A veritable treasure trove of science fiction is available to watch on Amazon Prime; much is free to view with your standard subscription and even more is available if you feel like paying a little more. So settle back and soak up some superb sci-fi from the safety of your sofa.
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Movies
1. Alien
Synopsis: The crew of a deep space commercial hauling ship is unwittingly re-routed while in hypersleep to investigate the origins of a mysterious transmission. Once awake, they travel to the surface of a desolate planet and discover a giant derelict spacecraft…and a thoroughly unpleasant alien parasite. Things get progressively worse after that.
Why you should watch: Simply put, "Alien" is not only one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, it's one the best movies ever made. Period. The production design is extraordinary, the story is simple but brilliantly effective, the tension is built up flawlessly and the performances from every member of the cast are incredible. Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt, Yaphet Kotto, Harry Dean Stanton and Ian Holm star in what is probably Ridley Scott's finest film.
Free with a STARZ trial on Prime Video
2. Alien 3
Synopsis: Written as a direct successor to the epic sequel "Aliens," this picks up the story of the USS Sulaco survivors, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Hicks (Michael Biehn), Bishop (Lance Henriksen) and Newt (Carrie Henn). Unfortunately — and er, somehow — an alien facehugger made it aboard the Conestoga-class troop transport ship, causing an electrical fire the automatic emergency escape procedures to activate. Consequently, Ripley et al crash land on Fiorina 161, a maximum security prison. When a series of strange and deadly events occur shortly after her arrival, she realizes that she too has unwittingly brought along another unwelcome visitor.
Why you should watch: The production of this movie was fraught with problems, to say the least, so much so that director David Fincher wanted his name removed from the credits. And despite some slightly suspect events in the first few minutes that weren't necessary really, if there was actually going to be a third "Alien" movie, it actually has a mostly solid story, strong cast and ingenious set pieces. The special edition features an extended chase sequence through the maze of tunnels within the prison facility, but this theatrical release is still worth a watch.
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3. Alien: Resurrection
Synopsis: Two hundred years after the events of Alien 3 and [spoiler alert] Ripley's death, she is cloned onboard a military vessel, outside of any borders or jurisdiction, from blood samples taken from Fiorina 161, specifically to grow a Ripley that has the alien queen inside her. It's surgically removed and lays eggs. Since this grand experiment hasn't exactly been authorized, a band of smugglers provides the hapless crew of a hijacked commercial transport in stasis as fodder for the facehuggers. Needless to say, the aliens get loose and the military ship begins its automated return back to Earth.
Why you should watch: This foray into the "Alien" franchise is by far the weirdest. The third act climax is pretty…out there. A great cast — including, Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Michael Wincott, Winona Ryder and Sigourney Weaver — sadly can't stop this from also being the weakest entry into the anthology (we're not including the disappointing prequels in that assessment). There are however, some nice set pieces and the production design is of the high standard we've come to expect from "Alien" movies.
Free with a STARZ trial on Prime Video
4. Armageddon
Synopsis: NASA detects an extinction level event-sized asteroid on a direct collision course with Earth and even if every single nuclear missile on the planet were to be simultaneously launched, it would have no effect. Consequently, a plan is hatched to land a shuttle-like spacecraft on the hurtling asteroid and drill into it to plant a nuke and detroy it that way. And so a team of roughneck deep core drillers are trained to become astronauts because in the mind of director Michael Bay, it's easier to teach a blue-collar oil rig worker the ups and downs of arguably the most difficult job in the world…as opposed to the other way around.
Why you should watch: NASA detects an extinction level event-sized asteroid on a direct collision course with Earth and even if every single nuclear missile on the planet were to be simultaneously launched, it would have no effect. Consequently, a plan is hatched to land a shuttle-like spacecraft on the hurtling asteroid and drill into it to plant a nuke and destroy it that way. And so a team of roughneck deep core drillers are trained to become astronauts because in the mind of director Michael Bay, it's easier to teach a blue-collar oil rig worker the ups and downs of arguably the most difficult job in the world…as opposed to the other way around.
Free with Amazon Prime
5. Arrival
Synopsis: When a fleet of 12 giant alien spacecraft arrive and gently hover over different locations around the world, a linguistics professor (Amy Adams) must lead a team of investigators struggling to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors. However, paranoia and distrust from different governments threatens to not only bring the world to war, but also the destruction of the spacecraft themselves. It's a race against time to prove that the intent of these innocent and unaware aliens is not hostile, before humankind does its usual thing.
Why you should watch: This is by far one of the most believable first contact stories in contemporary sci-fi cinema. The aliens are so alien, their concepts so utterly weird and wonderful; writers Eric Heisserer and Ted Chiang and director Denis Villeneuve, together created one of the most masterful alien encounter movies ever seen on the big screen, because everything would be so totally different and difficult to comprehend. Strong performances, especially by Adams also go a long way to making this compelling viewing.
