10 Best Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix in the US (October 2026)

Netflix's science fiction catalog rotates constantly. Classic titles arrive for a few months, then leave, and that makes "best of" lists go stale fast. This guide to the best sci-fi movies on Netflix is based on the US catalog at the time of writing, as reported through TMDB and JustWatch, and focuses on films that are well loved by audiences and worth your time.

We have mixed crowd-pleasers with thought-provoking picks, and included a quick note on intensity for each, so you can choose a movie that suits your mood.

What counts as science fiction?

Science fiction asks "what if?" about science and technology: space travel, artificial intelligence, alien contact, time travel or the shape of future societies. It often overlaps with horror (Alien), action (Aliens), satire (Don't Look Up) and superhero stories (Into the Spider-Verse). The Wikipedia overview of science fiction film traces the genre from Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon in 1902 to today's blockbusters.

That range is why a sci-fi list can feature a PG animated film alongside an R-rated horror classic. We note the rating for every pick below.

How we picked

We started with science fiction films listed on Netflix US, sorted by TMDB vote count and rating, then chose a balanced mix of eras, tones and subgenres: space horror, superhero animation, satire, dystopia and mind-bending mystery. Titles leave Netflix regularly, so check the Where to Watch box on each film's page before you plan movie night.

The 10 best sci-fi movies on Netflix US

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman · Rated: PG · TMDB: 8.4/10

Teenager Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man and meets Spider-People from other dimensions. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and its comic-book visual style changed what audiences expect from animation. It is funny, heartfelt and suitable for most families.

2. The Prestige (2006)

Director: Christopher Nolan · Rated: PG-13 · TMDB: 8.2/10

Two rival stage magicians in Victorian London, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, sabotage each other in pursuit of the ultimate illusion, and science pushes their rivalry to dark extremes. David Bowie appears as the inventor Nikola Tesla. The Prestige rewards close attention and a second viewing. Read more in our Christopher Nolan movies guide.

3. Alien (1979)

Director: Ridley Scott · Rated: R · TMDB: 8.2/10

The crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo answers a distress signal and brings something deadly aboard. Alien is a landmark of science fiction horror, with Sigourney Weaver's Ripley among cinema's great heroes. It builds slow, claustrophobic dread, so it is not for young viewers.

4. Aliens (1986)

Director: James Cameron · Rated: R · TMDB: 8.0/10

Ripley returns to the alien planet with a squad of Colonial Marines. Cameron turned the original's horror into a relentless action film, and Weaver earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, rare for the genre. Watching both films back to back is a perfect double feature.

5. The Platform (2019)

Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia · Language: Spanish · Rated: R · TMDB: 7.0/10

In a vertical prison, food descends on a platform from level to level, and those at the top eat while those below starve. The Platform is a brutal but clever allegory about inequality. It is graphic, so treat it as adult viewing.

6. Don't Look Up (2021)

Director: Adam McKay · Rated: R · TMDB: 7.1/10

Two astronomers, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, discover a comet headed for Earth and struggle to get politicians and the media to care. This Netflix original satire was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is divisive but frequently funny.

7. What Happened to Monday (2017)

Director: Tommy Wirkola · Rated: R · TMDB: 7.1/10

In an overpopulated future with a strict one-child policy, seven identical sisters, all played by Noomi Rapace, share one public identity, each going out on her named day of the week, until Monday doesn't come home. It is a twisty dystopian thriller with a strong central performance.

8. Starship Troopers (1997)

Director: Paul Verhoeven · Rated: R · TMDB: 7.1/10

Young recruits join a militaristic future society's war against giant alien bugs. Loosely based on Robert A. Heinlein's novel, Verhoeven's film works as a gory action movie and as a sly satire of propaganda, a reading that has grown more popular over time.

9. Elysium (2013)

Director: Neill Blomkamp · Rated: R · TMDB: 6.5/10

In 2154, the wealthy live on a luxurious space station while everyone else survives on a ruined Earth. Matt Damon plays a factory worker who fights his way up. It is a solid action film with a clear social message from the director of District 9.

10. Ad Astra (2019)

Director: James Gray · Rated: PG-13 · TMDB: 6.1/10

Brad Pitt plays an astronaut sent across the solar system to find his father, whose experiment may threaten all life. Quiet and introspective, it is a space film about loneliness and family, and it divides audiences. Choose it when you want something reflective rather than thrilling.

Quick picks by mood

More sci-fi beyond Netflix

Some of the best science fiction films are on other services or available to rent. Christopher Nolan's Interstellar is on Prime Video and Paramount+, and Inception is available to rent at the time of writing. If you are curious about how genre labels work, our beginner's guide to film genres explains what separates science fiction from fantasy.

You can browse all popular titles on our Sci-Fi page and the Netflix platform page, or check Netflix's official What's on Netflix announcements on Netflix Tudum for upcoming additions. For films still in theaters, see our November–December 2026 release guide, which includes Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday.