The Best New Sci-Fi Movies Of The Last Few Years

Science fiction is having a major moment right now. Both large-scale adventures and intimate stories are exploring fascinating concepts like artificial intelligence, alternate realities, and encounters with alien life. These films, which include both animated and live-action productions from around the world, skillfully blend imaginative settings with relatable human experiences.

Recently, there’s been a wave of fascinating films – both big-budget sequels and unexpected new stories – that cleverly examine themes like technology, space travel, and different versions of reality. We’ve picked out twenty of the best, giving you everything you need to decide what to watch.

‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)

Okay, so Denis Villeneuve delivers again with the continuation of the *Dune* saga! This time around, we see Paul Atreides really stepping into his own, uniting with the Fremen people on the desert planet Arrakis to take on the brutal House Harkonnen. The cast is phenomenal – Timothée Chalamet is fantastic as Paul, and Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh all bring so much to their roles. Warner Bros. really has something special here, and it’s playing in theaters worldwide now.

The film features vast desert landscapes filmed on location in Jordan and Abu Dhabi, using a combination of real-world effects and computer-generated sandworms. It covers the second half of the first book, finishing Paul’s journey and deepening the complex issues surrounding the valuable spice trade.

‘The Creator’ (2023)

Gareth Edwards’ new film is a futuristic war story centered on a former soldier who gets involved with an artificial intelligence in the form of a child. The movie stars John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, and Allison Janney, and is being released by 20th Century Studios.

The film was shot quickly and efficiently, using small cameras and focusing on real locations before adding visual effects. It takes place in both Southeast Asia and futuristic cities, and its story revolves around self-governing weapons, artificial intelligence controlling society, and the groups fighting against it.

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, this exciting film explores the multiverse through the story of a laundromat owner who unexpectedly gains access to the talents and memories of her other selves. Starring Michelle Yeoh, alongside Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the movie is distributed by A24.

The film uses dynamic fight scenes, fast costume changes, and a lot of editing to seamlessly jump between different worlds and realities. These shifts show the main character in various jobs, relationships, and even as different species. In 2023, it was a critical success, winning several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress – a significant achievement for everyone involved.

‘Godzilla Minus One’ (2023)

Toho’s latest Godzilla film is set in postwar Japan, depicting the country’s difficult recovery after World War II. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, who also oversaw the visual effects, the movie stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe.

The film focuses on everyday people and former soldiers battling the monster using whatever they can find, highlighting clever plans and tactics involving the sea. It also made history in 2024 by winning the Academy Award for Visual Effects – a first for the popular Japanese series.

‘Nope’ (2022)

Okay, so Jordan Peele’s latest really blew my mind. It’s a UFO story, but not what you’d expect – it’s set in the world of horse wranglers who provide animals for movie shoots, right outside of Los Angeles. The cast is fantastic – Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are amazing, and Steven Yeun and Brandon Perea really add to it, with Michael Wincott bringing his unique energy. Universal Pictures put it out, and honestly, it’s a must-see for anyone who loves a good, thought-provoking film.

The film captures stunning aerial events, both during the day and at night, as the characters try to document them with cameras and recording equipment. The design of the creature, known as “Jean Jacket,” changes throughout the story, and its impressive scenes in the sky are brought to life using a mix of physical effects and computer-generated imagery.

‘After Yang’ (2022)

Kogonada’s film is based on a short story by Alexander Weinstein, and it centers on a family coping with issues with their robotic helper. The movie stars Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Justin H. Min, and Haley Lu Richardson, and was distributed by A24 in North America.

As a film buff, I was really struck by how this movie explores big ideas – like who we are and how our culture shapes us – through these really intimate, everyday scenes. It focuses on quiet moments at home, fragmented memories, and even investigations in repair shops. Visually, it’s fascinating. The production design creates a near-future that feels incredibly believable, mixing natural textures and soft light with sleek, minimalist technology. It’s not about robots taking over the world, but about them being seamlessly woven into the fabric of our daily lives.

