Although Hulu has an excellent library of sci-fi movies, only a single new title was added to that category in May: The Chronicles of Riddick. Considering that Hulu also had to say goodbye to Pacific Rim, Blade Runner 2049, and the 2021 remake of Dune, then it’s pretty far from a win for sci-fi fans.
In these quiet months, the best thing to do is dive into the older movies until something fresh comes along. That’s why we’re also throwing a spotlight on the original Planet of the Apes, Predator, as well as a more contemporary film in the genre, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. You can find the rest of our selections in the best sci-fi movies on Hulu below.
If you’re looking for more films to watch, remember that Hulu is part of the Disney Bundle. That includes the basic Hulu subscription (with ads), Disney+, and ESPN+, all for just $14 a month. That’s a great deal, and you don’t even have to travel to the future for it.
If you’re curious about what’s available in science fiction on other streaming services, we also have guides for the best sci-fi movies on Netflix, as well as the best sci-fi movies on Amazon Prime Video.
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- Planet of the Apes1968
- Predator1987
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
51%
6.1/10Following the events of Jurassic World, the dinosaurs trapped on Isla Nublar are facing a new extinction event in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. While Dr. Ian Malcolm (Wicked‘s Jeff Goldblum) advocates leaving the dinosaurs to their fate, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) feels a responsibility to save as many as possible. Claire also reaches out to her former colleague, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), for his assistance with the dinosaur evacuation.
But once Owen arrives on the island, he’s betrayed and left for dead. Now, Owen and Claire have to unravel the plans of Sir Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), the former partner of the man who cloned the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, John Hammond.
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
38% 6.6/10Vin Diesel’s Richard B. Riddick was such an interesting antihero in Pitch Black that an entire franchise was born out of that film, to very mixed results. The Chronicles of Riddick attempts to add some dimensions to its title character as Riddick looks for answers about who he is and where he comes from.
After emerging from a half-decade of living in isolation, Riddick is stuck in the path of the Necromongers, a group of religious fanatics who force conversions on every planet they conquer and kill any who refuse to follow them. The Lord Marshal (Colm Feore) of the Necromongers has reasons to believe that Riddick may be the one man who can kill him. And that’s something that the Lord Marshal’s follower, Commander Vaako (Karl Urban), may be able to exploit if he listens to his power-hungry wife, Dame Vaako (Thandiwe Newton).
Planet of the Apes (1968)
79% 8.0/10Tim Burton’s 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes may have better special effects than the 1968 original, but the original film has a much better story that was co-written by The Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling. This movie also gave Charlton Heston one of his most famous roles as George Taylor, an astronaut from Earth who crashes on an unknown world where apes are the dominant species.
Ape scientists Dr. Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) and Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter) are sympathetic to Taylor even before they discover he can speak. Regardless, another ape scientist, Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans), will do almost anything to silence Taylor and prevent him from learning the secret of the Planet of the Apes.
Predator (1987)
47% 7.8/10Contemporary critics of Predator dismissed it in 1987, but it has since gone on to become recognized as one the all-time great sci-fi action movies. It’s also one of the few films to give Arnold Schwarzenegger an on-screen nemesis who is even more intimidating than he is. The Predator (Kevin Peter Hall) is given no name in the movie, and this alien hasn’t come to Earth to make friends. Instead, he’s hunting people.
Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), his CIA contact Al Dillon (the late Carl Weathers), and the rest of Dutch’s mercenary team find out the hard way that they’ve become the prey to this killer from another world. They may be skilled soldiers by Earth’s standards, but the Predator is toying with them as he picks them off one-by-one.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
82% 7.4/10The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy comes to a strong conclusion in War for the Planet of the Apes. After years of conflict with humans, Caesar (Andy Serkis) has lost almost all compassion for his rival species, especially after humans killed his wife and child. That’s why Caesar is so slow to warm up to Nova (Amiah Miller), a mute human girl who is befriended by his right-hand orangutan, Maurice (Karin Konoval).
Before Caesar can lead the apes to sanctuary, he’ll have one last battle to fight against the Colonel (Woody Harrelson), a man whose brutal tactics may allow humanity to retain their hold on the Planet of the Apes.
The Fifth Element (1997)
53% 7.6/10In 1997, The Fifth Element was a breath of fresh air for sci-fi lovers with a story inspired by European science fiction comics. Bruce Willis stars as Korben Dallas, a former soldier turned cab driver. While trying to make a living in the future, Dallas’ world is rocked when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) literally drops in on his flying car.
Leeloo isn’t initially sure who she is or what she’s supposed to be doing shortly after her resurrection, but she eventually goes off to space in order to prevent the triumph of the Great Evil. And Dallas is going to help Leeloo do it, whether he wants to or not.
The Creator (2023)
63% 6.8/10After an extended absence from theaters, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards helmed and co-wrote The Creator. Tenet’s John David Washington stars as Sergeant Joshua Taylor, a soldier in humanity’s war against an overpowering AI force. Years after losing his wife, Maya Fey (Gemma Chan), to an AI attack, Taylor is given a new mission that may decide the outcome of the war.
Taylor’s goal is to find and destroy a new AI weapon, Alpha-O, which has the ability to control any technology remotely. But much to Taylor’s shock, the weapon is actually Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), a child-like AI he decides to take under his protection regardless of the consequences.
Alien (1979)
89% 8.5/102024 marks the 45th anniversary of Ridley Scott’s Alien, and it remains one of the best sci-fi/horror films of all-time. The story focuses on the ill-fated crew of the Nostromo, a spaceship that investigates a strange transmission during their interstellar journey. What they find is the body of a long-dead humanoid-like alien and a facehugger that leaves the ship’s executive officer, Kane (John Hurt), with an alien growing inside of his body.
No amount of Pepto-Bismol is going to save Kane when the xenomorph bursts from his body. Unfortunately for Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt), Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), and the rest of the crew, the xenomorph is more than capable of hunting them down one by one.
Dual (2022)
62% 5.8/10Crimes of the Future (2022)
67% 5.9/10Come True (2020)
68% 5.9/10Boss Level (2021)
56% 6.8/10Editors' Recommendations
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