20 Best Sci-Fi Movies on Paramount Plus 2026
Find the best sci-fi movies on Paramount Plus, from Interstellar and Arrival to Terminator 2, Minority Report, and more standout picks.
If you’re looking for the best sci-fi movies on Paramount Plus, this lineup gives you a strong mix of space travel, alien contact, time loops, dystopian futures, and suspenseful survival stories. From the emotional scale of Interstellar and Arrival to the high-concept thrills of Minority Report and Edge of Tomorrow, there’s plenty here for different kinds of science-fiction fans. You’ll also find crowd-pleasers like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Men in Black, and Galaxy Quest, plus darker picks such as Event Horizon and A Quiet Place. Whether you want action, drama, horror, or a little of all three, these titles make it easy to build your next watchlist.
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01
Interstellar
Won 1 Oscar 5 nominations
adventure · drama · sci-fi
The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
Why watch: If you enjoy big-idea space stories with drama and adventure, this is an easy pick. Its wormhole premise makes it a strong choice for viewers who want science fiction with an expansive scale.
Directed by Christopher NolanCast Ellen Burstyn, Matthew McConaughey, Mackenzie Foy, John Lithgow, Timothée ChalametAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
02
Event Horizon
horror · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
In 2047, a group of astronauts are sent to investigate and salvage the starship Event Horizon which disappeared mysteriously seven years before on its maiden voyage. However, it soon becomes evident that something sinister resides in its corridors.
Why watch: If you like sci-fi mixed with horror and mystery, this one leans darker than most space stories. The salvage mission setup should appeal to viewers who want tension and unease in their science-fiction picks.
Directed by Paul W.S. AndersonCast Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. JonesTubiPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
03
Arrival
Won 1 Oscar 8 nominations
drama · mystery · sci-fi
Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
Why watch: If you prefer sci-fi built around mystery and human connection, this is a good fit. The premise of worldwide alien arrivals and a linguist trying to understand them gives it a thoughtful angle.
Directed by Denis VilleneuveCast Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark O'BrienPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
04
Blade Runner 2049
Won 2 Oscars Best Cinematography (2018) · 5 nominations
action & adventure · drama · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
Why watch: If you want a science-fiction movie with action, drama, and a strong mystery element, this fits well. Its near-future setting and long-buried secret make it a good match for viewers who like layered stories.
Directed by Denis VilleneuveCast Ryan Gosling, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Mark Arnold, Vilma SzécsiAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
05
A Quiet Place
1 Oscar nomination
drama · horror · sci-fi
A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.
Why watch: If you enjoy sci-fi horror with a survival setup, this is a strong option. The sound-based threat adds a simple but effective hook for viewers who want suspense.
Directed by John KrasinskiCast Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade WoodwardParamount PlusMore details on IMDb →
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06
Minority Report
1 Oscar nomination
action · crime · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.
Why watch: If you like sci-fi thrillers with crime and mystery, this is a smart pick. The idea of predicting crimes before they happen should appeal to anyone who enjoys high-concept futurism.
Directed by Steven SpielbergCast Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow, Steve Harris, Neal McDonough, Patrick KilpatrickAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
07
The Running Man
action · adventure · sci-fi · thriller
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by The Running Man's charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition game as a last resort. But Ben's defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
Why watch: If you enjoy action-heavy sci-fi with a thriller edge, this one is worth a look. The deadly competition premise should work for viewers who like pressure, conflict, and a lot of momentum.
Directed by Edgar WrightCast Glen Powell, Alyssa Benn, Sienna Benn, David Zayas, Greg TownleyAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
08
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Won 4 Oscars Best Cinematography (1992) · 6 nominations
action · adventure · sci-fi
Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.
Why watch: If you want a fast-moving sci-fi action movie, this is a classic choice. Time travel and a mission to stop a nuclear future make it a strong fit for fans of big stakes.
Directed by James CameronCast Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick, Earl BoenAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
09
Men in Black
Won 1 Oscar 3 nominations
action · adventure · comedy · sci-fi
After a police chase with an otherworldly being, a New York City cop is recruited as an agent in a top-secret organization established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth: the Men in Black. Agent K and new recruit Agent J find themselves in the middle of a deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies.
Why watch: If you like sci-fi with comedy and action, this is an easy recommendation. The alien-monitoring setup gives it a playful premise while still keeping the story in genre territory.
Directed by Barry SonnenfeldCast Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rip TornParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
10
V for Vendetta
action & adventure · drama · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
In a world in which Great Britain has become a fascist state, a masked vigilante known only as “V” conducts guerrilla warfare against the oppressive British government. When V rescues a young woman from the secret police, he finds in her an ally with whom he can continue his fight to free the people of Britain.
Why watch: If you enjoy science fiction with drama and political tension, this is a good pick. Its dystopian setup should appeal to viewers who like genre stories with a resistance angle.
Directed by James McTeigueCast Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John HurtParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
11
Edge of Tomorrow
action & adventure · science-fiction
Major Bill Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously demoted and dropped into combat. Cage is killed within minutes, managing to take an alpha alien down with him. He awakens back at the beginning of the same day and is forced to fight and die again... and again - as physical contact with the alien has thrown him into a time loop.
