The Best Sci-Fi Movies to Binge Watch Now

Blade Runner (The Final Cut)

Early in the 21st century, robot evolution advanced considerably and a giant multinational company, called the Tyrell Corporation developed the Nexus range. These were artificially created humans, known as replicants. The Nexus 6 models were superior in strength and agility and at least equal in intelligence, to the genetic engineers who built them. They were used for manual labor in the hazardous colonization of other planets. However, after a particularly gruesome mutiny by a Nexus 6 combat team in an off-world colony, Replicants were declared illegal on Earth. Special police squads, called Blade Runner units, were used to track down and shoot any trespassing replicant. Now, six replicants have escaped and made their way back to Earth and it's up to one man (Harrison Ford) to hunt them down.

Why you should watch: This is one of the greatest movies ever made. Period. Despite being made 40 years ago, it still stands the test of time. The story clever and compelling, it's visually stunning and it features an incredible cast that delivers career-topping performances. Moreover, it's regarded the default, defining cyberpunk-styled cinematic motion picture and has influenced countless other sci-fi movies since. There are a few different variations, from the significantly different "theatrical release" to the "director's cut," but this is the only version over which Scott had complete artistic and editorial control.

Chappie

"Chappie" explores some interesting ideas, set in the familiar Blomkamp setting of South Africa. (Image credit: Columbia Pictures)

Synopsis: In the near future, the crime-ridden streets of Johannesburg in South Africa are patrolled by law enforcement robots. When one police droid, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. Needless to say, the criminals see the opportunity to have a robot on their side and immediately set about attempting to train the robot to help them in their illegal activities.

Why you should watch: This is the third of Neill Blomkamp's big-budget sci-fi movies, following the epic "District 9" "and the only-ever-so-slightly-less-epic "Elysium." Despite an impressive cast that includes Sigourney Weaver, Hugh Jackman and Sharlto Copley however, "Chappie" is arguably the weakest of the three — but that's not to say it isn't well worth a watch, consider this a bronze medal winner. It remains infinitely more entertaining than many of the why-did-they-make-this sci-fi features that somehow still end up on Netflix, "Cosmic Sin" for instance.

Dark Skies

As the Barrett family's peaceful suburban life begins to unravel as an escalating series of disturbing events take place around their home. They come to learn that a terrifying and deadly force is after them, one which may have arrived from beyond the stars.

Why you should watch: More science fiction/thriller/horror than purely sci-fi, this is a longer, darker version of Barry's abduction in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." More suspenseful than scary, the predatory aliens we see in this movie like to mess with people's minds before actually abducting them. It's effectively unsettling and is a little like "The Twilight Zone" meets "Poltergeist." The cast includes a lot of people you'll recognize from something you watched at some point, including Keri Russell ("Mission Impossible III"), Josh Hamilton ("Alive") and J.K. Simmons, most recently seen in "The Tomorrow War ."

I Am Mother In the wake of humanity's extinction, a teenage girl is raised by a robot designed to repopulate the earth, but their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger arrives with alarming news.

Why you should watch: Before "Raised With Wolves" came "I Am Mother," which also deals with the notion of robots raising humans. This Australian indie film stars Hilary Swank and features the voice of Rose Byrne; the story is well-written and relative newcomer Grant Sputore does an excellent job of directing, keeping your attention focused, right up until the plot twist at the end. It's simple and very effective.

Mars Attacks!

It's a normal, run-of-the-mill day for everyone on our peaceful planet, until the President of the United States (Jack Nicholson) announces that a fleet of flying saucers has been spotted circling Earth having travelled through space from Mars. After a less-than-perfect attempt at communication is made, a landing site is chosen and a first contact meeting is arranged. However, not everything goes to plan and the Martians seem to have other plans for Earth.

Why you should watch: Sure, there are other alien invasion movies, like "Battle Los Angeles" or even "War of the Worlds" but there are none quite like this. This is a sci-fi comedy that bears that the trademark warped humor of director Tim Burton, who taps into the pulp-style, comicbook look and feel from the 50s and 60s. Slick special effects are accompanied by a fairly straightforward story and a truly interstellar cast, including Pierce Brosnan, Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Annette Bening, Michael J. Fox, Martin Short and Tom Jones. a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading.