12 Movies Like Arrival You Need to Watch
Find 12 smart sci-fi dramas and thrillers with mystery, romance, and space tension, from Arrival and Passengers to Spaceman and Invasion.
If you finished Arrival and want another smart, emotional sci-fi story, this list points you toward films that blend mystery, drama, romance, and high-stakes tension. You’ll find the cerebral atmosphere of Arrival (2016) echoed in titles like The Space Between Us (2017), Passengers (2016), and Proximity (2020), each taking a different angle on connection across distance or danger. For viewers who like their science fiction with a darker edge, Attraction (2017), The Titan (2018), and Invasion (2020) add suspense and uncertainty to the mix. And if you want something more recent, Spaceman (2024) keeps the emotional focus strong while still leaning into big cosmic questions.
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01
The Space Between Us
drama · romance · sci-fi
A young man raised by scientists on Mars returns to Earth to find his father.
Directed by Peter ChelsomCast Gary Oldman, Janet Montgomery, Trey Tucker, Scott Takeda, Adande 'Swoozie' ThorneHulu -
02
Attraction
action · drama · romance · sci-fi
After an alien ship crash lands in a Russian city, many who see the inside and the occupants start to question their own existence while others demand the aliens leave Earth.
Directed by Fedor BondarchukCast Irina Starshenbaum, Aleksandr Petrov, Rinal Mukhametov, Oleg Menshikov, Sergey GarmashFreevee -
03
The Titan
drama · mystery · romance · sci-fi · thriller
On a bleak future Earth, a soldier endures a radical genetic transformation to save humanity. But his wife fears he's becoming more creature than man.
Directed by Lennart RuffCast Sam Worthington, Taylor Schilling, Tom Wilkinson, Agyness Deyn, Nathalie EmmanuelNetflix -
04
Proximity
drama · sci-fi
A young NASA JPL scientist is abducted by extraterrestrials but when no one believes his story he becomes obsessed with finding proof which leads him on a journey of discovery.
Directed by Eric DemeusyCast Ryan Masson, Highdee Kuan, Christian Prentice, Shaw Jones, Don ScribnerAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
05
Spaceman
adventure · drama · romance · sci-fi
Six months into a solo mission, a lonely astronaut confronts the cracks in his marriage with help from a mysterious creature he discovers on his ship.
Directed by Johan RenckCast Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano, Kunal Nayyar, Isabella RosselliniNetflix -
06
Invasion
action · sci-fi
Two years after the fall of the alien ship, the life of a young woman from Moscow has been changed forever. Her growing powers are now at the focus of both human and celestial investigation: an alien force takes an interest in her, and will stop short of nothing, including an invasion. Can love and compassion save humanity, when faced with a much greater and more demanding test this time?
Directed by Fedor BondarchukCast Irina Starshenbaum, Rinal Mukhametov, Aleksandr Petrov, Yura Borisov, Oleg MenshikovFreevee -
07
Mayday
drama · fantasy · mystery
Ana is transported to a dreamlike and dangerous land where she joins an army of girls engaged in a never-ending war. Even though she finds strength in this exhilarating world, she realizes that she's not the killer they want her to be, and time is running out for her to get home.
Directed by Karen CinorreCast Grace Van Patten, Mia Goth, Havana Rose Liu, Soko, Théodore PellerinNetflix -
08
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.
Directed by Michael SarnoskiCast Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Eliane UmuhireNetflixAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
09
Before We Vanish
drama · sci-fi
Narumi is on bad terms with her husband, Shinji, when, one day, Shinji goes missing. He comes back a couple of days later, but he seems like a totally different person, and he is now gentle and tender. He goes for a walk every day. Meanwhile, journalist Sakurai covers the story of a family that was brutally murdered, when an unexplained phenomenon takes place.
Directed by Kiyoshi KurosawaCast Masami Nagasawa, Ryûhei Matsuda, Hiroki Hasegawa, Masahiro Higashide, Kyôko KoizumiAmazon Prime Video -
10
A Quiet Place
drama · horror · sci-fi
A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.
Directed by John KrasinskiCast Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade WoodwardParamount Plus -
11
Prometheus
adventure · mystery · sci-fi
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Directed by Ridley ScottCast Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy PearcePeacock Premium -
12
Rememory
drama · mystery · sci-fi
The widow of a wise professor stumbles upon one of his inventions that's able to record and play a person's memory.
Directed by Mark PalanskyCast Peter Dinklage, Matt Ellis, Jordana Largy, Martin Donovan, Evelyne BrochuStarz
Wrapping Up
These picks work because they give you more than effects and spectacle; they leave room for grief, hope, longing, and the kind of quiet tension that lingers after the credits. Whether you prefer a grounded thriller, a love story set against impossible odds, or a thoughtful space drama, there is something here that fits the mood. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want another thoughtful watch, because it is updated regularly with fresh recommendations and new favorites. If you want the same thoughtful tone as your last favorite sci-fi film, this is a strong place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Arrival?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 9, 2026