Free with Amazon Prime
6. Attack the Block
Synopsis: Set during the uniquely British celebration of Guy Fawkes Night, so lots of fireworks going off, a teenage gang in South London inadvertently stumble across what appears to be an alien invasion. When they manage to kill one, they are unaware that their clothes are tainted with pheromones of the dead creature and thus attract more. Now they're running for their lives and struggle to defend their housing estate block from an all-out invasion of these blind wolf-apes. It is only when they hide in a marijuana grow room with UV lights, that the pheromone contamination becomes visible. Old rivalries and territorial disputes must be put aside as the surviving gang members hatch a plan to lure the creatures into an ambush.
Why you should watch: This movie is great fun...and that's about it. It's not a big-budget, Michael Bay blockbuster, it's a small-scale independently-made feature that more or less launched the career of John Boyega. It's well-written and thankfully doesn't take itself too seriously, plus there are a couple of fun cameos too. In essence, this is a great warm up flick, for a night-long marathon of sci-fi horror movies for Halloween.
Free on Amazon Prime
7. Battle Beyond the Stars
Synopsis: In what is to all intents and purposes "Seven Samurai" set in space, a young farmer, Shad (Richard Thomas) sets out to recruit a band of mercenaries to defend his peaceful planet, which is under threat of invasion by the evil tyrant Sador (John Saxon) and his army of Malmori mutants. Sador possesses a deadly "stellar converter" beam weapon on his formidable warship and threatens to use if the people of Akira don't surrender to his rule.
Why you should watch: This B-movie with a bigger budget than most has an important part to play in the history of sci-fi cinema. It launched the career of James Cameron, who was working in the art department and this is where he met his future production partner and wife Gale Anne Hurd, which resulted in "The Terminator" and "Aliens." Producer and director and B-movie maestro, Roger Corman, sadly had to use much of his budget just to pay overpriced stars George Peppard and Robert Vaughn, but the end result is still good fun, plus the James Horner soundtrack is great (this was his first major motion picture score).
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8. Battleship
Synopsis: An international fleet of naval warships encounters an alien armada while on a Naval war games exercise and faces the biggest threat mankind has ever faced. An intense battle is fought on sea, land and air. If they lose, the world could face a major extinction event and an alien invasion. Will humans win this alien war, what are the aliens doing here, and what do they want?
Why you should watch: The premise of this movie is mostly nonsense, but it's a well-made popcorn flick and as such, surprisingly enjoyable. The plot doesn't stretch the imagination and it's kept relatively simple, but the connection to the board game, on which this is very loosely based, is cleverly incorporated. The action is exciting, the accompanying rock ballads are well placed and thankfully it's not overloaded with cheese. A solid cast including Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Godley and Rihanna, all deliver solid performances in fun, entertaining, military-themed sci-fi movie.
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9. The Blackout
Synopsis: The Earth has been attacked by a mysterious force from space, but it's not like any attack you might imagine. The whole planet has been robbed of power and plunged into darkness; nothing works, anywhere…with the exception of a random circular area of eastern Europe, encompassing part of western Russia, southern Finland, Belarus and northern Ukraine. It turns out that the position of the Moon relative to Earth shielded this part of the world from the deadly energy weapon fired from far outside the range of lunar orbit. Now, as the actual alien invasion begins, military forces gather inside the "circle of life" in a desperate effort to save all life as we know it.
Why you should watch: This is a Russian indie sci-fi flick that is extremely enjoyable. It has high production values despite not having a blockbuster budget, the performances are good, and an unusual story with a good twist at the end makes this a solid sci-fi movie worth making time for.
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10. Cowboys & Aliens
Synopsis: Set in 1873 in the New Mexico Territory, a stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. He quickly discovers that the townsfolk don't welcome strangers and everyone lives under the ruthless rule of Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the town is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation.
Why you should watch: Based on the graphic novel published in 2006, this is an entertaining mix of two very disparate genres. Despite being well worth a watch, with Harrison Ford possibly giving his best performance since "The Fugitive," this movie didn't exactly set the box office on fire. It has however, slowly gathered a cult following since its theatrical release in 2011. Jon Favreau directs a strong cast including Clancy Brown, Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde and Daniel Craig, who tragically, still hasn't mastered an American accent.
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11. The Day After Tomorrow
Synopsis: Paleoclimatologist Jack Hall discovers a huge ice sheet has sheared off in Antartica, but what he doesn't know is that this event will trigger a massive climate shift that will affect the world population. Meanwhile, his son Sam is with friends in New York City, and after a series of weather-related disasters begin to occur all over the world, everybody realizes the world is about to enter a new Ice Age and the world population begins trying to evacuate to the warmer climates of the south.
Why you should watch: Hmmm. There is a reason...just let me remember what it was. Ah yes, maybe to watch New York City flood, then freeze over. This is a mildly entertaining end-of-the-world disaster flick with a good cast on paper at least. The problem is that the actual character played by Jake Gyllenhaal is incredibly annoying. And in fact, so is his entire story arc. Dennis Quaid makes up for it a little bit, but not enough to ever watch this movie more than about three times.
