Science fiction is a genre that continues to bring cinema to new horizons. The stories are fascinating, and most of them bring along innovative special effects and cinematography. When Stanley Kubrick directed 2001: A Space Odyssey, the world was introduced to a brilliant story with groundbreaking special effects, and not to mention a masterful score. Since then, we have seen many prominent filmmakers take on the genre including Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, and Steven Spielberg. One of the greatest aspects of a science fiction film is that it can give audiences a glimpse into what life will be like in the distant future.

The 2010s was a spectacular decade for cinema, and we were given several sci-fi films that took place in futuristic timelines. Some of these were horrific visions of the future, while others were brightly colored technical marvels, and others were a spin on the world the everyday viewer knows. Some of these futures were warnings, and others were hopeful ideas of what could be. Let's dive into the best futuristic science fiction movies of the 2010s.

Update November 21, 2023: This article has been updated with more great futuristic set sci-fi movies released during the 2010s and where each title is streaming.

10 In Time (2011)

In Time
In Time
PG-13
Release Date
October 27, 2011
Director
Andrew Niccol
Cast
Justin Timberlake , Olivia Wilde , Shyloh Oostwald , Johnny Galecki , Colin McGurk , will harris
Main Genre
Action

Taking place in a futuristic world where time is a currency and people stop aging at 25, Andrew Niccol's In Time tells the story of Will Salas (Justin Timberlake), a factory worker from the poorest part of the country. Will's life changes after he saves a drunken man, who transfers him all of his remaining time, and soon Will finds himself thrust into a world of danger and corruption. The film co-stars Amanda Seyfriend as an accomplice of Will's, along with Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, and Alex Pettyfer, among others.

What Makes It Great

In Time is by no means the most sophisticated sci-fi movie of the 2010s; it's clunky, lacking in nuance, and unable to follow through on its interesting premise. However, that doesn't mean it should be dismissed. With great action, charming performances from the two leads, and typically stunning cinematography courtesy of Roger Deakins, In Time is the perfect slice of futuristic escapism for when you're not looking to be challenged intellectually.

Stream on Hulu

9 Prometheus (2012)

The fifth installment in the Alien franchise, 2012's Prometheus saw the director, Ridley Scott, return to familiar territory to craft a story that serves as a prequel to 1979's Alien. Taking place at the end of the 21st century, the film revolves around a group of travelers aboard the eponymous spaceship Prometheus, who set out on a quest to search for the origins of human life. However, on a distant moon, far out in space, the crew encounters creatures that pose a threat to all of humanity. Like other films in the series, Prometheus features an ensemble cast made up of big stars, including Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and Charlize Theron.

What Makes It Great

Critical and audience reaction to the film was mixed when it was first released in cinemas, however, as time has passed, and following the release of the even more controversial Alien: Covenant, opinion towards Prometheus has become more positive. While it is certainly the most frustrating entry in the series — with too many questions left unanswered — there's no denying that it still manages to capture the eeriness and extraterrestrial horror of its predecessors. Furthermore, with compelling characters, interesting concepts, and solid performances, Prometheus is far from a total dud, even if its ambition partly outweighs its execution.

Rent on AppleTV+

8 Looper (2012)

looper
Looper
R
Release Date
September 26, 2012
Director
Rian Johnson
Main Genre
Action

Before he had a stab at a Star Wars film and became known as the Knives Out guy, filmmaker Rian Johnson wrote and directed the epic futuristic sci-fi film Looper. Like others on this list, the film plays with the concept of time, with the story centering on Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a "looper" whose job it is to execute people sent back from the future. Things take a complicated turn, however, when he is eventually tasked with killing his future self (Bruce Willis).

What Makes It Great

Johnson's first foray into the world of sci-fi is a highly impressive one, with Looper showcasing many of his best skills as a director. It's gritty, thought-provoking, and exciting, and, much like Johnson's later work, filled with some delightfully pleasing twists. Moreover, thanks to a clever premise, an intriguing plot, and captivating performances from both Gordon-Levitt and Willis Looper is one of the smartest and most original time travel movies since Back to the Future.

Stream on the CW

7 Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

edge of tomorrow
Edge of Tomorrow
PG-13
Release Date
May 27, 2014
Director
Doug Liman
Cast
Tom Cruise , Emily Blunt , Brendan Gleeson , Bill Paxton , Jonas Armstrong , Tony Way
Main Genre
Action

Sometimes known by its tagline, Live. Die. Repeat., 2014's Edge of Tomorrow sees Tom Cruise playing a soldier of the future named Major William Cage, who is fighting a war against a deadly alien race known as "mimics". In order to give humans the advantage, Cage is introduced to a new science that allows him to relive the same day over and over after he dies. Over the course of many loops, Cage is trained by and falls for Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), who helps him with his mission to win the war against the "mimics" once and for all.

