If you are a sci-fi purist searching for the best sci-fi movies streaming on Netflix then you’ve come to the right place. The list below is based upon what is arguably the definitive list of the top 100 sci-fi movies of all time.
Searching the web, I was dissatisfied with the available lists of science fiction movies presently streaming on Netflix. Many of the lists include fantasy films, which – in my opinion – muddle the rankings. Though I am a fan of the film classic “Wizard of Oz” for example, I don’t think that it should be jockeying for position against the “Star Wars” franchise and “2001: A Space Odyssey” in any “Best Movies” rankings – unless you are noncategorically ranking “The Best Movies of All Time.”
So, I searched for “best sci-fi movies of all time” and landed upon TimeOut Film’s recent The 100 Best Sci-Fi Movies list. What makes the list special is who TimeOut reached out to in order to select the films. They didn’t do an online poll; they didn’t just reach out to critics. Instead, their comprehensive approach was to have “Leading sci-fi experts, filmmakers, science fiction writers, film critics and scientists pick the best sci-fi movies ever made.”
The result is an exciting array of fantastic films ranging from 1927’s “Metropolis” to 2013’s “Her.” The list is comprehensive, exhaustive, and 100% pure science fiction. Happily, the list includes links to the films on Amazon.com and iTunes. Sadly, it does not include links to Netflix Streaming.
Doing my part to improve the lists of sci-fi movies available on Netflix Streaming, the list below contains all of the films in TimeOut Film’s top 100 that are available for streaming (I will update the list from time-to-time). The number beside each film title reflects its position on the TimeOut Film list. I’ve flipped the list from the way it’s posted on TimeOut Film, so that the-best-of-the-best appear first. Clicking on the film title will open the film’s page on Netflix.com in a new window or tab on your browser.
Happy viewing!
16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
26. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
31. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
38. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
44. Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
95. Serenity (2005)
Bonus: Here, in no particular order, are a few sci-fi films that didn’t make the TimeOut list, but are currently streaming on Netflix and you might find worth the watch:
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Super Eclectica 