Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for science fiction movies like Arrival:
The Creator
Gareth Edwards’ latest movie, The Creator, blasts onto the screen with the force of a nuclear warhead, throwing audiences into a sprawling sci-fi epic that’s equal parts awe-inspiring and occasionally frustratingly shallow. Like a perfectly sculpted sandcastle frailly built on a windy beach, The Creator boasts breathtaking visuals and an ambitious scope, only to slightly crumble under the weight of its own narrative shortcomings.
Read our full review of The Creator
Dune: Part One
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is an ambitious and visually stunning sci-fi epic that successfully brings Frank Herbert’s classic novel to the big screen. With a star-studded cast led by Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and Zendaya, this film is a must-see for fans of the genre and those looking for a thrilling cinematic experience.
Read our full review of Dune: Part One
Signs
M. Night Shyamalan made many great genre movies to launch his career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but none are as quirky, silly, and downright wholesome as Signs, which brings a family together under extraordinary circumstances. Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix lead a small cast of great performers reckoning with alien lifeforms reaching Earth.
Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 tries to operate in two separate modes, as a humane and personal drama, and a science fiction epic. While these two styles work in their own separate veins, they cross to make a visually stunning, emotionally hollow movie. Denis Villeneuve directs himself into a corner with this one.
Read our full review of Blade Runner 2049
Spaceman
Spaceman continues the long collaboration between Adam Sandler and Netflix. It’s not my favorite of his movies with the studio, but it seems like Sandler is able to find a pocket within mid-range streaming films that I desperately wish a few more actors or directors would find. Paul Dano co-stars by voicing a furry, arachnid-like extraterrestrial.
Read our full review of Spaceman
Mickey 17
Following up Parasite was never going to be easy for Bong Joon-ho. The 2019 film was a global phenomenon, breaking language barriers at the Academy Awards and cementing Bong as one of the most exciting directors of his generation. With Mickey 17, his first film since that historic win, he dives headfirst into sci-fi, adapting Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7 with an all-star cast that includes Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, and Toni Collette.
Read our full review of Mickey 17
The End
I’m drawn to many of the technical achievements in The End—its set design, cinematography, and sheer audacity are undeniably impressive. However, Joshua Oppenheimer has previously delivered films that feel more cohesive and incisive, works that seamlessly blend their tone and style with their themes. Tilda Swinton and Michael Shannon lead a movie that feels overbaked and often heavy-handed.
Read our full review of The End
Nope
Nope delivers on its promise of spectacle. Its set-up helps deliver one of the most rewarding third acts of the year, and one I’ll surely return to in years to come. Those don’t come around very often, only a handful of films lend themselves to repeat viewings, and Nope is certainly one of them. A dazzling and hypnotic viewing, and one that doesn’t leave your mind once you leave your theater. The best films make you think, and Jordan Peele‘s Nope gives you plenty to sink your teeth into.
Downsizing
While Downsizing boasts flashes of brilliance in its performances and premise, its uneven tone, muddled message, and narrative missteps ultimately leave Alexander Payne‘s 2017 satire feeling like a missed opportunity.
Read our full review of Downsizing
Leave the World Behind
Sam Esmail, renowned for his work on Mr. Robot, returns to feature filmmaking with Leave the World Behind, a star-studded drama delivered straight to Netflix that operates as an apocalyptic mystery thriller. Boasting a cast of A-listers like Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and the promising up-and-comer Myha’la, the film carries the weight of its cast’s reputation but, unfortunately, doesn’t quite live up to expectations.
Read our full review of Leave the World Behind
READ MORE: Arrival (2016)