The Best Sci-Fi Movies Of 2023 So Far
In a world where the nature of truth is up for debate and everyone carries a portable computer with the capability of instantly connecting to millions of other users in the blink of an eye, technology is moving at a faster pace than ever before in human existence. And as far as we've progressed, science fiction serves as a reminder of the possibilities to come. From dark, dystopian predictions to bright visions of humanity's potential, science fiction sparks the imagination while creating a space to safely explore issues that aren't always easy to confront. In the span of a couple of hours, audiences can travel across galaxies, consider the implications of the multiverse, or delve into the nature of human identity.
In the wake of the peak pandemic years, 2023 has already produced some of the most contemplative, visionary, and downright entertaining sci-fi movies to come out in a while. Whether you're into evil robots or interstellar dinosaurs, there's something for everyone. Slide into your moon boots as we launch into the best sci-fi movies of 2023.
Updated on May 11, 2023: Don't miss any of the great sci-fi films coming out in 2023! Just like Alex in "A Clockwork Orange," we don't want you to miss a thing, so be sure to check back often as we update this list!
M3GAN
Although artificial intelligence has been around for a while, recent advances in AI made 2023 the year that the world collectively realized just how close machine learning is to achieving its full "Black Mirror" potential. "M3GAN" combines these anxieties with the evil child trope to create a wickedly fun sci-fi horror story that's far better than it seems like it should be.
When toy creator and robotics genius Gemma finds herself saddled with a kid after her sister's death, she manages to dodge her grief and the burden of parenting by creating an AI-driven "Small Wonder." When M3GAN soon manages to exceed her programming, the body count starts to pile up. A satirical, bloody take on the ridiculously human robot trope, "M3GAN" fits well into the uncanny valley where tales like "The Stepford Wives" and "Battlestar Galactica" reside.
- Starring: Jenna Davis, Allison Williams, Violet McGraw
- Director: Gerard Johnstone
- Runtime: 102 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
65
"65" is one of those campy sci-fi films that critics hate and audiences love. But if you're the kind of science fiction fan who loves the cheesier episodes of "Stargate" and couldn't get enough of Netflix's "Another Life," this popcorn flick will be a worthwhile watch.
The tale revolves around intergalactic transport pilot Mills, who loses his ailing child while on a years-long voyage to pay for her medical care — a late-stage capitalist premise that viewers may find distressingly familiar. When his transport crash-lands on an unknown planet, Mills finds himself stranded with a surviving child in tow on a planet covered in dinosaurs. Compounding their problems, they have to reach their escape vehicle before the planet is bombarded with an extinction-level meteor shower because — spoiler — it's 65 million years ago on Earth. Seeing Adam Driver give Picardian level acting to such a ridiculous premise alone is worth the price of admission.
- Starring: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman
- Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
- Runtime: 93 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 35%
Linoleum
Starring Jim Gaffigan in the dual role of Cameron Edwin and Kent Armstrong, "Linoleum" is a surrealist sci-fi dramedy exploring the disappointment of unrealized dreams and the power of transformation. The puzzle box tale begins with middle-aged Ohio family man Cameron Edwin, whose astronaut ambitions have been displaced for a life of attainable mediocrity as the host of a late-night children's science show called "Above and Beyond." When a car containing his doppelgänger drops out of the sky, he finds himself energized to begin actively pursuing his dreams once more. Drawing comparisons to "Donnie Darko" , "Linoleum" is a mind-bending and heartfelt tale that delves into existential questions while serving as a showcase for Jim Gaffigan's best performance to date.
- Starring: Jim Gaffigan, Michael Ian Black, Tony Shalhoub
- Director: Colin West
- Runtime: 101 minutes
- Rating: NR
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
While it's by most accounts the weakest in the "Ant-Man" series thus far, "Quantumania" is worth watching for a few reasons, not the least of which is Paul Rudd. The MCU debut of villain and multiverse war originator Kang the Conqueror, brilliantly portrayed by Jonathan Majors of "Lovecraft Country," the film finds Scott and the rest of the Lang family, including his teenage daughter, split up in the Quantum Realm. Although some fans lament the more serious tone after the last two "Ant-Man" films, "Quantumania" serves as a pivotal point in the MCU canon and is a must-watch thanks to its introduction of the Kang lore. As is generally the case with MCU entries, the film features mid-credits and post-credits scenes that serve up some hints about future Marvel films, so be sure to stick around for the whole thing.
- Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors
- Director: Peyton Reed
- Runtime: 124 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 47%
Infinity Pool
"Infinity Pool" is an atmospheric sci-fi horror by David Cronenberg's son Brandon. It bears many of the marks of the elder Cronenberg's influence with its dark, dystopian elements, and body horror, but it's interwoven through a world of picture-perfect affluence that's visually and thematically reminiscent of a futurist "White Lotus" or "The Menu" and layered with vibrant surrealism.
Set in a resort on the fictional island of Li Tolqa during an important local festival, "Infinity Pool" finds novelist James Foster and his wife Em on a getaway that does little to repair James' writer's block or their troubled marriage. As the pair venture off after befriending a couple of locals, James ends up facing the death penalty in Li Tolqa's dystopian society with an existentially frightening exit ramp for anyone with enough cash.
- Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman
- Director: Brandon Cronenberg
- Runtime: 118 minutes
- Rating: R
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The third and final movie in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" brings the gang back together — minus Gamora, who tragically sacrificed herself in "Avengers: Infinity War." Fortunately, her alternate universe incarnation makes a decent stand-in after Knowhere HQ get attacked by Adam Warlock, seriously wounding Rocket. Easily the darkest of the trilogy, "Vol.3" delves into Rocket's backstory as a victim of experimentation as his friends race against time to save him. Despite such heavy content, this film has all the mayhem, hijinks, swashbuckling, and laughs we've come to expect from a Marvel film, and the totally awesome soundtrack that characterizes this trilogy. If you love a fast-paced, visually spectacular sci-fi adventure, "Vol. 3" won't disappoint.
- Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Karen Gillan
- Director: James Gunn
- Runtime: 150 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%