employer, brilliant tech CEO Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Once he arrives, Caleb discovers he has been selected to evaluate Nathan’s latest creation: Ava (Alicia Vikander), an advanced humanoid robot with remarkably lifelike intelligence. Soon, he begins to question Nathan’s true intentions and uncovers unsettling secrets hidden throughout the isolated research facility.
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‘Upgrade’ (2018)
Next up, we have a cyberpunk film with some seriously impressive choreography. Best known for co-creating the “Saw” and “Insidious” franchises alongside James Wan, Leigh Whannell wrote and directed “Upgrade” as a love letter to 1980s techno-thrillers and sci-fi B-movies, establishing a style he would refine further in “The Invisible Man.” However, “Upgrade” is honestly great to watch, not because of its satisfying revenge mission but because it has remarkable action sequences.
“Upgrade” centers around Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), a mechanic living in a near-future world dominated by advanced technology. After a violent attack leaves him unable to walk and his wife dead, Grey is approached by a wealthy inventor who offers him an experimental computer chip called STEM that can restore his mobility. With his body enhanced, Grey sets out to track down those responsible for destroying his life, uncovering a dangerous chain of events along the way.
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‘In the Shadow of the Moon’ (2019)
“In the Shadow of the Moon” is a Netflix original you may not have heard of, because I certainly didn’t when it first came out. This genre-blending thriller is part neo-noir detective procedural, part character drama, and part mind-twisting sci-fi. Central to the film is an exploration of single-minded obsession and how the relentless pursuit of an answer can dismantle a person’s life, career, and sanity over decades. Plus, Boyd Holbrook gives one of his best performances.
Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook) begins investigating a series of bizarre murders in 1988 after several victims are found under mysterious circumstances. As the case remains unsolved, Lockhart becomes determined to uncover the identity of the person responsible, even as similar killings begin occurring years later. His investigation spans decades, with each new discovery bringing him closer to a truth that challenges everything he thought he knew.
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‘Elysium’ (2013)
If you’ve just watched “The Odyssey" on the big screen and need more of Matt Damon, there’s no better time to stream his underrated sci-fi film “Elysium.” This blockbuster is directed by Neill Blomkamp, serving as his high-budget follow-up to the Oscar-nominated breakout “District 9.” Damon leads the film in an intensely physical role, undergoing extensive training to wear a pneumatic exoskeleton directly bolted to his character's body (which is kinda insane, but cool).
“Elysium” follows Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), a former car thief living in Los Angeles in the year 2154. After a workplace accident leaves him with only days to live, Max is forced to take on a dangerous mission that requires him to reach the luxurious space station Elysium, where he hopes to find a way to save himself. Along the way, he becomes caught in a conflict involving the powerful officials running the city and heavily armed security forces determined to stop him from completing his mission.
Stream it on Netflix
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