Free with Amazon Prime
12. Elysium
Synopsis: Set in the very near future, only 120 years or so, just two distinct classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a giant space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. On the odd occasion a space-worthy craft manages to leave Earth, full of refugees desperate for the advanced medical aid available, it is guaranteed to be destroyed by missiles before it reaches the orbital utopia. On Earth, a lowly factory worker is accidently exposed to a fatal does of radiation and his only chance is to get to the space station. To make the trip before he succumbs to radiation poisoning, he must have an exoskeleton surgically fused to his body. And so he sets out to bring equality to the people of Earth.
Why you should watch: While not quite as good as "District 9" this should still be considered a masterpiece from visionary writer and director Neill Blomkamp. His idea of what the near future will look like is probably the most accurate in science fiction movies and this is reflected in all of his movies, regardless of quality. As such, he has successfully carved a consistent visual style for himself, something very few sci-fi writers and directors can claim, with the exception of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Ridley Scott, George Miller and one or two others. An utterly amazing cast, including Jodie Foster, Matt Damon, William Fichtner and Sharlto Copley add to the awesomeness of this movie and only a slightly excessive ending prevents this excellent movie from becoming an epic.
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13. Encounter
Synopsis: Malik Khan, a decorated Marine (Riz Ahmed), goes on a rescue mission to save his two young sons from an strange, alien threat. As their journey takes them in increasingly dangerous directions, the boys will need to leave their childhoods behind. However, is this this threat real, or is it all in Khan's mind?
Why you should watch: If you have a thing for extreme close ups of insects, then this movie is definitely for you. If you enjoyed Invasion then you'll probably enjoy this; it's a beautifully filmed, character-driven sci-fi. OK, it has a few plot holes, and it even suffers from a few clichés, but thankfully, these can be fairly easily overlooked. You'll soon get drawn into the enthralling "is-he, isn't-he" plot, which is boosted further by phenomenal performances from Ahmed and Lucian-River Chauhan and Aditya Geddada, who portray his two sons.
Free with Amazon Prime
14. Ender's Game
Synopsis: In the not-too-distant future, a hostile alien race has attacked Earth. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International Military seek to find a future leader who can save the human race. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy but strategically brilliant young mind, is recruited to join the elite, where he's trained to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth.
Why you should watch: Attempts to take the series of novels by Orson Scott Card onto the big screen date back to the late 90s and tragically this attempt, despite actually making it to film and boasting a pretty fine cast, was considered a box office failure. But, much like another sci-fi franchise that suffered a similar fate, "John Carter of Mars," it's lack of commercial success does not automatically mean it's a bad movie. You should give it a go if you haven't already seen it.
Free with Amazon Prime
15. E.T. The Extraterrestrial
Synopsis: Accidentally left behind by his crew mates as they race to lift off, a harmless extraterrestrial gets stranded on Earth, surrounded by a totally alien environment. Alone and fearful, he's fortunate to be discovered by a 10-year-old boy named Elliott, who — after the initial shock — decides to take him in. Little by little, a unique bond forms and as the Government closes in, Elliott and his friends must work fast to find a way to reunite E.T. with his otherworldly family.
Why you should watch: Do we really need to explain this one?! This is up there with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" as one of Spielberg's best movies, ever. Granted, even the movie-making legend himself suffered a temporary George Lucas Moment and had all the police officer's and FBI agent's guns and gun holsters digitally changed into walkie-talkies for the movie's 20th anniversary release, but at least he realized later that was a terrible mistake. Why? Because this film, like so many others, is a time capsule: it portrays society at that time...and tragically, we haven't improved much since then.
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16. Good Night Oppy
Synopsis: The film follows Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rover affectionately dubbed Oppy by her creators and scientists at NASA. Oppy was originally expected to live for only 90 days, but it ultimately explored Mars for nearly 15 years.
Why you should watch: This is an inspiring documentary by Ryan White and for those that aren't aware of this fascinating story, it will almost certainly prove to be insightful. Opportunity and Spirit were identical probes and travelled for over six months to reach Mars. Spirit was launched on July 7, 2003 and Opportunity followed three weeks later. Angela Bassett provides the narration and frankly her voice is like autonomous sensory meridian response and will effectively provide any calming sensation that might be required at the end of a particularly hard day at work.
Free with Amazon Prime
17. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
Synopsis: Arthur Dent's house has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new bypass, but this is the least of his problems as it turns out that the planet Earth has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new hyperspace express route. Thankfully though, it also turns out that his friend Ford Prefect isn't from Guildford after all, but in fact from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, and has been long aware of the Earth's impending demise. Together they manage to escape and along the way learn the true history of the universe.
Why you should watch: For decades, fans of the works of Douglas Adams ached for a "Hitchhiker's" movie as until this attempt in 2005, there had only been the underrated 1981 TV mini series (see TV Shows below) and the radio drama adaptations. Tragically, despite a dynamite cast including Martin Freeman, Yasiin Bey, Zooey Deschanel and Sam Rockwell, many of subtleties and nuances of the source material — that the 1981 series manage to capture — are lost. However, it's good fun and Stephen Fry is almost as good as the legendary Peter Jones as the Voice of The Book. Hulu was rebooting this series, but Space.com has since learned that sadly is no longer the case.