What Makes It Great

Possibly as a result of its confusing title and marketing, Edge of Tomorrow didn't do as well at the box office as many hoped it would. Which is a shame because it's a truly enjoyable sci-fi film. A clever and unique take on the time-loop trope, the film boasts impressive special effects, wonderfully unique creature designs, and tones of great action, as well as top-notch chemistry between Cruise and Blunt. Exciting from beginning to end, Edge of Tomorrow is undoubtedly the most underrated sci-fi movie of the 2010s, if not all time, but those who do love it have been clamoring for a sequel since the film's release.

Stream on Hulu

Related
Best Sci-Fi Movies of the 2010s Ranked
With its imagination and technology, science fiction contributes to culture in ways other movies can't. These are some of the best of the 2010s.

6 Ad Astra (2019)

ad astra
Ad Astra
PG-13
Release Date
September 17, 2019
Director
James Gray
Cast
Brad Pitt , Kimmy Shields , Ruth Negga , Tommy Lee Jones , Donald Sutherland , Greg Bryk
Main Genre
Sci-Fi

Acclaimed filmmaker James Gray followed the success he had with 2016's Lost City of Z by delivering a visually stunning realistic look at the future of space travel in 2019's Ad Astra. In the film, Brad Pitt stars as Roy McBride, an astronaut sent on a dangerous quest to the distant realms of space to solve a mystery set in place by his father (Tommy Lee Jones), that has implications for the whole universe. Along the way, he encounters a number of technical issues, is ambushed by scavengers, and gets attacked by a baboon.

What Makes It Great

Definitely more of a slow-burner than others on this list, Ad Astra, nevertheless, manages to hold the audience's attention with awe-inspiring visuals, a thought-provoking story, and an assured and understated central performance by Pitt. With classic sci-fi films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris clearly acting as key points of inspiration for Gray, the award-winning filmmaker proves that he is capable of working within all types of genres. Though it might not be as groundbreaking as the films that influenced it, Ad Astra is still a beautiful and epic tale of one man lost in space.

Stream on Fubo

5 Big Hero 6 (2014)

big hero 6
Big Hero 6
PG
Animation
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Family
Release Date
October 24, 2014
Director
Don Hall , Chris Williams
Runtime
108
Main Genre
Animation
Studio
Walt Disney Animation
Writers
Don Hall , Jordan Roberts , Robert L. Baird , Daniel Gerson , Duncan Rouleau , Steven T. Seagle
Tagline
From the creators of Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen.
Franchise
Disney Animated Films

Set in a fictional alternate city of San Fransokyo (a mixture of Japan and San Francisco), Big Hero 6 is a Walt Disney animated film loosely based on the Marvel Comic of the same name. The movie follows a young boy named Hiro Hamada, who, along with a robot nurse Baymax built by his deceased brother, teams up with his friends to stop a masked criminal from destroying the city. It's standard superhero stuff, but done with a dose of Disney magic.

What Makes It Great

Big Hero 6 has some incredibly gorgeous visuals, as something only animation can convey. The world of San Fransokyo is both modern and classical, mixing old traditions with innovation. No wonder Disney's California Adventure just added a new themed section to their park based on it. Baymax is also a great character and might be one of the most realistic depictions of artificial intelligence, as it never suggests he is growing a soul but his programming is so reflective humans craft emotion onto him. More importantly, underneath all the sci-fi aesthetics and superhero story elements, this is a beautiful movie about moving on from grief.

Stream on Disney+

4 Ex Machina (2015)

ex machina
Ex Machina
R
Release Date
January 16, 2015
Director
Alex Garland
Cast
Domhnall Gleeson , Corey Johnson , Oscar Isaac , Alicia Vikander , Sonoya Mizuno , Claire Selby
Main Genre
Superhero

Alex Garland's Ex Machina may not be set in the distant future, but the fact that it takes place in a time period starkly similar to ours only makes its premise all the more disturbing. The story unfolds in a world where artificial intelligence is almost indistinguishable from human beings, and it follows a young programmer named Caleb (Domnhall Gleeson) who is tasked by the CEO of the company he works for (Oscar Isaac) to evaluate a highly intelligent humanoid robot called Ava (Alicia Vikander). However, it soon becomes clear that Ava is unwilling to be kept prisoner by her master.

