The 15 best sci-fi movies on Hulu that explore the unknown

There's nothing new under the sun, but out in the galaxy is a different story. Whether you're looking for good, old-fashioned escapism, postapocalyptic dramas, or a cerebral premise to tickle your intellectual fancy, sci-fi films are designed to deliver. So scroll through this list, all you first-time space explorers and seasoned navigators of dystopian worlds.

Because regardless of your level of sci-fi proficiency, you're sure to find something you like on EW's picks for the best sci-fi films streaming on Hulu .

Alien (1979)

Ridley Scott 's Alien was the one that started it all for a franchise that would spawn sequels, comics, videogames, and more. Before any commercialization, though, there was this terrifying sci-fi thriller, which finds Ellen Ripley ( Sigourney Weaver ) and her fellow crew members aboard the space tug Nostromo investigating a spacecraft in disrepair, only to find it contains menacing, bloodthirsty aliens.

And, as the iconic tagline states, "In space, no one can hear you scream." With the threat of the alien Xenomorph around every corner, the original Alien is arguably more horror than traditional sci-fi, but the innovative effects and dark, gritty vision of the future have had an influence on the science fiction genre for decades to come. — Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch Alien : Hulu

Director:Ridley Scott

Cast:Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , John Hurt , Ian Holm , Yaphet Kotto

Aliens (1986)

James Cameron built upon the terrifying space horror of 1979's Alien with this gripping sci-fi action sequel. In stasis for 57 years following the events of the first film, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) hesitantly agrees to help a group of Colonial Marines flush out murderous aliens on an exomoon, confronting the species that nearly killed her all those years ago. As the only one with firsthand experience with the aliens, Ripley proves invaluable as she fights tooth and nail for the fate of humanity. Weaver earned an Oscar nomination for her performance — a rarity in the sci-fi genre — and it's impossible to deny the magnetism of her screen presence, particularly in her climactic face-off with the alien queen. — K.J.

Where to watch Aliens : Hulu

Director:James Cameron

Cast:Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser , Lance Henriksen , Bill Paxton

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien Anthology, but you only really need to know the basics of the franchise to appreciate its gnarly thrills, chills, and kills. Set in the aftermath of the events of 1979's Alien , the film follows a group of dark planet colonists — led by Cailee Spaeny 's Rain — looking to escape their indentured servitude. They find a nearby space station on their journey to a new planet...only to find it's inhabited by a sinister threat (you can probably guess what it is). The film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, returns the franchise to its horror movie roots. "It is bleak and grimy and nauseating, but somehow manages to be a lot of fun," writes EW's critic . — K.J.

Where to watch  Alien: Romulus : Hulu

EW grade: B+ ( read the review )

Director: Fede Álvarez

Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu

Arrival (2016)

What if, instead of fighting alien invaders, we made an effort to understand them? This heady sci-fi masterpiece from Denis Villeneuve tackles such a concept with thought and care, showing that a blockbuster doesn't have to be mindless. After alien pods mysteriously appear around the world, a linguist named Louise ( Amy Adams , in one of her best performances to date) is brought in to try to crack the code of what they want from Earth's inhabitants. She ultimately discovers that their understanding of time varies from our own, leading to a deeply moving conclusion. As EW's critic notes , the film is "far less interested in galactic destiny than the infinite, uncharted landscape of the human heart." — K.J.

Where to watch Arrival : Hulu

EW grade:A– ( read the review )

Director:Denis Villeneuve

Cast:Amy Adams, Forest Whitaker , Jeremy Renner , Michael Stuhlbarg , Tzi Ma , Mark O'Brien

Donnie Darko (2001)

A definitional cult classic for the modern age, this sci-fi-tinged psychological thriller follows a moody teen — the titular Donnie Darko ( Jake Gyllenhaal ) — who is prone to sleepwalking and experiences disturbing visions of a mysterious being in a rabbit costume. But that's not all: The figure, Frank, informs Donnie that the world is set to end in 28 days and soon persuades him to take on increasingly dangerous tasks. EW's critic praises writer-director Richard Kelly's unique, "shapeshifting" vision, writing , "He swings big — with flair." — K.J.

