10 Best Sci-Fi Movies Since the Pandemic, Ranked

Science fiction has experienced something of a resurgence since the COVID-19 pandemic, which is perhaps unsurprising, given that, for a few years, the world closely resembled a Black Mirror episode. Other recent trends, like the growing power of AI and drone technology, the acceleration of social media dysfunction, and the spread of sophisticated surveillance systems, mean that writers and filmmakers have a lot of material to work with.

Filmmakers have harnessed the genre’s potential to reflect societal anxieties and looming existential questions. From mind-bending narratives to visually stunning epics, the new crop of sci-fi classics has managed to be both thought-provoking and entertaining. Many have been embraced by the public, with Everything Everywhere All At Once winning Best Picture and the Dune films raking in big returns at the box office. These are the best sci-fi movies released since the pandemic, ranked by how influential they’ve been in the nearly five years since COVID-19 changed our lives forever.

10

‘Possessor’ (2020)

Directed by Brandon Cronenberg

“Pull me out.” This movie by director Brandon Cronenberg (son of David Cronenberg) follows Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an elite assassin who uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies and execute high-profile targets. As she delves deeper into her assignments, the boundaries between her true self and the personas she inhabits begin to blur, leading to a harrowing internal conflict. Cronenberg uses this premise as a launchpad for a cerebral exploration of identity and control.

Cronenberg channels some of his dad’s style here while adding many individual flourishes. Possessor was only his second feature, yet his command of tone and atmosphere (not to mention unflinching violence) is impressive. His writing is also solid, particularly in the icy opening sequence. Riseborough rises to the occasion with a committed lead performance, and Karim Hussain’s cinematography makes everything look great. The finished product is a slick, smart spin on dystopian themes, sure to please fans of brainier, harder-edged sci-fi.

9

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

“In another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.” The endlessly absurd Everything Everywhere All At Once is a genre-defying odyssey that traverses multiple dimensions. It features Michelle Yeoh at her very best as Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), a laundromat owner who discovers that she alone can save the multiverse from an impending threat.

Here, the Daniels confidently blends sci-fi elements with action, comedy, and existential drama, making for one of the most outrageous movies of the last few years. EEAAO is definitely too wacky for some and risks getting a little too sentimental at times, but there’s no denying its energy or creativity. The highlight might be the stunningly choreographed action sequences, which put an archly humorous spin on classics like The Matrix, Police Story, and Yeoh’s own Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. While the movie may be a little overrated, it’s certainly a fun time and represents a big step forward for the directorial duo.

8

‘After Yang’ (2021)

Directed by Kogonada

“What do you remember?” After Yang is a more subtle and reflective examination of AI, more interested in philosophical musings than dystopian scares or robot action. It revolves around Jake (Colin Farrell) and his family as they grapple with the malfunction of their android companion, Yang (Justin H. Min). Jake attempts to repair Yang, in the process uncovering hidden memories that reveal the depth of Yang’s experiences and his impact on many lives.

The deliberate pacing and minimalist aesthetic create a meditative atmosphere, allowing the audience to mull over its points about the meaning of human life and the nature of our ever-more sophisticated machines. Thus, what could have been a tired premise—an artificial intelligence grappling with feelings—becomes a profound and visually brilliant exploration of humanity, memory, and connection, thanks to director Kogonada‘s light touch. It’ll be interesting to see what he has in store with his upcoming project, the romantic fantasy A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.

7

‘Nope’ (2022)

Directed by Jordan Peele

“What’s a bad miracle?” While not as brilliant as Get Out, Jordan Peele‘s Nope remains one of the more memorable sci-fi movies of the last half-decade. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer lead the cast as OJ and Emerald, horse trainers who encounter a potentially otherworldly presence on their ranch. As they attempt to capture evidence of the phenomenon, the movie spins off into subplots and flashbacks involving vicious animals, the seedier side of show business, and society’s addiction to spectacle.

When it comes to the themes, Peelw’s reach occasionally exceeds his grasp, but Nope still charms with its stylish visuals (major props to legend Hoyte van Hoytema), homage to classic films like King Kong and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and strong acting. The music by Michael Abels is also killer. The overall highlight is probably the sequence involving kid Jupe (Jacob Kim) and the murderous chimp Gordy, which is masterfully constructed and deeply unsettling.

6

‘Tenet’ (2020)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

“Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.” One of Christopher Nolan‘s more divisive efforts, Tenet features (John David Washington) as an unnamed protagonist who is recruited into a secret organization tasked with preventing a temporal apocalypse. Utilizing a phenomenon known as “inversion,” he navigates a world where the flow of time can be reversed, leading to mind-bending confrontations and startling revelations.

