The Best Sci-Fi Movies Of 2024 So Far

We expect quite a few films have blown audiences away in 2024, but from the looks of it, sci-fi is particularly promising this year. A slate of highly anticipated science fiction films is scheduled for release in 2024. Some grand space operas are in the lineup, as are haunting dystopian nightmares and hyped-up prequels. There's even an intriguing genre-bending entry from French cinema. 2024 is surely delivering fine entertainment to sci-fi fans everywhere.

Whether you prefer splashy, action-oriented sci-fi fare, more thoughtful, meditative films that ponder what it means to be human, or animated features that delight, this year should deliver a bit of everything. That includes new entries in existing franchises, as well as ambitious productions from veteran filmmakers that hopefully wow audiences.

A slew of film adaptations of novels, novellas, and graphic novels are dropping this year, as well as some independent sci-fi films that are on our radar. If you're at a loss about what movies to see, don't forget to check in quarterly with Looper as we update you about all the sci-fi new releases that are blowing our minds and are totally worth your time.

Cast: Rebecca Creskoff, Rob Benedict, Kadeem Hardison

Director: Rebecca Eskreis

Rating: Not rated

Runtime: 85 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

The sci-fi genre hit the ground running this year with January's "ClearMind." The film blends horror with a subtle dose of sci-fi and centers around Nora (Rebecca Creskoff), a grieving mother studying the applications of virtual reality in trauma therapy. When Nora's ex-husband, Michael (Rob Benedict), accidentally tells her that their mutual friends, Tom (Kadeem Hardison) and Shannon (Toks Olagundoye), are hosting a party to get everyone from their extended friend group together, Nora gets angry because they haven't invited her.

Nora crashes the party and, with the use of virtual reality, exacts revenge on everyone she feels turned their back on her after the tragic death of her daughter at a pool party the previous year. The movie explores upsetting realities, like how friendships and marriages often dissolve after the death of a child, and how sometimes while grieving, people feel abandoned by fair-weather friends who don't think they are fun to be around anymore.

Despite these intense story elements, the movie has a wicked streak of dark comedy offsetting the horror. "ClearMind" is an under-the-radar gem with a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes – although it might not be for everyone, as it does have lower audience scores. Cast with familiar faces, but no big names, this revenge tale is geared toward those with a twisted sense of humor and perfectly crafted for audiences who enjoy rooting for truly despicable characters to get what they deserve.

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 166 minutes

Where to watch: Max

The year's first quarter started strong, delivering an operatic blockbuster poised to garner Oscar nods next year. "Dune: Part Two" is an epic that's sure to become a sci-fi classic, even if it gets some things totally wrong from Frank Herbert's book. The second film follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he learns the ways of the Arrakis desert, while fighting alongside the Fremen against the Harkonnen clan responsible for his father's death.

Paul's pregnant mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), moves into a position of power amongst the Fremen as their new Reverend Mother because of her training with the Bene Gesserit, and encourages Paul to take his place as the leader known as Lisan al Gaib. Although Paul is committed to fighting the Harkonnen forces with the Fremen, he resists becoming this messiah — who's prophesied to unite the Fremen in an uprising against their oppressors — as his visions suggest he would become a force of destruction.

"Dune: Part Two" highlights Herbert's anti-colonialism message and paints Paul in much darker tones than earlier film interpretations, while exploring the gravity of destiny. The second film in the purported trilogy has once again proven that Denis Villeneuve is an auteur filmmaker who can deliver breathtaking blockbusters that garner widespread appeal without sacrificing his creative vision. The spectacular ending of "Dune: Part Two" has left audiences waiting for the announcement of a third film to conclude the story.

Cast: Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr.

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Rating: R

Runtime: 96 minutes

Where to watch: Paramount+

Although "I.S.S." screened at three film festivals in 2023, the film's theatrical release wasn't until January 2024. The high-stakes story takes place on the International Space Station as nuclear warfare erupts below on Earth. The American astronauts, including newly-arrived rookie astronaut Dr. Kira Foster (Ariana DeBose), are pitted against the Russian cosmonauts when their respective governments order them to secure control of the space station at all costs, leading to betrayal and violence as the damaged craft slowly careens toward Earth's burning atmosphere.

