12 Best Movies Like Starship Troopers to Watch Next (2026)
Find sci-fi action picks with alien invasions, military stakes, and thriller energy, including Star Trek, Men in Black, The X Files, and more.
If you’re searching for movies like Starship Troopers, you probably want sci-fi action with war stakes, alien threats, and a sharp sense of momentum. This list keeps that energy going with titles such as Star Trek: First Contact, The X Files, Men in Black, and Revolt, each bringing a different spin on invasion, conspiracy, or survival. You’ll also find spacefaring picks like Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis, plus tougher, more chaotic choices like Monsters: Dark Continent and The Last Sentinel. Whether you want military science fiction, thriller-driven suspense, or a lighter alien-adjacent adventure, these picks cover the same broad territory without feeling repetitive.
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01
Star Trek: Insurrection
action · adventure · sci-fi · thriller
When an alien race and factions within Starfleet attempt to take over a planet that has "regenerative" properties, it falls upon Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise to defend the planet's people as well as the very ideals upon which the Federation itself was founded.
Why watch: If you enjoy a science-fiction adventure built around duty and a planet under threat, this is an easy fit. It leans into action, adventure, and thriller elements while keeping the focus on defending ideals as much as a world.
Directed by Jonathan FrakesCast Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael DornParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
02
Star Trek: First Contact
1 Oscar nomination
action · adventure · drama · sci-fi · thriller
The Borg, a relentless race of cyborgs, are on a direct course for Earth. Violating orders to stay away from the battle, Captain Picard and the crew of the newly-commissioned USS Enterprise E pursue the Borg back in time to prevent the invaders from changing Federation history and assimilating the galaxy.
Why watch: If you like fast-moving sci-fi with a strong threat from an alien force, this one should land well. Its action, drama, and thriller mix makes it a good pick for viewers who want tension with the bigger genre scope.
Directed by Jonathan FrakesCast Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael DornParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
03
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
action · adventure · fantasy · sci-fi · thriller
A group of heroic warriors has only six days to save the planet in "Mortal Kombat Annihilation." To succeed they must survive the most spectacular series of challenges any human, or god, has ever encountered as they battle an evil warlord bent on taking control of Earth.
Why watch: If you want a more fantasy-leaning action movie with sci-fi and thriller elements, this may be worth a look. It suits viewers who prefer high-stakes battles and a race against time over military science fiction.
Directed by John R. LeonettiCast Robin Shou, Talisa Soto, James Remar, Sandra Hess, Lynn 'Red' WilliamsMaxMore details on IMDb → -
04
Revolt
action · adventure · sci-fi · thriller
The story of humankind's last stand against a cataclysmic alien invasion. Set in the war-ravaged African countryside, a U.S. soldier and a French foreign aid worker team up to survive the alien onslaught. Their bond will be tested as they search for refuge across a crumbling world.
Why watch: If you enjoy alien invasion stories set against a larger human survival struggle, this is a strong match. It may appeal especially if you want action and sci-fi with a more grounded, war-torn setting.
Directed by Joe MialeCast Lee Pace, Bérénice Marlohe, Jason Flemyng, Sibulele Gcilitshana, Wandile MolebatsiAmazon Prime VideoTubiFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
05
Tomorrow Never Dies
action · adventure · thriller
A deranged media mogul is staging international incidents to pit the world's superpowers against each other. Now James Bond must take on this evil mastermind in an adrenaline-charged battle to end his reign of terror and prevent global pandemonium.
Why watch: If your favorite part of the reference point is the momentum and thriller energy, this can scratch that itch in a different way. It’s a good option for viewers who want action and espionage-style stakes rather than extraterrestrial warfare.
Directed by Roger SpottiswoodeCast Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Ricky JayAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
06
The X Files
adventure · drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Mulder and Scully, now taken off the FBI's X Files cases, must find a way to fight the shadowy elements of the government to find out the truth about a conspiracy that might mean the alien colonization of Earth.
Why watch: If you like conspiracy-driven sci-fi that turns alien contact into a larger mystery, this is a natural choice. It suits viewers who want adventure and thriller elements with a strong investigative angle.
