The last decade has produced some sci-fi movies that should already be recognized as genre classics, including big franchise movies and original concepts. Looking back at the past decade reveals that the genre is more diverse than ever before. Action blockbusters are still the most popular movies at the box office, but the question of thebest sci-fi movies of the last 10 yearsis slightly different.
There have been someoutstanding sci-fi sequelsin the 2010s, but there’s still room for compelling original ideas. Some of the most interesting and unexpected sci-fi movies of recent years have helped to advance the genre, with popular directors lending their talents to fresh new concepts.
2015 was characterized by the return of huge sci-fi franchises, andMad Max: Fury Roadis just one example.Star Wars: The Force Awakensarrived with plenty of hype, as didJurassic WorldandAvengers: Age of Ultron.There were also some striking original sci-fi movies, like Ridley Scott’s return to the genre withThe Martian.
George Miller never meant to leave such a long gap in hisMad Maxfranchise, butFury Roadproved to be worth the wait. With Tom Hardy replacing Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky,Fury Roadis an all-out thrill ride, set against the backdrop of Australia’s post-apocalyptic outback.The action is phenomenal, but Miller’s sci-fi worldbuidling also deserves credit.
92016 - Arrival
Denis Villeneuve’sArrivalwas the clear standout in 2016’s crop of sci-fi movies, overshadowing big returning franchises likeStar Trek, GhostbustersandIndependence Day.It announced Villeneuve’s transition to the genre, although it was just the first of many hits in the following years.
A recent New York Times poll rankedArrivalas thebest sci-fi movie of the 21st century, and it’s clear to see why. In terms of pure science-fiction, not many films have come close toArrival’s winning blend of jaw-dropping spectacle and intelligent storytelling. The way that the themes directly impact the shape of the story is completely original.
82017 - Blade Runner 2049
Guillermo del Toro’s 2017 masterpieceThe Shape of Waterwon Best Picture, but there’s still a debate to be had over whether it qualifies as a true sci-fi film or a peculiar fantasy of some kind. Of the remaining candidates,Blade Runner 2049is the most worthy of the title of 2017’s best sci-fi movie.
Denis Villeneuve’s follow-up toArrivalis just as absorbing and beautifully shot, but it’s arguably even more impressive due to the ambition of the project. Tackling a legacy sequel to a sci-fi classic comes with a lot of pressure, butBlade Runner 2049tells its own story. It also develops the original movie’s exploration of humanity and control in intriguing ways.
72018 - Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
2018 produced a few interesting original sci-fi movies to go with the usual blockbuster franchises.A Quiet Place, UpgradeandIsle of Dogsall provided something different. The same can be said forSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,which shines a light on a new side of a famous hero that most people will be familiar with.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseis one of the most creative animated movies of the 21st century, completely shaking up the homogenous style of mainstream animation with a glorious and vibrant patchwork of different styles. The sci-fi narrative is just as interesting, smashing together different universities for more than mere shock value.
2019 was a relatively lean year for pure sci-fi movies. Some of the biggest franchises delivered underwhelming sequels, likeStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Terminator: Dark FateandMen in Black: International.There were still some original gems worth watching though, like the low-budget alien invasion thrillerThe Vast of Night, Alita: Battle AngelandAd Astra.
Ad Astraborrows liberally from both2001: A Space Odysseyand Conrad’sHeart of Darkness,but it combines these influences into something with a mind of its own.It’s rare to see a big-budget sci-fi movie with such patience and poise these days.Ad Astra’s deliberate pace won’t suit everyone’s tastes, but its interplanetary journey has the power to captivate.
52020 - Tenet
2020 was a strange year for movies all round, as the pandemic caused huge delays to some of the most anticipated blockbusters.Tenetwas the first major Hollywood tent-pole production in theaters after lockdowns, and it remained the year’s best sci-fi movie.
Like many ofChristopher Nolan’s best movies,Tenetis a cerebral sci-fi thriller that pairs a thought-provoking concept with plenty of cinematic fireworks. It was initially met with mixed reviews, as some people struggled to piece together its tangled, time-traveling plot, but it seems to be undergoing a critical renaissance.As Nolan’s stature continues to grow, so doesTenet.
42021 - Dune
Denis Villeneuve dominated the sci-fi genre once again in 2021, releasing the first of hisDunemovies. Frank Herbert’s novel has shaped science-fiction for decades, but David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation has never been universally admired. After a few high-profile failures to bring the book to the big-screen, Villeneuve seems to have cracked the formula.
Duneis just as epic and awe-inspiring as it should be, welcoming audiences to the world of Arrakis in style. The grandeur of Villeneuve’s adaptation makes the dense lore ofDunemore palatable, so that concepts like Spice, the Fremen and the Bene Gesserit come naturally.
32022 - Everything Everywhere All At Once
2022’s best original sci-fi movies included Jordan Peele’sNopeandM3GAN,while there were also some unusual franchise sequels likeLightyearandPrey. Everything Everywhere All at Oncerose high above the competition, blazing a new trail in sci-fi and eventually winning the Oscar for Best Picture.
Everything Everywhere All at Oncepushes the multiverse to its limits, both thematically and in terms of sheer absurdity. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s view of the multiverse includes endless realities filled with hilariously surreal nonsense.Everything Everywhere All at Oncealso adds some martial arts action to its palette of sci-fi, comedy, drama and romance.
22023 - Poor Things
2023 offered something for everyone in the sci-fi genre, from action-packed blockbusters likeGodzilla Minus Oneto quirky, layered comedies likeAsteroid City.Yorgos Lanthimos’Poor Thingsstill stands out as one of the year’s most surprising and original movies, adapting Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel. Anyone familiar withLanthimos' other movieswill understand why.
Poor Thingsis a twisted take on theFrankensteinmyth, with Emma Stone in Oscar-winning form as a woman implanted with the brain of a child. Lanthimos highlights Bella’s cognitive development by slowly refining the music, colors and visual complexity of his compositions. He also laces her dark and disturbing odyssey with his unique sense of humor.
12024 - Dune: Part Two
Denis Villeneuve pulled off the impossible once again withDune: Part Two,further cementing his status as the sci-fi genre’s greatest director of the past decade. By improving on his already superb first movie, he has crafted a duology for the ages, giving Frank Herbert’s novel the adaptation it deserves.Dune: Part Threeis already in the works.
AlthoughThe Substance, The Wild RobotandFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaare all standouts from 2024, it’s hard to compete withDune: Part Two.The sequel has the feeling of an instant classic, with scenes like Feyd-Rautha’s gladiator battle and the opening ambush during the eclipse showing the true potential of big-screen sci-fi.