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18. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Synopsis: Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) returns to his small town practice to find several of his patients suffering the paranoid delusion that their friends or relatives are impostors. At first he's skeptical, especially when the alleged doppelgangers are able to answer detailed questions about their victim's lives, but he's eventually persuaded that something peculiar is going on and becomes determined to find out what it is.
Why you should watch: This is truly classic science fiction and should be held in similar regard to other epic, groundbreaking sci-fi movies of the late 50s, including "The Day The Earth Stood Still," "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" and "The Thing From Another World." It's actually based on a serialized story by Jack Finney that appeared in Collier's magazine in November 1954 and was published in book form the following year. An uncomplicated plot together with incredible performances from McCarthy and the angelic Dana Wynter make this a case study in how to produce a thrilling sci-fi/drama screenplay featuring an early and extremely effective example of flashback storytelling.
Free with Amazon Prime
19. Moonraker
Synopsis: For no real reason other than he believes mankind has squandered its chance for life on Earth, billionaire bad guy Elon Musk Hugo Drax, plans to kill off all of humanity — no animals would be hurt — with the super-deadly toxic nerve gas. Mass-produced from a rare orchid, the gas would be launched in torpedoes-of-sorts from an orbiting space station, which forms part of Drax's new space empire. Naturally, perfect physical human specimens would later return to Earth and form the foundation of a new race that will worship Drax as their god. British Secret Service agent James Bond must do everything in his power to prevent this.
Why you should watch: Roger Moore is arguably the weakest Bond out of the bunch and many of his seven servings as Britain's super spy look somewhat dated upon rewatching. That said, if you're Gen X or older, they do occupy a unique and special place in cinematic culture. "Moonraker" marked the first outing to space for James Bond as the franchise fell over itself to capitalize on the sudden interest in everything sci-fi following the recent runaway success of "Star Wars." (Although Sean Connery nearly made it to low Earth orbit in "You Only Live Twice.") Incidentally, all of the Bond movies are now on Amazon Prime…because they own them now.
Free with Amazon Prime
20. Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary
Synopsis: Filmmakers and stars discuss the filming and social effects of "Galaxy Quest," a parody-of-sorts of "Star Trek: The Original Series" with insightful and entertaining commentary not only on science fiction, and the success of "Star Trek" itself, but on the real-life actors themselves.
Related: 'Galaxy Quest 2' is 'a fabulous script' according to Tim Allen
Why you should watch: Who isn't a fan of "Galaxy Quest"? It's often called the second best "Star Trek" movie ever made (after "The Wrath of Khan" of course) and you might think you know all the trivia connected with the making of "Galaxy Quest," but this documentary made by the Screen Junkies team will still surprise you. The cast talk about their experiences making the movie and how close the TV series actually came, before the tragic, untimely departure of the great Alan Rickman. You'll laugh and you'll cry a little bit, but most of all, you'll enjoy the best movie about fandom in another, new way as a result of watching this documentary. Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell, Tony Shalhoub, Justin Long, Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, Rainn Wilson, Missi Pyle and Dean Parisot, all share their thoughts on this epic sci-fi comedy.
Free with Amazon Prime
21. Prometheus
Synopsis: Upon discovering evidence in a cave in the Hebrides that life here began out there, an accomplished archaeologist (Noomi Rapace) along with her partner (Logan Marshall-Green) and a 17-man crew embark on an ambitious, deep-space scientific expedition funded by Peter Weyland himself (played to perfection by Guy Pearce). The team sets foot on the rocky terrain of a desolate exomoon to investigate the existence of the extraterrestrial species known as the "Engineers." But a terrifying discovery threatens not only the outcome of the mission but also the very future of humankind.
Why you should watch: Ridley Scott's "Alien" prequel looks incredible, but sadly, a terrible story sucks all the substance from the stunning visuals and incredible production design that one has come to expect from Scott. As a standalone movie, it's enjoyable, but as far as actually making any sense whatsoever within the "Alien" or universe or timeline…well, forget it. Despite their best efforts, the phenomenal cast can't save it either. Along with those already mentioned, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba also star and Benedict Wong once again plays Benedict Wong.
Free with an AMC+ trial on Prime Video
22. RoboCop (1987)
Synopsis: Set more or less in the present day, a giant corporation steps in to take over the running of local law enforcement following a strike by police officers responding to worsening personal safety conditions. Meanwhile, a prototype cyborg police officer is also being developed that requires the participation of a human subject, all they need is "some poor schmuck to volunteer." When it turns out that the CEO of said Evil Corporation is in cahoots with the Crime Boss of the whole city, events take a deadly turn for everyone involved.
Why you should watch: This is a contemporary classic. The over-the-top violence and less-than-subtle sub-themes are all an extremely accurate representation of the capitalist-fuelled culture that we've created for ourselves. All the while, it successfully retains a moving storyline as writer and director Paul Verhoeven masterfully intertwines action, well-written dialogue and very dark humor. Plus solid performances from Peter Weller, fresh from "Buckaroo Banzai," along with Nancy Allen, Miguel Ferrer, Ronny Cox, Dan O'Herlihy and the legendary Kurtwood Smith.
