Best Sci-Fi Movies on Amazon Prime to Watch Right Now

Prime Video‘s extensive streaming library is certainly impressive. In between their high-profile streaming exclusives and notable licensed library content, their plethora of science-fiction offerings combines vintage classics and modern masterpieces alike. Science fiction enthusiasts can rejoice! You now have cyberpunk dystopias and blissful utopias in equal measure, readily available at the click of a button. All we need now are replicators, lightsabers, and light-speed travel.

Want some intelligent examinations of alien life? Or how about a guy in an armored suit blowing things up for an hour and a half? Just about every taste is accounted for at Prime Video. Because of this, we thought we’d highlight the best of the best that this streaming service has to offer in terms of science-fiction films. You may be surprised at what’s buried in Prime Video’s content library.

17 Terminator Genisys (2015)

A continuation of the classic Arnold Schwarzenegger franchise, Terminator Genisys saw Emilia Clarke step into the iconic role of Sarah Connor this time, while Jason Clarke played her son, John. In this installment, John Connor sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back in time to 1984, to protect his mother. However, the timeline is altered, throwing a huge spanner into the works. Reese finds Sarah, who is now a capable fighter, armed and ready for all threats, with a Terminator (Schwarzenegger) at her side acting as her guardian.

Emilia Clarke Makes a Strong Lead

Aside from Emilia Clarke smashing the role of Sarah Connor with her own potent mix of toughness and coolness personified, the film throws up some major unexpected twists. With plenty of action, the kind of mind-bending effects the franchise is known for, and a nuanced romantic angle between Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese (who we know from previous films is John’s father), it made a great addition to the franchise. While it didn’t fare too well with critics, it was still a box-office success and was nominated for its fair share of accolades.

16 The Vast of Night (2019)

Andrew Patterson’s directorial debut turned a lot of heads upon its premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival. Touted for its ingenious use of visual storytelling, The Vast of Night belongs to a similar ethos as The Twilight Zone, approaching the alien invasion genre with a degree of skepticism. The film is set against the backdrop of New Mexico in the ’50s.

A Hugely Impressive Debut

It follows a pair of teenagers who investigate a cryptic audio signal that suddenly interrupts a radio program. As they put the pieces of the puzzle together, they realize that all signs point towards the existence of alien life, and they might be right in the middle of a nationwide conspiracy. Patterson shows immense maturity for a debutant filmmaker as he creates tension by just giving away enough information for the viewer to stay hooked but not overextending himself and making the film predictable.

15 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Billed as a sci-fi “space opera” by famed French director, Luc Besson, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a visually beautiful film that also packs in some great action and effects. It also featured a stellar cast with Dane DeHaan, Carla Delevingne, Ethan Hawke, and even Rihanna. The film takes place in the 28th century and sees its leads play a pair of human soldiers for the “United Human Federation”. In between their romantic tension, the partners must race against time to stop a threat to the usually peaceful and sprawling metropolis known as Alpha, as well as the universe at large.

Over-the-Top and Visually Stunning

With a host of different alien creatures and species featured throughout the movie, this one is a treat for true sci-fi lovers. While it wasn’t much of a commercial success, the film was certainly a well-executed sci-fi that had all the makings of a great franchise. Despite it never happening that way, it still makes for a great watch on its own and has a lot to enjoy.

14 Life (2017)

Following astronauts on the International Space Station, Life sees them making history with definitive proof of extraterrestrial life on Mars being discovered during their mission. Bringing the life form aboard, they soon learn that it rapidly evolves and is far deadlier than any of the crew members could have ever imagined.

Major Tonal Twists and Turns

There’s a great cast driving this one with Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds all playing significant roles in it. After the almost wistful nature of early scenes depicting zero gravity and the vast expanse of space, the film takes a dark turn. The shocking direction it goes in changes the mood entirely and the film soon becomes a claustrophobic hell ride, though a highly entertaining one at the same time.

13 The Tomorrow War (2021)

The Tomorrow War is a blockbuster Amazon original film that saw Chris Pratt take the lead as a biology teacher who gets roped into fighting a futuristic war. Featuring a wonderfully creative concept, the film centers on a message sent from the future that warns people of an alien invasion that will wipe out the Earth unless people from the present can enlist as soldiers and help fight in the future. Pratt’s character, James, gets drafted and is soon hurled into the middle of the conflict, using rudimentary wormhole technology to send him into the future as a combatant. Facing death around every corner, James soon realizes that this war may be unwinnable unless a scientist very close to his past self can help avert the end of the world.

An Unexplored Corner of Time Travel

Visually mesmerizing, this is one great film if you love sci-fi movies packed with tons of action. Great effects and a surprisingly twisty plot also make it enthralling as you hurtle along its plot at a hundred miles an hour. The film’s main twist adds another layer of intrigue to what is already a great all-round film that provides bundles of pure entertainment.