"I.S.S." depicts these scientists as they struggle with their consciences while contemplating the orders they have received. Some fold under political pressure and loyalty to their country, while others succumb to panic. Dr. Foster maintains a cool head, relying upon her internal moral compass to tell her whom she can trust, rather than looking for an obvious enemy in the Russian scientists. "I.S.S" has a great cast, and this fraught story explores our more basic instincts for survival when resources become scarce.

A somewhat timely film given the current political climate, "I.S.S." asks the audience to consider the most extreme outcome of our inherent tribalism as humans. This film challenges us to look beyond ideologies and imaginary lines on a map to see each other's humanity instead of just our nationality.

Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Aldis Hodge, Edwin Hodge

Director: Kourosh Ahari

Rating: Not rated

Runtime: 88 minutes

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy

"Parallel," written by Jonathan Keasey and brothers Aldis and Edwin Hodge (who also star), blurs the lines between horror and science fiction with a story about a married couple who have retreated to a remote lake house to grieve the first anniversary of their son's death. When Vanessa (Danielle Deadwyler) is attacked by an identical version of herself while hiking in the woods, she discovers a place connecting alternate realities and different versions of herself, her husband Alex (Aldis Hodge), and his brother Martel (Edwin Hodge).

The film is a metaphor for being lost in the depths of grief, and an illustration of the cyclical nature of grief's stages. "Parallel" shows how the path out of grief is not a straight line, because we revisit previous stages before we can move on to acceptance. The cast all deliver excellent performances, and the film skillfully explores the horrors of the multiverse via the lens of family trauma.

"Parallel" (which is a remake of Lei Zheng's award-winning film "Parallel Forest") raises questions about free will versus destiny, showing how each choice creates a ripple effect even though some aspects rarely change. Despite the myriad of alternate lives Vanessa glimpses, she nearly loses hope that there is a reality where her son never died. The film suggests that despite being free to choose, our lives often follow a certain arc. "Parallel" proves that the Hodge brothers have a future as both writers and actors.

Cast: Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano

Director: Johan Renck

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 minutes

Where to watch: Netflix

Based on "Spaceman of Bohemia" by Jaroslav Kalfař, Netflix's "Spaceman" is a melancholy and meditative existential voyage to the edge of our galaxy, where Jakub (Adam Sandler) has been sent on a solo mission to collect samples from a purple space cloud that's appeared in Earth's night sky. As Jakub travels farther from Earth than any man has, he grapples with the disintegration of his marriage to Lenka (Carey Mulligan), whom he left pregnant back on Earth. 

Becoming despondent when his wife ceases communicating, Jakub encounters a spider-like alien hitching a ride in the spaceship. The astronaut is unsure if the creature is real or a hallucination from the mental pressure of being "the loneliest man in the world." Although Jakub is initially terrified, the alien, named Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano), befriends the astronaut. They ease each other's loneliness as they travel through space, although it is never clear if Hanuš is real or a creation of Jakub's psyche.

"Spaceman" is a bizarrely beautiful exploration of loneliness and the necessity of community and connection, suggesting this need is universal. While it might not be a hit with audiences who prefer action-packed space operas, it will appeal to viewers who enjoy thoughtful stories that grapple with our tendency to self-isolate. Sandler turns in the most reserved performance of his career, while Dano's Hanuš wins our hearts with each utterance of "skinny human."

Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens

Director: Adam Wingard

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 115 minutes

Where to watch: Max

Sometimes, nothing hits the spot like watching two giant CGI creatures beat up another, slightly bigger CGI creature, as evidenced by "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" blowing everyone away at the box office. Director Adam Wingard's follow up to the pandemic-era smash-hit sequel "Godzilla vs. Kong," "The New Empire" sees the titular unlikely duo reuniting for a threat far more dangerous than anything this world has seen before. As of writing, it is the third-highest-grossing film of 2024.