What Makes It Great

Dark, suspenseful, and claustrophobic, Ex Machina is a haunting and thought-provoking look at artificial intelligence, all held together by a truly chilling performance by Vikander in the role that propelled her to stardom. Furthermore, the film's production design is superb, with each element, from the futuristic maze-like complex to the lighting to the score, helping to create a cold and unwelcoming atmosphere. All of this is even more impressive, given that the film only cost $15 million to make. A story in the vein of acclaimed sci-fi writers like Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick that has only become more relevant in the years since the film's release, Ex Machina is easily one of the best films about A.I. to have ever been made.

Stream on Max

3 Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

blade runner 2
Blade Runner 2
R
Release Date
October 4, 2017
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Main Genre
Sci-Fi

The original Blade Runner film is a science fiction masterpiece that is often cited as one of the best in the genre. Understandably then, many fans expected the sequel — 2017's Blade Runner 2049 — to fail to live up to the legacy of its predecessor. However, in the hands of acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 was a critical success, with many reviewers and fans considering it on par with, or even superior to, the first one. Set 30 years after the events of the original film, the story follows a replicant by the name of K (Ryan Gosling). When he discovers the hidden secret that replicants are capable of reproducing biologically, he is set on a dangerous course.

Related
Blade Runner 2049: Why It Bombed at the Box Office But Is the Best Movie of 2017
Depicting everything special about the science fiction genre, here's why Blade Runner 2049 is the best film of 2017, despite its box office numbers.

What Makes It Great

Like the first film, Blade Runner 2049 is a magnificent spectacle, with Roger Deakins' gorgeous cinematography helping to create a starkly beautiful dystopian world. It is, without a doubt, some of the greatest work of the cinematographer's illustrious career, with the pairing of Deakins and Villeneuve proving to be a match made in futuristic sci-fi heaven. With an absorbing plot, deep themes, an engaging performance by Gosling, and excellent chemistry between him and Ford, Blade Runner 2049 is a spellbinding sci-fi sequel that, on paper, shouldn't have worked. But, thank goodness it did.

Stream on Max

2 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

mad max 4
Mad Max: Fury Road
R
Release Date
May 13, 2015
Director
George Miller
Main Genre
Action

Like the other films in the Mad Max series, Fury Road traverses a few different genres. George Miller's modern masterpiece is simultaneously an action film, a western, and a dystopian drama while employing several elements of science fiction. The plot sees Max, now played by Tom Hardy, team up with the rebellious Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to lead a group of young women to freedom, all the while trying to escape the evil army on their tail.

Related
Why Mad Max: Fury Road is More Prescient Than Ever
Mad Max: Fury Road was released seven years ago. Since then, some of the themes of the movie have become more prescient than ever.

What Makes It Great

Many films claim to be "non-stop action", but Mad Max: Fury Road is the real deal. It's exhilarating and tense from beginning to end and features some of the best action and stunt choreography in movie history. Despite the film featuring very little dialogue, Miller manages to convey the complex thoughts, feelings, and emotions of his well-drawn characters through action and visuals, which works even better thanks to the subtle yet effective performances of the two leads. On top of this, it's beautifully shot and masterfully realized, which not only makes Mad Max: Fury Road a highly gripping watch but also one of the greatest films of the 21st century.

Stream on Hulu

1 Interstellar (2014)

interstellar
Interstellar
PG-13
Release Date
November 5, 2014
Main Genre
Sci-Fi

Director Christopher Nolan arguably never misses and, following a run that included The Dark Knight trilogy, The Prestige, and Inception, the British filmmaker delivered once again with the 2014 sci-fi epic Interstellar, which brought audiences to the edge of the solar system in typical Nolan fashion. The film follows a crew of astronauts on a quest to find a new Earth for humanity. Matthew McConaughey leads the cast as a rebellious space traveler named Joseph Cooper, who is destined to save the people of Earth. The cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine.

What Makes It The Best

Nolan is never one to shy away from existential and scientific ideas, and Interstellar is possibly the film where he makes this aspect of his filmmaking the most visible. It's an intelligent and audacious film full of mind-blowing concepts and glorious spectacles. Despite this, it's also a very emotional and personal tale about the relationship between a father and his daughter.

With elegant visuals and a beautiful score by Hans Zimmer, Interstellar is a treat for both the eyes and the ears, and with a message about the effects of climate change and pollution, it's poignant, too. Like others on this list, Interstellar was influenced by classic sci-fi movies of the twentieth century. What's certain is that the film itself will no doubt serve as inspiration for other sci-fi movies for years to come.

Stream on Prime Video