Free with Amazon Prime
23. RoboCop (2014)
Synopsis: In the not too distant future, multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Now the giant corporation wants to incorporate their controversial technology to the domestic market and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy — a loving husband, father and honest cop doing — is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.
Why you should watch: This movie should've been a worthwhile remake, at least as good as the original. However, ludicrous amounts of interference from Sony studio executives ensured that it would never reach its full potential, despite the best efforts of director José Padilha, who has publicly talked about the experience. He wasn't even allowed to produce an R-rated movie, this is PG-13; a far cry from the original. Even a frankly mind-blowing cast, including Joel Kinnaman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Jackie Earle Haley and Gary Oldman, tragically couldn't save it. But, it's still worth a watch, not least for the interesting reinterpretations that have been woven into the fabric of story.
Free with Amazon Prime
24. The Running Man
Synopsis: By 2017 the world economy has collapsed. Food, natural resources and oil are in short supply. A police state, divided into paramilitary zones, rules with an iron hand. Television is controlled by the state and a sadistic game show called "The Running Man" has become the most popular program in history. All art, music and communications are censored. No dissent is tolerated and yet a small resistance movement has managed to survive underground. When high-tech gladiators are not enough to suppress the people's yearning for freedom...more direct methods become necessary.
Why you should watch: During the second half of the 80s and the first half of the 90s, a whole slew of truly epic sci-fi movies were produced, including "Predator," "Total Recall," "RoboCop" and "The Running Man" to name just a few. This is actually based on a Stephen King novel, back when he was starting out and still wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. It doesn't take itself too seriously and yet is frighteningly prophetic. There's a healthy dose of gratuitous violence and solid performances from an impressive cast, including Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Marvin J. McIntyre, Richard Dawson and of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even "Star Trek: Discovery" borrowed heavily from it in the episode "Scavengers" (S03, E06).
Free with Amazon Prime
25. Stargate
Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck archaeologist, whose unusual theories about aliens and ancient Egypt are ridiculed by his peers, is recruited to decipher an ancient hieroglyph on mysterious giant ring-like device found in Giza in the 1920s. It turns out that his theories were actually correct and he's able to unlock the device, which then activates a wormhole portal between worlds on different sides of the galaxy.
Related: 'Stargate' and 'RoboCop' reboots in the works at Amazon
Why you should watch: This is the movie that spawned one of the most successful television sci-fi spin-off franchises in history. Kurt Russell stars as Colonel Jack O'Neill and James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, two roles that were perfectly filled by Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks in the TV show.
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26. Terminator Genisys
Synopsis: When John Connor, leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured time-line. Now, Sgt. Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he is faced with unlikely allies, including the another T-800, dangerous new enemies, and an unexpected new mission...to reset the future.
Why you should watch: Despite a mind-blowing cast that includes Jason Clarke, J.K. Simmons, Matt Smith, Courtney B. Vance and of course Arnold Schwarzenegger, plus Emilia Clarke and Jai Courtney, this sci-fi sequel struggles. That said, it's still better than "Terminator: Dark Fate," but only just. This sits up there with "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" in that it can be on the television on a Saturday afternoon while you're doing household chores at the same time. It's fun to glance at every now and again, but it's impossible to take seriously, like the first two movies in the franchise, which is a shame, but that's what happens when you attempt to add too many timelines to a time-travel franchise.
Free with Amazon Prime
27. The Time Machine (2002)
Synopsis: Based on the classic sci-fi novel by H.G. Wells, scientist and inventor, Alexander Hartdegen (Guy Pearce), is determined to prove that time travel is possible. His determination soon becomes desperation as he's beset by a personal tragedy that now drives him to want to change the past. Testing his theories with a time machine the he creates, Hartdegen is hurtled 800,000 years into the future, where he discovers that mankind has become both the hunter and the hunted.
Why you should watch: This is a not unreasonable adaptation of the original novel. Yes, one or two small elements have been tweaked or changed, but all things considered, this is quality, classic sci-fi. A stellar cast led by Guy Pearce helps as he's joined by Jeremy Irons and Samantha Mumba to name just two. Perfect Sunday afternoon science fiction.
Free with Amazon Prime
28. The Tomorrow War
Synopsis: Set in the present day, a group of time-travelling soldiers from the future appear during the Qatar World Cup final and announce that in just 30 years in the future, all of mankind is on the brink of annihilation by race of particularly unpleasant aliens. Among those chosen to travel forward in time is former soldier (naturally) and schoolteacher Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) who teams up with both seasoned veterans and raw recruits to save the human race.
Related: 'The Tomorrow War' won't win any awards, but it's watchable
Why you should watch: This is very much a popcorn sci-fi blockbuster, equal to the likes of "Independence Day" or "Battle: Los Angeles," and in fact you will notice the influence of other sci-fi movies like "The Thing" or "Edge of Tomorrow" and "Millennium" throughout. And while this won't win any awards for the story writing, it's wanton destruction on a massive scale.
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29. War of the Worlds (1953)
Synopsis: This interpretation of H.G. Wells' classic novel is a little more old school that the Spielberg remake. The residents of a small town in California are excited when a flaming meteor lands in the hills. Unfortunately, scientific curiosity soon gives way to...well, you know, global genocide, as the invading horde of alien war war machines attempts to wipe out the human race. That old chestnut.