If you're a fan of previous Monsterverse projects, then "The New Empire is absolutely a must see. It raises the stakes in terms of visual spectacle and narrative scale, and introduces new iterations of characters longtime "Godzilla" fans are sure to love. And for those new fans, who perhaps found their way into the this decades-old franchise by way of last year's sleeper hit "Godzilla Minus One," "The New Empire" is another thrilling "Godzilla" tale that delivers on all the monster mayhem you'd expect, but with a lighter, pulpier story.

As of July 4, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" is streaming exclusively on Max, which is great news for subscribers looking for something fun to watch this weekend. Otherwise, it's available to rent or buy through most video-on-demand services.

Cast: Léa Seydoux, George MacKay, Guslagie Malanda

Director: Bertrand Bonello

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 145 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

If you're looking for a piece of science fiction that offers not escapism, but a fearless trek into the depths of uncomfortable problems just on the horizon, then Bertrand Bonello's "The Beast" (aka "La Bête") will probably be more your speed. Originally screened at the 80th annual Venice International Film Festival in 2023 and currently in the midst of a gradual theatrical rollout across Europe, "The Beast" confronts the immediacy of the artificial intelligence dilemma, specifically in regards to how it may alter our relationships with our work and with one another.

The world of the film is only two decades in the future, but the machines have already made humans largely irrelevant in the global workforce. The primary weakness identified in humans by this dystopian new world order is emotion. As such, some opt to undergo a DNA purification process that supposedly helps conquer irrational feelings and in turn leads to better jobs. Léa Seydoux plays Gabrielle, a young woman just beginning to undergo this treatment, which will in due course fling her across time and memory on a heartbreaking but cathartic journey of self-discovery.

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins

Director: Benjamin Brewer

Rating: R

Runtime: 92 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

If you're a fan of the sort of sci-fi horror popularized by John Krasinski's "A Quiet Place" films, you'll probably find "Arcadian" to be the hidden gem you've been searching for. This is especially true if you think the aforementioned films could be improved with a healthy dose of Nicolas Cage.

Cage stars alongside "It" breakout Jaeden Martell and "Lost in Space" star Maxwell Jenkins. The trio play a struggling family surviving on a secluded farm in the aftermath of a global apocalypse, which led to an emerging race of inhuman killers who stalk their prey at night. Director Benjamin Brewer and scribe Michael Nilon (who produced the modern Cage classics "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" and "Willy's Wonderland") also use the rustic, post-apocalyptic setting to explore themes of masculinity and manhood.

Though some audiences have had their suspension of disbelief challenged by the low-budget special effects "Arcadian" relies on to bring its central threats to life, the majority of critics found it to be a tense, effective, and surprisingly memorable thriller that wastes little time and even less of Cage's talent. It is not currently streaming on any services (not even its native Shudder, though that may change in time), but is instead available to rent or buy through most VOD services.

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny

Director: Alex Garland

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

Likely to be remembered as one of the year's biggest surprise hits, A24's sci-fi political thriller "Civil War" had an absolute stranglehold on film fans when it was released in April. The tight but ambitious feature takes audiences on a journey through a dystopian near-feature version of America, all through the literal lenses of photojournalists Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) and Jessie Cullen (Cailee Spaeny). Together, with reporters from The New York Times and Reuters, they travel across a country divided into thirds in order to interview the tyrannical American president instigating the chaos (Nick Offerman).

Penned and directed by mid-budget genre darling Alex Garland (who likely caught your attention with "Ex-Machina" and/or "Annihilation"), the film combines the existential anxieties of his most recognizable work with the brutal action of 2012's "Dredd," which he wrote. And for those understandably exhausted with red-versus-blue, right-versus-left political discourse after another taxing election year in the U.S., it's worth noting that "Civil War" is surprisingly ambiguous in terms of actual political criticism or analysis, instead focused on capturing the aftermath of total, violent national division. While some might find this frustrating, it may be the factor that allows others to make it through the film without a panic attack.