Directed by Rob BowmanCast David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Neville, William B. Davis, Martin LandauAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
07
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 want alien activity mixed with humor and action, this is the lighter pick on the list. It works well for anyone who likes sci-fi adventure that stays energetic without taking itself too seriously.
Directed by Barry SonnenfeldCast Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rip TornParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
08
The Last Sentinel
action · sci-fi · thriller
No emotion. No fear. No pain. They were the perfect soldiers to protect civilization until the drone police became the perfect enemy. With little hope left for mankind, Tallis, an electronically enhanced soldier, rescues a survivor from a failed resistance mission. She will have to learn to fight and think like a machine for the final battle to save the human race.
Why watch: If you prefer a leaner sci-fi thriller centered on soldiers, machines, and survival, this may fit your taste. The premise is straightforward and best for viewers looking for a darker, more compact action setup.
Directed by Jesse V. JohnsonCast Don Wilson, Katee Sackhoff, Peter Allas, Matthew R. Anderson, Steven BauerStarzMore details on IMDb → -
09
The Saint
action & adventure · mystery & thriller · romance · science-fiction
Simon Templar (The Saint), is a thief for hire, whose latest job to steal the secret process for cold fusion puts him at odds with a traitor bent on toppling the Russian government, as well as the woman who holds its secret.
Why watch: If you enjoy science-fiction tinged thrillers with a mix of espionage and romance, this offers a different flavor of genre blend. It’s a fit for viewers who like action-adventure stories with a mystery edge.
Directed by Phillip NoyceCast Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, Rade Šerbedžija, Valeriy Nikolaev, Henry GoodmanParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
10
Monsters: Dark Continent
action · drama · sci-fi · thriller · war
Seven years on from the events of Monsters, and the ‘Infected Zones’ have spread worldwide. Humans have been knocked off the top of the food chain, with disparate communities struggling for survival. American soldiers are being sent abroad to protect US interests from the Monsters, but the war is far from being won.
Why watch: If you like alien invasion stories with a war backdrop and a survival focus, this is a strong candidate. Its drama and thriller elements may appeal if you want something a bit grimmer than a straightforward action pick.
Directed by Tom GreenCast Johnny Harris, Sam Keeley, Joe Dempsie, Kyle Soller, Nicholas PinnockStarzMore details on IMDb → -
11
Space Truckers
adventure · comedy · sci-fi · thriller
John Canyon is one of the last independent space transport entrepreneurs. Rough times force him to carry suspicious cargo to Earth without questions being asked. During the flight the cargo turns out to be a multitude of unstoppable killer robots.
Why watch: If you want a sci-fi adventure with comedy and a rogue-cargo setup, this is an offbeat alternative. It suits viewers who like space-set stories where the danger comes from the delivery itself.
Directed by Stuart GordonCast Dennis Hopper, Stephen Dorff, Debi Mazar, George Wendt, Vernon WellsAmazon Prime VideoTubiFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
12
Star Trek: Nemesis
action · adventure · sci-fi · thriller
En route to the honeymoon of William Riker to Deanna Troi on her home planet of Betazed, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise receives word from Starfleet that a coup has resulted in the installation of a new Romulan political leader, Shinzon, who claims to seek peace with the human-backed United Federation of Planets. Once in enemy territory, the captain and his crew make a startling discovery: Shinzon is human, a slave from the Romulan sister planet of Remus, and has a secret, shocking relationship to Picard himself.
Why watch: If you enjoy action-heavy science fiction with an interstellar political angle, this is a good match. It may appeal to viewers who like a franchise-style story with adventure and thriller elements.
Directed by Stuart BairdCast Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael DornParamount PlusMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
That mix of alien conflict, sci-fi tension, and action-forward storytelling is what makes this set easy to browse and useful to revisit. If you want to branch out from one favorite into nearby territory, bookmark this page and come back when you’re ready for another match. It’s updated regularly, so the lineup can keep evolving as your watchlist does.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Starship Troopers?
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.