As the summer scorcher continues, there’s never been a better time to sit inside, enjoy the AC, and watch some great movies. But some movies just hit differently during the warmer summer months. Most of us are looking for fun and excitement, thrill and action. It’s not exactly the season for slow-burn thrillers or gut-punch dramas.
Instead, summer is the time to celebrate big box office blockbusters, effects-heavy crowd-pleasers, and feel-good favorites. Netflix, being the powerhouse streamer that is, luckily has tons of great movies to watch during the summer, including a huge selection of sci-fi hits. Check out these five fantastic sci-fi movies that are perfect for summer, all streaming right now on Netflix.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Japan’s Godzilla Minus One took the world by storm. Not only did it become a smash hit in its home country but the film eventually got a global theatrical release. Better yet, Godzilla Minus One took home the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 2024 Oscars ceremony. Set in the Tohoverse, the movie follows everyone’s favorite nuked-up lizard as he attacks Japan shortly after the conclusion of World War II.
The film is a great return to form for the Godzilla franchise and takes viewers back to that epic Godzilla-destroys-a-city vibe that made the monster so popular to begin with. The MonsterVerse is great, but not everyone is a fan of the new kaiju-focused Hollow Earth plotline. For anyone who misses the old style of Godzilla movies, you’re going to love Godzilla Minus One. It’s also got that super-sized Hollywood blockbuster feel, which is exactly the kind of movie we crave during the summer.
Atlas (2024)
Let me just put this out there: J-Lo, stranded on an alien planet, in a giant mech suit armed with massive guns. I won’t lie, I don’t know if I’d count Atlas as a “good” movie, but it’s one hell of a fun and enjoyable one. Mechs aren’t explored enough in Hollywood, and as every Titanfall fan can tell you, giant human-controlled robots are totally badass and deserve the spotlight.
In the film, J-Lo needs to hunt down a villain who wants to destroy humanity and instate a new AI regime. The whole AI thing is overdone and cliche at this point, but the mech action and planetary adventure are the real highlights of the movie anyway. The plot clearly plays second fiddle to the action (which is fine by me). Atlas is a light watch that doesn’t require too much thought or attention to enjoy — which, after spending a long day out in the blistering heat, is exactly what you want on a hot summer night.
Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future is a classic for a reason: It’s just so damn good. In the film, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) goes back to the year 1955 thanks to a time-traveling DeLorean invented by Emmet “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd). The movie is one of those family-friendly films that somehow didn’t feel childish or hokey, making it a nostalgic classic that many of us grew up with.
There’s also something oddly wholesome about it. While so many time travel stories involve dystopian hellscapes or the looming destruction of mankind, Back to the Future never feels melodramatic or depressing. Back to the Future Part II and Part III are also streaming on Netflix, so fans can dive further into the franchise if they want.
Don’t Look Up (2021)
Don’t Look Up‘s cast is an absolute who’s who of Hollywood and includes everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio to Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Jonah Hill, and Ariana Grande, to name just a few. The star-studded faces alone are enough to keep the movie interesting since a new star seems to pop up in every scene.
But the film also has a story to tell. Inspired by America’s current political and cultural landscape, Don’t Look Up follows two scientists who discover that a rogue comet is hurling toward Earth and will kill everyone. However, the U.S. president (Streep) doesn’t seem to care about facts, and the American public is more interested in scandals than their impending doom. Don’t Look Up received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and is a great summer watch thanks to its brilliant dark humor and talented cast.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Everything Everywhere All at Once could have been an obscure, niche film that made the festival rounds and then fell into obscurity. It’s a deep, trippy, somewhat dark tale about parallel universes and the consequences of our actions. On the surface, it’s everything a light, fun summer watch shouldn’t be.
But the film was also quirky, wild, and fresh. Plus, its fantastic cast helped turn an otherwise overbearingly complex plot into a seriously fun and gripping film. Everything Everywhere All at Once totally scooped the 2023 Oscar ceremony, winning seven awards, including including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director. Don’t let its arthouse A24 vibe fool you — Everything Everywhere is a great time.
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