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Sebastian Chacon

Director: Caitlin Cronenberg

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

Some might argue that the best science fiction stories are intrinsically as ambitious as they are divisive, and nobody embraces this better than the Cronenbergs. In her feature film directorial debut, Caitlin Cronenberg (daughter of David Cronenberg) dives head first into the deeply upsetting and disturbing with "Humane," a dystopian horror-thriller written by Michael Sparaga. It's been perceived by some critics as a sort of sci-fi update of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," as it tracks an ill-fated family through a depressing and deadly journey of interpersonal rot.

In a future where environmental disasters have exacerbated crises caused by limited resources and overpopulation, the governments of the world have mandated that 20% of the population must die in order to save the remaining 80%. In the midst of this movement, anthropologist Jared York — a controversial idealogue who unflinchingly and publicly champions this method of population control — is invited to a family dinner, where he is stunned to learn his own father has elected to be euthanized that evening. Before a government-backed death squad arrives, Jared and his siblings are asked to decide which of them will die with their father to make the world a safer place. Given how selfish and entitled they are, the resulting implosion is just as cathartic as the rest of the film is distressing.

Cast: Léa Drucker, Mathieu Amalric, Daniel Njo Lobé

Director: Jérémie Périn

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 89 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

Fans of films like "Blade Runner" and "I, Robot" will without question want to check out the animated thriller "Mars Express," a brilliant movie from French director Jérémie Périn that's one of the best animated movies of 2024. It came out in France in November 2023, then GKIDS acquired the North American rights and released it Stateside in May 2024. This crime neo-noir takes audiences to the near-ish future of the 23rd century, where the human race has successfully colonized the titular planet and filled it with an ever-expanding, neon-soaked techno-metropolis that screams cyberpunk. And, of course, they have also built androids to do their bidding. 

"Mars Express" follows quintessential noir detective Aline Ruby (Léa Drucker), who finds herself reluctantly roped into a missing persons investigation with surprisingly wide implications. The persons in question are two college students who have purportedly learned how to hack androids and "free" them from human control. While one can safely assume that Ruby's investigation will take her down a winding path of conspiracies and socially disruptive discoveries, there's little if anything predictable about "Mars Express." It's a fast-paced, mentally titillating mystery that will have you breathless and pensive by the end of its short runtime.

Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand

Director: Wes Ball

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 145 minutes

Where to watch: Only in theaters

2024 has had a summer of sci-fi spin-offs, with studios delivering brand new chapters in beloved franchises that can be enjoyed by fans old and new. While most take the form of stand-alone prequel stories, the box office hit "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" went down a different road by flinging the narrative just far enough into the future that you don't need to be an ape-ficionado to watch it.

All you need to remember about the previous three films is that someone injected a chimpanzee called Caesar with a serum while trying to cure Alzheimer's, and now apes have evolved to have their own parallel society to humans on a post-apocalyptic Earth. The new installment is set several generations later, following a new era of apes who's leader believes in the total subjugation of humanity. As he embarks on a genocidal campaign to achieve global dominance, dissenters from within choose to work with the struggling humans to ensure their survival.

Fans of previous films in the series will no doubt enjoy the critically acclaimed "Kingdom," as it explores the same themes: Liberation, warfare, and coexistence, but now examines them through characters who grew up in the world that Caesar and his comrades helped to create. In short, come for the meditations on society, stay for the incomparable action set pieces.

Cast: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Helena Howard

Director: Jane Schoenbrun

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 100 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

The gripping story of "I Saw the TV Glow" is its main strength, but the sharp direction and distinctive aesthetic help set it apart form other sci-fi horror films. "Detective Pikachu" and ""Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" star Justice Smith leads this deeply personal story. Smith's Owen and his childhood best friend Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) reconnect over an old and remarkably disturbing TV show they used to watch together. While Owen has relegated it to the annals of nostalgia in his mind, Maddy has remained transfixed by it.

When Maddy's interest in the show starts to border on obsession, she vanishes from their suburban town, leaving behind nothing but a burned-out TV set. Forced to reckon with her disappearance, the mysteries she implanted in his mind, and his own growing disillusionment with reality in suburban America, Owen too finds himself increasingly drawn into the world of his TV (figuratively and literally) as he tries to find a path forward. Though it shares some foundational DNA with classic lost media analog horror, it's a strikingly original film that stays with you long after the credits have rolled.