Why you should watch: This was the very first attempt to bring HG Wells' epic sci-fi novel to the silver screen and while it's obviously going to be set in the US, rather than England, the switch to Corona, California, about 50 miles south-southeast of Los Angeles proper does not detract from the thrilling story. The sci-fi flick was ahead of it's time, unusually like one or two other of the period, including "Forbidden Planet" and of course the unsurpassed, original "The Day the Earth Stood Still" – definitely not the remake, 'cause that's awful.
Free with Amazon Prime
30. War of the Worlds (2005)
Synopsis: Tom Cruise plays a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father, but not long after his ex-wife and her new husband drop off his teenage son and young daughter for a weekend visit, a peculiar and powerful lightning storm suddenly starts in the skies above New Jersey. What follows is the extraordinary battle against Martian invaders seen through the eyes of a dysfunctional American family struggling to stay alive in this contemporary adaptation of H.G. Wells classic sci-fi story.
Why you should watch: Here's the thing: once you get past the absurd part of the plot that has the Martian tripod war machines having been buried on Earth, then this is actually a pretty good movie. Cruise is frankly brilliant and so is Dakota Fanning and Tim Robbins, it's just such a shame that Justin Chatwin's character is so incredibly annoying. There is a massive underlying theme reflecting on the events of 9/11, but thankfully it's not too obvious and Steven Spielberg handles the set pieces as you'd expect, with creative cinematography and masterful direction.
Free with a Paramount+ trial on Prime Video
31. What We Left behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Synopsis: Showrunner Ira Steven launched the fundraising campaign a couple of years ago and what followed was an incredible tribute documentary looking at the history of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" that features interviews with almost every member of the cast, including Nana Visitor, Terry Farrell, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig and Andrew Robinson. Sadly though, Avery Brooks' contribution is limited to archive footage.
Why you should watch: If you're a fan of "DS9" than this is a must-watch; not only are the insights intriguing and often emotional, but the fictional first episode of a hypothetical new series, crafted together in a writers room packed full of the best writers in "Star Trek" is inspired. There's a look back at the early reviews (and how negative they were), the casting decisions and the issues faced throughout production. This documentary also marks the first time any footage from "DS9" has been remastered in high definition including a portion of the main battle sequence from "Sacrifice Of Angels" (S06, E06).
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TV shows
1. The Expanse
Synopsis: A police detective in the asteroid belt, the first officer of an interplanetary ice freighter, and an earth-bound United Nations executive slowly discover a vast conspiracy that threatens the Earth's rebellious colony on the asteroid belt. Along the way, evidence of alien life is discovered and a series of ring gates located near Uranus are unlocked that lead to totally new locations through the universe. Meanwhile, the major factions in the Solar System (Earth, Mars, the Outer Planets Authority and the Belters) fight amongst themselves and ultimately threaten all life on Earth.
Why you should watch: "The Expanse" has well and truly earned its place among the titans of TV sci-fi, up there along with "Battlestar Galactica" and "Babylon 5." It's by far the most cerebral sci-fi currently on television. You can catch up on everything that happened in Season 1 to 3 here, and a lot happened. Then you can catch up with everything that happened in Season 4 here. Personally, we believe seasons 1 and 2 were ever so slightly better than 3 and 4, but that doesn't in any way mean they're not worth watching. Then along came Seasons 5 and 6 and blew everyone's socks off. It is brilliant. The plot is incredibly complex and engaging and the individual performances are exceptional.
Free with Amazon Prime
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Synopsis: Arthur Dent's house has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new bypass, but this is the least of his problems as it turns out that the planet Earth has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new hyperspace express route. Thankfully though, it also turns out that his friend Ford Prefect isn't from Guildford after all, but in fact from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, and has been long aware of the Earth's impending demise. Together they manage to escape and along the way learn the true history of the universe.
Why you should watch: This one is a real treat and will unquestionably appeal to fans of British humor and more specifically, the epic humor of Douglas Adams. Made in 1981, this is still (tragically) the best adaptation that's been brought to either the big or small screen. The visual effects certainly haven't stood the test of time, but that's not why you're watching it; you're watching it because it shows beautifully how the relationship between Arthur Dent (Simon Jones) and Ford Prefect (David Dixon) develops.
Free with with a BritBox trial on Prime Video
3. Humans
Synopsis: Set in a parallel present, the latest must-have gadget for any middle-class family is a "synth" — a technologically advanced, a highly-developed robotic servant, eerily similar to its human equivalent. In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban family purchases a refurbished synth only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences.
Why you should watch: Based on the Swedish science fiction drama Äkta människor, this was an adaptation written by the British team Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley, that lasted for three, eight-episode seasons before it was sadly cancelled. The concepts in this show aren't particularly groundbreaking, but what makes it compelling viewing is the quality of writing, high production values and stellar casting. It's a compelling analysis of human nature and our reactions to technology and it beautifully reflects so many issues facing us, in the real world, today.
