Not feeling festive? These are the 5 best sci-fi movies streaming right now

EntertainmentStreamingNot feeling festive? These are the 5 best sci-fi movies streaming right nowBah humbug!When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Edge of Tomorrow

(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Christmas, who needs it? Christmas movies especially are an acquired taste of sickly sweet. If you aren’t feeling all warm and mushy inside this year, then don’t force it. Swap the same old festive flicks for some serious sci-fi.

Let’s be honest, Santa is arguably the first bit of science fiction. One man going to every house in the world in one night? Without aTardisthat would be impossible. Here are 5 sci-fi movies to help you avoid Christmas overload, and where to find them across thebest streaming services.

1. District 9

(Image credit: Netflix)

District 9

(Image credit: Netflix)

A unique movie from Neil Blomkamp,District 9is an almost mockumentary-style movie about a fictional Johannesburg ghetto used to house aliens (the titular ninth district).

Although darkly funny, substitute the word prawn for immigrant or a variety of slurs and you have a clear and powerful metaphor for discrimination, especially considering the South African setting.

We follow Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) as he is tasked with relocating the aliens into an even more restrictive area, but things quickly start going wrong. This is a brilliant movie that every sci-fi fan needs to watch.

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2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

(Image credit: Focus Features)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

(Image credit: Focus Features)

One of my all-time favourite movies,Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindis a special piece of storytelling that we can all relate to. We’ve done things we wish we could forget, but Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufmann ponder a world where we can we erase entire people from our lives.

It sounds like an episode ofBlack Mirrorbut this movie is also surprisingly sweet, it’s like a rom-com in places and one of the few films that can make me go from feeling warm and fuzzy inside to ice cool in moments. You won’t stop thinking about it long after the credits roll and I love it.

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Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet lead a superb cast that also features Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo and Kirsten Dunst. What more could you possibly want?

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3. Fingernails

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Fingernails

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

A 2023 effort you may not have heard about,FIngernailsstars two of my favourite actors Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley. That should be enough to persuade you to tune in but if you need more, let me give you more.

Buckley’s Anna has passed the test with her boyfriend already, but when she meets Amir (Ahmed), she starts to doubt whether you can really have empirical evidence of love.

A gentler sci-fi as a whole, do be warned there is lots of fingernail abuse, you’ll want to treat your digits to a manicure after.

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4. The Running Man

(Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

The Running Man

(Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

From a new slice of sci-fi to a classic now.The Running Manis a 1987 cult movie based loosely on a Steven King short story and boasting some of Arnie’s finest work.

This is a gloriously 80’s take on dystopian fiction. Arnie is a ‘Runner’ trapped on a gameshow that’s far deadlier than your average episode ofDeal or no Deal.He has to evade trained killers/entertainers dubbed ‘stalkers’ out to murder him for bloodsport.

It’s incredibly cheesy, gory and full of atrocious one liners, and that’s why I loveThe Running Manso much. Plus it’s as relevant as ever.

5. Edge of Tomorrow

(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Edge of Tomorrow

(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Groundhog DaymeetsIndependence Dayis quite the pitch, butEdge of Tomorrowdelivers on its promise. Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt are superb in this action epic. In a world with aliens on the brink of total victory over humanity, Cruise’s Bill Cage is a completely inept glorified pencil pusher sent to the frontline.

Needless to say he is almost immediately killed, but then wakes up when the day began. Stuck in a loop, he seeks out both a way to end the cycle, and how to end the war.

This is brilliant movie that I had absolutely no expectations going into and came out of demanding a sequel, which has been reportedly in development for far too long.

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Sky Stream remote

Sky Stream gets a great new trick that unlocks long hidden potentialA Sky Stream puck update gives you a host of new channels

A Sky Stream puck update gives you a host of new channels

Limited Edition Chromeo cassette player from We Are Rewind

If you ever needed proof that cassette players are back, this is itWe Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean

We Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean

With Love, Meghan on Netflix

Is this the most insufferable Netflix trailer of all time?Meghan Markle has a show coming

Meghan Markle has a show coming

Ghost of Tsushima Legends series

One of PlayStation’s best exclusives to become unlikely new action seriesGhost of Tsushima will get a new adaptation

Ghost of Tsushima will get a new adaptation

Cassandra on Netflix

Netflix’s sci-fi horror series looks astonishing in full trailerCassandra looks like a slow-burn horror

Cassandra looks like a slow-burn horror

Reacher Season 3

My favourite Amazon Prime Video show gets a rip-roaring S3 trailerReacher is back, and having bigger fights than ever

Reacher is back, and having bigger fights than ever

The Penguin

Huge award wins show you can’t afford to miss these HBO showsIt’s a hit-factory, with some unreal TV in the last year

It’s a hit-factory, with some unreal TV in the last year

Unforgiven

I hadn’t seen this Oscar-winning Western classic – now it’s a favouriteUnforgiven is an all-timer for genre fans

Unforgiven is an all-timer for genre fans

The Kardashians S6 on Hulu

Love it or hate it – one of the biggest ever reality shows is to returnThe Kardashians are coming

The Kardashians are coming

Zero Day on Netflix

Two-time Oscar-winner stars in Netflix’s new thriller seriesZero Day brings Robert De Niro back to Netflix

Zero Day brings Robert De Niro back to Netflix

1. District 9#

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind#

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3. Fingernails#

4. The Running Man#

5. Edge of Tomorrow#

1. District 9

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox

3. Fingernails

4. The Running Man

5. Edge of Tomorrow