30 Best Sci-Fi Films of the 2020s (So Far) You Absolutely Must Watch

Science fiction has been on a roll in the 2020s, mixing bold ideas with heartfelt stories and eye-popping visuals. From intimate character studies to mega scale epics, filmmakers have pushed the genre into fresh territory while still delivering that sense of wonder fans love. Whether you want brain ticklers, creature thrills, or neon soaked adventures, there is something here that fits your mood.

This list pulls together the standouts that keep people talking long after the credits. It blends festival gems with massive crowd pleasers and thoughtful indies with animated dazzlers. If you are catching up or just looking for your next Friday night pick, start here and have a blast exploring new worlds.

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

This wildly inventive multiverse ride pairs gonzo action with a tender family story. It juggles big ideas about identity and choice with jokes that actually land and fights that feel personal.

The cast is locked in and the direction is fearless, turning tiny moments into emotional gut punches. It is the rare film that makes absurdity feel profound while staying warm and human.

‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)

This sweeping follow up delivers grand scale spectacle with clear, confident storytelling. The deserts roar, the battles thunder, and every frame feels precisely crafted.

Beneath the spectacle sits a story about power, faith, and consequence. It respects the audience and rewards attention with rich worldbuilding and real stakes.

‘Dune’ (2021)

This opening chapter lays the foundation with striking design and careful pacing. It brings a vast universe to life with clarity and awe.

The sound and imagery work together to create a full body experience. You feel the sand, the storms, and the looming weight of destiny.

‘Nope’ (2022)

This smart and spooky tale twists an alien encounter into something fresh and unsettling. It toys with spectacle and exploitation while still delivering popcorn thrills.

The set pieces are unforgettable, and the story sticks with you. It asks sharp questions about what we choose to watch and why we cannot look away.

‘The Creator’ (2023)

This original vision imagines a future shaped by conflict between humans and artificial beings. It balances intimate character beats with sweeping vistas and brave design choices.

What stands out is its empathy. The film treats every side with care and finds hope inside a harsh world.

‘Godzilla Minus One’ (2023)

This return to basics gives the titan real weight and meaning. It blends human drama with monster mayhem in a way that feels earned and powerful.

The action is thrilling, yet the quieter moments hit hardest. It reminds you why this towering figure endures across generations.

‘Prey’ (2022)

This lean survival story strips the franchise down to pure tension and craft. It uses landscape and silence to make every movement count.

The lead performance grounds the hunt with grit and heart. You feel each choice and each risk in your bones.

‘After Yang’ (2022)

This gentle meditation on memory and loss looks at family through a futuristic lens. It moves with calm patience and opens space for reflection.

Its textures and sounds feel soothing, inviting you to sit with its ideas. By the end it leaves a soft ache and a sense of grace.

‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ (2021)

This family road trip turns into a robot uprising with bright, playful energy. It is packed with inventive gags and heartfelt beats that land.

Under the jokes, it speaks to creativity, connection, and the weirdness that makes families special. It is pure joy that still feels sincere.

‘Palm Springs’ (2020)

This time loop romcom finds fresh angles through snappy writing and real chemistry. It plays with repetition to reveal character growth rather than just punchlines.

The result is breezy and thoughtful all at once. It sneaks up with genuine warmth while keeping the laughs steady.

‘The Invisible Man’ (2020)

This modern take turns a classic idea into a tense, grounded thriller. It uses space, sound, and smart framing to keep nerves on edge.

At its core it is a story about control and belief. The scares work because the emotions feel true.

‘Tenet’ (2020)

This puzzle box actioner bends time with meticulous choreography. It asks you to lean in and rewards you with precision and momentum.

Once the rhythm clicks, set pieces unfold like clockwork. It is cold to the touch yet thrilling in design.

‘A Quiet Place Part II’ (2021)

This follow up expands the world while keeping the focus tight. It builds suspense through silence and careful blocking.