Where to watch Donnie Darko : Hulu

EW grade:N/A ( read the review )

Director:Richard Kelly

Cast:Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal , Drew Barrymore , Seth Rogen , Jena Malone , Patrick Swayze , Ashley Tisdale

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Time loops have never been this high-stakes. This trippy sci-fi action film stars Tom Cruise as Maj. William Cage, a public relations officer assigned to fight in a military strike against an invading alien species known as Mimics. After Cage is mortally wounded in battle, he suddenly jumps back to the previous morning and relives the day all over again. Gaining new knowledge with each reset, he eventually teams up with the well-respected Sgt. Rita Vrataski ( Emily Blunt ) to fight back against their unpredictable foes.

"It's not the most original setup, to be sure," writes EW's critic , "but what makes this particular celluloid Möbius strip bend in on itself with such seamlessness is the cheeky airtight logic of Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, and John-Henry Butterworth's script — and the stars." — K.J.

Where to watch Edge of Tomorrow : Hulu

EW grade:B+ ( read the review )

Director: Doug Liman

Cast:Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson , Bill Paxton

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

Arthur Dent's house being demolished becomes the least of his concerns in this comedic adaptation of Douglas Adams' beloved book series of the same name. The unlucky Brit soon comes to realize his friend Ford Prefect is actually an alien, warning Arthur that the Earth will soon be destroyed to make way for a bypass. Ford brings Arthur aboard his spaceship, after which they embark on a zany interplanetary journey across the galaxy. While its distinctly British sense of absurdism may not be for everyone, there's a cheeky pleasure in seeing a befuddled Martin Freeman and a charismatic Sam Rockwell bouncing off each other within the distinct world created by Adams. — K.J.

Where to watch The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy : Hulu

EW grade:N/A ( read the review )

Director:Garth Jennings

Cast:Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Mos Def , Zooey Deschanel , Bill Nighy , Alan Rickman , Anna Chancellor, John Malkovich

I, Robot (2004)

Robots betraying humans is a classic trope, and I, Robot provides some diverting entertainment within that subgenre — especially with Will Smith in the lead role. Set in the year 2035, robots are instructed to protect humanity and themselves, but after the cofounder of U.S. Robotics is reported to have died by suicide, Det. Del Spooner (Smith) suspects foul play from an advanced robot humanoid (voiced by Alan Tudyk ). Reviewers were mixed-to-positive on I, Robot , but audiences turned out in 2004. The film grossed more than $144 million at the domestic box office and eventually earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. — K.J.

Where to watch I, Robot : Hulu

EW grade:N/A ( read the review )

Director:Alex Proyas

Cast:Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan , Bruce Greenwood , James Cromwell, Chi McBride, Alan Tudyk

Infinity Pool (2023)

Dread is the name of the game in Brandon Cronenberg's latest horror-infused sci-fi offering, following the success of 2020's Possessor . Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman play a couple on vacation in a fictional country, where a deadly accident leads to them learning of its peculiar justice system: All crimes are punishable by death. However, wealthy offenders can pay a significant sum to have themselves cloned, and must watch their duplicate be executed.

Infinity Pool falls into a familiar white-people-causing-trouble-on-vacation genre, which, as EW's critic observes , is "having a bit of a moment" lately between The White Lotus and Triangle of Sadness . Those who appreciate such social satires will find similar commentary here, just with more blood and guts and another go-for-broke performance by scream queen Mia Goth . — K.J.

Where to watch Infinity Pool : Hulu

EW grade:B– ( read the review )

Director:Brandon Cronenberg

Cast:Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman

Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan reached for the stars — both figuratively and literally — for this ambitious space epic. Set in a dystopian future in which humanity is on the brink of extinction, the film centers on a former NASA test pilot named Joseph Cooper ( Matthew McConaughey ) who leads a precarious mission to find a habitable new home. What he experiences along the way is best left unspoiled, but suffice it to say this is mammoth filmmaking from one of our foremost time-obsessed directors. — K.J.