Free with Amazon Prime
4. The Man in the High Castle
Synopsis: Loosely based Philip K. Dick's novel, this alt-history story looks at what the world might look like if World War II had ended differently. In this dystopian scenario, the Axis powers won the war, leading to the USA being divided into three zones: Imperial Japanese, Nazi and a buffer zone between the two. Despite the oppression, hope emerges when some mysterious cans of film turn up that seem to show a parallel world — and even more bizarrely, footage of different versions of the same people. A woman, Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos) believes the films contain the key to freedom and is determined to find their elusive guardian — the man in the high castle.
Why you should watch: Alt-history is a difficult genre to perfect without descending into a cascade of clichés. If you're a fan however, you should definitely check out the works of Harry Turtledove, a writer who nails it every single time. This show can be hard going at times and the Juliana Crain character can be extremely frustrating. That said, Rufus Sewell, who plays Obergruppenführer John Smith, is magnificent to watch. There are four seasons, and yes, the show does dip a little bit in the middle, but it picks up in the fourth season. Stick with it.
Free with Amazon Prime
5. Night Sky
Synopsis: The series centers around Franklin and Irene York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet. They've carefully guarded their secret ever since, but when an enigmatic young man enters their lives, the Yorks' quiet existence is quickly upended, and the mysterious chamber they thought they knew so well turns out to be much more than they could ever have imagined.
Why you should watch: It's very much a character driven story, with almost all the focus on Sissy Spacek's and J.K. Simmons' characters as they struggle with getting old. If you enjoyed "Invasion" on Apple+ last year, then you'll definitely enjoy this. It's slow paced, but the incredible performances easily carry this and it will be interesting to see where exactly the writers take us.
Free with Amazon Prime
6. The Peripheral
Synopsis: Sometime in the near-future in a small town in rural America and focuses on Flynne — a young woman whose only escape from the daily grind is playing advanced video games — and her older brother, Burton. Flynne (yes, it's a nod to "Tron") is such a good player, that her brother often lets her play for him, whenever money is at stake and they need it. But when a mysterious new prototype system, with full body sensory capability, is sent to him, he let's her use it first...and it opens up a dangerous, but exciting, new world full of adrenaline and adventure.
Why you should watch: This one has proved divisive with its audience and here's the simple truth: if you enjoyed shows like the monotonous, meaningless and utterly overrated "Westworld" or even "Lost," then you might like this. It's based, very loosely, on the 2014 book of the same name written by William Gibson. However, the equally overrated Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy were executive producers, which explains why this is such a monumental train wreck and it's a damn shame, because Gibson's novel is excellent—as you'd expect—and the first three episodes actually showed promise. Sadly, not even Chloë Grace Moretz or Gary Carr could save it.
Free with Amazon Prime
7. Space: 1999
Synopsis: Moonbase Alpha is a research colony nestled in the Lunar crater Plato. Along with scientific study, it also monitors silos of atomic waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side. On September 13th 1999, disaster strikes; a build up of magnetic energy causes an explosive chain-reaction of the waste, blasting the Moon out of Earth's orbit and off the plane of the ecliptic, out of the Solar System. The inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha are trapped, unable to return to Earth and wander the galaxy on their unique celestial spacecraft.
Why you should watch: From the mind of Gerry Anderson, who also gave us "Thunderbirds," this one benefitted from an amazing cast, including the phenomenal Martin Landau, together with Barbara Bain and Nick Tate. The first season is currently available to watch and while many of the practical effects look dated today, don't forget that this show — and especially the first season — contained some pretty horrific scenes, in particular, "Dragon's Den" (S01, E08), that mentally scarred many young sci-fi fans at the time.
Free with ads on Amazon
8. Stargate SG1
Synopsis: Set a few years after the movie and following the successful mission to the planet Abydos, the Stargate program was shut down. Or it was, until someone dials the stargate and the System Lord Apophis and two Jaffa warriors unexpectedly enter the Cheyenne Mountain complex; they kidnap a poor USAF officer and quickly retreat, suggesting there's a much bigger threat in the galaxy than was first perceived. Col. O'Neill is brought out of retirement to lead a new expedition back to Abydos to find an old friend — Dr. Jackson, a new enemy — the Goa'uld and 214 glorious episodes of Naquadah-fuelled action and adventure.
Why you should watch: This is one of the best, long-running sci-fi shows ever produced for television with an impressive 214 episodes ("Star Trek: The Next Generation" only managed 176) plus two spin-offs, each with characters that you quickly become invested in, great plots, comedy, drama and well-written dialogue. All of which results in all-round, high-quality sci-fi entertainment. In all honesty, you should watch this to enhance your enjoyment of "Stargate Atlantis" (below) as that was really the peak of this franchise. "Universe" too was also exceptional and it took the show in a completely new direction, but it was the success of this show that enabled those two to be made.
Free with Amazon Prime
9. Stargate: Atlantis
Synopsis: Basically, this is a spin-off from the incredibly popular "Stargate SG1" and incorporates many of the same characters as it takes place concurrently with the events towards the end of the "SG1" series run. More stargate addresses have been found, including some now that are in a completely different galaxy. Upon exploring these, a fantastic city has been discovered at the bottom of an ocean on a planet in our nearest neighboring galaxy. Turns out that it was constructed by the "ancients" — the same race who originally built the stargates.