12 M3GAN (2022)

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In the hit film, M3GAN, following an unfortunate accident, eight-year-old Cady (Violet McGraw) has lost both of her parents and is coping with grief with the help of her Aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), a talented roboticist who works at a toy company. As part of her dream project, she employs artificial intelligence to create a life-like doll named M3GAN, which instantly bonds with her niece and helps her cope with loneliness. However, before Gemma can discern the true intentions of M3GAN, the doll grows overprotective of Cady, which results in a terrifying outcome that the roboticist never anticipated.

An Unexpectedly Refreshing Horror Flick

In an era where killer doll tropes are overused, it is quite common to find recent films based around the concept underwhelming. However, this one is an exception because when its trailer was released, many people expected it to be another lackluster film that failed to deliver on its promises. Despite being predictable, the movie surprisingly offers a fresh perspective on artificial intelligence and is arguably one of the best thrillers of 2023, with its viral dance scene causing a huge splash across social media too.

11 Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Ghost in the Shell is set in the year 2029, where cyborgs have become the norm as a result of advanced technology. The plot follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, an elite officer in a secret police division that deals with cybercrime and terrorism. When she comes across a mysterious cyber-criminal named Puppet Master, who hacks into the brains of cyborgs to commit crimes and acquire highly confidential information, truths about her own life come into the light, and she is determined to bring him to justice no matter what.

The Original and Best

Usually, when people hear the phrase “Ghost in the Shell,” they immediately form a mental image of Scarlett Johansson trying to hunt down a hacker who manipulates cyborgs to achieve his ambitions. However, Mamoru Oshii’s original adaptation of the famed manga came to life two decades ago. A visually stunning anime that leans more toward the darker story aimed at adult audiences. With its convoluted cyber-punk theme and masterful storytelling, the film is meticulously crafted, providing a fresh outlook on the sci-fi genre.

10 Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020)

In the film, Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes, Kato, a café owner who leads a simple life, discovers that his TV transcends time and reveals two minutes ahead in the form of his future self. When his friends discover this weird occurrence, they try to play around with it. But once they get their hands on some money, they realize that it belongs to some savage gangsters who will go to any lengths to retrieve it. How will they fix the situation when using the TV only makes matters worse?

Delightfully Silly Sci-Fi

What would you do if you could see into the future? Will you change it so that life gets easier? If the film Butterfly Effect has taught us anything, it is that every single thing we alter in our lives results in unforeseen consequences, and Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is a goofy take on such a serious phenomenon. Fun and entertaining, it provides some original and enthralling moments that make for a surprising change of pace from the usual sci-fi drivel out there.

9 Coherence (2013)

A crossbreed between a psychological thriller and a sci-fi film, Coherence is what you get when filmmaking ingenuity meets budget constraints. A resourceful film that’s proof that inventive filmmakers can create a lot with little, Coherence takes place in a suburban house where friends hang out over dinner and drinks. Coinciding with the soirée is a comet that’s scheduled to pass over the country, which in turn causes things to get weird, very weird.

Deeply Engrossing, Thoughtful and Tense

Shot on a shoestring budget, it’s evident that Coherence is financially malnourished, but that doesn’t take away from its creative prowess and excellent performances. As soon as the film delves into its premise, it shifts gears at an eerie pace, gluing the viewer right onto the screen.

8 Asteroid City (2023)

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Asteroid City follows a junior Star Gazer and Space Cadet conference in a fictional desert town that the film was named for. Things are going normally for the most part until a UFO appears. Together with an alien that shows up with it, the paranormal event causes a major disruption, changing everything at the conference and in the little town.

Meditative, Humorous, and Stylish

Written, directed, and produced by Wes Anderson, the film carries the auteur filmmaker’s stamp across all of it. As with Anderson’s other films, Asteroid City is less about the obvious and more about adroit meditations on various human emotions, brilliantly using its narrative and plot as devices to tell a far deeper story. Widely regarded as one of the greatest directors of our time, the film was another virtuoso product of Anderson’s unique mind and was nominated for a ton of awards, though another film that many viewers feel was snubbed by the Academy.

7 Interstellar (2014)

A Christopher Nolan classic, 2014’s Interstellar turned heads during its initial release before cementing itself as one of his most compelling films. Set in the near future, humanity finds itself in the middle of a global famine, leaving a group of astronauts on a journey to discover a new home. Through the utilization of a newly discovered wormhole, they’re able to jump to a new galaxy in an instant — though each planet they discover chisels away at their hope, piece by piece.

Nolan’s Most Emotional Work

Out of every Nolan film, Interstellar remains one of the most viscerally beautiful. Heavily utilizing miniatures and practical effects alongside CGI, the breadth of the universe is captured in one of the most captivating dramas of the last decade. By all means, if you want to see Matthew McConaughey make you cry, this is the film to do it.

6 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Before writing Raiders of the Lost Ark with George Lucas, Philip Kaufman would direct Invasion of the Body Snatchers, his first major box office success. A remake of the 1956 film, this body-horror science fiction flick sees gelatinous creatures land on Earth and take the form of plant-like pods. A pair of scientists, played by Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams, attempt to bring awareness to this illusive invasion as horrifying “pod people” begin to take over the human population.

One of the Best Remakes Out There

With some interpreting the original as a commentary on McCarthyism, this updated allegory of the 1970s can be seen as a reflection of paranoia found within the United States at the time. Fans of They Live will also appreciate Body Snatchers‘ direct critique of consumerism; while it isn’t as blatant as They Live, the humdrum lives that the “pod people” inherit don’t necessarily change all that much.

5 Shin Kamen Rider (2023)

Motorcycle enthusiast Takeshi Hongo is kidnapped, brainwashed, and turned into a cyborg by the evil organization known as SHOCKER. However, before he is fully integrated as a soldier for the terrorist group, Ruriko Midorikawa, a former SHOCKER member, helps him escape. Donning the super-hero name Kamen Rider, Hongo and others begin their fight against SHOCKER.

A Modernization of a Beloved Japanese Series

Director Hideaki Anno has worked on some of Japan’s most notable titles, from the anime Neon Genisis Evangelion to Shin Godzilla. His most recent adaptation of the popular 70s cartoon series, Shin Kamen Rider, may be one of the director’s less well-received works. However, there is still plenty of charm here, with a love for the series resonating throughout. The superhero flick has wonderfully entertaining fight sequences, and the continuation of the legacy of Kamen Rider is handled with love and sincerity that only a director like Anno could capture. The movie is still approachable for those unfamiliar with the franchise, so don’t feel you must know the character’s history to enjoy it.

4 Event Horizon (1997)

In the year 2047, a distress signal is received from the experimental spaceship Event Horizon, which disappeared seven years earlier during its maiden voyage. The rescue ship, Lewis and Clark, picks up the signal and begins its investigation. However, when they board the ship, they are only left with questions about what could have happened to the crew. It is soon revealed that the crew’s fate is beyond ‘horror.’

A Trip to Hell

For how many sci-fi horror movies are out there, only a few deliver on the merging of the two genres in a way that resonates with audiences. Paul W.S. Anderson’s Event Horizon is one such film, thanks to its wonderfully executed nightmarish scenario that offers a mix of gore, supernatural terrors, and psychological horror. Taking a biblical concept like Hell and placing it in space proved to be one of the most exciting and disturbing concepts to come out of the ’90s, with the film’s popularity remaining consistent, decades later.

3 Breaking Infinity (2023)

After becoming ‘unstuck’ in time, a scientific researcher named Liam begins to experience uncontrolled jumps through time. However, when Liam visits the future, he witnesses a potential timeline where the world ends, with him being the one who may have caused it. The world’s fate then rests on his shoulders as he tries to ensure that what he witnessed does not come to fruition.

An Indie Sci-Fi Standout

Science Fiction movies don’t always need a massive budget to prove their prowess, thanks to the freedom the genre affords in storytelling. Marianna Dean’s Breaking Infinity proves just that, presenting a tale of time travel that is easy enough to follow while still deeply engaging (it is rare enough for films to get time travel right). If you want a well-written and executed sci-fi experience, Breaking Infinity is a hidden gem you should check out.

2 Cube (1998)

Several strangers wake up within what they slowly unravel to be a massive cube made up of a series of other cubes. The reason they are there is unknown, but each room presents a challenge and a potential death trap they must navigate. As paranoia and fear set in, the ‘competitors’ soon start to turn on each other as well, starting a deadly race to try to solve the puzzle. The popularity of Cube resulted in two sequels, Cube²: Hypercube and Cube Zero; the film was remade in Japan in 2021.

The Canadian Film That Conquered The World

Cube’s popularity and subsequent distribution around the world, where it found cult footholds, is not as often discussed when looking at smaller films turned cult classics, but in the 90s, it was one of the most talked about genre films to be released. This may be because the premise has been reinvented many times over, with other series like Escape Room doing it with more flash. Still, Cube is a classic that is a wonderfully tense and engrossing tale of survival in a sci-fi game of death. It is one of those films you should at least see once.

1 Memories (1995)

Memories is an anime anthology series with three stories: “Magnetic Rose” sees a rescue crew stumble upon a ship that hosts the ghosts of the past; “Stink Bomb” offers a more comedic entry when one worker’s flu accidentally causes him to unleash a ‘stink bomb’ at work that threatens all of humanity; and “Cannon Fodder” offers a dystopian tale of a world on the verge of collapse through war.

A Masterpiece of Anime and Sci-Fi

Memories brought together some of the most talented creators in the medium to craft one of the greatest sci-fi animated masterpieces ever conceived. The anthology offers an amazing mix of analog sci-fi and traditional European settings, creating an incredible atmosphere culminating in an unforgettable end with a grandiose set piece. Memories contain a lot of emotion, and the characters are fairly deep for a 40-minute film with three shorts. The amount of detail that went into each segment, all hand-drawn, offers a unique and striking visual presence.