These 8 sci-fi movies now available to stream on new releases coming to Netflix in 2025, including the return of fan-favorite shows like Stranger Things and You, the platform is on track to only get more exciting as the year goes on.

For those anxiously awaiting these new releases and looking for something to watch on Netflix in the meantime, these 8 sci-fi movies may be perfect. The sci-fi genre is one that is known to take risks, which can make sci-fi movies and shows a bit hit or miss. However, these 8 sci-fi movies currently streaming on Netflix are entirely underrated.

8 Night Raiders

This Dystopian Movie Was Well-Received By Critics

Night Raiders was released in 2021 and tells the dystopian story of a mother attempting to free her daughter from what is essentially state-sanctioned imprisonment. The movie is set in the year 2043, when North America has become so ravaged by wars that, among other things, children have become property of the government. As is often the case with dystopian stories, Night Raiders has themes of resilience, heroism, and family.

Critics and audiences were evidently quite divided on the movie, based on Night Raiders' scores on Rotten Tomatoes. At present, the movie has a respectable 83% score with critics but only a 48% score with audiences. In both cases, though, those who liked the movie cited the actors' performances, the unique perspective of the movie, and the importance of Night Raiders' messages.

7 Advantageous

This 10-Year-Old Movie Is Worth A Watch

Advantageous was released in 2015 and also features a mother and daughter duo in the future. In Advantageous, youth, money, and beauty win the day. This causes a whole host of problems for protagonist Gwen and her daughter, Jules. Like many inclusions on this list, Advantageous provides (at times pointed, but never too heavy-handed) social commentary that resonates as much today as it did when the movie was released 10 years ago.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Advantageous has an 87% critic score and a 72% audience score, both of which suggest that the movie is an enjoyable watch. Among the strengths of the movie are the story's thought-provoking nature, solid writing, and themes and messages. Even a decade on, this sci-fi movie is certainly worth the watch.

6 Oxygen

This Sci-Fi Take On Being Buried Alive Is Truly Chilling

For those interested in sci-fi movies that border on horror, Oxygen may be the perfect choice. Released in 2021, Oxygen tells the disturbing story of a woman who wakes up trapped inside a cryogenic chamber with no idea how she got there and no way out. This movie therefore shares plenty of themes with movies about someone being buried alive, just with a new sci-fi angle.

For those interested in sci-fi movies that border on horror, Oxygen may be the perfect choice.

As proof of the movie's underrated status, Oxygen currently has an impressive 90% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the audience score isn't far behind at 74%. Unsurprising given the storyline and the subject matter, audiences and critics alike took a liking to the movie's gripping and absolutely terrifying plot. Praise for the movie also went to Oxygen's star, Mélanie Laurent, who managed to capture heart-racing scenes without anyone (or anything) else around.

5 Europa Report

This Understated Movie Has Plenty Of Appeal

Europa Report came out in 2013, making it one of the slightly older additions on this list. Compared to some of its counterparts, Europa Report is a much less intense sci-fi movie, even as it explores similar themes to other movies in this genre. In the movie, astronauts search for proof of life on one of the moons of Jupiter.

With that plotline as the backdrop, Europa Report offers a visually stunning and thoughtful sci-fi movie about space exploration. The Rotten Tomatoes critic score for Europa Report is respectable, at 81%, although the audience score is quite a bit worse at 57%. Nevertheless, Europa Report offers something new and interesting in this genre, which isn't always all that easy to do, and simply based on its beauty, it's worth watching.

4 The Kitchen

The Kitchen Brings Plenty Of Real-Life Elements To This Dystopian Future

The Kitchen is yet another dystopian sci-fi movie, this one specifically focused on issues of class, inequality, and survival. The movie, set in London in the 2040s, depicts the struggles of those within the lower economic class to survive when faced with the power and control of the incredibly wealthy. Although The Kitchen has a clear social commentary, it doesn't ever feel as though it becomes too preachy, which can be a pitfall for movies in this genre.

The Kitchen has a truly shocking disparity between critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Kitchen has a 91% critic score, suggesting the movie was rather popular with critics, yet the audience score is just 45%. Based on the reviews, critics enjoyed the writing, performances, and messaging, whereas audiences largely found the pacing too slow. Nevertheless, based on the critic score alone, The Kitchen should be given a chance.

3 See You Yesterday

This Time Travel Sci-Fi Movie Has Heart And Something To Say

As the playful title of the movie suggests, See You Yesterday is a sci-fi movie that centers on time travel. This can be a difficult arc to pull off, as there are plenty of pitfalls when it comes to narratives about time travel. Although See You Yesterday does suffer from some of those issues, such as plot holes (which feel almost inevitable when it comes to time travel), See You Yesterday also shares some important and relevant messages.

Specifically, the narrative is driven by a tragic police shooting incident, and the movie explores the complexity of this story with heart and grace. Yet again, there is a massive disparity between critic and audience scores for See You Yesterday. Whereas the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is rather dismal at 38%, the critic score is a very impressive 93%. On its messaging alone, See You Yesterday is certainly one to watch.

2 Don't Look Up

This Inventive Movie Didn't Get The Love It Deserved

Of all the inclusions on this list, Don't Look Up is likely the most easily recognizable. Don't Look Up's cast of characters is rather star-studded, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in the leading roles. Meryl Streep, yet another massive industry name, also plays the president in Don't Look Up. Despite the magnitude of this cast, Don't Look Up really didn't get the appreciation it deserved when it was released.

The movie was at times treated like a bit of a joke, but it really had plenty to say about misinformation, mob mentalities, and what happens when no one will see what is happening right in front of them. The Rotten Tomatoes scores for Don't Look Up aren't exactly the highest—56% with critics and 78% with audiences—but it is a solid movie nevertheless. For those who haven't yet watched it, it's absolutely worth the watch, and it may have a bit more impact than one might expect based on the movie's reputation.

1 They Cloned Tyrone

This Sci-Fi Movie Has A Stellar Rotten Tomatoes Score

Finally, the most underrated sci-fi movie currently streaming on Netflix is They Cloned Tyrone. They Cloned Tyrone came out in 2023 and has some brilliant actors among its cast, including John Boyega and Jamie Foxx. The movie centers on a bizarre government conspiracy and blends comedy, sci-fi, mystery, and various other genre elements together in fascinating ways.

They Cloned Tyrone has a staggering 95% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, reinforcing what a brilliant movie it is, and the audience score isn't too far behind at 82%. Unsurprisingly, given the star power among the cast, the actors' performances are high on the list of praises for They Cloned Tyrone, but the humor, wit, imagination, and writing are also applauded by critics and audiences alike. Of all the hidden gem sci-fi movies currently streaming on Netflix, They Cloned Tyrone is easily the best and most underrated of them all.