Now that we’re past the halfway point of the decade, we can get a relatively clear picture of what the best films of the 2020s are. Many of them are in the sci-fi genre, with Best Picture winners like Everything Everywhere All At Once, blockbuster hits like Dune, Dune: Part Two, Project Hail Mary, Superman, and Avatar: The Way of Water, and critically acclaimed films like Poor Things, The Wild Robot, and Palm Springs.

With such an outstanding collection of memorable sci-fi movies already released this decade, it stands to reason that several great ones haven’t quite caught the eye of general audiences. Some get released to streaming services and get lost in the shuffle of their vast libraries, while others went to theaters and didn’t exactly make a dent at the box office. This is disappointing since these are all movies that deserved to be bigger hits than they are.

These films also showcase a great blend of sci-fi subgenres. Some are post-apocalyptic stories, some are beautifully crafted animated movies, several have some of Hollywood’s most popular stars, and all are, at the very least, creative endeavors. It goes to show that the 2020s might end up being one of the greatest decades ever for the sci-fi genre.

Finch (2021)

It’s pretty surprising that Finch isn’t a movie that’s held in higher esteem. It features Tom Hanks as the only human actor on screen, which has worked for him in the past with projects like Cast Away. This Apple TV+ original takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where Hanks plays the titular survivor.

His only companions are his dog and a robot that he built to take care of his dog after he eventually dies. The bond between the three makes for something highly entertaining and endearing. Reviews questioned its lack of originality, but it’s a crowd-pleaser with a lot of heart.

The Gorge (2025)

Continuing with another Apple TV+ original, this is a film that came and went without leaving a lasting impact, even though it has a lot going for it. The Gorge did well upon release, yet has been forgotten about within a year of its release despite having two strong leads, a cool concept, and a great score.

The Gorge sees Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller as two snipers who are tasked with guarding a deep gorge, though they don’t know what lies beneath. The sci-fi aspects get mixed in with a surprisingly solid romance and some horror elements.

Little Fish (2020)

More people should discuss how good Olivia Cooke is in pretty much everything she does. Whether it’s Ready Player One or House of the Dragon, she’s great and one of her best films is the little-known indie, Little Fish.

Based on a short story of the same name, Little Fish focuses on a couple who struggles to maintain their relationship as a virus that wipes memories spreads. The fight to save their most important moments together is beautiful, while the sci-fi concepts are well done and the performances are strong.

The Creator (2023)

The Creator is another sci-fi movie that felt like it should’ve been a bigger hit than it was. John David Washington and Gemma Chan lead a good cast, Gareth Edwards is a talented director, and the premise is one that should’ve grabbed audiences.

The Creator is set in 2070 in a world that has been destroyed by a nuclear detonation set off by artificial intelligence, starting a war between AI and humans. Although it didn’t make enough money to be a success, the film was met with solid reviews, with specific appreciation going to its visual effects.

Stowaway (2021)

The entire idea behind the Netflix original sci-fi movie Stowaway is one that’s pretty wild. The film centers on a crew of three astronauts who are sent on a mission to Mars but while on the way, they discover that someone is on board who shouldn’t be.

This revelation threatens their oxygen, their safety, and their lives. The cast is small but features some incredible actors in Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, and Shamier Anderson. Netflix originals with setups like this could become hits, yet this one was forgotten or overlooked by almost everyone.

No One Will Save You (2023)

No One Will Save You is one of the most intriguing sci-fi movies to hit the 2020s, yet it barely gets discussed. That’s even more surprising since it was a strong hit for Hulu when it was released on the streaming service.

The film focuses on Brynn as she has her home invaded by aliens. She attempts to get help from the locals of her town, but she’s a pariah who has nobody she can actually turn to. No One Will Save You does a good job of telling an emotional story and, interestingly, features very little dialogue. Even without that, Kaitlyn Dever turns in a brilliant performance.

Underwater (2020)

Underwater is one of those movies that was a box office bomb and received only mixed reviews, yet it’s actually a much better film than it gets credit for. The premise is engaging, as it focuses on a group of workers at a drilling facility at the bottom of the ocean when an earthquake destroys the facility.

This leads to the fear of being trapped underwater and there’s a batch of unexpected and harrowing creatures who show up. Kristen Stewart leads a talented cast in this hidden gem of a sci-fi movie.

Lost In Starlight (2025)

Like The Gorge, Lost in Starlight is a relatively new film that has still fallen by the wayside and been overlooked by far too many people. The South Korean animated movie has everything you could want from the genre, from stunning visuals to a great story.

Lost in Starlight is set in 2050 and follows the relationship that forms between an astronaut who is bound for a trip to Mars and a musician. Watching their love attempt to transcend the stars is a beautiful thing. The film has an 88% Rotten Tomatoes rating and was up for an Annie Award.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

They Cloned Tyrone should go down as one of Netflix’s best original movies, yet it seems like it hit the streaming service, got some viewers, and then was somewhat forgotten about.

The film follows an unlikely trio that works together to uncover the truth behind a cloning conspiracy that the government is doing in secret. They Cloned Tyrone received strong reviews and has a stellar cast led by John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx, to go along with its cool setup.

Predator: Killer Of Killers (2025)

The comeback of the Predator franchise is something that should be studied. The series seemed dead for a long time and even its attempts at coming back, like 2018’s The Predator, were misfires. However, Dan Tratchenberg fixed that with Prey and Predator: Badlands.

In between those movies, Predator: Killer of Killers was released on Hulu and there wasn’t much hype for it. A lot of people don’t even know it exists, yet the film has the best Rotten Tomatoes score of the Predator franchise. The action is top-notch, the animation style is cool, and the use of different time periods is enthralling.