Why you should watch: If you thought Jack O'Neill was cool, just wait until you meet John Sheppard. Seriously, this guy has a composure that makes test pilots look like anxiety-ridden teenagers. This second spin-off hits the ground running and only gets better. In particular, the developing relations between Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and his team, Ronin Dex (Jason Momoa, oh yes), Teyla Emmagan (Rachel Luttrell) and of course Dr. Rodney McKay, played by the brilliant David Hewlett. Every season of this sci-fi surpasses that last, until the very end (season 5) when you'll be left wanting more. This is probably the most rewatchable sci-fi ever made for television.
Free with Amazon Prime
10. Stargate Universe
Synopsis: Following a surprise attack on the Alpha Site, a group of soldiers and civilians have little choice but to use a stargate address that incorporates the "ninth chevron" taking them to a deserted space cruiser built by the Ancients millions of years ago that itself is billions of light-years away from Earth. With little or no control of the ship, the team encounters new races, new technology and new enemies as the runaway ship travels to the far ends of the universe.
Why you should watch: "Battlestar Galactica" changed sci-fi forever; suddenly dark, gritty and more mature sci-fi was all the rage — it was a renaissance — and the makers of the "Stargate" franchise didn't want to be left behind. The result was a new spin-off totally unlike any other "Stargate" show and it was brilliant. A totally new situation gave the writers the opportunity to lay the groundwork for some extremely complex and captivating relationships set onboard this ancient spacecraft hurtling through the heavens. The ongoing friction between Dr. Rush (Robert Carlyle) and Col. Young (Louis Ferreira) was just one of many well-written sub plots. Sadly "Universe" was cancelled after just two seasons, but it should consider itself up there with some of the best sci-fi TV has given us.
Free with Amazon Prime
11. Tales From the Loop
Synopsis: A small backwater town has a scientific research facility built underneath it, exactly like the Large Hadron Collider at the CERN facility that lies on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland. But the people of this town experience all kinds of weird events and strange phenomena. Each episode follows one townsperson, or a particular group of townspeople, and their experiences with "the loop."
Why you should watch: What an incredibly brilliant idea. Why wouldn't a super-accelerated particle smasher designed to uncover the mysteries of the universe not create super-weird events and interdimensional portals?! The premise of this show is quite possibly one of the most simple and effective we've ever seen. Using the existing notion of a sub-atomic research facility, which we're all already familiar with, as a frame for a "Twilight Zone"-style, "X-Files"-esque, episodic show featuring stories about the "strange and unexplained" is genius. Strong writing and exceptional casting make the week-by-week adventures of the fictional town of Mercer, Ohio addictive viewing.
Free with Amazon Prime
12. Thunderbirds
Synopsis: In the near future, a billionaire philanthropist has used his extensive knowledge, resources and wealth to create a non-profit, independently operated rescue organization. Using specifically designed, technologically advanced vehicles, including two supersized aircraft, two space vehicles and a submarine, the father — Jeff Tracey and his five sons, Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan — constantly monitor events around the world and then selflessly rush to the scene, wherever it might be, to save lives and avert total disaster.
Why you should watch: The man behind "Thunderbirds," Gerry Anderson, also gave the world "Space: 1999," "UFO," "Captain Scarlet" and "Space Precinct." Some of his shows were live action and others, like "Thunderbirds," were made using puppets. This was done largely to make the demanding special effects scenes possible and as a result, this show features some of the very best model work ever seen on either the large or small screen. The original "Thunderbirds" show is a classic and should be enjoyed as such.
Free with ads on Amazon Prime
13. Upload
Synopsis: When a computer programmer Nathan Brown (Robbie Amell) dies prematurely, his socialite girlfriend pays the expensive fee to have his consciousness uploaded to the exclusive Lake View resort for the recently deceased. However, depending on what she chooses to accept to pay for, he finds some simple elements of his life are restricted. As Nathan adjusts to digital heaven, he begins to develop feelings for with his customer service representative in the real world, Nora (Andy Allo). She is struggling with the pressures of her job, her dying father who does not want to be uploaded and her own growing feelings for Nathan while slowly coming to believe that Nathan was murdered.
Why you should watch: "Upload" was with a doubt one of the highlights of 2020; creator Greg Daniels ("Parks and Recreation" and "The Office") did a phenomenal job of creating a believable, dark comedy, set in the very near future, with so many worryingly realistic plot elements. Sadly though, the second season lacks the less-is-more magic that Season 1 had and takes the story into a very different place. If you were a fan of the first season, this is still worth a watch...but it's not quite as good. However, the show has been picked up for a third season, so fingers crossed now that the pandemic is well and truly behind us, the next season won't suffer as badly as the second one did.
So there you have it! A look at our picks for the best sci-fi movies and TV shows on Amazon Prime. You can sign up for Amazon Prime here. After the 30-day free trial, a subscription costs $12.99 per month or $119 for the year.
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