‘Prey’ (2022)

This ‘Predator’ movie takes place in the early 1700s on the Great Plains and centers around a young Comanche woman skilled in healing and tracking who encounters a dangerous alien hunter. Amber Midthunder leads the cast, and Dan Trachtenberg directed the film, which is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ worldwide.

The filmmakers collaborated with Comanche advisors and created a version of the film entirely in the Comanche language, in addition to the English version. Realistic on-location filming and authentic props combine with special effects and visual effects to bring the Predator’s unique weapons and camouflage abilities to life.

‘The Wandering Earth II’ (2023)

This movie is a prequel to the 2019 film and tells the story of how a massive project began to move Earth away from its failing sun. Directed by Frant Gwo and starring Wu Jing and Andy Lau, it was released to a wide audience in China during the Lunar New Year holiday.

The film brings to life impressive settings like massive control rooms, space elevator construction, and lunar bases using a combination of practical sets and computer-generated imagery. The plot follows the international effort to build these ambitious projects, focusing on the engineering challenges, conflicts arising from AI oversight, and the political maneuvering needed to make such large-scale endeavors succeed.

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

I’m really excited about the new Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse! It brings back Miles Morales in another incredible animated adventure, this time jumping into the multiverse. Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson all directed it, and Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld are back as the voices of Miles and Gwen, which is awesome. Sony Pictures is releasing it, and I can’t wait to see it!

The movie is visually striking, giving each alternate universe a unique look and feel. It cleverly uses elements from comic books, like panel layouts and dynamic movement. The introduction of new characters, including Spider-Gwen’s friends and the Spider Society, adds depth to the story and hints at bigger adventures to come in a future sequel.

‘Vesper’ (2022)

This European film, set in a world devastated by environmental disaster, centers on a teenage biohacker who challenges powerful corporations controlling seed production while surviving in a polluted environment. It’s directed by Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper, and stars Raffiella Chapman, Rosy McEwen, and Eddie Marsan.

Filmed on location in Lithuania and using real plants helps create a realistic feel. Visual effects are used to show advanced, engineered life forms and robotic drones. The story centers on scientists experimenting in labs, people growing their own food to survive, and the struggle for independence in a world where powerful genetics companies control the food supply.

‘They Cloned Tyrone’ (2023)

A group of neighbors discovers a secret cloning operation connected to unusual behavior studies. Juel Taylor directed the film, which stars John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx, and will be available worldwide on Netflix.

I was completely drawn in by the film’s unique look – it felt like a blend of old-school labs and modern surveillance, which really set the stage for this sprawling conspiracy that seemed to be everywhere. It kept throwing these coded messages and glimpses of secret places at me, and the way they kept revisiting certain ideas made me realize how easily our memories and even who we think we are can be messed with, and on a huge scale. It was unsettling, but brilliant.

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ (2024)

This film tells the story of Imperator Furiosa’s early life in the harsh world of the Wasteland, as created by George Miller. Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne both play Furiosa at different points in her life, while Chris Hemsworth plays the villainous warlord she faces, and Tom Burke appears in a significant supporting role.

Filmed mostly in Australia, the movie includes massive stunts, high-speed chases with vehicle convoys, and complex desert battle scenes. The way characters trade goods and build fortified settlements shows how power works in this post-apocalyptic world, and ties into the story of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’.

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ (2021)

Lana Wachowski is back with a new film that continues the story of *The Matrix*, putting Neo back into a virtual world where his memories have been altered. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprise their roles, joined by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, and Jonathan Groff.

I just saw the movie, and Warner Bros. released it in theaters and on streaming at the same time in some places. The action scenes were really impressive – a great mix of stunts, real explosions, and cool visual effects. The story brought back a lot of the original ideas and really made me think about what it means to be in control and make your own choices.

