7 Awesome 2020s Sci-fi Movies That Still Really Need a Sequel

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As a sci-fi fan, I’ve got to say the last few years have been fantastic for the genre on the big screen. We’ve seen some really exciting stuff – like Christopher Nolan tackling original action with Tenet, and a truly faithful adaptation of Dune that finally did Herbert’s novel justice (and even earned some Oscar nods and big box office numbers!). Plus, James Cameron brought us back to the world of Pandora with two Avatar films, Godzilla kept his reign as monster king going strong, and Superman launched a whole new DC Universe on film. Considering we’re only halfway through the 2020s, the future of sci-fi at the movies looks incredibly promising.

Sci-fi films released in the 2020s generally haven’t delivered what fans are hoping for when it comes to sequels. While movies like Dune: Part Two and the MonsterVerse films are exceptions, many new sci-fi releases haven’t planned for follow-up stories. Here are seven great sci-fi movies that deserve sequels, and there’s a chance some of them might actually get them.

7) Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Following up on the events of War for the Planet of the Apes was a challenge for the new film, but Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes took an even bigger risk by jumping the story line hundreds of years into the future. The result was another excellent addition to a truly great science fiction series. The film not only performed well at the box office, but also showed there are still creative stories to tell in this world. It’s been over a year since its release, and while Kingdom set the stage for a sequel, there haven’t been any official announcements about a follow-up movie. Director Wes Ball is now working on the live-action Legend of Zelda film, which demonstrates Kingdom‘s success, but also explains why a sequel hasn’t started production yet.

6) The Jurassic World Dominion Prologue

Technically, this short film served as a lead-in to Jurassic World Dominion, and while it did get a sequel of sorts, the exciting possibilities it presented for the Jurassic World universe weren’t fully realized in the main film. Even Jurassic World Rebirth this summer couldn’t make the idea of humans and dinosaurs living together truly captivating. Because of this, the five-and-a-half-minute prologue stands out as the best work Colin Trevorrow has done with the series, and the most engaging live-action Jurassic Park story we’ve seen in years. While future Jurassic movies will likely remain large in scope, this short proves that a smaller, more focused story could be incredibly appealing to audiences.

5) Nimona

After Disney cancelled it following the acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Nimona – based on ND Stevenson’s graphic novel and now an Oscar nominee – found a home at Netflix and has all the makings of a major franchise. The filmmakers took the core idea of a shape-shifting troublemaker and her villainous boss and built a vibrant, original world that challenges traditional notions of heroes and villains. While the movie has a satisfying conclusion, there’s room for more stories, and hopefully Netflix will explore that potential. Despite a difficult production history, Nimona has a lot to offer, and the world could use more playfully chaotic characters like her.

4) Prey

The recent film Prey was a huge success, breathing new life into the Predator series, and fans have been eager for more. This year has already brought two new Predator movies, and hints about the future of Prey’s main character, Naru, appeared in the animated film Predator: Killer of Killers. This surprise appearance has sparked a lot of fan theories about where the story might go, but so far, no official announcements have been made. While plans are in place for future installments, it remains to be seen if and when those plans will come to fruition.

3) The Tomorrow War

The action-packed sci-fi film starring Chris Pratt immediately stood out for its imaginative world-building, which was truly its strongest point. It offered a fresh take on time travel and introduced the compelling concept of assembling an army from the past. The movie also posed intriguing questions about the alien invaders and their mysterious origins on another spaceship. While The Tomorrow War wasn’t perfect in its execution, it delivered something fans had been craving for a long time: a truly original science fiction universe. With the first film now out and the initial groundwork laid, the franchise has limitless potential and doesn’t need to worry about lengthy introductions. And with a sequel title already in place – The 2Morrow War – the possibilities are exciting.

2) Transformers One

After over ten years and huge box office numbers for live-action Transformers films that many fans weren’t thrilled with, the series returned to its animated origins. Transformers One didn’t just explore the franchise’s deeper backstory, it did so while capturing the feel of the original cartoons. The movie also cleverly set up the iconic war between the Autobots and Decepticons – a conflict we’ve only seen briefly in the live-action films. While audiences may be used to the visual effects of the live-action versions, Transformers One demonstrated that the series can thrive in animation, and potentially even be better.

1) Ultraman: Rising

Ultraman: Rising offers a fresh take on the classic Japanese series. The animated film introduces a hesitant hero who learns to become Ultraman, and a surprisingly endearing monster named Emi, who’s portrayed as completely innocent. What really stands out is the film’s ability to reimagine the series’ established lore while seamlessly blending exciting adventure with compelling science fiction. More movies like this are exactly what we need! A post-credits scene hints at a potential sequel, but nothing is official yet.

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2025-12-20 18:17