14 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Decade You Need to Watch

Sci-fi had a serious glow-up from 2015 to 2024. The stories got bigger, but they also got more human. You can feel the shift in how films handle fear, hope, survival, and identity. Even the loudest blockbusters started carrying deeper themes under the surface.

This guide is built around the Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 10 Years, chosen for strong storytelling, standout craft, and the kind of scenes people keep remembering. You will find space epics, grounded survival stories, time-bending thrillers, and sci-fi horror that leans into the unknown. The list stays spoiler-light, so you can read it before watching. It is also designed to be easy to skim, so you can pick something fast. If you want one place to build a decade watchlist, this is it.

How This List Was Chosen (So It’s Not Just Random Favorites)?

A good “best of” list needs rules. Otherwise it becomes a pile of personal picks with no logic. This list balances craft, impact, and replay value. It also respects variety, because sci-fi is not one single flavor. Some people want big worldbuilding. Others want a tight idea that hits hard.

To keep the decade clear, the range here is 2015 through 2024. That keeps the selection fair and avoids mixing different eras. Another rule is that sci-fi has to drive the movie. It cannot be a thin background while the film is really something else. Genre blends are welcome, but the sci-fi idea must shape the plot, the stakes, or the world. Finally, these choices favor movies that hold up after the first viewing. Great sci-fi often gets better when you rewatch it.

What “Best” Means Here?

“Best” is not just about popularity. A film earns its place by doing several things well at once. It needs a clear idea, strong execution, and emotional pull. It should also have moments that stick, whether that is a scene, a sound, a visual, or a difficult question it leaves behind.

What Counts as Sci-Fi?

Sci-fi here includes space travel, future technology, artificial intelligence, time mechanics, alternate realities, dystopian futures, and stories shaped by scientific or speculative rules. Some entries mix sci-fi with action, horror, or comedy. That is normal for modern sci-fi, and it often makes the films more accessible.

Why These Are Numbered?

The numbers are for readability, not to start fights. If your favorite is lower on the list, it does not mean it is “worse.” It simply means the order is a guide, not a verdict.

Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 10 Years: Quick Picks by Mood

Sometimes you do not want to research. You just want the right movie for tonight. This section is built for that moment. It groups the list by viewing mood, which is how most people actually choose. The goal is speed without regret.

If you are watching with friends, pick something with energy and clear momentum. If you are watching solo, you might want a slower film that sits with you. If you want something creepy, go for sci-fi that treats the unknown like a threat you cannot fully name. And if you want a big, serious epic, choose a film that takes its worldbuilding seriously and does not rush the scale.

If You Want Big, Sweeping Sci-Fi

These are the films that feel huge. They build worlds with rules, history, and pressure. They are best when you want spectacle with weight, not just noise.

If You Want Smart and Emotional Sci-Fi

These films are idea-driven, but they never forget the people. They focus on choices, grief, hope, and connection. They often hit harder than you expect.

If You Want Dark, Weird, or Horror-Adjacent Sci-Fi

These picks lean into unease. They use science and mystery to create dread. They are great when you want something that lingers.

If You Want High-Energy and Fun

These are fast, stylish, and easy to recommend. They still have ideas, but they deliver them with momentum.

The 14 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 10 Years (2015–2024)

This list is built to be useful, not vague. Each entry gives you what the movie is, why it matters, and who it fits best. The descriptions stay spoiler-light, but they still explain the value. You will also see small “watch next” suggestions, because people rarely stop at one movie once they find a mood they love.

Across the decade, a few patterns show up again and again. One is survival, where science is not magic but a tool. Another is identity, where memory and selfhood get questioned. Another is fear of the unknown, where the “alien” is not just outside us but inside our choices. You will also see how modern sci-fi blends genres more than before. It borrows from horror, comedy, action, and drama, then uses the mix to hit broader audiences.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

This is one of the most intense sci-fi action films of the decade. It barely pauses, but it never feels messy. The story is simple on the surface, yet the world feels deep and lived-in. You understand the culture through details, not lectures. The action is physical and readable, so you feel every risk. It is also surprisingly emotional, because the characters are fighting for more than survival. They are fighting for dignity and control of their lives.