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke

Director: George Miller

Rating: R

Runtime: 148 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

It may have taken almost a decade, but visionary director George Miller's follow-up to "Mad Max: Fury Road" has finally arrived in the form of "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga." Focusing on Anya Taylor-Joy's titular protagonist (with Charlize Theron having passed the torch), "Furiosa" takes us back to her childhood and through an epic journey spanning several years and locations in the Wasteland. Though other familiar characters appear as younger versions played by new actors (such as future "Fury Road" antagonist Immortan Joe), the prequel is still totally accessible to fans who haven't seen a single "Mad Max" film.

If the lure of another chapter in the "Mad Max" story and some of Miller's uniquely stylistic action directing isn't enough to bring you on board for this wild ride, "Furiosa" also gives fans of Chris Hemsworth the chance to see him play a full-on villain for once. Though his megalomaniacal Dementus may have some shades of the same muscle-bound buffoonery audiences have come to expect from the Thor actor, the undertones of his character are so boldly and disgustingly evil that it's hard to recognize him as the friendly Asgardian we've grown to love in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cast: Christopher Sean, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita

Directors: Shannon Tindle, John Aoshima

Rating: PG

Runtime: 117 minutes

Where to watch: Netflix

If you need a sci-fi movie you can screen for the whole family, there's arguably no better choice right now than Netflix's "Ultraman: Rising." This dazzling all-ages animated feature provides an accessible entry into the beloved Japanese franchise, combining the imaginative kaiju-based storytelling it's known for with more conventional superhero stylings that will be recognizable to the young ones in your crew.

Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) is the titular Ultraman, a towering superhero given the responsibility of protecting Earth from equally massive kaiju threats. Being relatively new to the gig, Ken struggles to balance his duties as Ultraman with the life he wanted to live (he's a pro baseball player by trade), a juggling act that becomes harder when a baby kaiju imprints on him. Now caring for a destructive (yet undeniably cute) mini-Godzilla while fighting against a swath of enemies, Ken's values are put to the ultimate stress test.

Younger audiences will enjoy the film's quick pacing, sharp sense of humor, and visually stunning action sequences, but older fans have plenty to engage with, as well. Ken's struggles with becoming a parent (along with his efforts to process his strained relationships with his own parents) might hit particularly close to home for some. And if not, it's still a rip-roaring good time.

Cast: Isla Fisher, Greg Kinnear, Ryan Guzman

Director: Christian Ditter

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 86 minutes

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent

The "Groundhog Day"-inspired film "The Present" has a decidedly 1980s feel to it, in the best of ways. It centers on three children whose parents (played by Isla Fisher and Greg Kinnear) are currently working through a rough patch in their relationship, as is evidenced by a fight they have over whether or not to take in a large, garish-looking grandfather clock they've recently inherited. This clock, however, just so happens to allow its users to travel back in time — an ability the children exploit after they learn their parents will split up in less than 24 hours unless they can intervene.

As these stories go, the kids reset the day over and over again in a heartbreakingly well-intentioned attempt to keep their parents together at the end of dinner, trying everything from getting dad a new haircut to bribing mom with $1 million in stolen cash. "The Present" provides audiences of all ages with opportunities to laugh and cry in equal measure, perfect for "curling up with" said The Telegraph in its review. Elsewhere, The Observer noted that the film is "elevated by Jay Martel's high-concept screenplay, which refuses to talk down to its audience."

Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff

Director: Michael Sarnoski

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 100 minutes

Where to watch: Only in theaters

2024 finally gave sci-fi horror fans the highly anticipated "A Quiet Place" spin-off prequel that John Krasinski had been teasing since 2020, the year "A Quiet Place Part II" premiered. Appropriately subtitled "Day One," this film takes viewers back to the beginning of the alien invasion that would eventually lead to much of what remained of humanity retreating into silent hiding. We got a flashback to the arrival of the Death Angels in "A Quiet Place: Part II," but "Day One" raises the stakes by examining the beginning of the end in one of the loudest places on earth — New York City.

