Nine highest rated sci-fi movies on Netflix

IF YOU’RE a sci-fi nerd, these nine films are the ones that will most tickle your fancy on Netflix right now.

SCIENCE fiction has allowed us to travel deep into space and otherworldly realms since film began, and it’s a genre that only gets better.

From creepy creatures and apocalypses to space wars and superheroes, this escapist fare indulges in both camp and creativity in equal measure. It’s no wonder that sci-fi flicks are such enduring classics — there’s something in them for everyone. Streaming giant Netflix understands our love for the genre, and that’s why they’ve come equipped with some of the most renowned titles of our time.

The platform’s “Sci-Fi & Fantasy” category houses a slew of subgenres, raging from “Sci-Fi Adventures” and “Sci-Fi Dramas” to “Sci-Fi Horrors” and “Sci-Fi Thrillers”. The possibilities are endless — you might be aching for a genre classic like E.T. or ready to get your Marvel on with Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange — whatever you need, they’ve got you covered.

Wondering where to start? We’ve sorted through all the science fiction the streaming platform has to offer to find the best of the best. These are the 10 best sci-fi movies on Netflix, ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

E.T. the Extraterrestrial

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

Steven Spielberg’s classic family film tells the tale of a troubled boy enduring his parents’ divorce who befriends a stranded alien and resolves to help him return to his home planet. A perfect balance of whimsical and serious, this touching film will awaken every nostalgic bone in your body. There’s a reason it’s a classic.

According to Steven Spielberg, E.T. was neither more nor female.

The Iron Giant

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Set during The Cold War, this animated adventure follows a young boy who befriends a giant, kind-hearted robot from outer space that the hyper-paranoid government is determined to destroy. Heartwarming, sad, and thrilling, this gorgeous film will touch you in unexpected ways.

Jennifer Aniston and Harry Connick Jr. are two of the big name stars in The Iron Giant.

Men in Black

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

This hilarious modern classic brings unlikely duo Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones together for an intergalactic kegger of an adventure, one that sees them protect the world as we know it from extraterrestrial forces at work. Filled with iconic one-liners and loveable characters, this 20-year-old sci-fi comedy packs a punch with every viewing.

Will Smith visited an alien encounter convention to help prepare for this role.

Captain America: Civil War

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Friends fight, right? The third instalment of the Captain America franchise finds our Avengers at odds after political interference causes a massive disagreement (and civil war!) between Captain America and Iron Man. Action-packed and absolutely thrilling, this might be one of the best Marvel flicks yet.

Fun fact: This was the first movie in which you could hear Spider-Man swear.

Doctor Strange

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Dr. Stephen Strange in this gorgeous adaptation of the beloved Marvel comic. After a car accident, Strange is forced to set aside his ego and dive into a world of alternate dimensions and mystic arts. To protect New York City and the rest of the worlds from threats across dimensions, he must use his new-found abilities and learn lessons about his power along the way. This gorgeous, thrilling flick is bound to appeal to comic lovers and the general public alike.

While filming, Benedict Cumberbatch walked into a comic book store in full costume and bought a Doctor Strange comic.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%

This Star Wars spin-off takes the franchise in an uncharted, darker direction, and it does it in an extraordinary manner. Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, and an all-star ensemble cast, the film acts as a prequel to Star Wars: A New Hope and follows the team of rebels who embark on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star and save the universe as they know it. Well-acted, stunningly shot, and frankly thrilling, this flick will please Star Wars fans and new audiences alike.

Apparently this is the first Star Wars film that doesn’t mention Luke Skywalker.

Advantageous

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

Set in the near future where older women are deemed more and more unnecessary, a mother realises she may lose her job as a biomedical firm’s spokesman in favour of a younger candidate. Desperate to provide for her daughter, she agrees to undergo a procedure to transfer her consciousness to the body of a younger woman.

Advantageous has been called the "thinking person’s sci-fi tale".

Spectral

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

This Netflix Original follows an engineer as he teams up with an elite Special Ops force to stop a supernatural forces tearing through a war-ravaged European city. This high-stakes, action-driven flick evokes the feeling of genre classics and provides a series of new thrills for the streaming audience era.

Spectral was actually filmed way back in 2014.

The Prestige

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%

Christopher Nolan’s magic-driven movie features an all-star cast including the likes of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Scarlett Johansson, and follows two rival stage magicians in 19th century London as they desperately attempt to expose each others’ tricks. A series of terrifying and mind-boggling events ensue as the two become totally consumed by their rivalry.

According to IMDB, the word “prestige” originally meant a trick, from the Latin “praestigium,” meaning “illusion”.

This article was originally published on The Decider