Many different Sci-Fi

movies have been released lately that could likely be considered classics sometime in the future, recognized by audiences as pinnacles of storytelling in the specialized genre, even if they were somewhat less appreciated in their time. The last few years have seen stiff compeтιтion in science fiction, offering viewers a litany of films to watch and enjoy. Only the best of the best rise to the top, standing alongside even the greatest, timeless sci-fi classics.

There are many different reasons that a bizarre sci-fi film might be considered a cult classic in the years to come. The characters are especially important, and in many iconic instances, there are sci-fi films where the villains outshine the heroes. This, coupled with the engaging narratives presented in even the most recent sci-fi films, makes for some modern movies that will likely be considered classics someday.

10

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

This American Film Is Based On A Japanese Manga

Based on the manga Battle Angel Alita, Alita: Battle Angel is a cyberpunk adventure brought to life by James Cameron, the mind behind bonafide sci-fi classics including The Terminator, Aliens, and even Avatar. Not nearly reaching the heights of these тιтles, this film focuses on the тιтular Alita, an amnesiac cyborg with a human brain, who is found cast aside in a junkyard by a scientist. One day, she and the scientist are ambushed by dangerous cyborgs, leading to a plot filled with fighting and intrigue.

Like many of Cameron’s films, the special effects in Alita: Battle Angel are incredible to behold. While many American adaptations of Japanese manga often end up as poor iterations of the original source material, this film manages to avoid most of the pitfalls so many adaptations suffer. It is a film that is filled with emotion, crafting a narrative that is painted in unexpected strokes.

9

Annihilation (2018)

This Film Is Both Sci-Fi & Cosmic Horror

Another strange film that exists as an adaptation, Annihilation spends its time operating both as a detailed science fiction film as well as a cosmic horror story. Taking place when a mysterious force begins to cause any life it touches to rapidly evolve, a group of scientists goes to investigate. What they find is both confusing and compelling, leaving one to question the beauty and horror that can be found in nature.

With haunting imagery and a story that will leave viewers guessing, Annihilation is a unique viewing experience that uses its beautiful cinematography to both inspire and frighten anyone watching. The performances are spot on, delivered by an all-star cast that includes Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac. For those wanting a sci-fi film that will stick with them, Annihilation is the perfect watch.

8

The Angry Black Girl And Her Monster (2023)

This Film Retells A Gothic Classic

Operating as a retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster begins with a teenage girl named Vicaria. Growing up with a childhood full of violence, Vicaria eventually loses not only her mother but her brother as well. She uses her genius to bring her brother back to life, akin to Frankenstein’s monster in the original text, but things begin to go wrong when she realizes that her resurrected brother is hell-bent on revenge.

Not only does The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster bring new life to an old classic, but it also does an incredible job of marrying it with the genuine fears of a modern audience. The themes within are executed well, without ever going overboard. It is both painful and eloquent, creating a terrifying world that in reality expertly reflects our own, perhaps a bit too well.

7

Asteroid City (2023)

Wes Anderson Crafts A Stylistic Sci-Fi World

Built from the ground up in a beautiful, retrofuturistic rendition of the year 1955, Asteroid City is a layered story with a unique framing. The film is a supposed documentary about a play taking place in town, with the play being about a group of young people attending a Junior Stargazer Convention. As work on the documentary progresses, a conspiracy about UFOs and atomic testing begins to unravel.

The film is incredibly beautiful, relying on Wes Anderson’s colorful and instantly recognizable style to create a science fiction world that feels like something completely its own. Despite a more contained narrative, the story is never boring, inviting viewers to really get into the fun and sometimes ridiculous world that Craven has built. It is a modern classic in the making that treads off the well-trodden path, crafting something that is truly enchanting.

6

The Creator (2023)

This Heartbreaking Film Is Larger Than Life

In a world where artificial intelligence has advanced and humanity has turned its back on this new form of life, U. S. Army Sergeant Joshua Taylor is tasked with infiltrating a group of AI sympathizers. Initially wanting to bring the downfall of these machines, Joshua discovers a small child that looks human but is actually robotic. His entire worldview is challenged, and Joshua decides to protect this child, now called Alphie, from the humans who would have her destroyed.