Also adding to the tension is the introduction of brand new characters. Lupita Nyong'o stars as Sam, a cancer patient who bravely ventures through an apocalyptic Big Apple on the hunt for one last slice from her favorite pizzeria. Along for the ride is English law student Eric, played by "Stranger Things" favorite Joseph Quinn. In the absence of familiar faces (save for a rather surprising appearance from Djimon Hounsou as Henri) it's hard to predict who will make it to the end of "A Quiet Place: Day One."

The prequel has everything that fans of the previous films love, though it's isolated enough that newbies don't need to worry about playing catch up. With some brilliant performances, a gripping story from Krasinski and writer-director Michael Sarnoski, and tension for days, it's no wonder "A Quiet Place: Day One" blew everyone away at the box office: It made over $178 million in less than two weeks, with a worldwide total of more than $260 million.

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: R

Runtime: 128 minutes

Where to watch: Disney+

Thanks to corporate mergers and an emphasis on stories set in the multiverse, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has explored franchise crossovers previously thought impossible. Case in point: "Deadpool & Wolverine," which fell under the Marvel banner after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. The third entry in the "Deadpool" series finds the wisecracking, red-masked Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) recruited by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) to protect the Sacred Timeline. When Wade discovers that his own timeline is deteriorating after the death of that universe's Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), he finds a Logan from a different timeline, and together they try to stop Professor Charles Xavier's evil twin sister, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), from destroying the multiverse altogether.

As directed by Shawn Levy, "Deadpool & Wolverine" is a work of supreme fan service, with in-jokes and cameos galore. Audiences responded in kind with a $600 million domestic gross, and even some of the most superhero-adverse critics responded favorably to the film's ironic, fourth wall-shattering storytelling. "It's over-the-top, overstuffed and light on emotional depth. But it's also a hell of a fun time," proclaimed The Nightly, while Time Out said, "There's enough gory mayhem and genuine zingers to make 'Deadpool & Wolverine' a fun ride in a packed and up-for-it cinema."

Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux

Director: Fede Alvarez

Rating: R

Runtime: 119 minutes

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy

In space, no one can hear you scream, but in the theater they certainly can. The "Alien" franchise has been scaring sci-fi fans since 1979, when Ridley Scott's original "Alien" was released. Scott returned to produce this latest entry, which placed horror maestro Fede Alvarez in the directors chair. 

Set shortly after the events of the first film, "Alien: Romulus" centers on Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), a young orphan desperate to get off of the mining colony LV-410 with her android/surrogate brother, Andy (David Jonsson). Rain and Andy board a small freighter bound for the Renaissance space station along with Rain's ex-boyfriend, Tyler (Archie Renaux), his sister, Kay (Isabela Merced), their cousin, Bjorn (Spike Fearn), and Bjorn's adopted sister, Navarro (Aileen Wu). The ragtag group hopes to steal cryostatis equipment from the station, but they instead find an army of aliens waiting for them (as well as a familiar face from the first film brought back to life through the wonders of CGI).

The "Alien" franchise has always had a reliable fan base, and this latest entry grossed over $100 million at the domestic box office. In terms of critical assessment, "Romulus" certainly was an improvement over films like "Alien 3" and "Alien: Resurrection," and many reviewers appreciated both its scares and its fan service. NPR called it "an efficient and reasonably entertaining thriller that, like a lot of franchise movies nowadays, traffics more in nostalgia than novelty."

Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

Director: Coralie Fargeat

Rating: R

Runtime: 141 minutes

Where to watch: Mubi

There has never been any shortage of movies about how Hollywood will kill you, but few have been as strange, shocking, and surprising as Coralie Fargeat's "The Substance." Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading movie star who's fired from hosting her long-running TV aerobics class after turning 50. She learns about a radical youth regeneration serum known as "The Substance": once a week, you can live life in a youthful body, just as long as you live the alternating week in your present one. Elisabeth's younger self, Sue (Margaret Qualley), becomes a sensation after taking over hosting duties, but things quickly go south when Sue decides to spend more than the allotted time in her new body.