Why watch: If you want action-forward sci-fi with a time-loop twist, this is a great match. The repeating-day structure makes it appealing for viewers who like high-energy concept movies.
Directed by Doug LimanCast Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton, Jonas ArmstrongParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
12
The Faculty
horror · mystery · sci-fi
When some very creepy things start happening around school, the kids at Herrington High make the chilling discovery that confirms their worst suspicions: their teachers really are from another planet!
Why watch: If you enjoy sci-fi horror set around school, this is a fun, creepy choice. The alien-teachers premise gives it a lighter touch on the page while still pointing to suspense and mystery.
Directed by Robert RodriguezCast Jordana Brewster, Clea DuVall, Laura Harris, Josh Hartnett, Shawn HatosyTubiAMC+Paramount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
13
Galaxy Quest
adventure · comedy · sci-fi
For four years, the courageous crew of the NSEA Protector — Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, Lieutenant Tawny Madison, and Doctor Lazarus — set off on a thrilling and often dangerous mission in space ... until their series was cancelled! Now, twenty years later, aliens under attack have mistaken the Galaxy Quest television transmissions for "historical documents" and beam up the crew of has-been actors to save the universe. With no script, no director, and no clue, the actors must turn in the performances of their lives.
Why watch: If you like sci-fi comedies that also lean into adventure, this is a strong pick. The story of actors mistaken for real heroes should work well for viewers who want humor with their space story.
Directed by Dean ParisotCast Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam RockwellParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
14
The Dead Zone
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
Johnny Smith is a schoolteacher with his whole life ahead of him but, after leaving his fiancee's home one night, is involved in a car crash which leaves him in a coma for 5 years. When he wakes, he discovers he has an ability to see into the past, present and future life of anyone with whom he comes into physical contact.
Why watch: If you enjoy sci-fi with horror, fantasy, and mystery elements, this is a good fit. Its ability-to-see-the-future premise makes it appealing for viewers who like unusual supernatural ideas.
Directed by David CronenbergCast Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony ZerbeAMC+Paramount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
15
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
2 Oscar nominations
adventure · drama · sci-fi
David, a robotic boy—the first of his kind programmed to love—is adopted as a test case by a Cybertronics employee and his wife. Though he gradually becomes their child, a series of unexpected circumstances make this life impossible for David.
Why watch: If you want sci-fi drama with an emotional core, this title is worth considering. The story of a robotic boy programmed to love should appeal to viewers who like thoughtful, character-driven concepts.
Directed by Steven SpielbergCast Haley Joel Osment, Frances O'Connor, Sam Robards, Jake Thomas, Jude LawPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
16
World War Z
action · adventure · horror · sci-fi
Life for former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane and his family seems content. Suddenly, the world is plagued by a mysterious infection turning whole human populations into rampaging mindless zombies. After barely escaping the chaos, Lane is persuaded to go on a mission to investigate this disease. What follows is a perilous trek around the world where Lane must brave horrific dangers and long odds to find answers before human civilization falls.
Why watch: If you like sci-fi action with horror elements, this is a solid choice. The global infection premise suits viewers who want a survival story with a worldwide scope.
Directed by Marc ForsterCast Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Ludi BoekenPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
17
War of the Worlds
3 Oscar nominations
action · adventure · sci-fi
Ray Ferrier is a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife and her new husband drop off his teenage son and young daughter for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down.
Why watch: If you prefer invasion stories with action and adventure, this is a straightforward pick. The sudden lightning storm setup should appeal to viewers who like disaster-style sci-fi momentum.
Directed by Steven SpielbergCast Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim RobbinsPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMaxMore details on IMDb → -
18
A Quiet Place Part II
1 BAFTA Film Award nomination
drama · horror · sci-fi · thriller
Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
Why watch: If you enjoyed the first quiet-survival premise, this sequel keeps the drama, horror, and thriller mix going. It’s a good choice for viewers who want the same sound-sensitive threat in a wider world.
Directed by John KrasinskiCast Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cillian MurphyParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
19
Star Trek Into Darkness
1 Oscar nomination
action · adventure · sci-fi
When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.
Why watch: If you like action-driven sci-fi set on a starship, this is a solid option. The crisis within the organization adds a mystery angle for viewers who enjoy tension inside a familiar crew story.
Directed by J.J. AbramsCast Leonard Nimoy, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldaña, Karl UrbanParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
20
A Quiet Place: Day One
drama · horror · sci-fi · thriller
A young woman named Sam finds herself trapped in New York City during the early stages of an invasion by alien creatures with ultra-sensitive hearing.
Why watch: If you want a recent sci-fi horror thriller set in a city under invasion, this is a strong fit. The early-stages premise should appeal to viewers who like tense, immediate survival stories.
Directed by Michael SarnoskiCast Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Eliane UmuhireNetflixAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This collection brings together classic favorites and newer picks, so you can choose a sci-fi movie that fits the kind of night you want. If you like mind-bending ideas, tense survival stories, or futuristic action, there’s something here to match your mood. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want fresh ideas for your next movie night. It’s updated regularly, so the list can help you keep track of standout science-fiction choices over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Paramount Plus subscription to watch these?
Yes. Every title on this list is currently available on Paramount Plus. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these sci-fi movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the sci-fi titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.