There’s an overwhelming amount of Netflix movies to choose from these days, and even when you narrow your search down by genre, 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 yours poking around the platform. So if you’re looking for the best sci-fi and fantasy movies on Netflix for August 2020, you’ve come to the right place.
The Old Guard (2020)
If you’re looking for something new on Netflix, 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.
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
V for Vendetta (2012)
While this movie takes place in a fictional dystopia, the main themes are eerily relevant to what’s happening in the world right now. In the Year 2032, the united kingdom is under the tyrannical rule of the Norsefire Party. Those who oppose the government are killed, and the “truth” has become a weapon to control the people. The film follows a shadowy freedom fighter that goes by “V” as he plots to overthrow a tyrannical regime. Don’t be fooled by the flashy action scenes, however, the true purpose of V for Vendetta is to give us a terrifying look at what can happen if a government falls under fascist rule.
Looking for more like this? We’ve also made a list of the best social justice movies.
Director: James McTeigue
Main Cast: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves
Runtime: 132 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Jurassic Park (1993)
Jurassic Park is a classic, there’s no denying it. And while we’re only highlighting the first movie here, Netflix will actually have the first three Jurassic Park films available to stream in August 2020. So we recommend having yourself a bit of dinosaur binge at some point during this month if you’re up for it.
Director: Stephen Spielberg
Main Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
Runtime: 127 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.1
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
9 (2009)
9 was one of those underrated Netflix movies I’d never heard of until someone told me how underrated it was. And after watching it, I wondered how it was possible I never knew it existed. In a world destroyed in a war between man and machine, a hand-stitched doll with the number 9 written on it comes back to life. As the doll tries to decipher the world around him, he finds that he may be one of the last hopes for man’s salvation.
Director: Shane Acker
Main Cast: Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover
Runtime: 79 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.1
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