Best for viewers who want speed, tension, and clean storytelling. If you love movies that show instead of explain, start here. Watch next if you want momentum again, or jump to a slower pick for contrast.

2. The Martian (2015)

The Martian turns survival into a smart, satisfying puzzle. It is tense, but it is also funny in a grounded way. The science is treated like a toolkit, not a miracle. Every solution creates a new problem, which keeps the story moving. The movie also celebrates teamwork, even when the main character is alone. It is one of the most accessible sci-fi films for mixed audiences. If someone says they “do not like sci-fi,” this is often the film that changes their mind.

Best for viewers who enjoy problem-solving and steady pacing. It is also a strong “watch with family” choice in many households. If you want more emotional depth after this, move to a first-contact story.

3. Arrival (2016)

Arrival is a first-contact film that treats communication as the real battleground. The tension is not built on gunfire. It is built on misunderstanding, urgency, and fear. The film asks what happens when humans must work with a new kind of logic. It is calm, but it is never slow for no reason. The emotion grows naturally, and the premise stays focused. It is the kind of sci-fi that feels personal, even when the stakes are global. Many viewers leave this film thinking about language, time, and choice in a different way.

Best for viewers who want smart sci-fi with a strong emotional core. It is also an excellent pick when you want a serious movie without nonstop action. This is one of the easiest films to recommend when someone asks for “meaningful sci-fi.”

4. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

This film is slow in a deliberate way. It builds a future that feels enormous, lonely, and heavy. The story asks questions about identity and memory without giving easy answers. It also uses visuals and sound to create mood, not just spectacle. The pacing lets you sit inside the world, which makes the themes land harder. The film rewards patience, because the meaning builds over time. It is the kind of sci-fi that feels like it was designed to be rewatched.

Best for viewers who love atmosphere and reflective storytelling. If you want loud action, this may not be your first choice. If you want a film that feels like a dream you cannot shake, it belongs on your list.

5. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

This entry blends sci-fi with war drama and emotional character work. The film focuses on leadership, grief, and the cost of vengeance. It is intense, but it stays grounded in clear motivations. The story is shaped by choices, not convenience. It also shows how fear can turn into policy, which feels very real. Even if you are not deep into the series, the emotions land because the characters are readable. The film treats conflict like tragedy, not just action.

Best for viewers who want sci-fi with heart and consequences. It is also a strong pick for people who like serious drama but still want a genre hook. If you want more tension after this, move to sci-fi horror.

6. Annihilation (2018)

Annihilation is unsettling in a quiet way. It uses science and mystery to create dread that grows slowly. The film does not rush to explain everything, which is part of its power. It explores change, fear, and self-destruction through a strange environment that feels alive. The visuals can be beautiful, then suddenly disturbing. The tone stays controlled, so even the wild moments feel purposeful. It is also the kind of film people interpret differently, which makes it a great discussion watch.

Best for viewers who want weird sci-fi that lingers. If you enjoy stories where the unknown is not fully definable, this is a strong pick. Watch it when you are in the mood to think and feel unsettled.

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

This is a multiverse sci-fi story wrapped in a superhero package. The multiverse is not a small gimmick here. It is the engine of the plot, the humor, and the emotion. The film is fast, stylish, and easy to love. It is also surprisingly heartfelt, because it is about confidence and identity. It makes big ideas feel playful, which is hard to do. It also has high rewatch value because the details are packed into every scene.

Best for viewers who want fun sci-fi that still hits emotionally. It is also a great gateway movie for younger viewers who are curious about sci-fi concepts. If you want more multiverse chaos, there is another pick later in this list.

8. Upgrade (2018)

Upgrade is lean, sharp, and surprisingly smart for its size. It asks what happens when your body becomes a platform for technology. The action is inventive, but the real tension comes from control. The story escalates cleanly, so it never feels like it is spinning its wheels. It also taps into modern anxiety about automation and dependence. The film moves fast, which makes it easy to recommend to people who do not like slow sci-fi. It is one of the best “one-night thriller” sci-fi picks of the decade.

