The science fiction genre in cinema stands out as one of the most suitable for addressing complex issues related to technological advances and projecting what the future holds based on analyzes made in the present.
Many of the most famous films of this genre explore characteristic codes and premises, allowing for a deep immersion in ethical, philosophical and political questions. In doing so, many of them end up revealing what is universal, constant and cyclical in human behavior, regardless of time.
We have therefore created a list of 12 films available on the main streaming platforms that have received praise from specialized critics. This selection is based on the ratings of the main review aggregators on the Internet.
The Predator (1987)
Available to Star+ subscribers.
Directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, this ’80s classic mixes science fiction, action, suspense and horror. The story follows a group of elite soldiers sent to Central America on a rescue mission.
However, they are hunted by an extraterrestrial being with super abilities and advanced technology, including optical camouflage and futuristic weapons.
The Future Avenger (1990)
Available to Amazon Prime Video subscribers.
Based on a short story by science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, “The Avenger” is a science fiction film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside.
The film is set in 2048, when Quaid (Schwarzenegger) decides to build a virtual vacation facility on Mars offered by the Rekall company. However, he discovers that his life is a farce and that his memories have been implanted. In a web involving a plan for planetary domination, Quaid embarks on a mission of revenge against those who deceived him.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Available to Netflix subscribers.
This nostalgic ’90s classic directed by Steven Spielberg revolves around the creation of a dinosaur theme park on a remote island, where previously extinct creatures are recreated from ancient genetic material.
The cast includes names such as Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough.
The fly
Available to Star+ subscribers.
A remake directed by David Cronenberg of a film released in 1958, “The Fly” is a disturbing science fiction horror film that features elements of “body horror”.
Actor Jeff Goldblum plays a scientist who creates a teleportation machine. However, during a test, a fly enters the cabin with him. As a result, your DNA mixes with that of the insect. This leads to a gradual physical transformation into the form of a grotesque insectoid.
Escape from New York (1981)
Available to Amazon Prime Video subscribers.
“Escape from New York” is a cult film science fiction action film directed by John Carpenter. The work stars Kurt Russell, who plays the iconic Snake Plissken, one of cinema’s most iconic antiheroes.
The film is set in a dystopian 1997, where New York has been transformed into a maximum security prison. However, when the president’s plane crashes in Manhattan, it’s up to Snake, a criminal ex-soldier, to save him. . As an “incentive”, she has a bomb implanted in his body to complete the mission on time.
Robocop (1987)
Available to Amazon Prime Video and Looke subscribers.
Paul Verhoeven delivered a ferocious satire on capitalism in “Robocop.” In the film, privatization and large corporations have taken control of all of Detroit, and the city’s police department is run by the megacorporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP).
The plot focuses on police officer Alex Murphy, who is seriously injured in an ambush and almost killed. He is then subjected to a cybernetic experiment by the OCP, which transforms him into a cyborg police officer programmed to fight crime.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Available to HBOMax subscribers.
Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the novel of the same name, “A Clockwork Orange” is a provocative science fiction film that tackles themes of violence, free will and authoritarianism.
Set in a futuristic dystopia, the film focuses on the protagonist Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell), a delinquent gang leader who often commits acts of violence. However, he is arrested and brainwashed to cure his propensity for crime.
She (2013)
Available to Netflix subscribers.
Mixing science fiction, drama and romance, “Ela” tackles the topic of artificial intelligence in an unusual way. In the near future, a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love and has a relationship with an operating system with a female voice (the voice is that of actress Scarlett Johansson).
The Terminator (1984)
Available to Amazon Prime Video subscribers.
Artificial intelligence is close to exterminating humanity and dominating the world in the future. This is in James Cameron’s work, “The Terminator”.
In the plot, the cyborg “Terminator” (Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to the present with the mission to assassinate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the mother of a future leader of the human resistance.
Brazil (1985)
Available to HBOMax and Star+ subscribers.
In “Brazil,” director Terry Gillian crafted satirical, surrealist science fiction, depicting a dystopian futuristic world in which society is controlled by a totalitarian, highly bureaucratic government.
However, the protagonist played by actor Jonathan Pryce will question his world of disenchantment when he meets and falls in love with a mysterious woman.
Alien – The Eighth Passenger (1979)
Available to Star+ subscribers.
“Alien – The 8th Passenger” has a claustrophobic, tense and climatic atmosphere, where terror is meticulously constructed.
The film is set in the future and follows the crew of the spaceship Nostromo, who receive a distress signal. While investigating the location of the message, they encounter an alien ship and are attacked by an unknown creature. However, they return to the ship unaware that one of the crew members is carrying a parasite that will soon turn into a deadly threat.
2001 – A Space Odyssey (1968)
Available to HBOMax subscribers.
For many critics, this science fiction film by Stanley Kubrick is the best film to date. With visual effects that have forever marked the seventh art, the film focuses on the evolution of humanity and its techniques, from the discovery of tools by our hominid ancestors to the space exploration of the future.
And obviously elements such as the monolith and the artificial intelligence Hal 9000 show the ambiguous, dark and infinite side of this evolution.
The 12 Best Sci-Fi Movies to Stream, According to Critics appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
