Over the course of the last 10 years, the world has been treated to some of the most exceptional science fiction movies of the 21st century as a whole. The best part about this genre isn’t the interplanetary space travel, nor the speculative futuristic societies, nor the fascinating techno-based fiction. Instead, the best part about science fiction is its versatility. There are all sorts of stories that one can tell using sci-fi tropes, regardless of the level of scientific rigor one actually wants to bring to the party. Sci-fi films focused on “soft” sciences like sociology or psychology, ones that are mostly character-driven and not particularly concerned with scientific accuracy, fall into the “soft sci-fi” camp. On the other hand, sci-fi films all about “hard” sciences like physics and engineering, ones that have scientific rigor at the top of their minds, are considered hard sci-fi movies.

Though the majority of the sci-fi masterpieces that cinema has had to offer since 2016 have fallen into the soft category, there have certainly been some exceptional hard sci-fi movies throughout those 10 years. What’s more, a few of those gems have come just about as close as cinema can ever hope to come to true perfection. These are flawless sci-fi masterpieces in virtually every sense that matters, from criminally underappreciated ones like Prospect to massive blockbusters like Project Hail Mary. These films are among sci-fi fans’ favorites from the last decade, and for good reason. They’re proof that, when done with enough intelligence and with an entertaining enough story, hard sci-fi can provide some enthralling stories.

6

‘Prospect’ (2018)

Pedro Pascal seems to be everywhere this decade, but even before the 2020s rolled in, he was still participating in exciting projects both hugely influential and awfully underrated. Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell‘s Prospect definitely falls into the latter category. It’s among those unsung sci-fi masterpieces that every fan of the genre should watch, a dystopian thriller about a girl and her father landing on a forest moon to mine for gems. However, a malfunction forces them to confront dangerous rival prospectors and deadly conditions to complete their mission. It’s one of Pascal’s most underappreciated projects, a space Western worth watching for all fans of either genre.

Those who prefer action-packed sci-fi driven by special effects are better off looking elsewhere, but those who love atmospheric, genre-bending hard sci-fi are bound to find Prospect intriguing at the very least. The film’s space Western vibe makes its bulky, low-fi technology feel all the more grounded in reality, something that hard sci-fi lovers always appreciate. Though it’s definitely somewhat slow, a quality that not every fan of the genre will enjoy, Prospect is a must-see for everyone who prefers their science fiction thoughtful, minimalistic, and mostly based in reality. It may very well be Pascal’s best pre-<em>Mandalorian </em>sci-fi role.

5

‘Ad Astra’ (2019)

James Gray‘s Ad Astra is one of the most criminally overlooked sci-fi movies of all time, part slow-burning space adventure and part psychological drama. It follows Roy McBride, an astronaut who embarks on a mission to investigate a threat to the universe and uncover the truth about his father, who disappeared 30 years ago. Beautifully directed and deliberately paced, it’s a powerfully introspective character study diving deep into the human condition, the nature of isolation, and the burden of generational trauma. Bolstered by a pair of incredible performances by Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones, it’s proof that science fiction can be relatively slow-paced (despite the film’s occasional offering of grand, adrenaline-pumping set pieces) and still be absolutely engrossing in terms of entertainment value.

Ad Astra is so intensely focused on the psychology of its characters and its philosophical exploration of its themes that some may rightfully say it’s on the softer side of sci-fi, but there’s an undeniable argument to be made for hard science fiction here. The film’s depiction of space feels quite grounded in reality, and though it takes some scientific liberties with its portrayal of space travel, it also puts a lot of care into making it believable. Add to that a fascinatingly nuanced depiction of the geopolitics of space, and you get a movie that grounds itself in hard sciences just enough to make it thoroughly enjoyable for die-hard fans of both hard and soft sci-fi.

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