Where to watch Interstellar : Hulu

EW grade:B– ( read the review )

Director:Christopher Nolan

Cast:Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway , Jessica Chastain , Bill Irwin , Ellen Burstyn , Mackenzie Foy , Michael Caine

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

Centuries into the apes-dominated world that Caesar made, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a strong continuation of the rebooted franchise's themes of power and survival. The film centers on Noa ( Owen Teague ), a young ape whose clan is kidnapped by a rival group, setting out on a journey alongside a human woman to find answers. Featuring remarkably lifelike (and Oscar-nominated) visual effects, Kingdom features excellent world-building and committed motion-capture performances. Writes EW's critic , "As a pure ape-versus-wild survival story,  Kingdom  is a thrill, and [director Wes] Ball captures his lush, postapocalyptic jungle in gorgeous detail." — K.J.

Where to watch  Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes : Hulu

EW grade: B ( read the review )

Director: Wes Ball

Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon,  William H. Macy

Melancholia (2011)

The all-too-real anxiety surrounding the end of the world looms large in this Lars von Trier -directed sci-fi drama, in which a rogue planet is predicted to collide directly with Earth. The true power of Melancholia , though, is in its portrayal of depression, as Kirsten Dunst 's Justine experiences on the day of (and after) her disastrous wedding at her sister and brother-in-law's castle. Justine's feelings of impending doom lead to her accepting the apocalypse, contrasting with her sister Claire's ( Charlotte Gainsbourg ) growing existential fear.

Von Trier may be known for his provocative style, but, as EW's critic writes , the director sets aside his need to shock here, "to create striking visual tableaux that, in their majestic simplicity, convey a profound emotional depth that transcends words." — K.J.

Where to watch Melancholia : Hulu

EW grade:A ( read the review )

Director:Lars von Trier

Cast:Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård , Kiefer Sutherland

No One Will Save You (2023)

Alien invasion thrillers have often centered on communities rallying together, but this new sci-fi spook-fest takes an intriguingly different direction. Kaitlyn Dever plays Brynn, a recluse who fights back when an alien enters her home, and must continue to do so all on her own. As the unnerving film goes on, we learn why she's been made an outcast by her community, stemming from an unforgivable decision made in her past.

Featuring bracing action sequences, a committed Dever, and a commendable tactic to go dialogue-free for a vast majority of the film, No One Will Save You is an unpredictable thrill ride that epitomizes the classic narrative technique of show, don't tell. — K.J.

Where to watch No One Will Save You : Hulu

Director:Brian Duffield

Cast:Kaitlyn Dever

Palm Springs (2020)

Essentially an updated Groundhog Day for the 21st century, Palm Springs centers on a pair of Millennials who are sucked into a time loop. Andy Samberg plays Nyles, who has grown carefree after being stuck in the loop for ages, while Cristin Milioli is Sarah, who is experiencing its benefits and downsides for the first time. The duo grows closer (and fall out) through their endlessly repeating days, with Sarah resolving to find a way out of the loop through a dangerous experiment.

Juggling the various tones of this high-concept romantic comedy could've resulted in disaster, but the film manages to nimbly toe the line of bittersweet romance and absurdity. The film earned numerous awards in 2021, including the Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy, the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, and more. — K.J.

Where to watch Palm Springs : Hulu

EW grade:B+ ( read the review )

Director:Max Barbakow

Cast:Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons

Prey (2022)

Set in 1719 (268 years before a sleeveless Arnold Schwarzenegger battled his first alien), Prey is a prequel to the Predator franchise and the fifth film released chronologically. The movie follows Naru (Amber Midthunder) a Comanche medicine woman with aspirations of someday becoming as fierce a hunter as her brother. When Naru witnesses a Predator landing in the Great Plains, she interprets it as a call to action and plans to protect her tribe by tracking and killing the invader.

The film employs a cast of primarily indigenous actors — and one former professional basketball player, Dane DiLiegro, attacking the role of Predator while wearing a suit so heavy, and restrictive, he told EW he was "essentially shooting this movie blind." His discomfort, endured in service of director Dan Trachtenberg's vision for the film, paid off, making this film and its villain feel, as Trachtenberg describes it, "far scarier, way more alien-creature-like, ferocious and feral." — Will Harris

Where to watch Prey : Hulu

Director:Dan Trachtenberg

Cast:Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, Bennett Taylor

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly