If you’re looking for some good sci-fi to watch without spending any money, Prime Video has a few solid options available for free. From dark thrillers to time-bending stories set in the future, these movies cover a range of sci-fi experiences that are easy to enjoy at home.
Whether you’re in the mood for action, mystery, or just something a bit different from your usual watch, there’s something here for everyone.
You don’t even need a paid Prime Video membership to stream these movies. All you need to do is sign up for a free Amazon account and you’ll be able to watch them at no cost. That means even if you’ve never tried Prime Video before, you can dive in and explore these titles without committing to a subscription.
In this guide, we’ve put together five of the best sci-fi movies streaming for free on Prime Video in the U.S. right now.
‘The Tomorrow War’
"The Tomorrow War" follows Dan Forester (Chris Pratt), a high school teacher and former soldier, who is drafted into a conflict unlike any before. During a televised event, time travelers from thirty years in the future arrive, warning that humanity is on the verge of extinction due to a relentless alien species. To prevent this outcome, people from the present are conscripted and sent forward in time to join the fight.
Dan is separated from his family and transported to a devastated future, where he and other recruits are immediately thrust into dangerous missions against the creatures. He teams up with a group of soldiers and eventually encounters a brilliant commander with a surprising connection to his life. Together, they work on a desperate plan to eliminate the threat before it spreads globally.
Stream it on Prime Video
‘Black Box’
Nolan Wright (Mamoudou Athie), a man who survives a severe car accident, struggles with memory loss while trying to raise his young daughter. Determined to regain control of his life, he agrees to take part in an experimental treatment led by Dr. Lillian Brooks (Phylicia Rashad). The procedure involves entering a simulated world through a device called the "Black Box," which is meant to help him unlock hidden memories and reconstruct his past.
During his sessions, Nolan encounters unsettling distortions: people with blurred faces, environments that don’t feel real, and flashes of experiences that don’t seem to belong to him. As the visions intensify, he starts questioning what is genuine and what might be implanted or fabricated.
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‘Z for Zachariah’
In the aftermath of a nuclear disaster, Ann Burden (Margot Robbie) lives alone in a secluded valley that has been spared from radiation. She spends her days farming, caring for her dog, and maintaining the routines that keep her alive. Her solitude ends when she discovers John Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a scientist who has also survived. Weakened by exposure, John slowly recovers under Ann’s care, and the two begin to form a fragile bond.
Their dynamic shifts again when Caleb (Chris Pine), another survivor, arrives at the valley. With three people navigating survival in close quarters, questions of trust, dependence, and cooperation become increasingly difficult. Tensions build as each of them grapples with decisions about how to live together and what the future may hold.
Stream it on Prime Video
‘Donnie Darko’
“Donnie Darko” follows a troubled teenager living in a suburban town in the late 1980s. After narrowly escaping death when a jet engine crashes into his bedroom, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins experiencing visions of a mysterious figure in a menacing rabbit costume who appears to him at night. This figure, known as Frank, tells him that the world will end in 28 days.
Guided by these encounters, Donnie’s behavior grows increasingly erratic. He sleepwalks, engages in destructive acts, and struggles to reconcile his experiences with the expectations of his family, teachers, and peers. At the same time, he forms a relationship with a new classmate, Gretchen (Jena Malone), while seeking answers about time, destiny, and his place in the world.
Stream it on Prime Video
‘The Vast of Night’
In a small New Mexico town during the 1950s, a switchboard operator named Fay (Sierra McCormick) and a charismatic radio DJ named Everett (Jake Horowitz) stumble across a strange audio frequency interrupting the night’s broadcasts and phone calls. Curious about its source, they begin investigating while most of the town gathers at a high school basketball game.
Their search leads them to testimonies from callers who claim to have encountered similar sounds linked to mysterious government projects and unexplained aerial phenomena. Fay and Everett soon uncover clues pointing to something extraordinary hovering over their quiet community. Over the course of one long night, the two race against time to piece together the puzzle.
Stream it on Prime Video
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