Don’t sift your way through the dregs of your favorite streaming service – look to the experts for guidance on what to watch this September. We do all the hard work so you don’t have to. That’s why we made a list of the four best sci-fi movies on Max right now, and one of them was just added, so there’s a good chance you haven’t seen it yet.
Source Code
For some reason, the IMDb listing doesn’t categorize Source Code as sci-fi or even make mention of the sci-fi elements of the plot – but don’t be fooled, anyone going into this looking for a basic thriller will be in for a rude awakening. It’s about an experimental government program (with the same name as the film), in which a soldier (played by one of our favorites – Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in someone else’s body and is tasked with finding the bomber on a commuter train in only eight minutes. However, no plot summary really does this film justice. It’s well-written, exciting, and carried by standout performances from our boy Jake and his game co-star Michelle Monaghan. Don’t miss it.
Ex Machina
With AI being a constant news headline these days, as well as the plot of nearly every sci-fi or action movie and television series of 2023, it might be surprising to think that in 2014 a film about realistic AI still had a lot of unexplored territory. But Ex Machina is deep, thought-provoking, and chock full of star-making roles from actors who have since become household names. It’s best not to speak much more of the plot, lest we spoil the fun – just know that this is a film made by a creative team on their A-game, especially writer-director Alex Garland, who has made a name for himself as the go-to guy for brainy sci-fi projects.
Dune
If you somehow missed one of the best movies of 2021, we’re here to let you know why not watching Dune is a mistake. First of all, director Denis Villeneuve is making a strong case for himself to be recognized as the next Christopher Nolan, i.e., an auteur who creates films so incredible that people will see them simply because his name is attached. Second, If you aren’t sure that pretty boy Timothée Chalamet and it-girl Zendaya have it in them to give impactful performances, let Dune make you rethink that. Third, the film is based on a book that’s considered by many to be the absolute greatest science fiction novel of all time, and the film does a shockingly good job of adapting it.
Edge of Tomorrow
Despite starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, many missed Edge of Tomorrow on release, probably due to the fact that the studio seemed to have no clue what it should be called (it changed names three times after filming was completed). Think of it as a sort of Groundhog Day, but with aliens and a lot more violence. This is the movie you watch if you want a night of mostly mindless action fun with two of the most badass actors working today.
Each of these sci-fi movies is streaming now on Max.