Streaming platforms such as Hulu make it simpler for fans of the genre to rewatch old favorites or discover new masterpieces. As the service’s library has quite a selection, it can help to know which are the best sci-fi moves on Hulu, especially for non-subscribers who are contemplating whether to take the plunge.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)
Blade Runner’s influence cannot be understated, as Ridley Scott’s 1982 movie casts a shadow over the entire modern cyberpunk genre. Removing the original release’s obnoxious voice-over and implementing a slew of other tweaks, The Final Cut is the definitive way to experience this classic. Even more than 40 years following its release, Blade Runner has barely aged a day, both visually and thematically.
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Set in an alternate version of Los Angeles defined by overbearing corporations and systematic corruption, the movie paints an ugly picture of the future (and present). Detective Deckard is a Blade Runner, a cop whose job consists of tracking down androids that need to be put down. The protagonist’s latest case threatens to break him physically and mentally, and Deckard is hardly the movie’s only unforgettable movie. Blade Runner is the definition of a timeless masterpiece.
Prey (2022)
After decades of lackluster sequels, Predator finally produced an entry that lives up to the ’80s classic. A prequel set during the 18th century, Prey follows a Comanche woman, Naru, who yearns to become a hunter, a role typically left for the tribe’s men. When an alien menace arrives on Earth and wipes out most of her village, Naru heads to the jungle to take on a threat that is far beyond anything she could ever imagine.
Prey succeeds in feeling like a fresh take on an established property, something that is easier said than done when it comes to licenses that have been around for decades. The setting and time period are well-realized, and Naru is a likable and capable protagonist. As far as the iconic alien hunter is concerned, this movie’s Predator is as intimidating as anything else the franchise has produced.
Crimes Of The Future (2022)
David Cronenberg is a master of horror, and the director has been known to dapple in sci-fi as well. Cronenberg’s The Fly and Videodrome are the perfect marriage of both genres, and while Crimes of the Future does not quite reach those lofty heights, the 2022 film is nevertheless an impressive project. Set in a future not too far removed from the present day, the movie envisions a world defined by decay and desperation, the latter represented through humanity’s grotesque attempts to distract themselves from reality.
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Crimes of the Future highlights Cronenberg’s appreciation for body horror, to the point that this alternate future treats such acts as entertainment. Compared to some other sci-fi movies on Hulu, this film is relatively lethargic as the script gives the capable cast plenty of room to breathe. Obviously, viewers should have a strong stomach if they plan to watch this movie.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Based on Yukito Kishiro’s manga and its two-part OVA series, Alita: Battle Angel ranks among the best live-action anime adaptations. Admittedly, that is not saying much, but Alita makes a positive account for itself even when it is compared to standard cyberpunk movies. Taking place more than 400 years in the future, Earth’s populace is divided into haves and have-nots. The former live in an airborne metropolis called Zalem, looking down over the masses as they fight for scraps in the Iron City.
One day, a scientist discovers a discarded cyborg and decides to piece her back together. Stripped of all her memories, Alita sets out into the human world in search of an identity; in the meantime, she will fight off bounty hunters, fall in love, and take part in a vicious competition. Alita: Battle Angel is an action-packed thrill ride with a lovable protagonist and great visuals.
Akira (1988)
An iconic anime movie, Akira is a landmark release in sci-fi’s cyberpunk subgenre, particularly when it comes to film. Set in a dystopian future following a third world war, Neo-Tokyo is rife with crime, gang warfare, and public unrest. The leader of a biker gang, Shōtarō Kaneda, and his close friend, Tetsuo Shima, become involved with a secret government operation to develop powers such as telekinesis.
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Akira is a violent and angry film about abuse, human experimentation, and desperation. Precious few of this world’s characters are traditionally good, but most of them are products of their climates. Along with delivering a gripping storyline, Akira’s animation is brilliant.
About Time (2013)
About Time is a time-travel movie that is refreshingly low-key, at least compared to some other stories that use this mechanic. The Lake men have the ability to travel back in time, something Tim uses to tweak his love life for the better. Whether going back to arrange a meet-up with the woman he likes or help his sister, Tim realizes that most changes have consequences, even if the benefits might outweigh the butterfly effect.
