Ryan Gosling in a ship in 'Project Hail Mary'
We're not even a full six months into the calendar year, and cinema has delivered us a smattering of science fiction films. From heartfelt space thrillers to sweeping time-spanning epics, 2026 has been a fascinating year for the genre, and it is only going to get better.
Before the next batch of science fiction films arrives, we must discuss some of those released for your viewing pleasure. On this list, we will be ranking only the live-action sci-fi films. No animation will be found here. Further, the films discussed must have a predominant science fiction element.
That's anything from space travel to time machines. Some are dramas, others are comedies. Whether good or bad, the films that made this list have ignited the passion for the genre, with some that might even reshape sci-fi for the future. Though this list will change by the end of the year, will the top spots be taken over by the next lot of movies?
Only time will tell. 7 'In the Blink of an Eye' Oh, this one stings. It hurts having to negatively critique a genuine passion project, but In the Blink of an Eye simply did not work. Written by Colby Day with direction by Andrew Stanton, the sci-fi drama is an exploration of the human condition through three interconnected stories spanning prehistory, the present, and the future.
First, a Neanderthal family comprised of Thorn , Hera , and their daughter navigates survival at the dawn of humanity. Next, anthropologist Claire studies human ancestors as a means to discover connections between humans across time. As she does, she must deal with the loss of her mother and her waning connection with a lover, Greg .
Finally, in the future, a lone human named Coakley journeys through space as she is on a mission to foster the continuation of the species. A mediation on love, loss, and shared experience that define humanity, In the Blink of an Eye is merely a long-form EPCOT attraction with celebrities. The biggest issue the film faces is the immediate comparison to 2001: A Space Odyssey, arguably one of the greatest films of all time.
Further, it had the sentimentality that Stanton infused into WALL-E, but that's not what this film desired. With a wavering tone and a forced sense of optimism, In the Blink of the Eye felt lifeless despite its inherent humanity. The three tales had obvious connective tissue, and the way the scenes fell into one another worked as a storytelling device. The stakes were simply lacking.
There was a lot of promise with In the Blink of an Eye with the cast and creative team, but it was an endeavor that meandered into dullness. 6 'Mercy' Everybody makes mistakes. Even AI. That's the core of Timur Bekmambetov's real-time sci-fi thriller, Mercy. A briskly paced crime drama, Chris Pratt stars as Chris Raven, a detective forced into the hot seat as he's accused of murdering his wife.
Set in a near-future society where a fully autonomous, AI-driven legal system acts as judge, jury, and executioner, Raven must prove his innocence within 90 minutes to Judge Maddox before it determines his fate. Focusing on the morality and reliance of artificial intelligence, the ethics of a data-driven justice system, and the lengths of surveillance, Mercy serves as a cautionary tale through a dull, screenlife-style narrative. Mercy, by its premise, is brilliant.
The execution, though visually resounding, is not. The film's biggest woe isn't necessarily its story, but who it's about. Pratt tends to be a lovable performer who can charm himself out of a paper bag. The issue is that there are very few redeeming qualities in Raven to care about his plight.
Pratt's character is meant to have a redemption story wrapped up in an engaging mystery, but by the time the pieces come together, he doesn't emerge any more likable. The story of seeking justice and keeping order is important, but it should focus more on the regulation and necessity of AI, which can and will make mistakes. Mercy reveals that a defendant has 90 minutes in a literal life-or-death scenario, but the pacing didn't reflect that.
Though Pratt and Ferguson navigate the technological-heavy universe, the plot sadly doesn't carry much weight. Mercy is derivative, with plots borrowed from everything, including Minority Report, The Fugitive, and RoboCop. It sadly doesn't do anything to advance the themes in any novel way. 5 'Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice' What's better than one Vince Vaughn? Two Vince Vaughns!
And how do we get two Vince Vaughns? Time travel, of course! In BenDavid Grabinski's sci-fi action comedy crime caper Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, stories collide as hitman Nick hassles hitman Mike , both working for a crime organization led by Sosa , into one more hit.
