4 Excellent New Sci-Fi Movies and Shows You Can Watch This Week at Home or in Theaters, Including ‘Alien: Earth’

This week packs a handy mix of space adventures, franchise lore, real world investigation, and a creature feature built for the big screen. There is something new to stream at home and something to catch in theaters along with fresh episodes for two shows that keep the conversation going.

Below you will find quick rundowns with plot basics plus who is involved in front of and behind the camera. Release dates and where to watch are included so you can plan your viewing without fuss.

‘Elio’ (2025)

Pixar’s animated adventure follows 11 year old Elio Solís who is whisked into the Communiverse and mistaken for Earth’s ambassador after an accidental first contact. The voice cast features Yonas Kibreab as Elio with Zoe Saldaña as Olga along with Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa, and Remy Edgerly as Glordon. The film is directed by Adrian Molina, Domee Shi, and Madeline Sharafian from a screenplay by Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones with music by Rob Simonsen. It arrives for digital purchase and rental on August 19 on major retailers.

The story blends a coming of age mission with interstellar diplomacy as Elio tries to represent humanity while finding his own voice. Pixar Animation Studios produced the film with Mary Alice Drumm as producer and Walt Disney Studios distributing. If you are watching at home this week you can grab it on August 19 and explore bonus featurettes and deleted scenes on the home release that follows.

‘Alien: Earth’ (2025– )

Set two years before the original story that began the long running saga, this FX series is created and run by Noah Hawley and expands the timeline on Earth. Sydney Chandler stars as Wendy who is the first hybrid with a human consciousness transferred into a synthetic body while Alex Lawther plays Joseph D. Hermit who is her brother and a medic. The ensemble also includes Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia, Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier who is a powerful young executive, and Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh who mentors Wendy. New episodes air Tuesdays on FX with streaming on Hulu in the United States and the latest episode arrives on August 19.

The season explores corporate rivalries and the dangers of alien biology through a storyline that involves the USCSS Maginot and a crash that brings threats home. Hawley leads the writers room with executive producers that include Ridley Scott and production is through FX Productions. The schedule continues weekly so you can stay on the same cadence through the finale.

‘The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch’ (2020– )

The History series returns with Season 6 and continues the long running investigation of a 512 acre property in Utah that has a long record of reported anomalies. The core team includes ranch owner Brandon Fugal, Dr. Travis Taylor, principal investigator Erik Bard, head of security Bryant Dragon Arnold, Thomas Winterton, and colleagues who join specific experiments. New episodes air Tuesdays on History with the latest episode landing on August 19 and next day streaming available on History platforms.

This season follows tests around an invisible region the team calls the Bubble along with digs and instrument runs on and around the Mesa. The production is from Prometheus Entertainment with executive producers that include Kevin Burns and Joel Patterson and the format mixes field tests, lab analysis, and debriefs. Episode guides list the weekly titles and tease experiments that escalate through late August and early September.

‘Primitive War’ (2025)

This feature film adaptation of Ethan Pettus’s novel is directed by Luke Sparke and heads to theaters on August 21 across the United States. The story is set in 1968 and follows a recon unit known as Vulture Squad on a mission to find a missing Green Beret platoon in a remote valley where de extinct dinosaurs are stalking the jungle. The cast includes Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, and Jeremy Piven with cinematography by Wade Muller and music by Frederik Wiedmann. The screenplay is by Luke Sparke and Ethan Pettus.

The production was mounted through Sparke Films and shot on location in Queensland with distribution handled by Fathom Entertainment in the United States. Marketing has highlighted practical effects mixed with digital work to stage close quarters jungle encounters and military tactics. The film opens on August 21 so check local listings for evening showtimes.

What are you watching first this week and why, and which title are you most excited about, share your thoughts in the comments.