New locations and characters add fresh energy without losing the intimate stakes. It is sharp, lean, and gripping.

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

This chapter explodes with style and heart, pushing animation to new heights. Every frame buzzes with detail and purpose.

The character work keeps the spectacle grounded. It earns its big swings by never forgetting the people at the center.

‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ (2022)

This ocean bound return deepens a living world with fluid movement and sensory wonder. The craft on display is staggering from start to finish.

The story leans into family and home, which gives the scale a human pulse. It is a transportive experience that washes over you.

‘They Cloned Tyrone’ (2023)

This sharp and funky conspiracy tale blends satire with sci fi cool. It moves with confidence and a sly sense of humor.

The trio at the center brings crackling chemistry. Beneath the laughs sits a pointed look at control and community.

‘Vesper’ (2022)

This atmospheric gem builds a ruined ecosystem with tactile detail. It feels handmade and lived in, full of strange beauty.

The coming of age thread gives the world emotional weight. It is a small story with big imagination.

‘Jung_E’ (2023)

This focused tale explores identity inside a militarized future. It uses sleek visuals to frame intimate loss and ethical gray space.

The action hits, but the quiet scenes linger. It balances cool tech with real human pain.

‘The Vast of Night’ (2020)

This minimalist mystery works through sound, voice, and suggestion. It invites you to lean closer and listen.

Long takes and nimble dialogue build a spell. It feels like a radio transmission from another place.

‘Finch’ (2021)

This gentle survival story follows a man, his dog, and a robot across a broken landscape. It is warm without turning saccharine.

The friendship at its core feels honest. Small stakes become meaningful through care and craft.

‘I.S.S.’ (2024)

This tense chamber piece traps clashing loyalties in orbit. Confined spaces and shifting alliances keep the pressure high.

It treats the setting as both refuge and threat. Trust becomes the scarcest resource, and that drives every choice.

‘Spaceman’ (2024)

This melancholic voyage pairs cosmic solitude with inner reckoning. It moves at a reflective pace and lets feelings breathe.

The unusual companionship at its center gives the story a tender spark. It is strange and quietly moving.

‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ (2024)

This creature team up embraces colorful adventure and big hearted spectacle. It dives into hidden realms with playful energy.

The action is generous and clear. It never forgets the joy of giant beings throwing down with style.

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ (2024)

This new era builds on legacy while carving its own path. It respects character and culture as much as action.

The journey unfolds with patience and purpose. You feel the weight of history and the pull of the future.

‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ (2024)

This prequel drops you into chaos with raw immediacy. It shows how ordinary lives fracture in an instant.

Amid the terror there is compassion. Small acts of care shine through the noise and fear.

‘The Wandering Earth II’ (2023)

This sprawling adventure swings for the fences with bold engineering feats and global stakes. It is packed with set pieces that feel both grand and earnest.

Beneath the scale lies a story about sacrifice and collective will. It wears its optimism proudly and makes it stirring.

‘Free Guy’ (2021)

This cheerful riff on digital life finds charm in self discovery. It mixes witty bits with feel good momentum.

The jokes land, but the heart carries it. It is bright, bouncy, and surprisingly sweet.

‘Possessor’ (2020)

This icy thriller digs into identity through body swapping tech and brutal consequence. It unsettles with mood and precise violence.

It is confident and unflinching, yet never empty. The questions it raises echo after the final scene.

‘Oxygen’ (2021)

This tight single location story turns scarcity into suspense. You learn the world through fragments and breath.

The performance sells each beat of panic and resolve. It is a masterclass in doing a lot with a little.

‘Archive’ (2020)

This quietly ambitious drama centers on a scientist chasing connection through creation. It builds mood through design and patient pacing.

The final stretch lands with poignant force. It leaves you mulling choices and the lines we cross for love.

Share your own must watch picks in the comments and let everyone know which sci fi films you think belong on this list.