5 Great Recent Sci-Fi Movies Nobody Talks About

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It’s easy for science fiction movies to get lost in the shuffle – many quickly fade from memory, and some truly great ones never get the attention they deserve. Sci-fi is a uniquely creative genre, offering filmmakers a lot of freedom to explore big ideas. However, because so many sci-fi movies are released, good films can be overlooked.

Science fiction is incredibly popular at the movies right now, with films like Dune, A Quiet Place, Avatar, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Tenet earning widespread acclaim. Recent years have also seen several sci-fi movies – including Dune: Part Two, Alien: Romulus, The Creator, and Avatar: The Way of Water – nominated for Academy Awards. However, many other excellent sci-fi films haven’t gotten the same attention. Here are five recent releases that deserve more recognition for their impressive storytelling and strong acting, truly capturing what makes the genre special.

5) Vesper (2022)

Directed by Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper, the film Vesper premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July 2022. It tells the story of Vesper, a clever 14-year-old played by Raffiella Chapman, who uses her knowledge of biohacking to survive in a post-apocalyptic world and care for her paralyzed father. Critics praise Chapman’s performance in her first major role, and the film is visually beautiful and full of interesting ideas. Despite a high 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Vesper remains largely undiscovered.

4) Ad Astra (2019)

Despite receiving great reviews and an Academy Award nomination, James Gray’s Ad Astra remains surprisingly unknown to many movie fans. The film stars Brad Pitt as an astronaut who travels into space to find his missing father, played by Tommy Lee Jones. Debuting at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, Ad Astra is a visually stunning and thought-provoking sci-fi film that deserves more recognition as one of the best of its kind in recent years.

3) Sputnik (2020)

While space horror isn’t new, the 2020 film Sputnik offers a fresh take by setting its story in the Soviet era – a rarely explored setting for science fiction. The movie follows a doctor (Oksana Akinshina) tasked with examining a cosmonaut (Pyotr Fyodorov) who returns to Earth harboring a strange and perilous creature. Though the plot is fairly straightforward and can be anticipated, Sputnik delivers genuine scares and features outstanding performances from both Akinshina and Fyodorov, making it a standout sci-fi film in recent years.

2) High Life (2018)

Claire Denis directs and co-writes High Life, a demanding but ultimately rewarding sci-fi film. The movie features strong performances from Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche, who play a criminal sent on a dangerous mission towards a black hole and the scientist overseeing experiments on him and his fellow crew members. With its striking visuals, complex story structure, and exploration of dark and thought-provoking themes, High Life is a significant and impactful entry into the science fiction genre.

1) Spaceman (2024)

Adam Sandler surprised audiences with a remarkably nuanced performance in Spaceman, playing Czech astronaut Jakub Procházka. The film follows Jakub’s journey to the outer limits of the solar system, where he meets an alien being that unexpectedly helps him confront personal issues from his life back on Earth. Directed by Johan Renck and based on Jaroslav Kalfař’s 2017 novel Spaceman of Bohemia (adapted by Colby Day), Spaceman premiered in February 2024 to generally positive feedback, though it currently holds a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a truly impressive film and deserves wider recognition as one of Sandler’s best works.

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2025-10-22 18:14