There’s an overwhelming amount of movies on Netflix to choose from these days, and even more TV shows. Narrowing your search down by genre can only get you so far, and it can be hard to find exactly what you’re looking for. Luckily, we spend our time picking out the best possible sci-fi movies to stream so you don’t have to waste your time looking for them. So if you’re looking for the best sci-fi and fantasy movies on Netflix for October 2020, you’ve come to the right place.
Back to the Future (1985)
Some of the best sci-fi on Netflix right now is from the 80s. This classic time-travel movie follows 17-year old highschool student Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as he accidentally embarks on a journey 30 years into the past. With the help of an eccentric doctor, he must find a way back to the future without causing too much damage to his own life in the past.
If you’re hoping to also stream the rest of these movies, you’re in luck, the entire Back to the Future trilogy is available to stream on Netflix right now.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Main Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
Runtime: 165 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
After a rough breakup, Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) is absolutely heartbroken to find out his ex-girlfriend Clementine had undergone a process to erase him from her memory. He decides to erase her memory from his mind as well but realizes he still loves her as he watches the memories fade away.
Director: Michel Gondry
Main Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood
Runtime: 108 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.3
The Old Guard (2020)
From the Netflix sci-fi collection of original movies, The Old Guard is an action movie worth watching. The story follows a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron) and her covert group of immortal mercenaries who have been protecting the mortal world for centuries.
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Main Cast: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts
Runtime: 165 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Starship Troopers (1997)
This is one of those classic sci-fi movies everyone has to see at some point. Set in a distant future where high school students are encouraged to join the military, Starship Troopers is a look at what could happen if humans were attacked by alien insects.
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Main Cast: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer
Runtime: 129 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Train to Busan
Train to Busan, which hails from South Korea, is one of the more refreshing zombie films to come out in recent years. The makeup effects are convincing and the terror palpable. Watch as divorced father Seok-Woo struggles to protect his daughter and other passengers from a swarm of zombies as they all travel by train to the city of Busan, a supposed safe zone.
Director: Sang-ho Yeon
Main Cast: Yoo Gong, Yu-me Jung, Dong-seok Ma
Runtime: 121 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Snowpiercer (2013)
Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho is mostly known for his most recent film, Parasite, but his body of work expands beyond just that thriller film. Snowpiercer boasts one of the most unique premises: the entire film taking place on a train that holds the last of the world’s survivors after a failed climate-change experiment.
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Main cast: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton
Runtime: 126 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Spaceballs (1987)
If you’re a fan of the Star Wars movies and enjoy a good parody, then you’ll love Spaceballs. The heroes face off against the nefariously evil Dark Helmet as he plans to kidnap the Princess and steal her planet’s air. It’s one of the best space movies on Netflix right now.
If you’re looking for more like this, we’ve also found some of the best comedy movies.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
The Neverending Story is a classic children’s movie about a troubled boy who dives into a fantasy world through a book. If you haven’t already seen it, watch it. You can also check out our list of the best sci-fi movies of all time for more classic picks options.
Director: Brian Helgeland
Main Cast: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach
Runtime: 102 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.4
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Stranger Than Fiction is one of Will Ferrell’s more serious roles, but it still works as a comedy. The story follows I.R.S. auditor Harold Crick as he goes about his life, only to be suddenly afflicted by narration only he can hear. Life only gets worse for him as the narration begins to affect his work, love life, and potential death.
Director: Marc Foster
Main Cast: Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman
Runtime: 113 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Total Recall (1990)
If you’re looking to watch more of the classics, this early ’90s film is a great place to start. The story follows Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who has been having a recurring dream in which he journeys to Mars. To find out more about this dream, he purchases a holiday at a corporation that deals with memory implants. Naturally, Quaid remembers that he is actually a secret agent and must take down the evil Mars administration.
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Main Cast: Arnold Swarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside
Runtime: 113 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.5
No Game No Life: Zero (2017)
Based on the novel series of the same name, No Game, No Life: Zero tells the story of humanity’s struggle through the great war. Despite being the only race without magic, humans must use the true power of intellect to survive. This movie is actually the prequel to a popular anime series on Netflix.
Director: Atsuko Ishizuka
Main Cast: Alexandra Bedford, Jessica Boone, Ricardo Contreras
Runtime: 110 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Hardcore Henry (2015)
Hardcore Henry is one of the most intense and unique action movies you’ll ever experience. The plot is fairly straightforward, Henry is resurrected with no memory and he must save his wife from a telekinetic warlord. The movie is shot entirely in the first person, however. Meaning you get to see from the viewpoint of Henry throughout the film.
Director: Ilya Naishuller
Main Cast: Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth, Haley Bennett
Runtime: 96 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
As far as animated Marvel movies go, Spider-Verse is one of the best so far. In a string of parallel universes, teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) finds himself becoming Spider-Man. Aided by the Spider-Men — and woman — from other timelines, he must learn to be like Peter Parker.
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey
Main Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld
Runtime: 116 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Underworld (2003)
The Vampires and the Lycans have been at war for centuries, and Selene (Kate Beckinsale) has devoted her life to eradicating the remaining pockets of werewolves. However, when she encounters a seemingly harmless human doctor (Scott Speedman), she uncovers a long-standing conspiracy that shakes her beliefs.
Director: Len Wiseman
Main Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Shane Brolly
Runtime: 121 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Stardust (2007)
If you find yourself in need of some fantasy action and romance, Stardust delivers all that and more. The plot follows Tristan Thorn, a young man living in a small countryside bordering a magical land. After professing his love for the village beauty, he sets out on a quest into the magical kingdom to retrieve a fallen star for her. But when he finds out the fallen star isn’t just some lump of rock, things get complicated.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Main Cast: Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Mark Strong, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer
Runtime: 132 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.2
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