Fargeat uses Cronenberg-ian body horror as a means to explore insane beauty standards, as Elisabeth/Sue becomes physically grotesque to reflect the rot at their core. She also interrogates the male gaze that leads to these standards, and shows the ways in which women are discarded when they age out of what is deemed to be their attractive period. The film received rave reviews when it premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where Fargeat won the award for best screenplay. "'The Substance' plunges us into the deranged, disorienting emotional carnage of menopause in a way that few other films have managed," opined The Guardian.

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson

Director: Josh Cooley

Rating: PG

Runtime: 104 minutes

Where to watch: Paramount+

Whether in live action or animation, every movie in the "Transformers" franchise has more or less remained the same: cars turn into robots, robots turn back into cars, robots smash up other robots. Although these films have been reliable moneymakers, critics have run hot and cold with them, especially the ones that were directed by Michael Bay. The most recent entry, the animated "Transformers One," satisfied critics, although it grossed only a meager $58 million at the domestic box office.

Directed by Josh Cooley (an Oscar-winner for "Toy Story 4"), "Transformers One" is an origin story about Optimus Prime (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry), former friends who turn into enemies. Before their relationship sours, Prime and Megatron — formerly known as Orion Pax and D-16, respectively — work as miners on Cybertron, and the two team up to help liberate the slave laborers who helped build their home planet. 

Featuring an all-star voice cast that includes Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, and Lawrence Fishburne, "Transformers One" breathes new life into a series that for many had been running on fumes. "It's so earnest, bringing notes of freshness and innocence to a prequel that, by all rights, shouldn't have had any," raved Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com. "For a familiar franchise, this feels like a new beginning," echoed Adam Graham of The Detroit News.

Cast: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White

Director: Megan Park

Rating: R

Runtime: 89 minutes

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Not all science fiction films need to feature aliens or robots, as is the case with "My Old Ass." Written and directed by Megan Park, it uses the sci-fi genre as a means to tell a coming-of-age story filled with humor and pathos. Maisy Stella plays Elliott, who decides to celebrate her 18th birthday by taking some psychedelic mushrooms. While wandering around the woods surrounding her parent's lake house, she encounters a 39-year-old version of herself (played by Aubrey Plaza) who starts doling out advice about what she should and shouldn't do over the next 21 years. 

"My Old Ass" presents a tantalizing proposition: what if your older self could visit you in your youth and tell you what to avoid in order to ensure a happy future? Is it possible to prevent mistakes, tragedies, and disappointments if you see them coming? Or is the unpredictability of our futures the thing that makes life so much fun? 

The film was a modest hit at the indie box office and received good reviews from critics. "'My Old Ass' is a bit crazy. It's also winning, in the gentlest, sweetest way," said Stephanie Zacharek for Time. "Smart, and sharp enough to balance the sweetness of its simple yet profound message. All we have is time, and this film reminds us, movingly, that it matters how we spend it," offered Empire critic Helen O'Hara.

Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor

Director: Chris Sanders

Rating: PG

Runtime: 102 minutes

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy

Like "Wall-E" before it, "The Wild Robot" centers on a kid-friendly android making its way through the natural world. In this case, the robot is ROZZUM Unit 7134, nicknamed Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o), who must learn how to survive in the wild after getting shipwrecked on a deserted island. As the robot Vontra (voiced by Stephanie Hsu) tries to retrieve her, Roz becomes friendly with the local animal population, even becoming a surrogate mother to a young goose named Brightbill (voiced by Kit Connor). The all-star voice cast includes Pedro Pascal as the red fox Fink, Catherine O'Hara as the opossum Pinktail, Mark Hamill as the grizzly bear Thorn, Ving Rhames as the falcon Thunderbolt, and others.