Nolan spins this pulpy premise into a high-concept thriller, rolling along at a brisk pace and serving up plenty of stellar action set pieces. Plus, it’s fun to see Nolan filtering spy movie tropes through his perspective. The only drawbacks are the slightly confusing plot, which doesn’t always seem to make sense, and the audio mixing, which makes it a little hard to make out the dialogue at times. Tenet is far from perfect, in other words. However, it’s still a bold and ambitious sci-fi of a kind that’s all too rare these days.

5

‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ (2022)

Directed by James Cameron

“I see you.” Avatar: The Way of Water continues the epic saga of Pandora, focusing on Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) as they navigate parenthood while defending their home from new threats. The sequel introduces the Metkayina clan, a water-dwelling Na’vi tribe, capturing them through stunning underwater sequences set a new standard for CGI and motion capture.

In this regard, The Way of Water follows in the first film’s footsteps by being a true visual marvel, even if some of the story beats miss their mark somewhat. The character development and themes are at least richer than they were the first time around, with the leads feeling a little more fleshed out and a little more compelling. Likewise, the world-building feels organic and immersive, successfully expanding on the already strong foundation without veering into self-parody. Hopefully James Cameron keeps this up with the third installment, Fire and Ash, set for release at the end of this year.

4

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023)

Directed by James Gunn

“We’ll all fly away together… one last time.” In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the titular team must face their most personal mission yet, fighting to save their found family from impending threats. The movie also delves into Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) harrowing backstory, revealing his origins and the cruel experiments conducted on him by the villainous High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). It makes for an emotional conclusion to one of Marvel’s most beloved storylines.

The Guardians movies work because they never take themselves too seriously, serving up jokes, banter, music, cuteness, and vibrant colors rather than grit and grimness. The movie had big shoes to fill but pulled off its landing gracefully, even if it offered some diminishing returns compared to its predecessors. It crams a lot into its 150 minutes, not all of which succeeds, but there are enough sweet moments here to please hardcore fans and casual viewers alike.

Watch on Disney+

3

‘The Substance’ (2024)

Directed by Coralie Fargeat

Possibly the wildest movie of 2024, The Substance stars a career-best Demi Moore as fading celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle, who undergoes cutting-edge treatment to create a hot, young body for herself (Margaret Qualley). However, things quickly go wrong, with the movie spiraling to some dark and monstrous places. The third act, in particular, makes the body horror of David Cronenberg look meek by comparison.

The Substance is like a 21st-century update of The Picture of Dorian Grey in the best possible way. The movie just keeps upping the ante as it rolls along, with the conclusion pulling off several unexpected tricks. There’s comedy amidst the grotesquerie, however, along with some sharp commentary on aging, the entertainment industry, sexism, and beauty standards. The Substance resists easy politicking, however, instead approaching its themes complexly. The result is a wicked, meta, outrageous sci-fi flick unlike anything else in recent years.

2

‘Poor Things’ (2023)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

“Every experience makes us who we are.” Almost as wacky as The Substance is Poor Things, a darkly comedic, visually inventive gem from the master of the offbeat, Yorgos Lanthimos. Emma Stone turns in a fantastic, Oscar-winning performance as Bella Baxter, a woman resurrected by an eccentric scientist (Willem Dafoe) who embarks on a journey of self-discovery across a surreal and satirical world. It’s like a colorful, raunchy spin on Frankenstein, featuring hybrid animals, strange contraptions, and furious jumping.

The cast is stellar across the board, particularly Defoe as the mad but kindly Goodwin Baxter and Mark Ruffalo as petulant man-child Duncan Wedderburn. Lanthimos packages all this absurdity within an immersive steampunk-ish aesthetic. Once again, there’s real thoughtfulness behind the chaos. Stone has said she was drawn to the project by “the idea that you could start anew as a woman, as this body that’s already formed, and see everything for the first time and try to understand the nature of sexuality, or power, or money or choice.”

1

‘Dune: Part One’ and ‘Part Two’ (2021-2024)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

“Fear is the mind-killer.” Claiming the top spot on this list is the one-two punch of Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune adaptations. These epic films chronicle Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) journey as he grapples with destiny, betrayal, and survival on the desert planet of Arrakis. The saga follows his rise to power amid the political and ecological turmoil of the spice trade, a resource central to the galaxy’s future. The director tells the tale with his signature style, including meticulous world-building and awe-inspiring visuals.

The Dune movies represent the most complete sci-fi undertaking of the last five years, balancing big-brain ideas with action, spectacle, and cutting-edge effects. They are blockbuster entertainment for adults, done right. Villeneuve had proved his sci-fi bona fides with Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, but he considerably upped his game with this Frank Herbert adaptation, contributing a new classic to the sci-fi pantheon.

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