About Time is sweet, charming, and well-acted. Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams have great chemistry and the rest of the cast more than hold their own whenever they are called upon. Sci-fi is a great vehicle for epic tales, but the genre has produced plenty of fantastic personal stories as well.
Looper (2012)
Time travel is one of the cornerstones of sci-fi, and Looper offers a fascinating twist on this concept. In this universe, crime syndicates carry out executions by sending targets back in time to an era when the police could not easily track dead bodies. Loopers are then hired to kill them. Once they reach a certain point in time, loopers are sent back in time to be eliminated by their younger versions, something Joe learns first-hand when he comes face to face with his aged alternative.
Looper’s sci-fi is borderline fantasy, but it has enough internal consistency to make sense. More importantly, the film is simply a lot of fun, delivering great action alongside strong performances by the likes of Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (2005)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a beloved name in the sci-fi sphere. Douglas Adams’ radio comedy and subsequent novels are brilliant, and the story has inspired quite a few other adaptations The 2005 movie is not the definitive version of Hitchhiker’s Guide, but it is a worthy addition to this franchise.
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Expertly cast and relentlessly charming, Hitchhiker’s Guide is whimsical, silly, and creative. The movie is packed with humor that caters to existing fans of the series, all the while still delivering enough material to entertain those who might not be familiar with Adams’ source material.
Possessor (2020)
When it comes to David and Brandon Cronenberg, the apple does not fall far from the tree. The latter’s Possessor is a haunting sci-fi horror film set in a world where technology permits people to transfer their consciousness into someone else’s body. As a hired killer, Tasya spends her days literally slipping into the skins of other people so that she can carry out assassinations. As capable as she is at her profession, Tasya starts to struggle to return to her own life.
Possessor is an uncomfortable sci-fi film that is brilliantly directed and acted. The movie does not try to soften its morally ambiguous characters, nor does it hold back during its many bursts of violence.
Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan’s movies tend to explore big concepts, and except for Interstellar, Inception is probably the director’s grandest project. One of the best sci-fi movies on Hulu, this 2010 masterpiece follows a group of, well, criminals who operate by diving into a target’s dreams where they can implement an idea into their heads. This technique is dangerous not only for the recipient but also for the executioners, and things get extra complicated once the possibility of having dreams within dreams comes up.
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Nolan’s ambition is evident in all of his films, but the director’s sci-fi releases have a habit of getting bogged down in technical details at the expense of their stories. Inception balances these two elements better than, for instance, Tenet, crafting a thought-provoking epic that also works as a satisfying blockbuster. The action sequences are visually striking and imaginative, the acting is consistently great, and the story leaves just enough unanswered questions to encourage discussions.
Chronicle (2012)
Hulu has quite a few superhero blockbusters, including Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and 2000’s X-Men. Those films could easily rank among the best sci-fi movies on Hulu, but in order to avoid including too many similar projects, Chronicle is going to be used as a representative of all of these flicks on the service.
That said, “superhero” is not the right word to describe Josh Trank’s film since there are no heroes. Three high school students pick up powers, and while their actions start out fairly innocent, things take a turn when one of the characters begins to abuse his abilities (for understandable reasons, at first). Chronicle is a character-driven piece that tries to present a realistic take on what would happen if three ordinary people suddenly gain access to godly powers. It tells a very human story.
Blade Runner 2049
35 years following the release of the original Blade Runner, a sequel finally hit the scene. Over the last decade, Denis Villeneuve has cemented himself as the sci-fi genre’s leading director thanks to movies like Arrival and Dune; as brilliant as those two flicks are, Blade Runner 2049 presents a convincing argument for being the director’s magnum opus.
Although touching upon similar themes explored in Ridley Scott’s 1982 original, the sequel brings plenty of new concepts to the plate, cementing itself as a proper continuation rather than a rethread. While the story and characters are both fantastic, Blade Runner 2049’s presentation is perhaps its strongest asset. The film’s cinematography and environmental storytelling might be second-to-none in the sci-fi genre.
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