The 9 best sci-fi movies on Hulu that explore the unknown
- - The 9 best sci-fi movies on Hulu that explore the unknown
Kevin Jacobsen, Will HarrisDecember 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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Christopher Willard/Hulu; Bob Penn/Sygma/Sygma via Getty; Newmarket Films/Courtesy Everett Collection
Cristin Milioti as Sarah Wilder in 'Palm Springs'; Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in 'Aliens'; Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko in 'Donnie Darko'
Science-fiction can take us to worlds unknown, jet-setting across the galaxy in search of untold mysteries. But the genre can also tell us something about our life here on Earth, warning of our future if we don't get our act together. No matter the setting, sci-fi movies give us an escape from our current reality, from close encounters with extraterrestrial species to time-hopping mind-benders.
Hulu has some of the best sci-fi movies available to stream, including every entry in the Alien franchise. Ahead, we've curated a list of recommendations for when you're in the mood for otherworldly chills and thrills.
01 of 09
Alien (1979)
20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in 'Alien'
Ridley Scott's Alien was the one that started it all for a franchise that would spawn sequels, comics, video games, and more. Before any commercialization, though, there was this terrifying sci-fi thriller, which finds Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her fellow crew members aboard the space tug Nostromo investigating a spacecraft in disrepair, only to find it contains menacing, bloodthirsty aliens.
And, as the iconic tagline states, "In space, no one can hear you scream." With the threat of the alien Xenomorph around every corner, the original Alien is arguably more horror than traditional sci-fi, but the innovative effects and dark, gritty vision of the future have had an influence on the science fiction genre for decades to come. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch Alien: Hulu
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Ian Holm
02 of 09
Aliens (1986)
Bob Penn/Sygma via Getty
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in 'Aliens'
James Cameron built upon the terrifying space horror of 1979's Alien with this gripping sci-fi action sequel. In stasis for 57 years following the events of the first film, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) hesitantly agrees to help a group of Colonial Marines flush out murderous aliens on an exomoon, confronting the species that nearly killed her all those years ago. As the only one with firsthand experience with the aliens, Ripley proves invaluable as she fights tooth and nail for the fate of humanity. Weaver earned an Oscar nomination for her performance — a rarity in the sci-fi genre — and it's impossible to deny the magnetism of her screen presence, particularly in her climactic face-off with the alien queen. —K.J.
Where to watch Aliens: Hulu
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton
03 of 09
Alien: Romulus (2024)
20th Century Studios
A Xenomorph Hybrid in 'Alien: Romulus'
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien Anthology, but you only really the basics of the franchise to appreciate its gnarly thrills, chills, and kills. Set in the aftermath of the events of 1979's Alien, the film follows a group of dark planet colonists — led by Cailee Spaeny's Rain — looking to escape their indentured servitude. They find a nearby space station on their journey to a new planet...only to find it's inhabited by a sinister threat (you can probably guess what it is). The film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, returns the franchise to its horror movie roots. —K.J.
Where to watch Alien: Romulus: Hulu
EW grade: B+
Director: Fede Álvarez
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn
04 of 09
Donnie Darko (2001)
Mary Evans/Pandora Cinema/Flower Films/Adam Fields Production/GA/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko in 'Donnie Darko'
A definitional cult classic for the modern age, this sci-fi-tinged psychological thriller follows a moody teen — the titular Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) — who is prone to sleepwalking and experiences disturbing visions of a mysterious being in a rabbit costume. But that's not all: The figure, Frank, informs Donnie that the world is set to end in 28 days and soon persuades him to take on increasingly dangerous tasks. EW's critic praises writer-director Richard Kelly's unique, "shapeshifting" vision, writing, "He swings big — with flair." —K.J.
