5 Perfect Sci-fi Masterpieces Hiding on HBO Max

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HBO Max has a wide variety of excellent films, and sci-fi fans will be happy to discover five standout movies available on the streaming service. Because HBO Max is part of Warner Bros., you can find big sci-fi franchises like DC and Dune there. But many people don’t know these classic films are also available to stream on the platform.

HBO Max organizes its movies into different genres, making it easy to find something you’ll enjoy. The sci-fi and fantasy collection is particularly strong, and here are five films you can find within it.

5) 2001: A Space Odyssey

As a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick, I think his 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, is truly one of his greatest achievements. He wrote it with Arthur C. Clarke, and it really blended Kubrick’s vision with ideas from Clarke’s stories. It’s such an important film – you see references to it everywhere in movies, on TV, and in all sorts of media. It’s definitely his most impactful work, in my opinion!

This sci-fi film weaves together several stories across different time periods, all connected by a mysterious black monolith. It begins with early humans and progresses through space exploration, a tense encounter with the computer HAL 9000, a journey to Jupiter, and beyond. The thought-provoking and visually stunning movie is a must-watch for any science fiction enthusiast.

With a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, 2001: A Space Odyssey is widely considered a masterpiece. The film famously earned Stanley Kubrick his only Academy Award, for Best Visual Effects, and received nominations for three additional Oscars: Best Director, Best Story and Screenplay, and Best Art Direction.

4) Ex Machina

Alex Garland is a highly acclaimed science fiction filmmaker, known for directing and writing movies like Sunshine, Dredd, and Annihilation. A great place to start exploring his work is with his 2014 film, Ex Machina, which is currently available on HBO Max. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina was both written and directed by Garland.

The movie Ex Machina centers around a programmer who unexpectedly wins a visit with the CEO of his company. He soon discovers the true purpose of the trip: to evaluate a highly advanced robot named Ava in a Turing Test, determining if she can convincingly imitate human behavior.

I’m a huge fan of Ex Machina, and it’s easy to see why it’s so well-loved! Critics really agree – it has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and many consider it to be one of Alex Garland’s best works. Plus, it actually won an Academy Award for its amazing visual effects, and was also up for Best Original Screenplay, which is fantastic!

3) Fantastic Planet

Animation opens up possibilities for creating incredible science fiction worlds that would be difficult or impossible to show in live-action films, and Fantastic Planet from 1973 is a prime example. The story takes place on the planet Ygam, where the large, dominant Draags keep the tiny Oms as pets. But when one Om develops intelligence, a rebellion starts.

Fantastic Planet is a French film by René Laloux. Although it’s considered a classic today, it wasn’t very well-known when it first came out. It didn’t receive any Academy Award nominations, but it currently has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2) Mickey 17

Bong Joon Ho, the director of the award-winning film Parasite, is releasing Mickey 17 in 2025. The story centers on a worker sent to settle a frozen planet, where he’s repeatedly replaced by a clone each time he dies. Things get complicated when a new clone is created while the previous one is still alive, forcing the colonists to face a difficult decision.

Mickey 17 is a truly excellent film that deserves more recognition. While it didn’t receive any Oscar nominations and currently has a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many people will likely appreciate its quality more over time.

1) The Shape of Water

Guillermo del Toro is best known for his fantasy films, but his take on The Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of his few ventures into science fiction. His 2017 film, The Shape of Water, blends fantasy and sci-fi, telling the story of a romance between a cleaning woman and an aquatic creature held in a top-secret government lab. The film’s sci-fi elements primarily come from the scientists’ study of this unusual creature, making it a distinctive story.

As a huge movie fan, I was thrilled with Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water. It’s considered one of his masterpieces, and for good reason! Critics loved it – it boasts a fantastic 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. But the real proof of its brilliance came at the Academy Awards, where it racked up a stunning 13 nominations. It took home the biggest prizes – Best Picture and Best Director – plus awards for its beautiful score and production design. Honestly, it was a sweep, with nods in almost every creative category, including acting, writing, and all the technical aspects like cinematography and sound.

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2026-02-10 00:18