As directed by three-time Oscar nominee Chris Sanders, "The Wild Robot" takes its inspiration from the hand-painted artistry and patient storytelling of Hayao Miyazaki, and every frame is filled with beauty and wonder. Critics were effusive in their praise for the film, which grossed $138 million at the domestic box office and over $300 million worldwide (all but guaranteeing the in-development sequel will be hitting theaters in the near future). "The Oscar for Best Animated Feature belongs right here," raved Peter Travers of ABC, and he just might be right.

Cast: Brittany O'Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood

Director: Greg Jardin

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 minutes

Where to watch: Netflix

Sci-fi fans hoping to Netflix and chill can check out Greg Jardin's "It's What's Inside," which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival before making its streaming debut in October. The premise is deceptively simple: a group of college pals gather to celebrate the upcoming wedding of their friend Reuben (Devon Terrell). Among the guests are Forbes (David Thompson), who's been estranged from the group ever since he got kicked out of college for bringing his high school-aged sister, Beatrice (Madison Davenport), to a party. Forbes arrives with a suitcase containing a body swapping device, and proposes the group play a game that upends the party and rips the scabs off old wounds.

First-time feature filmmaker Jardin makes the most of the limited settings and small cast, led by fresh faces like Brittany O'Grady, James Morosini, and Gavin Leatherwood. "It's What's Inside" was warmly received by critics when it played at Sundance and South by Southwest, and more reviewers called it a great home viewing pick. "There are plenty of laughs to be had here, making it the perfect movie night selection for a large group when it hits Netflix," said Natalia Keogan on The AV Club. "This is a smart, absorbing sci-fi thriller with an intriguing hook, a clear point of view and questions that excite the imagination," raved William Bibbiani of The Wrap.

Cast: Adam David Thompson, Riley Dandy, Chloe Skoczen

Director: Michael Felker

Rating: N/R

Runtime: 102 minutes

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy

One of the small scale sci-fi discoveries of 2024 is "Things Will Be Different," the feature directorial debut for longtime film editor Michael Felker. It centers on Joseph and Sydney (Adam David Thompson and Riley Dandy), estranged siblings who reunite after a botched robbery. The two hide out in an abandoned farmhouse containing a portal into another dimension that's seemingly set in the past. Thinking they can lay low in the alternate timeline, Joseph and Sydney soon discover they're unable to re-enter their world until a list of demands are met, and their desperation to escape leads to devastating consequences.

Felker has talked about being inspired by films like "Looper" and "Blood Simple," and "Things Will Be Different" feels like a hybrid between the time-loop action of the former and the wild narrative swings of the latter. A majority of critics were on Felker's wavelength, with the movie receiving generally favorable reviews. "'Things Will Be Different' is a promising directorial debut that embraces its creative limitations to put a fresh spin on familiar time-travel tropes," praised Christian Zilko of Indiewire, while Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting wrote that the film "smartly uses its time concept to give a pair of morally skewed siblings a chance to rewrite the past for the sake of a better future."

Cast: Megan Northam, Catherine Salee, Sam Louwyck

Director: Jeremy Clapin

Rating: R

Runtime: 88 minutes

Where to watch: Only in theaters

Most American audiences are just now getting the chance to see the French sci-fi drama "Meanwhile on Earth," which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in early 2024 before opening in its home country. The live-action directorial debut for animator Jeremy Clapin (an Oscar nominee for "I Lost My Body"), it stars Megan Northam as Elsa, a young woman whose astronaut brother, Franck (Yoan Germain Le mat), disappeared on a space mission three years earlier. One night, a mysterious being claiming to be Franck makes contact, and Elsa must confront whether it is worth risking an alien invasion in order to bring her brother back to Earth.

There are obvious parallels between this film and "Solaris" (both the Andrei Tarkovsky and Steven Soderbergh versions), in that Clapin uses science fiction as a way to explore grief, loss, and the finality of death. "Meanwhile on Earth" is a sci-fi story for intellectuals, and the majority of critics appreciated its intelligence and thematic power. "In its best moments, 'Meanwhile on Earth' takes us beyond our desolate everyday lives to a place we can indeed dream of — and also witness on screen," said Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter. "'Meanwhile on Earth' works best as an offbeat scrutiny of the intersection of extreme grief and mental health," wrote Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times.