Sci-fi movies are often known for their dense layering of intriguing concepts, as filmmakers create complex worlds bristling with details that are hard to notice on a first watch. This means that some great sci-fi movies get even better when you watch them a second time.

Whether it’s a visual detail hidden in the background or a subtle plot point that helps flesh out the world and the characters, sci-fi movies are filled with exciting discoveries for a second watch, more so than most other genres. Some entertaining movies can lose their luster after the first watch, but sci-fi operates differently.

12

Arrival (2016)

Denis Villeneuve’s Non-Linear Story Requires Closer Inspection

Arrival is based on a short story by Ted Chiang, and it’s translated to the screen superbly. Although the story is about the ways that language can shape our perception of the world around us, Arrival manages to keep these themes intact in a different medium.

Arrival‘s non-linear timeline doesn’t reveal its various intricacies until one great twist toward the ending. As soon as it does, the mysteries and oddities scattered throughout the movie take on new forms of meaning, urging audiences to go back and rewatch Arrival with this information in mind.

11

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Stanley Kubrick’s Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Teeming With Strange Imagery

2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s best movies, and it showcases his mastery of genre once again. It has also impacted science-fiction more than almost any other movie in history, so it’s worth watching multiple times just to pick up on the allusions that other movies make to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

A lot of Kubrick’s strange, confronting imagery in 2001: A Space Odyssey is meant to be felt rather than immediately understood. From the sleek, obsidian monoliths to the multicolored time tunnel and the giant space baby, there’s no shortage of powerful visual metaphors, and multiple watches reveal multiple meanings.

10

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

The Daniels’ Multiverse Romp Overwhelms The Audience

Everything Everywhere All at Once is many things, as the тιтle suggests. It’s a multiverse-hopping sci-fi romp as well as an absurd comedy, a family drama and a quirky martial arts movie rolled into one. The onslaught of bizarre imagery can be difficult to take in on one viewing.

The seeming randomness of the Daniels’ imagery reveals the true meaning of Everything Everywhere All at Once. It’s a movie that dazzles the senses, leaving audiences to sift through the barrage of different realities to form their own meaning from the remnants. Different rewatches might focus on different key metaphors in Evelyn’s story.

9

Annihilation (2018)

Annihilation Is Teeming With Mysteries

Annihilation is based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer, although Alex Garland is forced to fill in some serious gaps. VanderMeer’s book intentionally presents imagery that’s impossible to visualize, creating a sense of Lovecraftian horror at times.

Although Garland produces some more concrete visuals, he maintains Annihilation‘s mysterious allure. It’s still hard to understand why certain events take place, or even what exactly they are. Each rewatch reveals another layer to the mystery of the Shimmer.

8

Us (2019)

Jordan Peele’s Horror Movie Has Been Interpreted In Many Ways

Jordan Peele’s horror movies have all had a sci-fi angle to them, and Us is no exception. Peele’s sophomore effort isn’t as universally beloved as Get Out, but this may be partly because it produces so many perplexing mysteries that take a while to sink in.

The appearance of the Tethered in Us has been interpreted in many ways, with different critics suggesting that they represent Black Americans, Native Americans, the working class, or the id that lives within us all. It’s worth watching Us multiple times to fully consider these ideas, as Peele’s subtle details can point in many directions at once.

7

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

The Legacy Sequel Is As Rich And Complex As The Original

Denis Villeneuve pulled off the impossible with Blade Runner 2049, creating a legacy sequel to one of the most influential sci-fi movies ever that feels worthwhile and just as intelligent. Blade Runner 2049 deepens the themes of the original, while introducing several new ideas.

If Blade Runner asks what it means to be human, Blade Runner 2049 asks whether this distinction should even matter. There are also some fascinating insights into the nature of memory and human connection, both of which benefit from multiple watches. Blade Runner 2099 is set to expand the franchise, even though it looked like Blade Runner was destined to remain a standalone movie.

6

Ex Machina (2014)

The A24 Gem Contains Mulтιтudes

Ex Machina isn’t the most expansive sci-fi movie, but its limited setting and characters create a pressure-cooker effect, ratcheting up the tension until the bitter end. While it’s immediately striking, it’s also worth watching a second time to gain a deeper appreciation for its intelligent approach to its sci-fi concept.

Watching Ex Machina multiple times reveals the depth of its discussion of artificial intelligence, but it also highlights the subtleties of the performance. At its heart, Ex Machina is a powerful human drama, the kind that’s well-scripted enough to warrant deeper analysis with each watch.

5

Paprika (2006)

Paprika’s Kaleidoscopic Dream Worlds Are Packed With Information

Paprika proves that animation is often the perfect medium for sci-fi, creating a rapid-fire succession of mind-boggling imagery that pushes the limits of the genre. Paprika ventures deep into the world of dreams, and its eye-catching imagery is more than just set dressing.

It’s impossible to capture every detail of Paprika on a first watch, since each corner of the frame is filled with curious details, left like breadcrumbs for the audience to discover. These details are often tied to the themes of the story, rather than being random miniature artworks. This makes a rewatch rewarding in more ways than one.

4

Children Of Men (2006)

Alfonso Cuarón’s Dystopia Is Wonderfully Detailed

Children of Men takes place in a near future which has been ravaged by population decline, after humanity mysteriously loses the ability to procreate. While Alfonso Cuarón uses long takes and some explosive action sequences to keep things moving, there’s plenty of fascinating worldbuilding in the background.

Watching Children of Men for the first time, it’s easy to get lost in the frantic pace of the story, but watching it multiple times helps reveal the richness of Cuarón’s world. It also gives audiences a chance to pick up on the religious imagery, subtle performances and parallels to our own society.

3

Moon (2009)

Moon Is Suprisingly Layered, Despite Its Limited Setting

Moon is a shining example of low-budget sci-fi, crafting a fascinating story using a limited setting and cast. Sam Rockwell plays a dual role as an astronaut and his mysterious double. While there are a few minor supporting roles, the film is placed on Rockwell’s shoulders, and he rises to the challenge.

Although Moon is rather straightforward in some regards, it’s crafted with enough care to ensure that there are layers and details which only reveal themselves on a rewatch. Moon feels more authentic and immersive than it’s limitations should reasonably allow.

2

Tenet (2020)

Christopher Nolan’s Knotty Time Travel Thriller Confuses Some People Initially

Like many of Christopher Nolan’s best movies, Tenet refuses to speak down to its audience. It sets up the intriguing sci-fi concept which is in play, but it stops short of overexplaining the idea of inverted entropy, leaving audiences to ᴀssemble the pieces themselves.

For many people, watching Tenet the first time round is like decrypting a fiendish puzzle. It takes another watch to truly appreciate the power of the spy story and the unique action sequences. This could explain why Tenet has been steadily growing in stature over the years, as people have the chance to rewatch it at will.

1

Poor Things (2023)

Poor Things Is Intentionally Jarring At Times

Like any of Yorgos Lanthimos’ movies, Poor Things has a strange, often disturbing atmosphere. It can take some getting used to, so it’s probably best to watch it multiple times to fully grasp the strange Frankenstein-inspired sci-fi tale in all its intricacies.

Poor Things evolves its style as it goes, mirroring Bella’s mental and emotional progression. Lanthimos leaves in countless details which contribute to this effect, even if many of them are easy to miss on a first watch. Poor Things is a richly layered sci-fi story that touches on many themes, although its tone can be overwhelming at first.