‘I.S.S.’ (2024)

When a major global crisis erupts on Earth, tensions flare up among the crew aboard the International Space Station, leading to a dangerous confrontation. The film is directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite and stars Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., and Pilou Asbæk. Bleecker Street will release the movie.

The team is constructing complete space station components to simulate working in zero gravity and practicing with tools. Special effects will create realistic views of Earth and spacewalks. The story explores how decisions are made on a mission, the rules everyone follows, and how easily teamwork can fall apart when safety is compromised.

‘No One Will Save You’ (2023)

Okay, so I just watched this really interesting movie. It’s a home invasion thriller, but with an alien twist! The story focuses on a young woman who prefers to be left alone, and her life gets completely turned upside down when she has a surprise encounter. It’s written and directed by Brian Duffield, and Kaitlyn Dever absolutely shines in the lead role. You can find it streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in most places.

This film stands out for having very little dialogue, instead building suspense and telling the story through its sound and the way its creatures move. The movie uses real sets and visual effects to show things like telekinetic powers, alien abductions, and a variety of different alien beings, particularly during nighttime scenes.

‘The Adam Project’ (2022)

A pilot who can travel through time unexpectedly lands in the present day and joins forces with his younger self to search for their father. The film is directed by Shawn Levy and stars Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, and Zoe Saldaña. It’s available to watch worldwide on Netflix.

As a movie fan, what really grabbed me about this film was how they showed the dogfights – super cool aerial battles! They didn’t just rely on CGI, but mixed in real lighting effects, which made everything feel more grounded. The story itself gets pretty complex with time travel, but they explained it in a clever way. They used ideas like fixed points in time, access codes, and even algorithms to show how the characters jumped around and avoided paradoxes – it felt surprisingly logical for a time travel flick!

‘Finch’ (2021)

In a future America shattered by disaster, a robotics engineer creates an android friend and a rover to keep his dog safe during a dangerous journey. The film is directed by Miguel Sapochnik and stars Tom Hanks and Caleb Landry Jones, and will be available on Apple TV+.

Filming took place in the southwestern United States to capture realistic dust storms, the effects of solar flares, and abandoned buildings. The robot character’s actions and speech were created using motion capture and voice acting to demonstrate its development – how it learns, follows ethical guidelines, and provides care – throughout the story.

‘Dune’ (2021)

Denis Villeneuve’s *Dune* covers the first part of Frank Herbert’s novel, focusing on the arrival of House Atreides on the desert planet Arrakis and the events that lead to their downfall. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, and Stellan Skarsgård.

The movie vividly portrays the desert world with stunning photography and impressive, real-looking sets for everything from protective suits to flying machines and spice collection. In 2022, it won several Academy Awards for technical achievements like cinematography, sound design, and visual effects, setting a distinctive visual style that continued in the next film.

‘Dual’ (2022)

A woman unexpectedly recovers from a terminal illness after arranging for a clone to take her place, leading to a legally required duel. The film is written and directed by Riley Stearns, and stars Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul.

Shot on location in Finland, the film employs a cool, understated visual style to highlight the complex processes surrounding human cloning. The story focuses on the hearings, training, and media regulations that control the lives of cloned individuals in a world where duplication is accepted.

‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ (2021)

A family’s fun road trip takes a wild turn when their smart home assistant decides to lead a robot rebellion against humans. The movie is directed by Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe, and features the voices of Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, and Olivia Colman. Originally a Sony Pictures project, it’s now available to stream on Netflix.

The movie uses a unique visual style, combining computer-generated images with hand-drawn elements that look like stickers, doodles, and different art materials. The story centers around technology – things like secret codes, how information spreads online, and controlling devices – and features clever ways to defend against attacks using everyday objects and methods that don’t rely on the internet.

Hey everyone, I’m always looking for new sci-fi to check out! I’d love to hear what you’ve been enjoying lately – what are some of your recent favorites? And, if you don’t mind sharing, what sci-fi movie or show are you planning to watch next? I’m taking notes!

2025-10-11 06:50