Mike, who is having an affair with Alice , is reluctant until he learns from Nick of the future that he had framed Mike for being the rat who sent the boss's son, Jimmy Boy , to prison. Oh, and Future Nick is trying to prevent his present-day self from making a mistake that leads to Mike's death.
The story follows the two Nicks, Mike, and Alice as they attempt to survive the night as they navigate a complex time-loop scenario while being hunted down by mobsters. A funny yet convoluted film, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is perfect as an escapist watch — as long as you try not to think of it as hard sci-fi. Where the film shines is through the three lead performances. Vaughn has double the fun as the two Nicks.
Marsden is charming as ever, while González not only can hang with the boys — she's the life of the party. Her comedy chops are on full display. Further, Tatro and David play up caricatures, bringing them to hilarious extremes. Grabinski's writing is stellar, as the humor carries the film to victory.
With sharp banter and brilliant pop culture references when you least suspect them, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice thrives in the entertainment factor. As far as the science fiction element is concerned, it's present but not properly plotted. It becomes more of a superficial plot device that can easily be"blown up" to solve the scenario rather than a defined element that furthers the film. With that, the issue the film faced was pacing.
There are far too many moments of stillness despite the stakes being astronomically high. You know, it's nice to take a breather, but lives are on the line, so maybe amp up the energy? Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a perfect popcorn streamer for a rainy day. COLLIDER Collider · Quiz Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Personality Quiz Which Sci-Fi Hero Are You Most Like?
Paul Atreides · Captain Kirk · Princess Leia · Ellen Ripley · Max Rockatansky Five iconic heroes. Five completely different ways of facing an impossible universe. One of them shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of refusing to back down. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🏜️Paul Atreides 🖖Capt. Kirk ✊Princess Leia 🔦Ellen Ripley 🔥Max Rockatansky FIND YOUR HERO → QUESTION 1 / 8LEADERSHIP 01 How do you lead when the stakes couldn't be higher? The way you lead under pressure is the most honest thing about you. AI absorb everything — every variable, every pattern — and move only when I know the path forward.
BI read the room, make the call, and own the consequences. Hesitation costs more than mistakes. CI rally people. A cause needs a voice, and I refuse to let fear be louder than conviction.
DI assess the threat, establish what needs doing, and get it done without waiting for permission. EI don't lead. I act. Others can follow or not — I'm already moving.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 2 / 8STRENGTH 02 What is your greatest strength in a crisis? The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails. APrescience — the ability to see further ahead than anyone else and plan accordingly. BImprovisation — I'm at my best when the plan falls apart and I have to invent a new one.
CConviction — I know what I'm fighting for, and that certainty doesn't waver under fire. DComposure — I stay functional when everyone around me is falling apart. Panic is a luxury. EEndurance — I outlast things.
I take the hit and keep moving long after others have stopped. NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 3 / 8MOTIVATION 03 What is the thing you'd sacrifice everything else for? Your deepest motivation is your truest compass. AThe survival and dignity of my people — even if I have to become something frightening to ensure it.
BThe safety of my crew — every single one of them. No one gets left behind. CFreedom — for my people, for every world still crushed under the weight of an empire. DThe truth — what actually happened, what's actually out there, whether anyone believes me or not.
EThe one person — or the one memory — that still makes any of this worth surviving for. NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 4 / 8PEOPLE 04 How do you relate to the people around you? Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are. AWith intensity and distance — I care deeply, but the weight I carry makes closeness complicated.
BWith warmth and irreverence — I take the mission seriously, not myself. CWith directness and trust — I say what I mean, and I expect the people I work with to rise to it. DWith professional care but clear limits — I'll protect you, but I won't pretend we're family. EWith wariness that slowly becomes loyalty — I don't trust easily, but when I do, it holds.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 5 / 8THREAT 05 You're facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do? How you respond when you're the only one who sees it defines everything. APrepare in silence.
If they won't listen, I'll be ready when they finally have to. BKeep pushing until someone listens — and if no one does, handle it myself. CBuild the case, find the allies, and make the threat impossible to ignore. DDocument everything.