Where to watch Donnie Darko: Hulu
Director: Richard Kelly
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Seth Rogen, Jena Malone
05 of 09
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
Everett Collection Mos Def as Ford Prefect, Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent, and Sam Rockwell as Zaphod Beeblebrox in 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
Arthur Dent's house being demolished becomes the least of his concerns in this comedic adaptation of Douglas Adams' beloved book series of the same name. The unlucky Brit (played by Martin Freeman) soon comes to realize his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) is actually an alien, warning Arthur that the Earth will soon be destroyed to make way for a bypass. Ford brings Arthur aboard his spaceship, after which they embark on a zany interplanetary journey across the galaxy. While its distinctly British sense of absurdism may not be for everyone, there’s a cheeky pleasure in seeing a befuddled Freeman and a charismatic Sam Rockwell bouncing off each other within the distinct world created by Adams. —K.J.
Where to watch The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Hulu
Director: Garth Jennings
Cast: Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy
06 of 09
I, Robot (2005)
Everett Collection Bridget Moynahan as Dr. Susan Calvin, Sonny the Robot (voice: Alan Tudyk), and Will Smith as Det. Del Spooner in 'I, Robot'
Robots betraying humans is a classic trope, and I, Robot provides some diverting entertainment within that subgenre — especially with Will Smith in the lead role. Set in the year 2035, robots are instructed to protect humanity and themselves, but after the cofounder of U.S. Robotics is reported to have died by suicide, Det. Del Spooner (Smith) suspects foul play from an advanced robot humanoid (voiced by Alan Tudyk). Reviewers were mixed-to-positive on I, Robot, but audiences turned out in 2004. The film grossed more than $144 million at the domestic box office and eventually earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. —K.J.
Where to watch I, Robot: Hulu
Director: Alex Proyas
Cast: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk
07 of 09
No One Will Save You (2023)
Sam Lothridge/20th Century Studios Kaitlyn Dever as Brynn in 'No One Will Save You'
Alien invasion thrillers have often centered on communities rallying together, but this new sci-fi spook-fest takes an intriguingly different direction. Kaitlyn Dever plays Brynn, a recluse who fights back when an alien enters her home, and must continue to do so all on her own. As the unnerving film goes on, we learn why she's been made an outcast by her community, stemming from an unforgivable decision made in her past.
Featuring bracing action sequences, a committed Dever, and a commendable tactic to go dialogue-free for the vast majority of the film, No One Will Save You is an unpredictable thrill ride that epitomizes the classic narrative technique of show, don't tell. —K.J.
Where to watch No One Will Save You: Hulu
Director: Brian Duffield
Cast: Kaitlyn Dever
08 of 09
Palm Springs (2020)
Jessica Perez/Hulu Cristin Milioti as Sarah Wilder and Andy Samberg as Nyles in 'Palm Springs'
Essentially an Groundhog Day for the 21st century, Palm Springs centers on a pair of millennials who are sucked into a time loop. Andy Samberg plays Nyles, who has grown carefree after being stuck in the loop for ages, while Cristin Milioli is Sarah, who is experiencing its benefits and downsides for the first time. The duo grows closer (and, at times, clash) through their endlessly repeating days, with Sarah resolving to find a way out of the loop through a dangerous experiment.
Juggling the various tones of this high-concept romantic comedy could've resulted in disaster, but the film manages to nimbly toe the line of bittersweet romance and absurdity. —K.J.
Where to watch Palm Springs: Hulu
EW grade: B+
Director: Max Barbakow
Cast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons
09 of 09
Prey (2022)
David Bukach/20th Century Studios Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'
Set in 1719 (268 years before a sleeveless Arnold Schwarzenegger battled his first alien), Prey is a prequel to the Predator franchise and the fifth film released chronologically. The movie follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a Comanche medicine woman with aspirations of someday becoming as fierce a hunter as her brother. When Naru witnesses a Predator landing in the Great Plains, she interprets it as a call to action and plans to protect her tribe by tracking and killing the invader.
The film employs a cast of primarily indigenous actors and one former professional basketball player, Dane DiLiegro — attacking the role of Predator while wearing a suit so heavy and restrictive, he told EW he was "essentially shooting this movie blind." —Will Harris
Where to watch Prey: Hulu
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