The Creator is a deeply personal look at humanity’s relationship with technology, examining whether these robots could be an extension of humanity. The film looks through its themes with love at its core, empathetic from beginning to end. While this is the case, it also does not shy away from the violence that comes with fighting for one’s place, making the viewer really care about the characters, both human and AI.

5

Nope (2022)

Another Sci-Fi Film That Dives Into Horror

Ever since the release of his film Get Out, comedian Jordan Peele has been recognized as one of the greatest horror directors of our generation. This only continues with his movie Nope, which follows a pair of siblings who come across a UFO. It is from there that the siblings attempt to lure in the UFO and domesticate it, almost as if it were one of their horses.

Nope is not only incredibly creative but also manages suspense in a way that keeps people hanging on the edge of their seats. The film inspires a sense of awe, captured both through its visceral camerawork and the mᴀssive scale of those featured within its narrative. Both visuals and narrative work together to make something larger than itself, making for one of sci-fi’s most grand and yet down-to-earth experiences to date.

4

Poor Things (2023)

This Film Is Another Rendition Of Frankenstein Done Right

Written in the setting of historical Victorian London, Poor Things takes on the challenge of crafting a science fiction story in a time long pᴀssed. Based on yet another novel, the film sees a woman brought back to life through a brain transplant. She is given the mind of a child and must learn through a child’s eyes what the world is like once again, essentially becoming a completely different person in the process.

Poor Things completes the Herculean task of writing a science fiction story in a time when science was not as advanced as it is today, while still making the film believable enough for the audience. It does this while being incredibly stylish, improved by Yorgos Lanthimos’ witty and often uncomfortable directing style. Though often bizarre, this is part of the movie’s charm, and it is precisely what will allow Poor Things to be remembered years from now.

3

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Family Drama Across A Multiversal Stage

Everything Everywhere All at Once is a film that tackles the multiverse in one of the most heartfelt and creative ways possible. Following protagonist Evelyn Wang and her family, it begins with her struggles to keep the family’s laundromat business afloat. However, when she is visited by an alternate-reality version of her husband, Waymond, she is dragged into a multiversal world where everything is possible.

Though the film often dips into the more ridiculous implications of what a multiverse could really mean, it does this while remaining true to themes of family and how difficult it can be when you are unkind to those you love most. This is most evident in Evelyn’s relationship with her daughter, as a multiversal version of her becomes the main villain of the film. The action in this movie is one of the most amazing parts of it, coordinated viscerally as a treat for the eyes.

2

The Substance (2024)

One Of The Most Horrifying Recent Sci-Fi Films

Beginning when aging actress Elisabeth Sparkle is fired from her job as an aerobics starlet, The Substance is a brutal film that details the horrible treatment of women in entertainment and the beauty standards that society so unfairly upholds. After being fired, Elisabeth finds herself in a dangerous car accident. While she is in the hospital, a nurse offers her a mysterious drug that will split her into a younger version of herself that she can live vicariously through.

However, things are not as simple as they seem. When Elisabeth’s body splits into her younger version, Sue, she is literally ripped open from her back in all the gory detail it could possibly imply. The Substance executes its themes with ᴅᴇᴀᴅly precision, using horror and disgust to make a point about how Hollywood and, more generally, society view women.

1

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

This Netflix Release Is Full Of Drama & Comedy

Finding the right moments to be both tragic and deeply hilarious, They Cloned Tyrone is a story about a single suburban neighborhood known as the Glen. The story kicks off when a drug dealer named Fontaine is killed in the middle of the night by one of his customers. However, those living in the Glen begin to discover a much deeper conspiracy when Fontaine shows up again the next day, seeming to be perfectly fine.

With a storyline that ramps up at an exponential pace, They Cloned Tyrone takes the idea of cloning and government conspiracy and amplifies it to the next level. The story is satisfying, allowing the viewer to put the puzzle pieces together alongside the main cast of characters. This sci-fi film is one of the best in modern cinema because of the strong emotions it can draw from the viewer, demanding investment in the cast through comedy and tragedy alike.