The truth matters even if no one believes it yet. EStop trying to convince anyone. Survive it. That's the only argument that counts.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 6 / 8COST 06 What has your heroism cost you personally? Every hero pays. The question is what — and whether they'd pay it again. AMy innocence — I've seen what I'm capable of, and I can't unsee it.
BPeople I loved — the command chair has a view, but it's a lonely one. CA normal life — I gave up everything ordinary the moment I chose the cause. DMy sense of safety — I know exactly what's out there now, and I can't pretend otherwise. EAlmost everything — and I'm still not sure what I'm carrying it all for.
But I keep going. NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 7 / 8RULES 07 How do you feel about the rules of the world you're in? Every hero has a relationship with the system. What's yours?
AI understand them deeply — and I know exactly which ones must be broken, and why. BI respect the spirit of them and bend the letter when the situation demands it. CThe system is the problem. I'm not here to work within it — I'm here to dismantle it.
DI follow protocol until protocol stops being useful. Then I make the call myself. EThe rules collapsed a long time ago. What's left is instinct, and mine are reliable.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 8 / 8PURPOSE 08 When everything is on the line, what keeps you going? The answer is the most honest thing about you. ADestiny — or something that feels so much like it that the difference no longer matters. BThe people on my ship — their faces, their trust, the fact that they're counting on me.
CThe belief that what we're fighting for is worth every sacrifice, including this one. DSheer refusal to let it win — whatever it is. I don't stop. That's just who I am.
EI'm not sure anymore. But the road is still there, and I'm still on it. REVEAL MY HERO → Your Hero Has Been Identified Your Sci-Fi Hero Is… Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.
Arrakis · Dune Paul Atreides You carry a weight most people would crumble under — the knowledge of what you're capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become. USS Enterprise · Star Trek Captain Kirk You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario — because you've always believed there's a third option nobody else has thought of yet.
The Rebellion · Star Wars Princess Leia You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith — not because you're fearless, but because giving up simply isn't something you're capable of. The Nostromo · Alien Ellen Ripley You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone's hero — you just refuse to stop when it matters.
The Wasteland · Mad Max Max Rockatansky You have been through fire that would break most people — and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 4 'War Machine' The film begins as a straightforward war drama.
Then, with sprinkles of meteors, signal interference, and the arrival of an otherworldly killing machine, War Machine moves into the sci-fi realm as the 21st-century answer to Predator. In the Netflix original thriller, after a traumatic loss in Afghanistan, a grizzled soldier simply known as"81" enlists in elite Army Ranger training, only for his unit to encounter a massive alien robot that is relentless, violent, and destructive.
Now, the soldiers are trapped in the wilderness, hunted by a superior, unknown technological foe. In a high-stakes fight to survive, War Machine is an explosive and gory '80s-infused throwback thriller that sets up its lead for a potential action film franchise. War Machine is the ultimate"dad movie.
" It blends everything that similar films contain in the sense of intense military action with a sci-fi sensibility. Directed by Patrick Hughes, who has vast experience in this realm, War Machine knows exactly what it is and never deviates. Though there are shades of emotional themes, namely grief and PTSD, War Machine much prefers the brutality over anything else. Unlike Predator, War Machine doesn't hide its titular antagonist, giving viewers a full view of its menacing presence.
Also, unlike the '80s classic, the big budget makes it look incredibly impressive. War Machine knows its target audience and caters to them. Ritchson, a man seeking redemption and closure, commands the screen, providing just enough backstory intrigue to carry through should a franchise be launched.
War Machine effectively crosses the line. 3 'Cold Storage' On the avenue where horror and science fiction intersect sits a dark comedy B-movie throwback that is one of the biggest underdog films of the year: Cold Storage. Directed by Jonny Campbell and written by David Koepp, based on his novel, Cold Storage chronicles the events around a deadly, rapidly mutating parasitic fungus from space that escapes from a forgotten underground military bunker.
When the micronism threatens to unleash a global pandemic in the form of infected zombies, bioterrorism agent Robert Quinn employs two night-shift storage employees, Naomi and Travis , to contain it and stop it from spreading. Set mostly within the confines of a self-storage facility built over an abandoned military lab, Cold Storage is a gross-out adventure destined to make you chuckle and wince simultaneously. The joy of Cold Storage is its tone.