Best for viewers who want a tight sci-fi thriller with strong pacing. It also works well if you like stories about technology turning against its user. If you want darker sci-fi after this, choose a horror-leaning entry.

9. Ad Astra (2019)

Ad Astra is a quiet space drama that uses distance as emotion. It is not built like a typical action movie. It is built like a character study with sci-fi framing. The film explores isolation, obsession, and what ambition can do to a person. The visuals and tone feel restrained, which fits the story. It also asks uncomfortable questions about purpose and legacy. If you like sci-fi that feels reflective and human, this one hits.

Best for viewers who want slow-burn sci-fi with mood. It is a good pick when you want something serious and personal. If you want a bigger world after this, move to the epics on the list.

10. Tenet (2020)

Tenet is a spy thriller that treats time like a weapon. It moves fast and asks you to keep up. The film’s structure is part of the spectacle, which makes it fun for viewers who enjoy puzzle movies. You do not need to understand every detail on the first watch to enjoy it. The energy and staging carry you. It also has strong rewatch appeal, because later viewings make earlier scenes click. This is sci-fi that wants to be experienced, not just understood.

Best for viewers who love high-concept action and complex structure. If you want something simpler right after, pair it with a fast, straightforward action sci-fi pick.

11. Dune (2021)

Dune treats sci-fi like myth, politics, and ecology in one package. It does not rush the worldbuilding, which makes the setting feel real. The story focuses on power, resources, prophecy, and survival. The tone is serious, and the scale is huge, but the film stays controlled. It builds tension through restraint rather than constant action. If you enjoy big worlds with history and rules, this is a major modern sci-fi landmark. It is also designed as the setup for a larger arc, so it plays like a strong first chapter.

Best for viewers who want epic sci-fi with detail and weight. It is a strong choice when you want something immersive. If you like it, the follow-up is one of the biggest sci-fi payoffs of the decade.

12. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

This film is chaotic on purpose, but it is not random. It uses multiverse ideas to talk about family, regret, and meaning. The humor is wild, yet the emotional core stays clear. It also shows how sci-fi can be personal without losing scale. The pace is fast, but the story still finds time for quiet emotional beats. It is the kind of movie that can make you laugh, then unexpectedly hit you with something tender. That mix is what made it stand out in the decade.

Best for viewers who want sci-fi that feels emotional and fresh. It is also a great pick if you want something different from the usual serious sci-fi tone. If you enjoy this, you may also like animated multiverse sci-fi.

13. Nope (2022)

Nope is sci-fi horror that builds tension in open space, not just dark corners. It also explores spectacle and the human urge to watch danger. The film is scary, but it is also thoughtful. The suspense builds through choices and consequences. The story rewards attention, because small details matter. It also feels modern in how it frames risk, attention, and control. If you like sci-fi that scares you and also gives you something to talk about afterward, this is a strong pick.

Best for viewers who want suspense plus ideas. It is a good group watch if your group likes horror-adjacent films. Pair it with another eerie sci-fi pick if you want a full creepy double feature.

14. Dune: Part Two (2024)

This is the payoff that makes the first film feel essential. It is bigger, harsher, and more emotionally intense. The story expands the conflict and pushes characters into difficult choices. It also keeps the world’s political edge sharp, rather than turning it into simple hero fantasy. The scale is huge, but the storytelling stays clear. It is also one of those films that reminds people why they love big-screen sci-fi. If you want a modern epic that feels like an event, this is it.

Best for viewers who want peak modern epic sci-fi. It works best if you have watched the first part, because the emotional stakes land harder. If you love this style, explore the other heavy, worldbuilding-driven sci-fi on the list.

Final Thoughts

Great sci-fi does not just show new worlds. It shows new angles on our world. That is why the strongest films from 2015 to 2024 often feel personal, even when they are massive. If you want to build a watchlist, start with the mood guide, then work across the list. Mix a fast pick with a slower one. Pair a grounded survival film with a strange sci-fi horror entry. You will get a better sense of how wide the genre really is.

Most importantly, do not chase “perfect understanding” on the first watch. Some stories are built to open up over time. The Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 10 Years are often the ones that grow in your mind after the credits. Pick one tonight, then come back and choose another mood next time.