The premise is dark and bleak, but the humor and energy translate seamlessly into a horror-action-adventure. Aside from our main trio and their behind-the-scenes pals Trini Romano and Abigail , every other human that comes into view plays into the"what are you thinking?
" trope. As they become sitting ducks, it's clear their fates help provide the hilarity, though the cat and the deer may deserve a bit more credit. The visual effects are masterful and impressive, but that final car flee may make you disappointed as to just how obvious the CGI is. A tightly paced thrill ride, Cold Storage delivers quick, efficient storytelling.
That said, Cold Storage is so promising that it would be well-suited to a miniseries. 2 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die' In one of the most anticipated cinematic returns, Gore Verbinski is back with a hilarious sci-fi dark comedy, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. Premiering at Fantastic Fest in September before a wide release this past February, the sci-fi flick follows a man from the future who recruits a sad sack of patrons in a Los Angeles diner to fight a rogue AI.
Hoping to lead the ragtag group to glory against a new AI supercomputer before it becomes sentient, the man from the future must save the world on his 117th try. A satirical take on AI-driven apocalypse scenarios written by Matthew Robinson, focusing on the dangers of relying on technology over human interaction, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is a film that feels far too close to reality, hence the uncomfortable laughter alongside the genuine ones.
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Wildly unique and darkly predictable, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is best described as a surrealistic fever dream set in a dirty dystopian future. With high-voltage, chaotic energy, Verbinski guides his ensemble through the simultaneously profound and goofy. Rockwell does what he does best in the film. Balancing the line between whether his character is a madman or a messiah, Rockwell masterfully navigates the time-loop scenario with ease.
The remainder of the ensemble — including Michael Peña and Zazie Beetz as Mark and Janet, new teachers who are overwhelmed by the indifference of their students, Juno Temple as Susan, a grieving mother, and Haley Lu Richardson as Ingrid, the mysterious diner with an allergy to electronics — make up a colorful cornucopia of characters that keep the plot tight and engaging. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die features much of the latter, but it's the middle part of the title that rings true.
Verbinski knows how to give audiences a fun time at the cinema. 1 'Project Hail Mary' Already hailed as one of the best movies of the year, Project Hail Mary is already earning much-deserved award-season buzz. Here's why.
A visually stunning adaptation of Andy Weir's novel, Project Hail Mary tells the story of Ryland Grace , a junior high school science teacher turned astronaut who wakes up from a coma on a spaceship with amnesia, only to realize he is on a last-chance, one-way mission to save humanity from the Astrophage crisis, an interstellar microorganism, that is dimming the sun, threatening to plunge Earth into a new ice age. On his journey, he encounters a Labrador-sized, rock-like alien, Rocky , whom he works with to save their respective home systems.
A remarkable tale of survival, sacrifice, and the power of using science to solve impossible problems, the Phil Lord and Christopher Miller-directed film is destined to make a deep impact on sci-fi cinema. Firstly, Project Hail Mary is a strong adaptation of an already sensational source material. Though it couldn't be filmed in actual space, the usage of practical effects over a green screen to achieve sensational visuals gives the film a classic sci-fi essence.
Then, by relying on the book's scientific technicalities as a cornerstone of the story, Project Hail Mary remains faithful. But the heart of the film comes from Gosling. As Ryland, Gosling provides humor and heartbreak that pulls you in on the 156-minute journey. He may be endearing, but the newfound star of the galaxy is Rocky.
If all things go according to plan, we might see Ortiz recognized next year for his brilliant work as the puppeteer of the latest, most beloved space sidekick. A modern space odyssey, Project Hail Mary brings old-school sci-fi with a modern perspective, introducing the genre to a brand-new generation of new minds who seek wonder.
Like Follow Followed Project Hail Mary PG-13 Science Fiction Adventure 9 10 Release Date March 15, 2026 Runtime 157 minutes Director Christopher Miller, Phil Lord Writers Drew Goddard, Andy Weir Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse
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